6 MPLAB® Data Visualizer

The MPLAB® Data Visualizer is a program used to process and visualize key data points, from a running embedded target, in real-time. The utility may be accessed as an MPLAB® X IDE plugin or as a standalone program. The latest version of MPLAB® Data Visualizer is available for download on the MPLAB® Data Visualizer product page.

Figure 6-1 outlines the main concepts and features available, such as:
  • Capture data, streamed from a running embedded target, via virtual serial port (USB) or the Data Gateway Interface (DGI)
  • Decode data fields at run-time using the Data Stream Protocol format
  • Visualize the raw or decoded data in a Graph as a time series or display the data in a terminal
  • Concurrently stream data and debug target code
Figure 6-1. MPLAB® Data Visualizer

Each configuration is set up to send data over USART as a Data Visualizer data stream. The values of interest are the input and output signals. Both signals will be displayed in the main Graph area of the MPLAB® Data Visualizer. The interface and underlying settings are configured through a saved workspace available in a folder, named data-visualizer.

To get a workspace up and running, follow the steps below:

Note: There is no MPLAB® Data Visualizer workspace available for the Simple OPAMP project.
  1. Open the Atmel Studio 7 solution Getting_Started_with_OPAMP by navigating to the GitHub repository and selecting Getting_Started_with_OPAMP.atsln. The solution contains separate projects for each configuration detailed in the present document.
  2. Set the desired project as StartUp Project, by right clicking on the project of interest and from the pop-up menu select Set as StartUp Project option.
    Figure 6-2. Atmel Studio 7 - Set Start-up Project
  3. Build the solution by selecting Build → Build Solution or by pressing F7.
  4. Program the AVR DB device by selecting Debug → Start Without Debugging from the top menu bar.
  5. Open MPLAB® Data Visualizer.
  6. Load the workspace. Press the Load Workspace button and add the workspace-file corresponding to the configuration, available in the GitHub repository. Two axes should appear in the graph.
  7. Set the correct Serial Port settings. Choose the COM-port on the left hand side panel seen in Figure 6-3. Make sure the Baud Rate is 115200 and press the play button (Start Streaming).
    Figure 6-3. MPLAB® Data Visualizer - Serial Port Settings
  8. Ensure the COM port is selected as a source for the Variable Streamer Decoder.
    Figure 6-4. MPLAB® Data Visualizer - Variable Streamers
  9. If successful, two graphs representing the input and output signals will be drawn on the screen. The Y-axis represents the magnitude of the signal in mV, while the X-axis represents elapsed time.
Note: For more information relating to MPLAB® Data Visualizer, consult the relevant documentation resources.