TST-Center User Guide

Comprehensive Guide to TST-Center

TST-Center is a powerful tool designed to streamline device communication, monitoring, and management. This detailed guide will help you understand and utilize all features of the application to their fullest potential.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Installation
3. Application Overview
4. Getting Started
5. Device Configuration
6. Interface Management
7. Feature Guide
8. Advanced Topics
9. Troubleshooting
10. FAQ

Introduction

TST-Center provides a unified interface for device communication, data visualization, and management. Whether you”re monitoring sensors, updating firmware, or automating testing procedures, TST-Center offers comprehensive tools to simplify these tasks.

Installation

System Requirements

• Windows 10/11 (64-bit)
• macOS 10.14 or later
• 8 GB RAM recommended
• 500 MB free disk space
• USB port for serial devices or Bluetooth support for BLE devices

Installation Steps

1. Download the installer for your operating system from the official website
2. Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions
3. Insert your license key, you can find it on the official website dashboard page
4. Launch TST-Center from your applications menu or desktop shortcut

Application Overview

TST-Center features a carefully designed interface with three main sections:

• Left Sidebar: Contains three expandable sections for device management, interface configuration, and feature settings
• Top Navigation Bar: Quick access to all major features
• Main Content Area: Displays the active feature”s interface and controls

Getting Started

First-time Setup

1. Launch TST-Center
2. The left sidebar will guide you through the setup process:
   • Step 1: Device Configuration
   • Step 2: Interface Selection
   • Step 3: Feature Selection

Device Configuration

Importing Device Definitions

1. Click the ”Device” section in the sidebar to expand it
2. Click the ”Import” button
3. Navigate to and select your device header file (.h)
4. The application will parse the file and extract structure information
5. Your device will appear in the device list with all its variables

Managing Multiple Devices

• Import multiple device definitions for simultaneous monitoring
• Select active devices using checkboxes in the device list
• Remove devices by clicking the ”X” icon next to their name

Interface Management

Serial Interface

1. Select ”Serial” as your interface type
2. Available serial ports will be displayed automatically
3. Select the appropriate port from the dropdown list
4. Configure baud rate (default: 115200)
5. Click ”Connect” to establish connection

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)

1. Select ”BLE” as your interface type
2. Click ”Scan” to discover nearby BLE devices
3. Select your device from the list
4. Configure service and characteristic UUIDs if needed
5. Click ”Connect” to establish connection

WebSocket

1. Select ”WebSocket” as your interface type
2. Enter the WebSocket URL (e.g., ws://192.168.1.10:8080)
3. Click ”Connect” to establish connection

Feature Guide

Watchlist

The Watchlist provides real-time monitoring and interaction with device variables.

Setting Up Variables

• Select variables from the variable list in the sidebar
• Variables will appear in the watchlist table
• Configure update interval (ms) using the input field above the table

Interacting with Variables

• View: Real-time values display in the table
• Edit: Click on a value cell to edit
• Format: Values display according to their data type and selected format (decimal, hex, char)
• Remove: Click the ”X” next to a variable to remove it from the watchlist

Watchlist Controls

• Clear All: Remove all variables from the watchlist
• Export CSV: Export current variable values to a CSV file
• Update Interval: Set the polling frequency (milliseconds)

Monitor

The Monitor feature displays raw communication data between TST-Center and your device.

Monitor Controls

• Clear: Remove all messages from the display
• Export: Save all messages to a file
• Auto-scroll: Toggle automatic scrolling as new messages arrive
• Max Messages: Set maximum number of messages to retain

Message Types

• Device Messages: Raw data received from the device
• System Information: Connection status and events
• Errors: Communication or processing errors

Logging

Logging allows you to record variable values over time for analysis.

Setting Up Logging

1. Configure variables in the watchlist
2. Click ”Start Logging” in the logging panel
3. Select file location and format
4. Set logging interval (how often to record values)
5. Choose logging mode:
   • Single Row: Each variable logs to a separate row
   • Consolidated: All variables in one row per timestamp

Logging Options

• Statistics Collection: Enable/disable collection of statistical data
• Statistics Configuration: Select which statistics to include (basic, distribution, variance, etc.)
• Export Statistics: Generate a comprehensive statistics file with analysis

Charts

Charts provide visual representation of variables over time.

Creating Charts

1. Select variables from the variable list
2. Click ”Add to Chart”
3. Configure chart options:
   • Title: Chart name
   • X-Axis: Time or another variable
   • Y-Axis: Scale and limits
   • Series Color: Customize line colors
4. Click ”Start” to begin data collection

Chart Controls

• Start/Stop: Begin or pause data collection
• Clear: Reset chart data
• Export: Save chart data to CSV or image
• Zoom: Use mouse wheel to zoom in/out
• Pan: Click and drag to pan the view
• Settings: Configure chart appearance and behavior

Scripts

Scripts automate sequences of operations for testing or device interaction.

Creating Scripts

1. Navigate to the Script feature
2. Drag blocks from the left panel to build your sequence
3. Configure each block”s parameters
4. Blocks available:
   • Get Variable: Read a device variable
   • Set Variable: Write to a device variable
   • Delay: Wait for specified milliseconds
   • Loop: Repeat a sequence of blocks
   • Wait Until: Wait for a condition to be true

Running Scripts

1. Complete your script sequence
2. Click ”Run” to execute
3. Monitor progress as blocks highlight during execution
4. Use ”Stop” to halt execution at any time

Managing Scripts

• Export: Save the current script
• Import: Load a previously saved script
• Clear: Remove all blocks and start fresh

Dashboard

The Dashboard provides a customizable visual interface for device monitoring and control.

Creating a Dashboard

1. Switch to Dashboard feature
2. Click ”Edit Mode” to enable editing
3. Drag widgets from the widget palette to the grid
4. Configure each widget:
   • Select variables to display or control
   • Set visual properties (colors, ranges, etc.)
   • Adjust size and position

Available Widgets

• Gauge: Visual representation of numeric values
• LED: Binary state indicator
• Button: Send values to device variables
• Chart: Small trend display
• Text: Value display with formatting
• Slider: Adjust numeric values

Dashboard Controls

• Edit/View Mode: Toggle between configuration and operation modes
• Save Layout: Store the current dashboard configuration
• Load Layout: Restore a previously saved dashboard
• Clear All: Remove all widgets

Update

The Update feature provides firmware management for connected devices.

Performing Firmware Updates

1. Navigate to the Update feature
2. Click ”Browse” to select firmware file
3. Click ”Start Update” to begin the process
4. Monitor progress in the status display
5. Wait for completion message

Update Settings

• Chunk Size: Configure data packet size for transmission
• Retry Count: Number of attempts for failed packets
• Timeout: Maximum wait time for responses

File Manager

The File Manager allows you to interact with the file system on your connected device.

Basic Operations

• Browse: Navigate through device directories
• Upload: Send files to the device
• Download: Retrieve files from the device
• Delete: Remove files or directories
• Refresh: Update the file listing

Working with Files

• Click on directories to navigate into them
• Use the path bar to see current location
• Click ”Upload” to select and send local files
• Select a file and click ”Download” to save it locally
• Use ”Delete” to remove selected items (confirmation required)

Table

The Table feature creates customizable data displays with variable-based rows and columns.

Creating Tables

1. Set desired number of rows and columns
2. Click ”Create Table”
3. Drag variables from the variable list onto:
   • Row headers
   • Column headers
   • Individual cells
4. Configure update interval

Table Controls

• Clear: Remove all variables from the table
• Export: Save table data to CSV file
• Refresh Rate: Set update frequency

Import/Export

This feature allows you to save and load variable configurations and values.

Exporting Variables

1. Set up desired variables in the watchlist
2. Click ”Export Variables”
3. Choose file location and name
4. All current variables and values will be saved to CSV

Importing Variables

1. Click ”Import Variables”
2. Select a previously exported CSV file
3. Variables and values will be loaded
4. Values can be automatically sent to the device

Settings

The Settings page allows you to customize TST-Center”s behavior.

Available Settings

• Data Format: Choose between decimal, hexadecimal, or character display
• Auto-connect: Enable/disable automatic connection on startup
• License Management: View or update license information
• Default Directories: Set preferred locations for saving files

Advanced Topics

Custom Import Formats

TST-Center supports various header file formats. Consult the documentation for custom format specifications.

Statistical Analysis

The logging feature includes comprehensive statistical analysis:

• Basic statistics (min, max, average)
• Distribution analysis (median, quartiles, histograms)
• Variance measurements (standard deviation, coefficient of variation)
• Trend analysis (rate of change, regression)

Multi-Device Management

For working with multiple devices simultaneously:

• Import configurations for each device
• Connect to each device using appropriate interfaces
• Use device selectors in features to specify target device

Troubleshooting

Connection Issues

Serial Connection Problems

• Issue: Device not appearing in port list
  Solution: Check USB connections, install device drivers
• Issue: Connection fails with error
  Solution: Verify baud rate and port settings

Bluetooth Connection Problems

• Issue: Device not found during scan
  Solution: Ensure device is powered on and in range
• Issue: Connection drops frequently
  Solution: Check signal strength, reduce interference

WebSocket Connection Problems

• Issue: Cannot connect to device
  Solution: Verify URL format and network connectivity

Data Display Issues

• Issue: Variables showing incorrect values
  Solution: Check data type configuration in device definition
• Issue: Charts not updating
  Solution: Verify update interval and connection status
• Issue: Table cells remain empty
  Solution: Ensure variables are properly assigned to cells

Firmware Update Problems

• Issue: Update fails at specific percentage
  Solution: Try reducing chunk size in update settings
• Issue: Device becomes unresponsive after update
  Solution: Use recovery procedure specific to your device

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many variables can I monitor simultaneously?
A: TST-Center supports hundreds of variables, limited primarily by device capabilities and update frequency.

Q: What file formats are supported for firmware updates?
A: Binary (.bin) and hexadecimal (.hex) files are supported.

Q: Can I connect to multiple devices at once?
A: Yes, TST-Center supports multiple device connections using different interfaces.

Q: How do I save my workspace configuration?
A: TST-Center automatically saves your current configuration when exiting. You can also export specific configurations using the Import/Export feature.

Q: Is there a limit to script complexity?
A: Scripts can contain hundreds of steps, though very complex scripts may impact performance.

Q: How can I contribute feedback or report issues?
A: Use the Help menu to access the feedback form or issue reporting tool.

Q: Can I use TST-Center with custom hardware?
A: Yes, as long as your device communicates using supported protocols and can be described with a compatible header file.

Changelog

Enjoy using TST-Center and managing your devices with ease!