Versatile Data Acquisition System (VDAS®)

Software Help

Quick Start
VDAS® software has three primary windows: the Main Window, the Data Table Window and the Chart Window.

There is a specific VDAS® application for each piece of VDAS® equipment.

The Main Window shows real-time data, numerically or as an analogue trace, user data entry fields and
calculated data.

The Data Table Window shows the table of recorded data for the currently selected data series. Different data
series can be used for different experiments.

The Chart Windows shows a live line chart for visualisation of the captured data. Multiple variables can be
plotted on the chart and lines of best fit calculated and shown.
To change application, select Options ► Select VDAS® Application.

Some VDAS® applications have other additional windows (e.g., Psychrometric Chart Window with the EC1550
application).

• To update the window with real-time data click Start Communications

• To record a row of data, click Data ►Record data row (or press F4).

• To automatically record data, click Data ► Start timed data acquisition.

• To view the recorded data, click Data ► Display Data Table.

• To view the data in a chart, click Data ► Display Chart.

• To export the recorded data to an Excel file, click File ► Export to Excel XLSX.

• Use the check boxes next to a field to show or hide the value in the Data Table.
See illustration below:
Advanced VDAS®
The VDAS® applications supplied with the equipment are designed to enable students to follow the
experiments laid out in the equipment user guides.

However, the equipment and VDAS® are often applicable to far more complex experimentation and user
defined experiments. This enables TecQuipment products to be utilised for advanced experiments, projects
and research to post undergraduate level.

Adding to and Customising Data Groups and Fields

See Data Groups and Fields to find out how VDAS® can be tailored in the following ways:

• Addition of User Defined Groups of Variables.

• Addition of User Defined Variables.

• Addition of User Defined Calculations.

Customising Charts
See Chart Window to find out how to create and manipulate charts of data.

Customising Analogue Trace Window

Some VDAS® applications have a live trace window, See Analogue Trace Window for instructions on using
and adapting the trace window.

Specialist Features
The VDAS® windows for some equipment have specialist extra items. For information on using Psychrometric
Charts, Heisler Charts or other special buttons where they exist, please see the extra VDAS® information in
the individual user guide for the equipment concerned.

Customising Help Files

It is possible to substitute the supplied English Help files with the customer’s own translated version. Please
contact TecQuipment for instructions on how to do this.
Overview
VDAS® software has three primary windows: the Main Window, the Data Table Window and the Chart Window.

The Main Window displays the Layout of Data Groups and Data Fields associated with the Selected
VDAS®Product. For some products it may also include the Trace Window within it.
Main Window Menus and Toolbar Buttons

Toolbar Keyboard
Menu Command Button Shortcut Details

New Ctrl+N Discards all recorded data and Data Series.

Opens a saved data file from a previous experiment. This

Open Ctrl+O allows the user to create Charts of data later or on a different
computer.

Save Ctrl+S Saves the recorded data and current form layout to a data file.

Saves a copy of the recorded data and current form layout to

Save As
a data file of a different name.

Layout ► revert
Restores the default form layout of the current application.
File layout

Layout ► open Opens a custom layout file, which describes the layout of Data
layout Groups and Data Fields.

Layout ►save
Saves a custom layout file.
layout

Layout ►assign Assigns a font to the current layout. This setting is included in
layout font a saved Layout.

Export to Excel Saves the recorded data to an Excel XLSX file, so that it can
XLSX be processed further in other software.

Exit Closes the VDAS® Window.

Start
communications Starts receiving data from the VDAS® hardware.

Connection

Stop
communications Stops receiving data from the VDAS® hardware.
 Display Data Opens the Data Table Window, which displays a table of the
Table current Data Series.

Opens the Chart Window, which can be configured to display

Display Chart
a Chart of the recorded data.

Records one row of data to the current Data Series. Each row
Record data row F4
contains a data value from all of the Data Fields.

Delete
highlighted data Remove highlighted row of data from the current Data Series
row
Data

Start timed data Opens a dialogue box, which allows timed data capture to be
acquisition configured.

Maintain Data
Series ► New Starts a new Data Series.
data series

Maintain Data
Series ► Delete Deletes the current Data Series.
data series

Maintain Data
Series ►
Opens a dialogue box to rename the current Data Series.
Change data
series name

Select VDAS®
Opens the "Select TecQuipment VDAS® Application" window.
application

License manager Opens the Licence Manager dialogue box

Options

Opens the Preferences dialogue box. This allows user and

Preferences computer level settings to be configured, such as the
communication options.

Help F1 Opens a Help window.

About
Opens a window that shows details about the version of
TecQuipment
software that is being used
Help Software

Opens a window with contact details for TecQuipment and

Contact
some useful information to send us when diagnosing any
TecQuipment
issues you may have.

Status Bar
The indicators on the left hand side of the the Status Bar show the connection state to VDAS® hardware and
data sharing.

The calculator icon indicates that the Data Field currently under the cursor is a calculated field.
 The label on the right hand side of the Status Bar shows how many rows have been recorded in the current
Data Series.

Communications
All new VDAS® Hardware come with a USB interface. However, the serial communication options remain
available for users with legacy hardware.

Communication configuration and connection information can be view in the Communication Settings dialog.

Select Connection ► Communication Settings, the Communication Settings dialog appears.

The status of connected VDAS® devices is shown on the lower panel of the selected tab.

Data Sharing
VDAS® e-lab is a data sharing feature built in to VDAS®. The live data from the experiment is streamed via the
cloud to students, so that they can view, capture, manipulate and analyse it remotely on their own PCs.
 The live data feed from a shared experiment is a licensed feature of VDAS® (contact TecQuipment or supplier
if it is required). A license is only needed, by the tutor, for data sharing. For standalone operation a license is
not needed. Students need to install a copy of VDAS® on their PC (free download from
www.TecQuipment.com). Students do not require a license to connect to a live data stream, they just log on.

Activating the VDAS® Software Tutor License

Only the Tutor PC requires a licence for data sharing,

• To see the current license status, select Options ► License Manager.

• To enable data sharing click, Apply License and follow the on-screen instructions to activate your
supplied license.

The Tutor and Students need to configure their copies of VDAS® to share data.

Tutor Data Sharing Communication Settings

1. Select Connection ► Communication Settings, the Communication Settings dialog appears.

2. Select the

3. Remote Participant tab and select 'Share this experiment data'.

4. Enter the tutor’s name.

5. Click the ‘Apply’ button to connect to the server.

6. Inform the remote participants of the ID.

7. The experiment data is now being shared. The details of the experiment name and the experiment
operator’s name are broadcast to the remote participants.

8. When a student connects to the shared experiment data their details will be listed. Each student can
independently view, record and analyse their copy of the live data.
Student Data Sharing Communication Settings
1. Select Connection ► Communication Settings, the Communication Settings dialog appears.

2. Select the Remote Participant tab and select 'Connect to a shared experiment'.

3. Enter the shared ID (provided by the tutor).

4. Enter the student name.

5. Click the ‘Apply’ button to connect to the server.

6. Once correctly connected the status box will contain a tick. Details of the shared experiment will be shown
in the lower status panel.
Data Groups and Fields
There is a specific VDAS® application for each piece of VDAS® equipment. Each application has a default
layout of controls.

The layout can be customised by

• Adding new Fields for data entry.

• Adding new Fields for display of a calculated value using a custom equation.
• Displaying data on a Dial Meter.
• Displaying data on a Bar Meter.
• Displaying data using large digits.
• Displaying data on a Time Plot.
• Zeroing a value.

Customised layouts can be saved and be re-loaded later.

Viewing Data Groups
Data groups can be collapsed or expanded by clicking the up or down arrow boxes in the top right corner of
the data group box.

The Data Group Expand button above displays all the variables within the data group.

The Data Group Collapse button above reduces a data group box to display its title only. Useful when
information on screen is becoming cluttered or at a premium.

To Add a New Data Group

1. Right-click on any blank space next to any of the existing Data Groups.

2. Click on the Add Group menu item.

A Data Group with the Caption 'User Defined' will appear. It will contain one new Data Field also captioned
'User Defined'.
To Customise a Data Group
1. Right-click at the top of the Data Group to open the Data Group context menu.

2. Select the Customise Data Group menu item.

Existing and new Data Groups can both be customised.

A 'Customise Properties' dialogue box will appear. It allows the Caption (title) of the Data Group to be changed
and it’s expanded or collapsed state.

Data Fields
A Data Field displays a single data value and represents one column in the Data Table. The source for any
given Data Field can be from a sensor input, user input or calculation.

There are two types of Data Field: Numeric and text:

• A numeric field displays numbers either from a sensor input, a user input, or a calculation. Any
numeric field can be used in a calculation for another field. (Circular references in calculations are
prohibited).

• A text field allows a short piece of text to be entered or selected from a drop-down list.

It is possible to resize the text boxes within each Data Field (in case of large numbers), by clicking and dragging
on the left-hand edge of the text box.

To Add a New Data Field

1. Right-click at the top of the Data Group (User defined or existing) to open the Data Group context menu.
2. Select the type of field you would like to add (Numeric or Text).

To Customise a Data Field

1. Right-click on the Data Field to open the Data Field context menu.

2. Select the 'Customise field' menu item. A dialogue box will appear to allow customisation of the properties
of the Data Field. These properties are described in the following sections.
Calculation
A Numeric User Input can be converted into a Calculated field by assigning a Calculation Definition. The result
of the calculation is updated whenever the inputs to the calculation are updated.

1. Click on the Calculation Definition box, it will become highlighted and a browse button (...) will appear to
the right. Click on the browse button to open the Equation Designer dialogue.
 2. Complex equations can be created using the Equation Designer as described in the section on Building
Equations

• Enter the mathematical constants and functions in lower-case.

• Enter the variables in upper-case.

3. Once the equation is defined, click 'OK' to close this window.

The equation will now appear in the Calculation Definition text box of the Customise Properties Dialogue Box.

Data Logging
The "Export this field" property controls whether a Data Field is included in the Data Table and therefore
whether it is exported.

Data Presentation
The "Decimal Places" property sets the number of decimal places a numeric value is displayed to.

The "Maximum" and "Minimum" properties set the range of the Data Field numeric value. This property affects
the Numeric User Input Field and the display range of the Dial Meter, Bar Meter and Time Plot. It does not limit
the range of Sensor Input or Calculated fields.

Presentation
The ‘Caption’ and ‘Units’ text can be set by modifying these text boxes, Simple HTML (Hyper Text Markup
Language) may be used to format the displayed text.

Sample

Format HTML Syntax HTML Display Text

Super script  Nm^-2 Nm-2

Sub script  P₁ P1

Font face <font face="symbol"></font> <font face="symbol">g</font> 

Bold <b></b> This is <b>bold</b>. This is bold.

Italic <i></i> This is <i>italic</i>. This is italic.

Underline <u></u> This is <u>underlined</u>. This is underlined.

This has a line

Line through <s></s> This has a <s>line through</s>.
through.

Big font size <big></big> This is <big>big</big> text. This is big text.
Small font This is small text.
<small></small> This is <small>small</small> text.
size

Symbols can be entered as text or an HTML number or entity.

 Symbols can be copied and pasted as text from this manual or another field.

Char Number Entity Description

á &#225; &aacute; Latin small letter a with acute

Á &#193; &Aacute; Latin capital letter a with acute

â &#226; &acirc; Latin small letter a with circumflex

 &#194; &Acirc; Latin capital letter a with circumflex

´ &#180; &acute; Acute accent

æ &#230; &aelig; Latin small letter ae

Æ &#198; &AElig; Latin capital letter ae

à &#224; &agrave; Latin small letter a with grave

À &#192; &Agrave; Latin capital letter a with grave

& &#38; &amp; Ampersand

 &#8773; &ap; Approximately equal to

' &#39; &apos; Apostrophe

å &#229; &aring; Latin small letter a with ring above

Å &#197; &Aring; Latin capital letter a with ring above

ã &#227; &atilde; Latin small letter a with tilde

à &#195; &Atilde; Latin capital letter a with tilde

ä &#228; &auml; Latin small letter a with diaeresis

Ä &#196; &Auml; Latin capital letter a with diaeresis

˘ &#728; &breve; Breve

¦ &#166; &brvbar; Broken bar

• &#8226; &bull; Bullet

ˇ &#711; &caron; Caron

ç &#231; &ccedil; Latin small letter c with cedilla

Ç &#199; &Ccedil; Latin capital letter c with cedilla

¸ &#184; &cedil; Cedilla

¢ &#162; &cent; Cent sign

ˆ &#710; &circ; Modifier letter circumflex accent

© &#169; &copy; Copyright sign

¤ &#164; &curren; Currency sign

† &#8224; &dagger; Dagger

‡ &#8225; &Dagger; Double dagger

˝ &#733; &dblac; Double acute accent

° &#176; &deg; Degree sign

Δ &#916; &Delta; Greek capital letter delta

÷ &#247; &divide; Division sign

˙ &#729; &dot; Dot above

é &#233; &eacute; Latin small letter e with acute

É &#201; &Eacute; Latin capital letter e with acute

ê &#234; &ecirc; Latin small letter e with circumflex

Ê &#202; &Ecirc; Latin capital letter e with circumflex

è &#232; &egrave; Latin small letter e with grave

È &#200; &Egrave; Latin capital letter e with grave

ð &#240; &eth; Latin small letter eth

Ð &#208; &ETH; Latin capital letter eth

ë &#235; &euml; Latin small letter e with diaeresis

Ë &#203; &Euml; Latin capital letter e with diaeresis

ƒ &#402; &fnof; Latin small letter f with hook

½ &#189; &frac12; Vulgar fraction one half

¼ &#188; &frac14; Vulgar fraction one quarter

¾ &#190; &frac34; Vulgar fraction three quarters

≥ &#8805; &ge; Greater-than or equal to

> &#62; &gt; Greater-than sign

… &#8230; &hellip; Horizontal ellipsis

í &#237; &iacute; Latin small letter i with acute

Í &#205; &Iacute; Latin capital letter i with acute

î &#238; &icirc; Latin small letter i with circumflex

Î &#206; &Icirc; Latin capital letter i with circumflex

¡ &#161; &iexcl; Inverted exclamation mark

ì &#236; &igrave; Latin small letter i with grave

Ì &#204; &Igrave; Latin capital letter i with grave

∞ &#8734; &infin; Infinity

ı &#305; &inodot; Latin small letter dotless i

∫ &#8747; &int; Integral

¿ &#191; &iquest; Inverted question mark

ï &#239; &iuml; Latin small letter i with diaeresis

Ï &#207; &Iuml; Latin capital letter i with diaeresis

« &#171; &laquo; Left-pointing double angle quotation mark

“ &#8220; &ldquo; Left double quotation mark

„ &#8222; &ldquor; Double low-9 quotation mark

≤ &#8804; &le; Less-than or equal to

◊ &#9674; &loz; Lozenge

‹ &#8249; &lsaquo; Single left-pointing angle quotation mark

‘ &#8216; &lsquo; Left single quotation mark

‚ &#8218; &lsquor; Single low-9 quotation mark

< &#60; &lt; Less-than sign

¯ &#175; &macr; Macron

— &#8212; &mdash; Em dash

µ &#181; &micro; Micro sign

· &#183; &middot; Middle dot

&#160; &nbsp; No-break space

– &#8211; &ndash; En dash

≠ &#8800; &ne; Not equal to

¬ &#172; &not; Not sign

ñ &#241; &ntilde; Latin small letter n with tilde

Ñ &#209; &Ntilde; Latin capital letter n with tilde

ó &#243; &oacute; Latin small letter o with acute

Ó &#211; &Oacute; Latin capital letter o with acute

ô &#244; &ocirc; Latin small letter o with circumflex

Ô &#212; &Ocirc; Latin capital letter o with circumflex

œ &#339; &oelig; Latin small ligature oe

Π&#338; &OElig; Latin capital ligature oe

˛ &#731; &ogon; Ogonek

ò &#242; &ograve; Latin small letter o with grave

Ò &#210; &Ograve; Latin capital letter o with grave

Ω &#937; &Omega; Greek capital letter omega

ª &#170; &ordf; Feminine ordinal indicator

º &#186; &ordm; Masculine ordinal indicator

ø &#248; &oslash; Latin small letter o with stroke

Ø &#216; &Oslash; Latin capital letter o with stroke

õ &#245; &otilde; Latin small letter o with tilde

Õ &#213; &Otilde; Latin capital letter o with tilde

ö &#246; &ouml; Latin small letter o with diaeresis

Ö &#214; &Ouml; Latin capital letter o with diaeresis

¶ &#182; &para; Pilcrow sign

∂ &#8706; &part; Partial differential

‰ &#8240; &permil; Per mille sign

π &#960; &pi; Greek small letter pi

± &#177; &plusmn; Plus-minus sign

£ &#163; &pound; Pound sign

∏ &#8719; &prod; N-ary product

" &#34; &quot; Quotation mark

√ &#8730; &radic; Square root

» &#187; &raquo; Right-pointing double angle quotation mark

” &#8221; &rdquo; Right double quotation mark

® &#174; &reg; Registered sign

˚ &#730; &ring; Ring above

› &#8250; &rsaquo; Single right-pointing angle quotation mark

’ &#8217; &rsquo; Right single quotation mark

š &#353; &scaron; Latin small letter s with caron

Š &#352; &Scaron; Latin capital letter s with caron

§ &#167; &sect; Section sign

Σ &#931; &sum; Greek capital letter sigma

¹ &#185; &sup1; Superscript one

² &#178; &sup2; Superscript two

³ &#179; &sup3; Superscript three

ß &#223; &szlig; Latin small letter sharp s

 þ &#254; &thorn; Latin small letter thorn

Þ &#222; &THORN; Latin capital letter thorn

˜ &#732; &tilde; Small tilde

× &#215; &times; Multiplication sign

™ &#8482; &trade; Trade mark sign

ú &#250; &uacute; Latin small letter u with acute

Ú &#218; &Uacute; Latin capital letter u with acute

û &#251; &ucirc; Latin small letter u with circumflex

Û &#219; &Ucirc; Latin capital letter u with circumflex

ù &#249; &ugrave; Latin small letter u with grave

Ù &#217; &Ugrave; Latin capital letter u with grave

¨ &#168; &uml; Diaeresis

ü &#252; &uuml; Latin small letter u with diaeresis

Ü &#220; &Uuml; Latin capital letter u with diaeresis

Ý &#221; &Yacute; Latin capital letter y with acute

ý &#253; &yacute; Latin small letter y with acute

¥ &#165; &yen; Yen sign

Ÿ &#376; &Yuml; Latin capital letter y with diaeresis

ÿ &#255; &yuml; Latin small letter y with diaeresis

Building Equations
The Equation Designer dialogue allows complex equations to be defined, which use other Data Fields as input
variables. Mathematical operators and functions can also be inserted into the equation.
Data Field Variables
Before a Data Field can be used as an input to an equation, it must be assigned a Variable letter. The list of
Variables for use in the equation is listed in the right-hand panel.

• To add and remove variables from the list select an item and click the add >> or remove << buttons
or double click on the item.

• Right click on an item to show a context menu to add or remove items.

Equations
Equations are entered into the edit box. The equation uses normal mathematical rules. Variables must be
entered as upper case. Mathematical functions must be entered as lower case.

Equations can be entered manually or

• Double click on a Data Filed in the right-hand list to insert the variable into the equation.

• Right click in the edit box and use the context menu to insert functions and operators.

Supported Mathematical Operators and Functions

Mathematical Operators

Addition +

Subtraction -

Multiplication *

Division /

Power ^

Parentheses ()

Mathematical Constants

ϖ pi

Mathematical Functions

Absolute value of X abs(X)

Average value of listed inputs ave(X,..)

e.g. ave(A, B, 22)

Celsius to Kelvin celsiustokelvin(X)

Kelvin to Celsius kelvintocelsius(X)

 Maximum value of listed inputs max(X, …)
e.g. max(A, -3.2, B, C)

Minimum value of listed inputs min(x, …)

e.g. min(B, 44, A)

Square Root sqrt(X)

Natural Logarithm ln(X)

Logarithm log(X)

Exponential exp(X)

Sine sin(X)

Cosine cos(X)

Tangent tan(X)

Hyperbolic Sine sinh(X)

Hyperbolic Cosine cosh(X)

Hyperbolic Tangent tanh(X)

Equation Validation
Below the Equation text box is a label which displays the state of the equation. This updates in real-time as the
equation is being entered, with helpful validation and error information.

Zero Offset

For some pre-defined data fields (with calculations) and any of the user defined Data Fields that have
calculations, the Data Field value can be offset to zero. This is like the "Tare" function found on most weighing
scales. This feature is useful for data that has a bias or constant error that does not need to be monitored.

• A zero offset can only be set when the VDAS® software is receiving data.

• Only use the zero offset when the data is stable.

Data Field Display Types
The value of the Data Field can be presented in different formats.

Right click on the Data Field to access the content menu to change the presentation.

A large display can be shown.

A Dial Meter a Bar Meter or a Time Plot can also be shown with the normal or Large Display.
The minimum and maximum values of the Dial Meter, the Bar Meter and the Time Plot are specified by the
Data Presentation Minimum and Maximum Field Properties. See To Customise a Data Field.

Data Grid

If the TecQuipment product uses an instrument with a high number of sensor inputs, the VDAS® layout may
display the readings in a Data Grid. Just as with Data Fields, readings from the Data Grid can be included in
the Data Table and exported using the check box at its top right corner.

It is not possible for the user to add a Data Grid in their custom layouts.
 Data Grid and Bar Chart
The live Data Grid values can be shown as a Bar Chart. Right click on the Data Grid and use the context menu
to show or hide the Bar Chart. The vertical scale of the Bar Chart is specified by the Data Presentation
Minimum and Maximum Field Properties. See To Customise a Data Field.

Analogue Trace Window

On selected TecQuipment products the Analogue Input 1 (Voltage) and Analogue Input 2 (Voltage) may be
used for high-speed measurements. For these experiments the VDAS® Layout includes an Analogue Trace
Window.

Only the Analogue Input Voltage connections can be displayed in the Trace
window.

The Trace Window plots the amplitude (Y axis) against time or angle (X axis). The amplitude is scaled to the
appropriate units for the experiment e.g. displacement as mm. Pairs of X and Y cursors can be positioned to
enable accurate measurements.

In some applications the x-axis span is too large to show in the Trace Window. In this case a horizontal scroll
bar will be visible to scroll along the x-axis.

Trace Toolbar

Button Name Details Visibility

General
 Undocks the Trace Window into its own separate
Docking
Button Window, or re-docks the window back to the VDAS®
layout.

Selects the units for each horizontal division of the

Not visible when the trace
Timebase Trace Window. See Timebase
links to an external trigger.
.

X axis Mouse
Position Displays the X axis value of the mouse.
Indicator
Trace Control Panel
Trace
Use to select a different name or colour for the trace.
Properties

Trace Enable / Use to control whether the trace appears in the Trace
Disable Window.

Only visible on channel 1

Trigger Mode Selects the trigger mode (Rising or Falling Edge) and 2 for selected
products.

Selects from a choice of; Shift and scale the trace to

Autoscale fit the Trace Window or Set the trace zero at mid-point
and scale to fit the Trace Window.

Units per Selects the units for each vertical division of the Trace
Division Window.

Only visible for smoothed

Filter Adjusts the filtering applied to the trace.
and derived traces.

Adds a trace, which is based on the current trace. The

types of trace which can be added is dependent on
Add Trace the base trace. Possible additional trace types are;
Reference, Smoothed, 1st derivative or 2nd
derivative.

Not visible on channel 1

Remove Trace Removes a trace. and 2, as they cannot be
removed.

Reset
Resets the reference trace.
Reference

Only visible for selected

Damping
Fit the trace to a damping model. products and only when a
Model
trace has been captured.

Y Axis Mouse
Displays the Y axis value at the point where the Only visible when there is a
Position
mouse vertical crosshair intersects the trace. trace.
Indicator

Y Axis Cursor Displays the difference between the two horizontal

Difference Y axis cursors.

Cursors
The VDAS® Trace Window also contains Cursors, which can be used to accurately measure the difference
between two points in both the X and Y axis.
 • Click and drag the cursor handles at the edge of the Trace Window to show and position the cursors.

• The differential Cursor values are displayed in the Trace Window Toolbar.

• To remove a Cursor, right-click on a Cursor handle.

Some VDAS® applications may also include Data Fields based Cursor values.

X Axis Scale (Timebase)

Adjust the timebase to a suitable value for the signal that is being measured, so that the waveform can be seen
clearly.

Changing the timebase removes previously recorded traces.

If the timebase is greater than 5µs, the software uses decimation to reduce the effective sample rate. It also
uses digital low pass filters to prevent aliasing distortion. Therefore, higher frequency components of the
original signal may become attenuated.

Y Axis Scale
The user can manually select the Y axis Units per Division value or use the Autoscale button to automatically
fit the trace within the Trace window.

Y Axis Offset
Click and drag up or down on the zero-value label of a trace to apply an offset to the Y position of the trace on
the display.
Reference, Smoothed and Derived Traces
• A reference trace is an exact 'snapshot' copy of the trace it is based on. It will remain in position until
updated when it will make a new copy of the trace.

• A smoothed trace is a live copy of a base trace with an additional filter applied.

• A derived trace is a live mathematical derivation of the trace it is based on. A first derivative or a
second derivative can be selected. For example, the first derivative of a displacement trace is a
velocity trace, the second is an acceleration trace. A filter can also be applied to these traces.

To see the smoothed and derived traces more clearly, use the Trace Enable / Disable button to hide the Trace
that they are based on.

Filter
VDAS® uses a Savitzky-Golay digital filter to calculate estimates of the smoothed and derivative traces. The
filter coefficients are convolved with the input signal to produce the output trace data. The greater the number
of filter coefficients (the filter width) then the greater the level of smoothing. However, too much filtering will
reduce the amplitude and shape of the trace. Use just enough filtering to reduce any distortion on the trace
without affecting its amplitude or shape.

The filter is only available for the smoothed and derived traces.

Damping Models
Underdamped and overdamped models can be fitted to captured traces. Application of the use of damping
models is specific to certain VDAS® application and more information will be found in the associated User
Guide.

Viscous Underdamped Model

An underdamped model is calculated from an underdamped trace with a visible decay.
The Underdamped Model requires at least five cycles to be visible in the Trace Window. The model fitting tool
only works on the part of the waveform that can be seen. Adjust the Timebase and scroll the window as
required.

1. Make sure that the natural frequency of the waveform has been measured and entered.

2. Click on the Trace Toolbar Damping Model Button and select Fit Underdamped Model. A Viscous
Underdamped Model Fitting Dialogue Box will appear.

3. Click on the ‘Fit Data' button.

A model will be fitted to the trace. A tick symbol will appear if the software believes it has found a best fit
solution. As a double-check, the R2 value should be around 1.0. Some Data Fields may also be updated based
on the model fitting results. If the software cannot find a solution, try a different part of the waveform, or capture
a fresh trace.

4. Click Hide or Show as required.

5. To close the Model Fitting dialogue, click off it to one side.

Overdamped and Critically Damped Model
An Overdamped model is calculated from a trace that reaches equilibrium.

The start of the curve and equilibrium state should be visible in the Trace Window. The model fitting tool only
works on the part of the waveform that can be seen. Adjust the Timebase and scroll the window as required.

1. Make sure that the natural frequency of the undamped waveform has already been measured and
entered.

2. Click on the Trace Toolbar Damping Model Button and select Fit Overdamped Model. A Viscous
Underdamped Model Fitting Dialogue Box will appear.

3. Click on the ‘Fit Data' button.

 A model will be fitted to the trace. A tick symbol will appear if the software believes it has found a best fit
solution. As a double-check, the R2 value should be around 1.0. Some Data Fields may also be updated based
on the model fitting results. If the software cannot find a solution, try a different part of the waveform, or capture
a fresh trace.

4. Click Hide or Show as required.

5. To close the Model Fitting dialogue, click off it to one side.

Recording Trace Data

When a row of data is recorded in the Data Table a snapshot of the Trace data is also recorded to the table.
This snapshot only includes the section of trace that is currently visible in the Trace Window.
Saving and Exporting Traces
Recorded trace data is saved or exported with the other data in the Data Table.

Viewing Recorded Trace Data

In the Data Table an additional column will appear on the right hand side for each visible trace. For each
recorded row of data with a trace a View button is available. Clicking the view button for the trace shows a plot
the recorded trace.

Copying and Saving Traces as Images

VDAS® allows the traces that are seen on screen to be copied. Right-click over the grid area of the Trace
Window. A shortcut menu appears. There are a choice of four ways that the traces may be captured:

• Copy complete analogue trace window to Clipboard (copies the traces and the toolbar).

• Copy analogue traces to Clipboard (copies just the traces).

• Save complete analogue trace window to file (saves the traces and the toolbar as a jpg, bmp or png
image).

• Save analogue traces to file (saves just the traces as a jpg, bmp or png image).

Trace Window Properties

Right-click over the grid area of the Trace Window. A shortcut menu appears. Select the 'Change trace window
properties' option. The colours of the background and the grid lines can be changed. The 'Phosphor' mimics a
helpful effect of old oscilloscopes. It makes the traces fade slowly, rather than instantly disappear.
Layout
Each VDAS® application has a default layout, which can be customised by adding new Data Groups and
Fields, by changing their properties or by customising the layout font and text. These custom Layouts can be
saved and restored later. This also allows the custom Layout files to be shared with students as required. A
custom layout created for one piece of equipment cannot be opened on another.

TecQuipment occasionally needs to update the default Layouts, to make improvements or to add new features.
Whilst we try our best to maintain compatibility between VDAS® versions, occasionally layouts and Data files
saved in an old version of VDAS® may not be compatible with a newer version.

Save a Layout
VDAS® communications are disabled whenever the save function is used. This is to allow the Trace data to be
captured. Customise the Layout as required

• To save a layout click File ► Layout ► Save Layout

Open a Layout
When opening a layout the current selected VDAS® application must be the same as the which the custom
layout is based on.

• To open a layout click File ► Layout ► Open Layout

To Customise the Layout Font

VDAS® includes font and text editing options especially useful when translating the layout into different
languages. This feature can be used as well as customising Data Groups and Data Feilds

• To customise a layout font File ► Layout ► Assign Layout Font

The layout font is only used for the Data Group and Data Field Captions and text boxes. To ensure that symbol
characters are displayed correctly, the Data Field Unit font does not change. After assigning a font the custom
layout should be saved.

Data Capture
When new data is recorded it is added as a new Data Row in the current Data Series. This can then be
displayed in the Data Table or on a Chart.

To update the window with real-time data click Start Communications

A row of recorded data captures all Data Fields including ones where the
export tick is unchecked. Ticking the export tick will show the Data Field in the
Data Table and include the data in an export.

Manual Data Capture

• To record a row of data, click Data ► Record data row (or press F4).
Timed Data Capture
1. To automatically record data, click Data ► Start timed data acquisition

2. Select the interval between data samples.

3. Select when the data capture will stop.

a) For “Continue Indefinitely” the capture needs to be manually stopped

b) For “Stop After” select the maximum number of readings or duration. The capture will stop
automatically when the limit is reached.

4. Click the “Start Timer” Button to start the timed capture.

A new Data Set is created each time the “Start Timer” button is clicked.
Existing Data Sets are not affected.
Data Table Window

The Data Table displays data from the current Data Series. Each enabled Data Field in the Main Window is
represented as a column in the Data Table. When data is recorded a new row is appended to the current Data
Series and the Data Table is updated.
Data Table Toolbar Buttons
Toolbar Buttons Command Details

Toggle shrink to fit When enabled the printed Data Table will be resized to all fit on one page.
This is enabled by default.

Page Setup Opens a dialogue box, which allows the printer paper settings to be
configured.

Print Preview Displays a preview of how the Data Table will look when printed.

Print Prints the Data Table.

Display Chart Window Opens the Chart Window.

Record Data Row Records a row of data to the current Data Series.

Delete Selected Row Deletes the row that is selected in the Data Table.

Add New Data Series Adds a new Data Series

.

Delete Current Data Deletes the current Data Series

Series .

Rename Current Data Opens a dialogue box to rename the current Data Series
Series .

Display Recorded Data

Use the check boxes next to a field to show or hide the value in the Data Table.
Show Statistics on Data
Statistical values can be calculated for numeric columns in the data Series.

Right click over the data in a column on the Data Table window and select Show Statistics (Min, Max…) from
the context menu.
Data Series
Data is recorded in a Data Series. One or more Data Series can be used. Data is recorded to the current
selected Data Series. Each Data Series can be named.

Tip: Use a different Data Series for each experiment.

Use the dropdown list on toolbar of the Main Window, the Data Table Window or the Chart Window to select
current Data Series.

Save and Export Data

Recorded data can be saved to a VDAS® Data File or exported as an Excel XLSX file. The VDAS® Data File
can be re-opened in the VDAS® software for further analysis and charting. The Excel XLSX file can be opened
by most popular spreadsheet packages.

The VDAS® Software disables its communications to the hardware when the save function is used. This allows
the VDAS® trace to be recorded.

A VDAS® Data file contains all Data Fields including ones where the export tick is unchecked. The saved data
file contains all the information required by VDAS® to restore the session, including all the data, trace data and
layout information. Once data capture is complete.

An Excel ELSX file export only contains the Data Fields marked for export.

Chart Window
 The Chart window is used to create and display a Chart based on the recorded data in the Data Table. Any
numeric Data Field can be plotted (sensor input or calculated field) against time or any other Data Field. The
Chart only displays data from the current Data Series.

It is not possible to create a Chart using data from more than one Data Series simultaneously.

Chart Toolbar Buttons

Toolbar Buttons Command Details

Opens a dialogue box, which allows the printer paper settings to be

Page Setup
configured.

Print Preview Displays a preview of how the Data Table will look when printed.

Print Prints the chart.

Snapshot Copy chart to Clipboard or save as png file.

Display Data Table

Opens the Data Table window
Window

Opens the 'Chart Curves' dialogue box. This allows the display
Modify curves
settings for the curves to be modified.

Opens a 'Data Fitting' dialogue box. This allows a line to be fitted to

Add line of best fit the data points
on the chart.

Scale chart to fit data Resizes the chart to fit all the available data.

Toggle chart cursor

Toggles the Chart cursor mode between Zoom and Draw functions.
mode
Chart Context Menu

Right click anywhere on the Chart to open the Chart context menu. This gives access to the following features:

• Copy the chart to the computer 'clipboard'.

• Save the chart as an image file (*.png, *.gif, *.jpg, *.tif, *.bmp).

• Open the Page setup dialogue.

• Print the chart.

• Show Point Values. This displays the value of the data point when the mouse cursor is hovered near
it.

• Give the chart a title.

• Show x and y axis gridlines

• Include the x and y axis zero. This ensures that the chart origin (zero) remains visible when the chart
is resized.
To Create a Chart
1. To view data in a chart, click Data ► Display Chart .

2. The Chart Curves dialogue appears.

3. Click on the 'Assign Field' button to assign a Data Field to the X-axis.

4. Click ‘Add’ to assign one or more Data Fields to the Y-axis.

Only one Data Field can be assigned to the x-axis. However, multiple Data
Fields may be assigned to the y-axis.

5. For each Y-Axis Curve select the line Colour, Symbol, Symbol Size and Joins Points.

To Assign Data Fields to the Chart Axis

In addition to the method outlined above, Data Fields can be assigned to the Chart from the Main Window or
Data Table Windows.

• From the Main Window, right click on the Data Field and from the context menu select one of the
Assign to Chart options.

• From the Data Table Window, right click on numeric data in a column and from the context menu
select one of the Assign to Chart options.
To Add a Best Fit Curve

1. On the Chart Window, click on the 'Best Fit Line' Toolbar button. A new 'Data Fitting' Dialogue Box will
appear.

2. . Use the Data Fitting Dialogue Box to select the type of line required to fit around the data and press the
'Calculate' button. A small 'Best Fit Line Properties' window will appear that shows the equation of the line,
and a Best Fit Line will appear on the chart.

3. Click on the 'Modify Curves' Toolbar button to open the 'Chart Curves' Dialogue Box. Here, it is possible
to modify the colour of the 'Best Fit Line' or view its equation.

Best Fit Curve Equation Definitions

Straight Line - Gives a straight line of the standard 'y = mx + c' format.

Polynomial - Gives a curve based on the sum of several terms that contain different powers of the same
variable.

Exponential - Gives a curve based on an exponential value of the data.

Asymptote - A line that continually approaches a given curve but does not meet it at a finite distance.

Chart Zoom
• Select the chart zoom mode from the toolbar .

• Use the mouse wheel to zoom in and out.

• Drag a region on the chart to zoom in.

• Select Scale chart to fit data to reset the zoom.

 Chart Freehand Line
• Select the chart draw mode from the toolbar

• Click and drag a line on the chart.

The line's equation will appear in the chart key and is calculated using the x axis and the left y axis. The
equation is updated as line is moved.

Only one line can be drawn on the chart at a time. Drawing a new line deletes the previously drawn line.

If the chart is closed or the data assigned to the x axis is changed, the line will be deleted.

Options
Select VDAS® Application
There is a specific VDAS® application for each piece of VDAS® equipment.

• To Click Options ► Select VDAS® Application and select the required application.

• Type in the Search box to filter the list of applications

VDAS® will remember the last Layout used and re-load this the next time it opens.

Preferences

The Options ► Preferences menu allows the configuration of user and computer level settings.
Directories
The Directories tab allows the user to change the default directories used for Saved Data and Layout files. This
affects which directory the Save, Export and Open dialog boxes start in. These settings are unique to each
Windows user. These preferences can be reset to the user's Documents directory by right clicking on the text
box and pressing Reset.

If the chosen directory cannot be found, the File Browser will default to the user's Documents directory.

Help Files
The default VDAS® Help Files are in English. If a user creates their own translation of the Help Files (supplied
in pdf format). They can specify their own file in the ‘Help File’ dialogue box.

It is also necessary to specify the help reader application by navigating to the preferred pdf file viewer in the

Help Viewer ► Application Box by selecting the browse button.

The parameters needs to be specified so that the VDAS® Help opens in the correct place when F1 is pressed.
These are defined by selection from a drop down list:

If using a viewer as an application, select ‘View Type (e.g. Acrobat, Foxit)’. If using a Browser as an application,
select ‘Browser Type (e.g. chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera)’. When selecting either of these options the
parameters are automatically assigned.

If using a different type of application select ‘Custom’. It will then be necessary to enter the parameters
manually.

When entering Custom parameters the %HelpFile must always be within

quotation marks e.g.: “%HelpFile”.
V: VDAS® 0622 English