3,907

Downloads

143

Downloads of v 1.2.956

2021-05-12

Last published

MPLAB-Data-Visualizer-Plugin

1.2.956

It can be difficult to troubleshoot data on an embedded target while your application is running. In the same way a debugger helps you debug your application code, MPLAB Data Visualizer helps you debug your data. With MPLAB Data Visualizer, you can see how key data points in your application change during runtime, e.g. visualize values captured by a sensor on your development board.

To install MPLAB-Data-Visualizer-Plugin, download this package and open it in IDE.

Supported Products: MPLAB X

Release Notes

MPLAB® Data Visualizer v1.2.956
May 6th, 2021

OVERVIEW

It can be difficult to troubleshoot data on an embedded target while your application is running. In the same way a debugger helps you debug your application code, MPLAB Data Visualizer helps you debug your data. With MPLAB Data Visualizer, you can see how key data points in your application change during runtime, e.g. visualize values captured by a sensor on your development board.

MPLAB Data Visualizer has the following features:

- Capture data streamed from a running embedded target via serial port (CDC) or the Data Gateway Interface (DGI)
- Concurrently stream data and debug target code using the MPLAB®X IDE
- Decode data fields at runtime using the Data Stream Protocol format
- Visualize the raw or decoded data in a Graph as a time series or display the data in a terminal
- Analyze plotted data using cursors to measure bandwidth, pulse width and more
- Save a snapshot of plotted data as CSV or JSON
- Visualize and analyze power consumption on supported platforms

MPLAB Data Visualizer comes as a stand-alone application and as a plug-in to MPLAB X.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

Like the MPLAB®X IDE, the MPLAB Data Visualizer is based on the NetBeans Platform. Thus it has similar runtime requirements. The minimum platforms are:

- Windows 10 Professional
- Ubuntu® 18.04 or similar
- macOS® 10.15 Catalina

The MPLAB Data Visualizer plug-in must be installed in MPLAB X version 5.30 or later for correct operation.

A minimum of 8 GB system memory is recommended.

HARDWARE SUPPORT

MPLAB Data Visualizer supports targets that stream data over a (virtual) COM port, as well as tools implementing the Data Gateway Interface (DGI) USB interface.

When using a COM port, any target or board can be supported, also user-specific boards. The DGI interface is supported by the Microchip Curiosity Nano and Xplained Pro platforms, as well as the Microchip Power Debugger and Atmel-ICE.

In order to ensure the best possible user experience, make sure that kits or tools used with the MPLAB Data Visualizer are updated to the most recent firmware version.

DOCUMENTATION

Documentation is shipped with the product and can be opened from the Data Visualizer User Interface once started.

INSTALLING

The latest version of the standalone MPLAB Data Visualizer can be downloaded from the Microchip Gallery at http:://gallery.microchip.com. After downloading the installer, start the installation and follow the instructions in the installer.

The plugin version for MPLAB X can be installed and updated from the plugin center in MPLAB X (Tools Menu -> Plugins). This is the recommended approach. It is also possible to download the plugin from the Microchip Gallery, if installation in MPLAB without an internet connection is required.

WHAT'S NEW

v1.2.956:

- Visualize power consumption on supported platforms
- Inspect maximum, minimum and average power consumption over time
- Open visualizer workspace files directly from the MPLAB environment (MPLAB X 5.50 required)

A compatibility update, v1.05, was also made for the Machine Learning Plugin. v1.05 is required for uploading data directly to machine learning partners after this update.

v1.2:

- Save a snapshot of plotted signals to disk as CSV or JSON values
- Plot two-dimensional data sets in the new XY Graph panel
- Connect to Machine Learning partners using the separately installable Machine Learning plugin

v1.1:

- Quick actions for plotting data or viewing data in the terminal
- Choose whether to plot Variable Streamer fields on same or separate axes
- Simplified data stream protocol configuration
  - Fewer steps means its easier to start visualizing multiple variables
- Graph enhancements
  - Plot several signals on the same axis for easy alignment and zoom
  - Organize axes on different rows, resize, and position
  - Inspect values of data points
  - Use cursors to measure signal width, frequency, and duty cycle
- Notable fixed issues
  - Under heavy system load data timestamps could drift so that data plots appeared delayed compared to actual events (DV-1280).
  - Deleting a field/variable in the plot wizard before a name was assigned could crash the application (DV-1265).
  - When streaming data on serial port, data could be timestamped so that parts of plots looked stretched or compressed (DV-1186)

v1.0.681:

- Compatibility fix for MPLAB X IDE v5.40
  - Symptoms: No kits show up in connections view and an exception is thrown at startup or on kit connection event.

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

Microchip provides online support via our web site at https://www.microchip.com/support.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

When streaming timestamped data over DGI from an Xplained Pro or Curiosity Nano kit, too high data rates can lead to buffer overflows and reduced stability of operation. This also applies to Debug GPIO and Power Data. The Data Visualizer UI will display a warning when the kit or tool indicates a buffer overflow condition. The sample rate at which buffer overflows are likely to occur dependens on the PC and the system load. For GPIO it could be down to a few kHz sample rate at system load. For other interfaces it is typically higher.

To get the expected result when streaming data, it is important to configure the target system properly. Study the user guide of the target development board or tool carefully as it can contain important information.

KNOWN ISSUES

DV-806 Plotted data can look distorted at certain zoom levels. This happens because the Visualizer reduces the resolution of old data as internal buffers fill up, in order to save memory. Workaround: Pause data streaming while investigating data.
All platforms

DV-835 Cannot connect to ttyACM0 for streaming data. Workaround: add your user to the dialout group and log out, then log back in.
Linux

DV-1089 When renaming a variable streamer field and the field is plotted, the plot source is disconnected. Reconnect the plot source by selecting the new name in the plot options.
All platforms

DV-1152 COM port may not be grouped with the kit interfaces. In this case the COM port will be listed under the serial port section.
Linux, Windows

DV-1153 DGI-enabled kits might not show up if a debug session is in progress in MPLAB X when MPLAB Data Visualizer standalone is started. Workaround is to stop the debug session and unplug then plug in the kit.
MPLAB X IDE 5.30, Standalone MPLAB Data Visualizer

DV-1176 Interface configuration is not applied after DGI overflow. To ensure correct operation after overflow, reconnect DGI.
All platforms

DV-1335 In the plugin, when the Data Visualizer tab is maximized it will cover floating windows. A workaround is to dock the floating window.
Win 10, MPLAB X 5.40

DV-1342 When a COM port is selected as Variable Streamer source and the Stop button is pressed, the port can only be reconnected from the Connections panel.
Win 10, Standalone

DV-1347 A false valid frame can sometimes clear the variable streamer error indicator even though there is still a mismatch with the protocol.
All platforms

DV-1595 Position of cursors can move on the first zoom operation after cursors have been placed. Reposition the cursors if this happens.
All platforms

DV-1603 Sometimes Mark will not place cursors at the boundaries of the view port. Workaround: change zoom level slightly and press Mark again.
All platforms

DV-1652 The calculated average values and the total charge and energy values displayed in the power analysis panel in the graph are based on data points displayed, and can vary slightly depending on the zoom level. Zooming in will give better accuracy as more data points are used for the calculations.
All platforms

DV-1670 On a loaded system, streaming on DGI can fail when the PC cannot read data from the debugger fast enough. This can apply to all interfaces including Power and GPIO. See the Special Consideration section for more info.
All platforms

DV-1671 The calibrate button on the DGI power interface panel can be clicked while calibration is in progress. Clicking it will not have any effect. The calibration will run to completion before a message is displayed.
All platforms

DV-1673 Clicking the Plot All Sources button on a DGI power source in the connections panel will add plots to axes based on unit, instead of to the selected data axis. If other arrangements are desired, add the power sources as plots manually.
All platforms

DV-1683 If a popup dialog overflows the Data Visualizer window, a scroll bar is displayed. Clicking the scroll bar will close the dialog. Use the mouse wheel or tab through the controls in order to scroll the dialog.
All platforms

DV-1711 On Linux, ending an MPLAB debug session can end a concurrent streaming session on the same tool.
Linux

Owners

Authors

Microchip MplabDvTeam

Tags

Dependencies

    • No dependencies.

Version History

Version Downloads Last updated Approved
MPLAB-Data-Visual... 1.3.1664 10 Tuesday, January 30, 2024 yes
MPLAB-Data-Visual... 1.3.1331 169 Friday, May 19, 2023 yes
MPLAB-Data-Visual... 1.3.1320 471 Monday, December 19, 2022 yes
MPLAB-Data-Visual... 1.3.1160 514 Tuesday, March 15, 2022 yes
MPLAB-Data-Visual... 1.3.1136 100 Friday, January 21, 2022 yes
MPLAB-Data-Visual... 1.3.1113 260 Wednesday, October 27, 2021 yes
MPLAB-Data-Visual... 1.2.956 (this version) 143 Wednesday, May 12, 2021 yes
MPLAB-Data-Visual... 1.2.835 174 Wednesday, September 23, 2020 yes
MPLAB-Data-Visual... 1.2.834 49 Monday, September 21, 2020 yes
MPLAB-Data-Visual... 1.1.793 1,219 Thursday, June 11, 2020 yes
MPLAB-Data-Visual... 1.0.675 341 Friday, December 20, 2019 yes
MPLAB-Data-Visual... 0.2.463 192 Tuesday, July 2, 2019 yes
MPLAB-Data-Visual... 0.1.438 234 Friday, May 24, 2019 yes