How to Save Measured Results

Measured results can be saved in the following basic forms:

  • Text file (table of measured data).

  • Graphic file:

  • Bitmap copy of the screen or its part (BMP file), or

  • Compressed formats (PNG, GIF or JPG files).

  • Data Logging (automatic periodic results saving to a text file).

Saving Results to a Text File

This method is suitable for later viewing or printing of the numerical data as a table or for importing the results into another program, typically a spreadsheet calculator, such as Microsoft Excel.

A complete set of the necessary results is recorded, from which all other desired quantities, such as return loss or VSWR, can be computed. The decimal separator can be either a point or a comma (see Choosing Decimal Separator below). The number of measurement data rows in the file is determined by the value of the Points per Sweep parameter, which can be specified via the Homer|Points per Sweep menu item, the  Pts  toolbar button, or the Ctrl+N shortcut.

System info is appended to the file, providing information about HomSoft version, Homer HW and firmware versions as well as Homer settings. This identifies conditions, under which the measurements were taken.

Choosing Decimal Separator

  • Click the File|Separator menu item.

  • Select the decimal separator by clicking either the Point or the Comma submenu item.

The setting will be stored in the HomSoft Ini File so that it remains the same after HomSoft restart.

Saving Results

  • Complete the measurement.

  • Click the File|Save Results menu item or SaveBin toolbar button or use Ctrl+S shortcut. A save dialog box opens.

  • Choose the file name and location; click Save (or an equivalent).

  • When prompted, enter an optional comment to be saved along with the data.

The data items in the created text file are separated by Tabs; it is therefore easy to paste them, e.g., into Microsoft Excel.

Recorded Data

The recorded data include the following columns:

Header

Quantity

No

Sequential number

f_MHz

Frequency in MHz

Mag

Input reflection coefficient magnitude

Pha_dg

Input reflection coefficient phase in degrees

Pi_kW

Incident (forward) power in kilowatts

Pr_kW

Reflected (reverse) power in kilowatts

Temp_C

Internal detectors temperature in degrees Celsius

Err

Homer Error Byte (normally 0)

MagL

Load reflection coefficient magnitude

PhaL_dg

Load reflection coefficient phase in degrees

St1_mm

Insertion in mm of tuning stub 1 (closest to generator)

St2_mm

Insertion in mm of tuning stub 2

St3_mm

Insertion in mm of tuning stub 3 (closest to load)

MS1

Motor status byte 1 (normally 119)

MS2

Motor status byte 2 (normally 0). For the meaning of MS1, MS2, please refer to Homer Communication Protocol.

WinTime

UTC time in Windows coding format. The integral part is the number of days that have passed since 30th December 1899. The fractional part is the time of day (e.g., 0.5 means 12 hours).

Using Microsoft Excel

To Paste Saved Results to Microsoft Excel:

  • Start Excel.

  • Open the results text file in any editor (e.g., by double-clicking its icon or name).

  • In the opened file, select all (Ctrl+A) and copy to clipboard (Crtl+C).

  • In an Excel worksheet, click the cell where the data should start (e.g., top left cell A1).

  • Paste the clipboard content (Ctrl+V).

To Open Results File in Microsoft Excel:

  • Start Excel.

  • In Excel, click the Open File icon or the File|Open menu item. File Open dialog appears.

  • In the Files of Type dropdown edit, select Text Files.

  • Find the desired results file, select it and click Open. The Text Import Wizard appears.

  • In the first Wizard screen, click the Delimited radio button, then click Next.

  • In the second screen, check only the Tab checkbox in the Delimiter group, then click Next.

  • In the third screen, click the Finish button.

Saving Results as a Picture

The main program window (including its children display windows), or individual display windows can be:

  • Copied to the clipboard to be subsequently pasted into your document.

  • Saved as a bitmap (BMP), PNG, GIF, or JPG file.

A bitmap file is a true copy of the screen. For large screens and high color resolution, the file size can be considerable. Unlike the other formats, the file size does not depend on the contents of an image.

The PNG and GIF files have a good quality and compression ratio; they are recommended for archiving purposes.

The JPG file, although a popular format with good compression ratio, has quality inferior to the other formats (altered colors, blurred lines) and is not recommended.

Before Saving

  • Select the desired graphic file format in the File|Picture Type menu. The choice will persist, even after HomSoft restart, until you make a change.

  • Choose which part of the screen should be captured. There are two options selectable in the File|Picture Area menu item:

  • Main Window: Inner area of the HomSoft Main Window, including all open display windows. Other, non-display, windows contained within the Main Window area will not be copied.

  • Active Plot: Only the plot portion (white area) of the latest active display window. The active display window is the one with highlighted (generally darker) Title Bar. To activate a display window, click into it. Be sure the window is not overlaid by another window.

  • The choice will persist, even after HomSoft restart, until you make a change.

  • Adjust the display window(s) appearance according to your preferences. This includes, e.g., resizing, positioning, scaling, modifying trace properties, adding a Limit Line.

  • Click into a desired display window to select it for the operation.

Copying to Clipboard

To copy the selected Picture Area to clipboard, click the File|Copy Picture menu item or use Ctrl+C shortcut. After copying, you can paste the clipboard contents to your documents.

Saving to a File

  • Click the File|Save Picture menu item, or the equivalent SavePic button on the toolbar.

  • The Save File dialog opens: choose a location, enter a file name, and click Save.

Note: If you type the file name with an extension (bmp, png, gif, jpg), the picture type will be set accordingly, irrespective of the file type filter (Save as type edit box). If you type the name without an extension or with an invalid extension, the picture type will be set in accordance with the Save as type selection.

Using Standard Print Screen Functions

The HomSoft window, including all of its child windows, can be copied to the clipboard using the standard Microsoft Windows Alt+PrintScreen key combination (key combinations may vary depending on your PC or external keyboard). However, this method does not allow you to copy individual display windows (e.g., a Polar plot).

An alternative is to use the Windows Snipping Tool. Activate it with the Win+Shift+S key combination, then choose the snipping mode (this only needs to be set once). If the snipping mode is set to Window, clicking the main window will copy it to the clipboard. If the mode is set to Rectangle, you can select any portion of the screen for copying, such as an individual display window.