Creating a New Display Setup
Overview
To create a new display setup, select from the File Menu and then select a display type from the list.
Workflow Tips
Data Model
When creating a new setup it is generally best to start with the data model.
Most display setups will require acquiring data from the outside world via physical inputs such as Analogue Inputs or via CAN messages. Once data acquisition is configured then it will naturally drive the screen design process.
It can be useful to create some test screens while configuring inputs to check that data is being acquired as expected by the display.
Analogue Inputs
Analogue Inputs (Analogue to Digital Converters, ADCs) are predefined Channels and will generally be scaled in Volts. Check your display pin-out to identify the analogue channels that are connected to sensors.
Create new Channels on the Channels Tab that use these Analogue Input channels as their Primary Input and apply any required scaling based upon the data-sheets for your sensors. There may be existing preconfigured sensors in the Sensor Library Channel that match.
CAN Inputs
Configure the CAN bus to ensure that it is running at the correct bit rate: CAN Bus Configuration .
Define CAN channels on the CAN Receive . This process can be simplified if a Signal Database (DBC) files are available (or can be created) for the modules you are connecting to - see CAN Signal Database (DBC) Import .
For an overview of CAN in general, see CAN Message Overview .
Page Select
So that you can switch screens / pages on the display, decide how page switching will work; Is this from an analogue input (e.g. a rotary switch) or from a CAN message? Some displays may have predefined inputs like rotary switches. Configure the page select input here: Page Select .
Logic Channels / Notifications
It may make sense at this point to define any logic channels or notifications for things like warnings for out of range conditions.
Display Setup
Speed Input / Odometer
If vehicle speed related functions are required, set up the predefined Speed Input. Setting up the Speed Input will also enable the non-resettable Odometer function. See Speed / Odometer / Trip
Lap Timing / Beacon Input
You may also want to configure the beacon input at this stage to enable lap/stage timing. See Lap Timing / GPS . Before configuring Lap Timing, configure the Speed Input (Speed / Odometer / Trip ).
Logging
If the Display Module supports on-board logging, logging can be configured on the Logger Tab . This may be useful whilst configuring the data model; data logs may be analysed to check that inputs are behaving as expected and have correct scaling.
Image Assets
If using a heavily image based setup, you may want to import image assets for use in screen designs at this point. See the Images Tab .
Some images may be configured to switch between various visual states based upon the value of a channel (e.g. for a battery warning light). See Image Selectors Tab for information on how to configure this.
Screen Design
Once input channels and image assets are prepared, screens can be designed to display data with gauges on the Design Tab .
Simulation
If a simulator is available for your display, then it may be simulated on the Simulator Tab so that screen layouts can be tested before the more time-consuming process of testing on the real Display Module.