VAB™ for INFINITY Tutorial Brief introduction to making your own VAB applications

Tutorial Overview Unit 1 - Important Toolbar Buttons Unit 2 - Loading Example Worksheets Unit 3 - Creating your own Worksheets

Unit 1 - Important Toolbar Buttons VAB for INFINITY Toolbar

Important Toolbar Buttons File Commands

Important Toolbar Buttons Component Selection

Important Toolbar Buttons Connection/Mode Selection

Important Toolbar Buttons Run/Stop Selection

Important Toolbar Buttons File Commands

Important Toolbar Buttons File Commands New Creates a new, blank worksheet

Important Toolbar Buttons File Commands Open Allows user to select an existing worksheet New Creates a new, blank worksheet

Important Toolbar Buttons File Commands Open examples Allows user to select from example worksheets Open Allows user to select an existing worksheet New Creates a new, blank worksheet

Important Toolbar Buttons File Commands Save For saving current worksheet Open examples Allows user to select from example worksheets Open Allows user to select an existing worksheet New Creates a new, blank worksheet

Important Toolbar Buttons Component Selection

Important Toolbar Buttons Component Selection Select blocks Brings up block function selector dialog box to allow user to select from available components

Important Toolbar Buttons Connection/Mode Selection

Important Toolbar Buttons Connection/Mode Selection Setup Mode Default mode, used for selecting and arranging components

Important Toolbar Buttons Connection/Mode Selection Setup Mode Default mode, used for selecting and arranging components Connect Allows connections to be made among blocks such that the data output from a given block may be used as input for another block - this is the usual connection mode

Important Toolbar Buttons Connection/Mode Selection Setup Mode Default mode, used for selecting and arranging components Connect Allows connections to be made among blocks such that the data output from a given block may be used as input for another block - this is the usual connection mode Conditional Connection To allow connections to be made among blocks such that the data output from a given block may be used to control whether another block is allowed to run

Important Toolbar Buttons Connection/Mode Selection Setup Mode Default mode, used for selecting and arranging components Parameter Connection To allow connections to be made among blocks such that the data output from a given block may be used to set a parameter of another block dynamically Connect Allows connections to be made among blocks such that the data output from a given block may be used as input for another block - this is the usual connection mode Conditional Connection To allow connections to be made among blocks such that the data output from a given block may be used to control whether another block is allowed to run

Important Toolbar Buttons Connection/Mode Selection Delete Used for deleting components Setup Mode Default mode, used for selecting and arranging components Parameter Connection To allow connections to be made among blocks such that the data output from a given block may be used to set a parameter of another block dynamically Connect Allows connections to be made among blocks such that the data output from a given block may be used as input for another block - this is the usual connection mode Conditional Connection To allow connections to be made among blocks such that the data output from a given block may be used to control whether another block is allowed to run

Important Toolbar Buttons Run/Stop Selection

Important Toolbar Buttons Run/Stop Selection Run Starts execution of the system and runs until ‘Stop’ is pressed

Important Toolbar Buttons Run/Stop Selection Stop Used to stop the current execution of the system Run Starts execution of the system and runs until ‘Stop’ is pressed

Unit 2 - Loading Example Worksheets Useful for initial learning May be used as basis for new designs Two methods of loading examples Use ‘Open examples’ toolbar button Use ‘Open’ toolbar button and browse

‘Open examples’ Method File Commands Open examples Allows user to select from example worksheets Select ‘Open examples’ using the toolbar button

‘Open examples’ Method Simply click on desired tab, then desired Lab

Unit 3 - Creating your own Worksheets Creating your first worksheet Using other Connection Modes Parameter Connections Conditional Connections Using Global Variables as Parameters Tips and Tricks A few Important points Framesize Precision Sample Rate

Creating your first worksheet Select Components Arrange Components Connect Components ‘Run’ the algorithm Modify Component Parameters

Step 1 - Select Components Component Selection Select blocks Brings up block function selector dialog box to allow user to select from available components Click on ‘Select blocks’ toolbar button

Step 1 - Select Components Selecting blocks 1. Choose the library of interest - i.e., ‘Simulation Library’ for PC-based functions or ‘Real-time Library’ or ‘Native Library’ for DSP-based functions 2. Select desired group from Group List or click on ‘Select All Groups’ to show all functions in currently selected library 3. Highlight desired component in Function List and either drag to worksheet, double click, or click on ‘Add to Worksheet’ button Select then drag desired component to worksheet

Step 2 - Arrange Components Ensure you are in Setup Mode Connection/Mode Selection Setup Mode Default mode, used for selecting and arranging components

Step 2 - Arrange Components Ensure you are in Setup Mode Simply click on a component and drag into desired position Repeat for all components

Step 3 - Connect Components View each component icon as having a left half (destination channels) and a right half (source channels) Choose the ‘Connect’ toolbar button to enter the connect mode Make connections by clicking within icon - do not try to click on the channel arrows of the icon Always click first on a source channel (left half), then destination channel (right half) - or - on a destination channel then a source channel.

Step 3 - Connect Components

Step 3 - Connect Components Connection Regions 1. Think of each block icon as having a left side and a right side.

Step 3 - Connect Components Connection Regions 1. Think of each block icon as having a left side and a right side. 2. If a block has multiple channels, mentally split the half into as many regions as there are channels. For example, the Add block has two input channels, therefore two regions on its left half.

Step 3 - Connect Components Connection Regions 1. Think of each block icon as having a left side and a right side. 2. If a block has multiple channels, mentally split the half into as many regions as there are channels. For example, the Add block has two input channels, therefore two regions on its left half. 3. Once the regions have been identified mentally, simply begin making connections! Represents a region of the component to click on

Step 3 - Connect Components Connection/Mode Selection Ensure you select ‘Connect’ mode Connect Allows connections to be made among blocks such that the data output from a given block may be used as input for another block - this is the usual connection mode

Step 3 - Connect Components Represents area on component to click on

Step 3 - Connect Components Connecting blocks 1. After selecting the ‘Connect’ mode from toolbar, click on the right half of desired ‘source’ block (i.e., Sweep Generator) First click in this region Represents area on component to click on

Step 3 - Connect Components Connecting blocks 1. After selecting the ‘Connect’ mode from toolbar, click on the right half of desired ‘source’ block (i.e., Sweep Generator) 2. Next click on left half of desired ‘destination’ block (i.e., Add) - and for blocks with multiple channels, click in region closest to desired channel. Next click in this region Represents area on component to click on

Step 3 - Connect Components Connecting blocks 1. After selecting the ‘Connect’ mode from toolbar, click on the right half of desired ‘source’ block (i.e., Sweep Generator) 2. Next click on left half of desired ‘destination’ block (i.e., Add) - and for blocks with multiple channels, click in region closest to desired channel. Connection Made! Represents area on component to click on

Step 3 - Connect Components Connecting blocks 1. After selecting the ‘Connect’ mode from toolbar, click on the right half of desired ‘source’ block (i.e., Sweep Generator) 2. Next click on left half of desired ‘destination’ block (i.e., Add) - and for blocks with multiple channels, click in region closest to desired channel. 3. Repeat until all connections are made Note - you must always click within the block icon - never outside of it (don’t click on the arrows) Represents area on component to click on

Step 4 - ‘Run’ the algorithm Run/Stop Selection Run Starts execution of the system and runs until ‘Stop’ is pressed Press ‘Run’ to start execution

Step 5 - Modify Component Parameters Either double-click or right-click on desired component to view/modify its parameters Modify desired parameters and select OK Note - this may be done while executing algorithm for live instant feedback

Tips and Tricks Component Selection Tips Use ‘Customize Toolbars…’ under ‘Options’ menu to create toolbars containing components Drag desired function to empty workspace area Add additional functions by dragging them on top of the first function When complete, drag new toolbar (pallet) to edge of workspace and dock if desired Allows easy component selection without using the Block Function Selector for commonly-used components

Tips and Tricks Connection Tips After clicking on source block, use right mouse button for clicking on multiple destinations There is never a need to ‘disconnect’ or delete a connection - simply re-connect to desired point and it will automatically disconnect the previous source connection

Tips and Tricks The right mouse button Right-clicking on a blank workspace area allows the right mouse button to be custom configured for commonly-used menu commands Useful for ‘Block Function Selector’, ‘Previous Level’, and ‘Open file’ commands, etc.