File Menu

File | Save Data Block

Saves the Data Block file into the currently open Project file on disk.

File | Save Data Block As...

Saves a copy of the Data Block file with a new name into the currently open Project file on disk.

File | Save Graphics in a File

Saves the graphics area in the Data Block window into a file on disk.

Graphics files can be saved in the JPG, GIF, PNG or BMP file formats.

File | Export Data Block

Exports the measurement data in a Data Block to a disk file in an external file format.  When this command is executed, the Windows File Save As dialog box is opened,

• Choose an export file format from the Save as type list.

• Choose a disk folder for saving the file, or create a new one.

• Type the desired file name into the File name box.

• Click on the Save button.

Data Block File Export Dialog Box.

Exporting a UFF File

The table below shows the Data Set Types that are created when a Data Block is exported to a disk file in UFF UFF is an acronym for Universal File Format. UFF is a disk file format used for exchanging data between different structural testing & analysis systems. Structure models, mode shapes, ODS's, and time or frequency domain measurements can be imported & exported using UFF files. Typical UFF file name extensions are .UFF, .UNV and .ASC. format.

File | Copy to Clipboard Menu

Copy to Clipboard | Copy Graphics

Copies the graphics area to the Windows Clipboard.

Copy to Clipboard | Copy M#s Spreadsheet

Copies the M#s spreadsheet to the Windows Clipboard.

Copy to Clipboard | Copy M#s Data

Copies the measurement data values to the Windows Clipboard in the Data Block Spreadsheet format. (See Importing a Data Block in Spreadsheet Format for details.)

File | Print Menu

The installed Windows printer must be a graphics printer to use these commands.

File | Print | Graphics

Prints the Data Block graphics area to the Windows printer.

File | Print | M#s Spreadsheet

Prints the M#s spreadsheet to the Windows printer.

File | Data Block Properties

Opens the Data Block Properties dialog box, wherein you can edit several Data Block file One or more measurements with a common time or frequency axis. Time domain measurements are real valued. Frequency domain measurements are complex valued. Each measurement has a unique measurement number (M#). M#s are displayed in the first column of the M#s spreadsheet in a Data Block window. M#s are used by the Animation equations at each Point for displaying M# data at the current cursor position. properties.

• Editing the Block Size The number of samples of data in each M# of a Data Block or Acquisition window. The current Block Size can be viewed and edited in the File | Data Block Properties dialog box. Increasing the Block Size appends zero valued samples to each M#. Decreasing the Block Size removes samples from the higher frequency or time values of each M#. changes the number of samples for all M#s.

• Editing the Starting, Increment & Ending values does not change the M# data. (Editing these parameters affects the X-Axis.)

• If a non-zero Machine Speed is entered, the X-Axis values are displayed as machine Orders (multiples of the machine speed).

• • See Format | X-Axis for details.

Data Block Properties Box.

File | Data Block Options

Opens the Data Block Options box.

Many options take effect in the Data Block window as soon as they are chosen in the Data Block Options box.

Data Block Options Dialog Box.

Display Tab

Changes the following Data Block window properties

• Window, Borders, Grids, Background, Text & Fill colors.

• Data Block cursor Dot Size.

Contour Colors Tab

Used to define contour colors. Contour colors are used by the following commands;

• Display | Fill Under Graph | Contour Color

• Format | Contour Map

• Animate | Contours Menu commands in a connected Structure window during animation  

• Curve Fitting: Stable pole groups on a Stability diagram

Contours for Each Animation Group

Animation Groups are defined by entering names into the Animation Groups column of the M#s spreadsheet.

• If Animation Groups are defined in the Data Block, different contour colors can be defined for each Animation Group M#s in a Data Block or Shape Table can be grouped together by giving them a common name in the Group column of the M#s spreadsheet. During shape animation, if the Animate | Animating Using | Groups command is checked, each Group of M#s is scaled separately so that data from two or more Groups can be displayed together..

• If no Animation Groups are defined, the Contour colors are defined as Ungrouped for all M# M# is an abbreviation for Measurement Number. Each measurement function in a Data Block or Acquisition window has a unique M#. Also, each shape component in a Shape Table window has a unique M#. Each M# in the connected Animation Source must be Assigned to a DOF of the structure model in order to display shapes from the Source in animation. Each un-measured DOF on the model is animated by creating an M# Interpolation using nearby Measured and Fixed DOFs.s in the Data Block.

High & Low Contour Limits

High & Low Limits are entered into the High Limit and Low Limit boxes above and below the color bar.

• For example, if the Low Limit = 50 and the High Limit = 100, color contours will only be displayed for shape values between 50 & 100.

• Values above or below the limits are displayed using the limit colors.

Contours During Animation

• If a Point has shape data in only one direction (or only one of the Animate | Deformation direction commands is checked), contour colors are displayed for shape values between Plus & Minus limits.

• If a Point has shape data in more than one direction, contour colors are displayed for shape magnitudes between positive Low & High limits.

Labels & Grids Tab

Displays different items in the graphics area.

• If checked, Graph Titles, X-axis & Y-axis Labels are displayed

• If checked, Vertical & Horizontal Grid Lines are displayed

• If checked, a Scroll Tip, M#'s, or DOFs is displayed next to the vertical scroll bar

Show/Hide Tab

Shows/hides columns of the M#s spreadsheet.

• To display this tab, Right click on the M#s spreadsheet and select Show/Hide Columns from the menu

• On the Show/Hide tab, check columns to show them, un-check columns to hide them.

Animation Tab

During Sweep animation, the user-specified number of Sine Dwell Sine Dwell in one of the three types of shape animation in a Structure window. During Sine Dwell animation, the displayed shape is animated by multiplying it by sine wave values as a unit circle is tranversed in equal increments from 0 to 360 degrees. . Cycles per Shape is executed before proceeding to the next shape.

File | Close Data Block

Closes the Data Block window.

• Any window can also be closed by clicking on the close button in the upper right corner of the window.

Opening a Window

To open a Data Block window in the Work Area,

1. Double click on its name in either pane of the Project Panel.

2. Or right click on its name in either pane of the Project Panel, and execute Open from the menu.