{"id":20296,"date":"2018-08-22T10:05:10","date_gmt":"2018-08-22T17:05:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.digilentinc.com\/?p=20296"},"modified":"2021-06-09T14:01:32","modified_gmt":"2021-06-09T21:01:32","slug":"the-hidden-gems-of-waveforms-2015-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/the-hidden-gems-of-waveforms-2015-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"The &#8220;Hidden&#8221; Gems of WaveForms 2015 &#8211; Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Since\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/shop\/waveforms-2015-download-only\/\">WaveForms 2015<\/a>\u00a0contains up to eleven analog and digital tools in a single desktop application, it has a lot of options and features. In order to keep the user experience as simple and intuitive as possible, the interface has been designed with simplicity in mind.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/shop\/waveforms-2015-download-only\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-20280\" src=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/WaveForms-2015-Software-for-USB-Oscilloscope-and-Logic-Analyzer-600x470.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"470\" data-wp-pid=\"20280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/WaveForms-2015-Software-for-USB-Oscilloscope-and-Logic-Analyzer-600x470.png 600w, https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/WaveForms-2015-Software-for-USB-Oscilloscope-and-Logic-Analyzer-768x601.png 768w, https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/WaveForms-2015-Software-for-USB-Oscilloscope-and-Logic-Analyzer-800x626.png 800w, https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/WaveForms-2015-Software-for-USB-Oscilloscope-and-Logic-Analyzer.png 966w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">Unfortunately, the vast array of settings and features means that some of these options have to be abstracted. The Quick Start Guide, tool tutorials and Quick Start Video series all help shed light on the tools themselves and all of the functionality, but sometimes things still get missed. Today I&#8217;d like to shed some light on some of these hidden gems.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Tabs to Windows and Windows to Tabs:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This is one that I only recently discovered myself. When you first open WaveForms, all of the tools default to tabs&#8230; but what if you want to have tools in separate windows? This could be useful if you want to view more than one tool at a time without having to switch back and forth between tabs.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_20274\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20274\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/shop\/waveforms-2015-download-only\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-20274 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Tab-vs-Window-600x276.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"276\" data-wp-pid=\"20274\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Tab-vs-Window-600x276.png 600w, https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Tab-vs-Window-768x353.png 768w, https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Tab-vs-Window-1024x471.png 1024w, https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Tab-vs-Window-800x368.png 800w, https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Tab-vs-Window.png 1630w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20274\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">On the left is the Oscilloscope tool as a tab and on the right is the Waveform Generator tool as a window.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">Well, you can! Clicking on the button below will open a tab into a new window, and a window into a tab.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_20273\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20273\" style=\"width: 176px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/shop\/waveforms-2015-download-only\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-20273 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/tab-to-window-button.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"176\" height=\"162\" data-wp-pid=\"20273\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20273\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The little button on the top right that looks like two windows is it!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Something to note about this is that if you do this, the manual trigger button will stay in the main window, but don&#8217;t despair, there is a keyboard shortcut so you can use the trigger easily from any window.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_20259\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20259\" style=\"width: 338px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/shop\/waveforms-2015-download-only\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-20259 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Manual-Trigger-Shortcut.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"338\" height=\"190\" data-wp-pid=\"20259\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20259\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">In addition to the button on the bottom left, you can manually trigger from the settings window or use the keyboard shortcut.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><strong>Saving, and Opening a WaveForms 2015 Workspace:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Often times during development, there are tests or measurements that you need to take on a regular basis. And it can be kind of a pain to get all the adjustments and settings just right over and over. In WaveForms 2015, the Waveforms workspace can be saved. This will allow you to save all of your settings and data that is currently open, and the next time you open that workspace it will be there!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_20268\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20268\" style=\"width: 439px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/shop\/waveforms-2015-download-only\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-20268 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Save-Workspace.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"439\" height=\"324\" data-wp-pid=\"20268\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20268\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">From the Workspace menu the workspace can be saved.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">This is also great for demonstrating results, or for working with teams remotely. If you need to send your results to someone else, instead of sending images or having to load the data to another program, (by the way you can do these things also) you can save the workspace and send it to whoever needs the results. This way they can see all your settings and analyze the data in the tool itself.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_20262\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20262\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/shop\/waveforms-2015-download-only\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-20262 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Open-Workspace-600x252.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"252\" data-wp-pid=\"20262\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Open-Workspace-600x252.png 600w, https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Open-Workspace.png 721w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20262\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Saved workspaces can be opened from the Workspace menu or from the workspaces in the main window.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><strong>Green Arrows and Gears:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Another thing that&#8217;s commonly overlooked\u00a0are the green arrows and gears.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_20254\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20254\" style=\"width: 208px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/shop\/waveforms-2015-download-only\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-20254 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/green-arrow-and-gears.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"208\" height=\"118\" data-wp-pid=\"20254\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20254\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">You can see an example of a gear and green arrow in the top right corner of this image.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">If you can&#8217;t find the setting your looking for, open a green arrow or gear. The green arrows expand more advanced settings so that the basic functionality isn&#8217;t over complicated.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_20255\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20255\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/shop\/waveforms-2015-download-only\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-20255 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/green-arrow-expanded-and-unexpanded-600x183.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"183\" data-wp-pid=\"20255\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/green-arrow-expanded-and-unexpanded-600x183.png 600w, https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/green-arrow-expanded-and-unexpanded-768x234.png 768w, https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/green-arrow-expanded-and-unexpanded-800x244.png 800w, https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/green-arrow-expanded-and-unexpanded.png 925w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20255\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Here you can see the logic analyzer with the green arrow not expanded on the left and expanded on the right.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">And the gears provide additional settings that aren&#8217;t needed by every single user. However, these settings can be extremely useful, I&#8217;ll go over some in later hidden gems.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_20253\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20253\" style=\"width: 254px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/shop\/waveforms-2015-download-only\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-20253 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/gear-menu.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"254\" height=\"220\" data-wp-pid=\"20253\" srcset=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/gear-menu.png 254w, https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/gear-menu-110x96.png 110w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 254px) 100vw, 254px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20253\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Here is one example of a menu that&#8217;s accessed via the gear icon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>These first three hidden gems are just a start. Stay tuned to the blog for more of the hidden gems of WaveForms 2015. If you&#8217;d like to see them for yourself, <a href=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/shop\/waveforms-2015-download-only\/\">WaveForms 2015<\/a> can be downloaded for free!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Read the rest of the series through the links below:<\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/the-hidden-gems-of-waveforms-2015-part-2\/\">The &#8220;Hidden&#8221; Gems of WaveForms 2015 &#8211; Part 2<br \/>\n<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/the-hidden-gems-of-waveforms-2015-part-3\/\">The &#8220;Hidden&#8221; Gems of WaveForms 2015 &#8211; Part 3<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/the-hidden-gems-of-waveforms-2015-part-4\/\">The &#8220;Hidden&#8221; Gems of WaveForms 2015 &#8211; Part 4<\/a><\/p>\n<div class='watch-action'><div class='watch-position align-left'><div class='action-like'><a class='lbg-style6 like-20296 jlk' data-task='like' data-post_id='20296' data-nonce='5286a1c13f' rel='nofollow'><img src='https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/wti-like-post-pro\/images\/pixel.gif' title='Like' \/><span class='lc-20296 lc'>+1<\/span><\/a><\/div><div class='action-unlike'><a class='unlbg-style6 unlike-20296 jlk' data-task='unlike' data-post_id='20296' data-nonce='5286a1c13f' rel='nofollow'><img src='https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/wti-like-post-pro\/images\/pixel.gif' title='Unlike' \/><span class='unlc-20296 unlc'>0<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div> <div class='status-20296 status align-left'><\/div><\/div><div class='wti-clear'><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Think you know all about WaveForms 2015? Find out for sure with our new Hidden Gems of WaveForms series!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":20259,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4323,4312,1563],"tags":[111,1736,95,452],"ppma_author":[4466],"class_list":["post-20296","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-software","category-usb-scopes-analyzers-generators","category-guide","tag-analog-discovery","tag-analog-discovery-2","tag-projects","tag-waveforms"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Manual-Trigger-Shortcut.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"authors":[{"term_id":4466,"user_id":18,"is_guest":0,"slug":"kaitlyn","display_name":"Kaitlyn Franz","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9276021eaa44781ce19f364cfca46ada25e1500769cf4803a095a5bae83c912a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":"","9":"","10":""}],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20296","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20296"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20296\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20259"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20296"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20296"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20296"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=20296"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}