Measurement Computing DIAdem - Manual (Page 15)

DIAdem® 04-19-00 DIAdem® – The PC Workshop 13
DIAdem - the PC Workshop
DIAdem
®
has been designed as a PC workshop for solving technical tasks. The underlying
principle is a logical arrangement that gives you an overview of all program elements.
Individually encapsulated devices ensure an orderly division of tasks. Similar functions are
grouped together and parameters in dialog boxes are hierarchically ordered according to their
importance.
Three guidelines determine the nature of DIAdem
®
from the most basic layer up: functionality,
clear layout and an intuitive interface.
Functionality means that DIAdem
®
allows you to manage, analyze and document your data
with consistent operating logic. All similar functions have been grouped together into complete
units, the DIAdem
® devices. All mathematical analysis functions are found in the optional
DIAdem
®
CALC device, all functions for creating graphic documents in the optional DIAdem
®
GRAPH device, etc.
This brings us to the second concept, DIAdem ® ’s clear layout. As a rule, only the device that
is currently being used is visible. The others remain in the background. The surface layer of a
device is designed so that only the functions required for the task at hand are visible.
Symbolic interface
The third concept, intuitive interface, makes it easy for you to use DIAdem
®
’s full range of
features. All features can be activated by graphic symbols (icons). You can also make changes
to an axis system directly on-screen with the mouse. And context menus accessed by clicking
the right mouse button bring up context-specific menus, making it easy to set parameters for an
object.
This document is an abbreviated manual designed for rapid familiarization with the free
DIAdem-VIEW device. More detailed information is available in the DIAdem User’s Manual
that is distributed with Licensed-Versions of DIAdem.
Note that all available DIAdem
®
functions are explained in the program’s online help.
Throughout the manual, you will see sample tasks you can execute with DIAdem ® . The steps
demonstrate typical examples of the kind of work you can perform with each device.
Sections you can perform on your own computer are printed in italics.
The Overall Design
The structure of the screen is based on a consistent operating logic. In the following figure you
will notice that the Device and Module Bars (used to access functions) are arranged vertically,
whereas the operating elements of the Function Bar are arranged horizontally. Common
operating elements are always visible.
The following screen view and detailed description [of the individual structural and interface
elements] illustrate the design of a DIAdem
®
PC workshop. The description begins at the left
edge of the screen with the Device bar, moves right to the Module bar, then to the Function bar
and up to the Tool bar and Menu bar.