Marvin DIOEasy | Digital I/O Vector Development Software

Marvin DIOEasy: Easily Develop and Debug Digital Test Vectors

Marvin DIOEasy offers test engineers an efficient tool for developing, debugging, and executing digital test vectors for Marvin Test Solutions' GX5050 series, GX5150 series, GX5280 series and GX5291, GX5292, GX5293 and GX5295 dynamic digital instruments. Digital I/O (DIO) systems are very complex and typically require a substantial amount of programming effort to define data vectors. In order to simplify vector development, Marvin Test Solutions developed Windows-based Marvin Test MV-DIOEasy, providing users with an easy to use interface. Toolbars and menus provide quick access to vector editing and viewing tools.

Flexibly Create, Load, and Analyze Test Vectors

Marvin DIOEasy offers two methods for creating and editing digital test vectors: Graphical User Interface (GUI) Environment Scripting Environment Vectors can be loaded to and from DIO instrument(s) using the DIO Virtual Panel. After loading the vectors, the user can arm and trigger the instrument for generation / acquisition. Data captured from the boards can be saved to a file and/or loaded to MV-DIOEasy for viewing or for comparison against a previously defined vector data file.

Graphically Create, Edit, and Analyze Digital Test Vectors

The Marvin DIOEasy GUI offers interactive digital vector editing and viewing capabilities. Its generic structure allows it to easily support all of Marvin Test Solutions' dynamic digital instrument hardware configurations. DIOEasy produces vector data files that can be directly used by the digital instrument’s driver (GTDIO). The DIOEasy GUI is similar to a spreadsheet application. Each cell represents the state of a single data bit in a given step. The data bits (channels) are represented by trace lines in the rows of cells, and each step is a column of cells. Data creation, analysis, and editing capabilities include:

• Setting cell attributes
• Direction: In or Out
• Level (state): High, Low or H-Z/ignore

Each attribute is represented by a different color and shape. By simply pointing and clicking the mouse, the user can change the attribute of one cell or a group of cells. Marvin DIOEasy supports filling selected ranges of steps and channels with a variety of data patterns.

Other data generation, editing and analysis tools include:

• Vector Importing/Exporting
• Cut/Copy/Insert/Delete for a range of selected steps
• Compare two vectors - differences in any cell are highlighted.
• Vector conversion - MV-DIOEasy can read and convert data vectors from ASCII files generated by other simulators and pattern generators, or you can save the created data file in a simple ASCII format file, with or without commands. The resulting file may then be edited with any text editor.

Supported sequencing commands include branching instructions such as Loop, Jump, Call or commands that assign a given value to a specific register. Most commands can be conditional. Supported branching conditions include EQ, NEQ, GT, LT, etc. Inserting/editing commands are done simply by clicking on any step and then filling in the cells when the Command Properties dialog box appears. Sequence steps can be assigned a label, a command, or both.

Create and Automate Complex Test Vectors with Scripts

Marvin DIOEasy allows you to create, design and edit vectors using Microsoft Visual Basic Script™ (VBScript)—a popular scripting language. Using the capabilities of VBScript and DIO ActiveX objects, the user can write complex programs that create and modify DIO vectors. The MV-DIOEasy ActiveX object allows you to: Create and change any DIO files Setup / configure a digital instrument, i.e. set frequency, trigger mode, etc. Create DIO File Blocks that are composed of grouped channels (in any order) and steps Fill DIO File, Channels, Steps and Blocks with command and data Interact with MV-DIOEasy graphical environment to display and compare DIO vector files using DIOEasy objects such as Window, Application, and more Create vector libraries that can be re-used in different steps and files.

Alternative Products

If you want to create and edit analog waveforms for the GX1110 and GX1120 generators instead of digital test vectors, we recommend Marvin WaveEasy. If you need to develop, execute, and manage complete test programs and automated test sequences, Marvin ATEasy is the more comprehensive development and test environment.

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