Channels Tab

Overview

The Channels Tab provides configuration of channels in the display.

The Channels Tab lists a subset of all channels.

Channels typically convert values coming from sources into scaled values and can be routed to other channels, gauges, and in some cases externally (e.g. using CAN Transmit).

Some channel types have dedicated tabs such as CAN Channels , Logic Channels or Timer Channels .

Channel Types

The channel type may be changed and each type has a different editor.

• Predefined Channels
• Bitmask Channel
• Calibration Factor Channel
• Case Channel
• Differentiator Channel
• Distance Countdown Channel
• Distance Trip Channel
• ECU Text Channel
• ETA Channel
• Filter Channel
• Freeze Channel
• Fuel Channel
• Function (Lookup Table) Channel
• If Channel
• Integrator Channel
• Linear (Scalar) Channel
• Maths Channel
• On Change Channel
• Sensor Library Channel
• Text Channel
• Toggle Channel

Editing Channels

Select a channel from the list on the left hand side to view / edit the channel configuration.

Common Fields

Channel Name

The channel may be renamed in the Channel Name field. If a channel is renamed, any references to it (e.g. from Gauges) shall be updated. Channel names must be unique; if the rename would result in a duplicate name then an error will be posted and the Channel Name field will revert to the original name.

Predefined channels can’t be renamed.

Primary Input

Most channels have a single input. This may be a ‘Source’ or another channel.

CAN channels are created using the CAN Receive tab. These have an implicitly created ‘Source’ that can’t be changed.

Filter

An ‘in-place’ filter chain may be specified on most channel types. Filter chains insert hidden channels in the setup that modify the channel value in various ways, such as averaging (box filtering) or presenting error text when the input has timed out.

Alternatively, a filter channel may be created to provide an alternative filtered version of the channel with a different name.

See Filter Channel for more details.

Input Units

If not set, the input units will be implicitly set to the output units of the Primary Input channel.

Otherwise, the Input Units specify the expected units of physical values coming into this channel. If the primary input produces values with a different physical unit then values will be pre-converted to the expected input units, if possible.

To the right of the Input Units selector is a copy button to clone the input units from the Primary Input.

Output Units

Indicates the physical units of values following any scaling specified by the channel configuration. For example the channel may be a Function (Lookup Table) Channel that has input units of Volts and converts this to a temperature in Celsius. The input and output units make this conversion clear.

Display Units

These are the physical units that the channel should be displayed in. The channel configuration may produce a specific set of units but the user preferentially would prefer another unit. For example, a Function (Lookup Table) Channel may output celsius but it is preferred to display temperatures in Fahrenheit.

Next to the Display Units selector is a dropdown box to select the Display Units policy. By default, this will be set to ‘Match Preferences’:

Match Preferences

Automatically set the display units for this channel when the global unit preferences are changed. For example, if the Output Units are a temperature unit and the unit preferences selects ‘Fahrenheit’ for temperature units then the display units shall automatically be changed to ‘Fahrenheit’ and the physical value of the channel shall be rescaled from the selected Output Units.

If there is not a global unit preference for the Output Units type then this is equivalent to the ‘Match Output’ policy.

When ‘Match Preferences’ is selected a Unit Preferences button is show to the right of the drop-down box to open the Unit Preferences. The preferences are also available from the menu action Configure | Unit Preferences..., see Unit Preferences for more details.

Match Output

Track the selected Output Units for the display units - if the Output Units are changed then the Display Units shall be automatically updated to match.

Override

Always convert the output units to the selected Display Unit, if a conversion exists.

Adding / Removing Channels

Towards the bottom right of the Channels List, use the button to add a new channel, and the button to remove the selected channel(s).

Removing CAN channels from this list shall also remove the channel from the signals table on the CAN Receive Tab.

Predefined Channels

Depending upon the display type, there will be some pre-defined channels in the setup. New setups will have these channels added automatically.

When loading existing setups, if any predefined channels are missing, they shall be automatically added when the setup is loaded.

Check the “Show Predefined” checkbox to the lower left of the Channels List to include predefined channels in the Channels list. Predefined channels are shown in a different colour and usually can’t be edited or removed from the setup.

CAN Channels

Using the context menu (right click) on the channel list provides an option to show the channel in the CAN Receive .

Channel Type Support Matrix