STOP ACQUISITION

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Hello everyone,
with igor, my tutor and I, we have created a procedure to aquire the signal by the AFM.
With a while loop, we can make acquisitions at different intervals of time, and through the script of save, we can save the "Wave".
Now we would like to put a stop function: we would like to create a button "STOP" in the graphical interface, which allows to stop the acquisition, and once stopped, automatically save the file until that instant of time.
On the forum I found one scritp "pseudo stop button" but adapting it to our procedure, does not work very well.
you help us?
It would be helpful if you gave more specific details of your problem, including code snippets (properly formatted for Igor Exchange). In the mean time, I am guessing that you have the common problem that Igor does not look at controls while your function is running. Stopping using the "Abort" button method will leave your data acquisition instrumentation in an uncertain state, and not allow you to save results.

I suggest you look at the Manual, Chapter IV-6 "Interacting with the User" (p. IV-139) for a code example of how to detect a key press (Escape), control the exit from your function, and perform whatever data save function you create.

May 7, 2015 at 06:03 am - Permalink

Here is a 'Escape' code example that I used in data acquisition. Data was continuously being acquired in large waves, processed, and displayed in an indefinite Do...While(1) loop. The following method ensured that an acquisition/process/display cycle was completed after the Escape key was pressed.
Function PressEscapeToAbort(phase, title, message)
    Variable phase  // 0: Display control panel with message.
                // 1: Test if Escape key is pressed.
                // 2: Close control panel.
    String title    // Title for control panel.
    String message  // Tells user what you are doing.
    if (phase == 0)     // Create panel
      DoWindow/F PressEscapePanel
      if (V_flag == 0)
        NewPanel/K=1 /W=(350,800,500,900)
        DoWindow/C PressEscapePanel
        DoWindow/T PressEscapePanel, title
      endif
      String abortStr = "Press escape to abort"
      TitleBox Press,pos={16,40},size={106,20},title=abortStr
      DoUpdate
    endif
    if (phase == 1) // Test for Escape key
      Variable doAbort = 0
      if (GetKeyState(0) & 32) // Is Escape key pressed now?
        doAbort = 1
      else
        if (strlen(message) != 0) // Want to change message?
        TitleBox Message,title=message
        DoUpdate
        endif
      endif
      return doAbort
    endif
    if (phase == 2) // Kill panel
      DoWindow/K PressEscapePanel
    endif
    return 0
End

In your code, before the acquisition begins, put the following command to open a Panel saying "Press escape to abort"
PressEscapeToAbort(0,"","")

Then later in the code after all necessary operations have been done for that cycle, before While(1), put something like
  if (PressEscapeToAbort(1, "", "")) 
// 1: tests for Esc key press; exit point from Do-While loop    
    Print "Test aborted by Escape key."
//..your clean-up, data save, and acquisition termination commands go here...
    break  // exits from Do..While
  endif
While(1)

Then just before the end of your function, put
PressEscapeToAbort(2, "", "") //  2: Kill information panel for 'Escape'   

You may have to press the Escape key more than once, or make sure it is held down sufficiently long.

May 7, 2015 at 08:53 am - Permalink

HI s.r.chinn, nice to meet you!
This is my procedure.
So, I need to "abort" my acquisition when I want to, so you save all that acquired until then.

If I understand it, I should write down your first script in the DO-while loop, then, before the function acuisizione insert the second script, then?
correct me if I'm wrong.

 
function master(experimenttime, recordingtime, duration, rate, savedrate, plotresolution,savepath)
variable experimenttime, recordingtime, duration, rate, savedrate, plotresolution
string savepath
variable psdflag=1 // first time, make the periodogram
NewPath/O Path1,savepath//defines where to save the files
 
string timenow=date()+" "+time() // date and time now
string filename
variable t0 = stopMSTimer(-2)/10^6 // consults the microseconds timer, from the moment of PC startup
variable t1=0, dt1=0, dt2=0 // time init
if (plotresolution<duration)
    plotresolution=duration // cannot update faster than acquire
endif
make/O/N=0 timestrip //store the time
make/O/N=0 deflstrip  //where to store the deflection every plotresolution>duration
make /O/N=0 variancestrip //where to store the variance every plotresolution>duration
setscale/P x, t1, (plotresolution), "s", timestrip, deflstrip, variancestrip // sets the spacing of the waves, just to have "s" as unit
setscale/P y, 0,1,"V" deflstrip, variancestrip 
setscale/P y,0,1,"s",timestrip
//display
display/W=(1,1,800,150) deflstrip vs timestrip
AppendToGraph/L=L2 variancestrip vs timestrip
ModifyGraph axisEnab(left)={0,0.45}
ModifyGraph axisEnab(L2)={0.55,1}
ModifyGraph freePos(L2)=0
ModifyGraph lblPosMode(L2)=2
ModifyGraph rgb(deflstrip)=(0,0,0)
 
 
make /O/N=0 storeaverage, storevariance, storetime, waveaverage, wavevariance, wavetime // to store average and variance for the recordingtime
display/W=(8, 310, 400,550) storeaverage vs storetime
variable acq_cycle=0 // counter for acquisition cycle
do //big loop for acquisition and plot
    t1=stopMSTimer(-2)/10^6-t0 // evaluate the experimental time
    //print "t1=",t1
    waveacquire(t1, duration, rate, savedrate, psdflag) // DATA ACQUISITION
    dt1+=stopMSTimer(-2)/10^6-t0-t1 // increment the delta time for plotting
    dt2+=stopMSTimer(-2)/10^6-t0-t1 // increment the delta time for saving
    
    insertpoints numpnts(storeaverage), numpnts(waveaverage), storeaverage // extends storeaverage
    storeaverage[numpnts(storeaverage)-numpnts(waveaverage), numpnts(storeaverage)-1]=waveaverage[p-numpnts(storeaverage)+numpnts(waveaverage)-1] // stores the averaged deflection points
    insertpoints numpnts(storevariance), numpnts(wavevariance), storevariance // extends storevariance
    storevariance[numpnts(storevariance)-numpnts(wavevariance), numpnts(storevariance)-1]=wavevariance[p-numpnts(storeaverage)+numpnts(waveaverage)-1] // stores the variance time points too
    insertpoints numpnts(storetime), numpnts(wavetime), storetime // extends storetime
    storetime[numpnts(storetime)-numpnts(wavetime), numpnts(storetime)-1]=wavetime[p-numpnts(storeaverage)+numpnts(waveaverage)-1] // and the times
    
    acq_cycle=+1 //increment the counter for acquisition cycle
    if (psdflag==1)
        psdflag=0
    endif // switches off psd
    //print dt1," ",dt2
    if (dt1>=plotresolution) // after exiting this loops, it adds a plot point ... 
        // insertpoints numpnts(deflstrip), 1, deflstrip, variancestrip // makes room
        timestrip[numpnts(timestrip)]={stopMSTimer(-2)/10^6-t0} // to store the time too
        deflstrip[numpnts(deflstrip)]={mean(storeaverage, pnt2x(storeaverage, numpnts(storeaverage)-acq_cycle*rate/savedrate), pnt2x(storeaverage, numpnts(storeaverage)))}
        variancestrip[numpnts(variancestrip)]={mean(storevariance, pnt2x(storevariance, numpnts(storevariance)-acq_cycle*rate/savedrate), pnt2x(storevariance, numpnts(storevariance)))/sqrt(acq_cycle*rate/savedrate)}
        doupdate // explicitly ask to update the plots (in hope it has not done it before at insertpoint)
        // print "plotplot"
        dt1=0 //resets delta time for plotting
        acq_cycle=0 // resets acquisition cycle, so it later knows what to use for plotting
    endif
    if  (dt2>=recordingtime) // after exiting this loop, it records on file and resets storeaverage and storevariance
        // saves storeaverage and storevariance on file with automatic names 
        // empty storeaverage and storevariance for next acquisitions
         timenow=date()+" "+time() // updates time
         filename="DeflectionStrip "+num2str(savedrate)+"Hz on "+timenow+"-"+num2istr(dt2)+".txt" // for saving
        save /G/P=Path1 storetime storeaverage storevariance as filename        // print "I want to save storeaverage and storevariance"
        redimension/N=0 storetime, storeaverage, storevariance //clean up
        dt2=0 //resets delta time for recording
        psdflag=1 // nextg cycle, record the PSD (if there is no next cycle, it records it at the end)
    endif
    
 
while (t1<experimenttime)
// now save storeaverage and storevariance, as the last portion of it may get lost otherwise (worst case, it will be empty files)
timenow=date()+" "+time() // updates time
filename="DeflectionStrip "+num2str(savedrate)+"Hz on "+timenow+"-"+num2istr(dt2)+".txt" // for saving
save /G/P=Path1 storetime storeaverage storevariance as filename        // print "I want to save storeaverage and storevariance"
// and also save deflstrip and variancestrip 
timenow=date()+" "+time() // updates time
filename="ExperimentStrip "+"finished on "+timenow+".txt" // for saving
save /G/P=Path1 timestrip deflstrip variancestrip as filename       // print "I want to save storeaverage and storevariance"
//print "I want to save deflstrip and variancestrip"
// now acquire last PSD
waveacquire(t1, duration, rate, savedrate, 1) // DATA ACQUISITION (and saving of PSD)
end // of function
 
 
 
function waveacquire(t1, duration, rate, savedrate, psdflag)
variable t1, duration, rate, savedrate, psdflag
string timenow, filename
variable i=0
variable blocksize=rate/savedrate // blocksize for block averaging
variable segmentsize=0
if (duration*rate>8192*4)
    segmentsize=8192// segment size for Periodogram calculation
else
    segmentsize=(duration*rate)/5
endif
 
make/O/N=(rate*duration) wave0
make/O/N=(rate*duration/blocksize) wavevariance // wave variance decimated
make/O/N=(rate*duration/blocksize) waveaverage // wave after decimation
make/O/N=(rate*duration/blocksize) wavetime // to store the time points
make/O/N=0 media //to store the recordings
make/O/N=0 timepoints //to store the time of recordings
make/O/N=(segmentsize/2+1) periodogramdomain
setscale/P x, t1, (1/rate), "s", wave0 // sets the spacing of the wave, so the sampling rate
DAQmx_scan/DEV="dev4" WAVES="wave0, 2;" //acquires from DEV device on channel 2 and puts in wave0
 
if (psdflag==1)
    DSPPeriodogram/Q/DLSG/NOR=(segmentsize*segmentsize/2)/SEGN={(segmentsize),(segmentsize/2)}/Win=hanning wave0
    timenow=date()+" "+time() // updates time
    filename="PSD "+num2str(savedrate)+"Hz on "+timenow+".txt" // for saving
    periodogramdomain=pnt2x(W_periodogram, p)
    save /G/P=Path1 periodogramdomain W_periodogram as filename     // print "I want to save storeaverage and storevariance"
 
endif
 
wavevariance=variance(wave0, pnt2x(wave0, blocksize*p), pnt2x(wave0, (blocksize*(p+1))-1))/blocksize
setscale/P x, t1, blocksize*(1/rate), "s", wavevariance // sets the spacing of the wave, so the sampling rate
waveaverage=sum(wave0, pnt2x(wave0, blocksize*p), pnt2x(wave0, (blocksize*(p+1))-1))/blocksize
setscale/P x, t1, blocksize*(1/rate), "s", waveaverage // sets the spacing of the wave, so the sampling rate
wavetime=pnt2x(wavevariance, p) // timings from the scale (?)
variable stoptimer=stopMSTimer(-2) // stops the microseconds timer
end

May 8, 2015 at 03:26 am - Permalink

Carlo,
Here is an edited copy of your main function code, with the addition of my suggested placement of the previously given Escape code sequences. I have indented your code, eliminated many of your comments, and added artificial linewrap indicators to keep line lengths in the Exchange format to a minimum. My insertions are indicated by // ***NEW*** labels. You might consider performing your last "waveacquire" within the PressEscapeToAbort(1,"","") if-endif loop. You may notice a delay after the Esc key is pressed.
#pragma rtGlobals=3     // Use modern global access method and strict wave access.
function master(experimenttime, recordingtime, duration, rate, savedrate, plotresolution,savepath)
    variable experimenttime, recordingtime, duration, rate, savedrate, plotresolution
    string savepath
    variable psdflag=1 // first time, make the periodogram
    NewPath/O Path1,savepath//defines where to save the files
 
    string timenow=date()+" "+time() // date and time now
    string filename
    variable t0 = stopMSTimer(-2)/10^6 // consults the microseconds timer, from the moment of PC startup
    variable t1=0, dt1=0, dt2=0 // time init
    if (plotresolution<duration)
        plotresolution=duration // cannot update faster than acquire
    endif
    make/O/N=0 timestrip //store the time
    make/O/N=0 deflstrip  //where to store the deflection every plotresolution>duration
    make /O/N=0 variancestrip //where to store the variance every plotresolution>duration
    setscale/P x, t1, (plotresolution), "s", timestrip, deflstrip, variancestrip 
    setscale/P y, 0,1,"V" deflstrip, variancestrip 
    setscale/P y,0,1,"s",timestrip
    //display
    display/W=(1,1,800,150) deflstrip vs timestrip
    AppendToGraph/L=L2 variancestrip vs timestrip
    ModifyGraph axisEnab(left)={0,0.45}
    ModifyGraph axisEnab(L2)={0.55,1}
    ModifyGraph freePos(L2)=0
    ModifyGraph lblPosMode(L2)=2
    ModifyGraph rgb(deflstrip)=(0,0,0)
 
 
    make /O/N=0 storeaverage, storevariance, storetime, waveaverage, wavevariance, wavetime 
    display/W=(8, 310, 400,550) storeaverage vs storetime
    variable acq_cycle=0 // counter for acquisition cycle
    PressEscapeToAbort(0,"","")   //****************NEW*********************
    do //big loop for acquisition and plot
       t1=stopMSTimer(-2)/10^6-t0 // evaluate the experimental time
       //print "t1=",t1
       waveacquire(t1, duration, rate, savedrate, psdflag) // DATA ACQUISITION
        dt1+=stopMSTimer(-2)/10^6-t0-t1 // increment the delta time for plotting
       dt2+=stopMSTimer(-2)/10^6-t0-t1 // increment the delta time for saving
 
       insertpoints numpnts(storeaverage), numpnts(waveaverage), storeaverage // extends storeaverage
       storeaverage[numpnts(storeaverage)-numpnts(waveaverage), 
           &&linewrap numpnts(storeaverage)-1]=waveaverage[p-numpnts(storeaverage)+numpnts(waveaverage)-1] 
       insertpoints numpnts(storevariance), numpnts(wavevariance), storevariance // extends storevariance
       storevariance[numpnts(storevariance)-numpnts(wavevariance), 
           &&linewrap numpnts(storevariance)-1]=wavevariance[p-numpnts(storeaverage)+numpnts(waveaverage)-1] 
       insertpoints numpnts(storetime), numpnts(wavetime), storetime // extends storetime
       storetime[numpnts(storetime)-numpnts(wavetime), 
           &&linewrap numpnts(storetime)-1]=wavetime[p-numpnts(storeaverage)+numpnts(waveaverage)-1] 
 
       acq_cycle=+1 //increment the counter for acquisition cycle
       if (psdflag==1)
         psdflag=0
       endif // switches off psd
       //print dt1," ",dt2
       if (dt1>=plotresolution) // after exiting this loops, it adds a plot point ... 
         // insertpoints numpnts(deflstrip), 1, deflstrip, variancestrip // makes room
         timestrip[numpnts(timestrip)]={stopMSTimer(-2)/10^6-t0} // to store the time too
         deflstrip[numpnts(deflstrip)]={mean(storeaverage, pnt2x(storeaverage, 
           &&linewrap numpnts(storeaverage)-acq_cycle*rate/savedrate), pnt2x(storeaverage, numpnts(storeaverage)))}
         variancestrip[numpnts(variancestrip)]={mean(storevariance, pnt2x(storevariance, 
           &&linewrap numpnts(storevariance)-acq_cycle*rate/savedrate), pnt2x(storevariance, 
           &&linewrap numpnts(storevariance)))/sqrt(acq_cycle*rate/savedrate)}
         doupdate // explicitly ask to update the plots (in hope it has not done it before at insertpoint)
        // print "plotplot"
         dt1=0 //resets delta time for plotting
         acq_cycle=0 // resets acquisition cycle, so it later knows what to use for plotting
       endif
       if  (dt2>=recordingtime) 
         // saves storeaverage and storevariance on file with automatic names 
         // empty storeaverage and storevariance for next acquisitions
         timenow=date()+" "+time() // updates time
         filename="DeflectionStrip "+num2str(savedrate)+"Hz on "+timenow+"-"+num2istr(dt2)+".txt" 
         save /G/P=Path1 storetime storeaverage storevariance as filename   
         redimension/N=0 storetime, storeaverage, storevariance //clean up
         dt2=0 //resets delta time for recording
         psdflag=1
         endif 
       if(PressEscapeToAbort(1,"","")) //  ******************NEW*****************
         // perform any commands and functions to save data
         // or terminate your data acquisition instruments here
         break  // exit the do-while loop
       endif
    while (t1<experimenttime)
    // now save storeaverage and storevariance, 
    timenow=date()+" "+time() // updates time
    filename="DeflectionStrip "+num2str(savedrate)+"Hz on "+timenow+"-"+num2istr(dt2)+".txt" // for saving
    save /G/P=Path1 storetime storeaverage storevariance as filename        
    // and also save deflstrip and variancestrip 
    timenow=date()+" "+time() // updates time
    filename="ExperimentStrip "+"finished on "+timenow+".txt" // for saving
    save /G/P=Path1 timestrip deflstrip variancestrip as filename   
    //print "I want to save deflstrip and variancestrip"
    // now acquire last PSD
    waveacquire(t1, duration, rate, savedrate, 1) // DATA ACQUISITION (and saving of PSD)
    PressEscapeToAbort(2,"","")  //  *********NEW*********************
end // of function

May 12, 2015 at 03:18 am - Permalink

thank you so much, I tried yesterday the script works perfectly !!! Thank you.

May 12, 2015 at 05:44 am - Permalink