DIAdem(tm) Release Notes, Version 9.0 Copyright 2003 National Instruments (Ireland) Limited =================== System requirements =================== DIAdem has the following prerequisites for smooth operation: Hardware -------- - IBM compatible personal computer with an Intel Pentium (II, III or IV) or AMD (Athlon, K6 or K7) processor - RAM memory: at least 256 MB; recommended 512 MB - Hard disk memory: at least 190 MB free space; at least 450 MB free space during installation - Graphics board: color depth at least 16 bit (High Color); recommended 24 or 32 bit (True Color) and a screen resolution of 1024 x 768 or higher Operating systems ----------------- - Windows 98 SE - Windows ME - Windows NT 4, Service Pack 6 or later - Windows 2000, Service Pack 3 or later - Windows XP Pro, Service Pack 1 or later Warning: DIAdem cannot run on Windows XP Pro without Service Pack 1 or later. DIAdem cannot run on Windows 95. Miscellaneous ------------- Internet Explorer Version 5 or later ========================== New Features in DIAdem 9.0 ========================== You will find a complete description of all the new DIAdem features in the Knowledge Base at ni.com/support. Use the search term 'DIAdem 9.0 Features'. New General Features -------------------- Data Portal. In all DIAdem panels, you can drag and drop data channels from the new Data Portal into files, layouts, and calculations. In addition to the familiar list view, the Data Portal now offers a structure view, where you manage your channels as groups. In the properties window, you view and edit the freely definable properties of your data. Text channels. You can create new string type channels, for example, to display text in tables. HTML Help. DIAdem help was thoroughly revised and migrated to the HTML format. LabVIEW Integration. If NI LabVIEW is installed on your computer, you can start LabVIEW by clicking the LabVIEW icon in the DIAdem panel bar. In conjunction with the LabVIEW DIAdem Connectivity VIs, LabVIEW then loads a VI that shows you how to transfer data into the DIAdem Data Portal. DIAdem NAVIGATOR ---------------- In the new panel DIAdem NAVIGATOR, you can conveniently navigate data storages. With DIAdem NAVIGATOR, you can load and save data sets from various origins, such as data files and databases, in a uniform way. DIAdem saves data in a new format with the filename extension .tdm. TDM files contain channel groups and freely definable properties of the data. DIAdem 9.0 can read data written in NI VI Logger 1.1, NI Lookout, and NI LabVIEW 7 formats. DIAdem VIEW ----------- The DIAdem VIEW panel has been completely redesigned, giving you the ability to do the following: - display and edit your data in table form - create layouts with multiple pages - print layouts directly, without having to generate a layout in DIAdem REPORT DIAdem saves VIEW layouts in a new format with the filename extension .tdv. DIAdem ANALYSIS --------------- DIAdem CALC has been renamed DIAdem ANALYSIS. You can drag and drop data channels from the Data Portal into the dialog boxes of the standard mathematical functions. DIAdem ANALYSIS offers new functions for the evaluation of data from vehicle safety tests: Acceleration Severity Index (ASI), Theoretical Head Impact Velocity (THIV), Post-impact Head Deceleration (PHD), Occupant Ridedown Acceleration (ORA), and Occupant Impact Velocity (OIV). DIAdem REPORT ------------- DIAdem GRAPH has been renamed DIAdem REPORT and now gives you the ability to do the following: - create layouts with multiple pages - use the 'n systems' display mode, popular in DIAdem VIEW, by selecting Curve and Axis definition>>Axis system>>n systems. - use the '1 system [%]' display mode, popular in DIAdem VIEW, by selecting Curve and Axis definition>>Axis definition>>Scaling>>y- axis>>Percentage. - save reports in HTML format for display in a Web browser The clipping behavior of graphics objects is also completely new. DIAdem saves report layouts in a new format with the filename extension .tdr. DIAdem SCRIPT ------------- DIAdem AUTO has been renamed DIAdem SCRIPT and now gives you the ability to do the following: - a wizard that helps you generate user dialog boxes - new functions for reading, editing, and writing text files ================================== Migration of DIAdem 8 Applications ================================== You will find detailed information on how to adapt your DIAdem applications to version 9.0, in the Knowledge Base at ni.com/support. Use the search term, 'DIAdem 9.0 Migration'. Loading data sets ----------------- DIAdem 9.0 appends data sets from external files and databases to data in the Data Portal. When additional data sets are added, the Data Portal automatically creates a new channel group using the name of the data storage. In earlier versions, DIAdem overwrote the existing data when a file was loaded. VIEW Layouts ------------ Use the script \LIBR\AUT\ImportLVD.vbs to migrate DIAdem 8 VIEW layouts to DIAdem 9.0. VIEW Script language -------------------- Adapt existing VIEW scripts to the new object-oriented script language of DIAdem VIEW. A description of the VIEW script language can be found in the DIAdem help contents under 'Functions, Commands, and Variables'. GRAPH Layouts ------------- DIAdem 9.0 can load GRAPH layouts with the filename extension .lpd or .tdr. However, DIAdem saves REPORT layouts exclusively in the new TDR format. Clipping Graphics Objects ------------------------- DIAdem 9.0 replaces the clipping of DIAdem GRAPH objects with the background color of the graphics objects. DIAdem displays existing GRAPH Layouts (.lpd) with the previous clipping behavior. If you insert new objects into old layouts, DIAdem adapts all graphics objects to the new behavior. Dialog editor ------------- The dialog editor (previously SUD editor) offers comprehensive tools for designing and controlling dialog boxes. DIAdem 9.0 still supports earlier user dialog boxes. The COD dialog editor (DlgEdit.exe) is in the DIAdem folder. Use the COD dialog editor only for the maintenance of existing COD dialog boxes. Unique channel names -------------------- By default, DIAdem 9.0 designates unique names within a channel group. When using earlier DIAdem applications, keep in mind that DIAdem 9.0, when loading data, makes recurring channel names unique by appending digits. Specify this behavior in scripts by using the variable ChnNamingMode. As a short term solution deactivate this feature (for example, to run an earlier application), uncheck the 'Unique channel names for a group' option under Settings>>General. ============ Known Issues ============ Asian National Instruments Software Path: If you use Asian characters to change the National Instruments software path while installing DIAdem under Asian Windows 98, DIAdem might not start. Crash MME example using Asian Windows versions: If you use Asian characters in the DIAdem program path, the example 'Crash Evaluation based on the MME standard' might not start, because the example files cannot be extracted. When using DIAdem with Asian operating systems, we recommend that you use Windows XP and Windows 2000.