What options do 5462x/5464x oscilloscopes offer for saving data?

Note: This document applies to the newer series of 5462x/4x oscilloscopes. It does not apply to the older 54620A/C or 54645A/D.

You can save any of the following to a floppy disk or the scope’s internal memory:

• Setups: Setup files allow you to save the scope’s configuration. Setup files include measurements, cursors, math functions, and horizontal, vertical, and trigger settings.
• Waveform traces: Waveform traces are bitmap representations of acquired waveforms. They can be used for on-screen comparison to other waveforms. It is not possible to make automatic measurements on waveform traces or convert them to any other format (e.g. ASCII waveform data).
• TIF or BMP screen shots: TIF and BMP are graphical formats. The scope produces screen shots of the complete screen image, including the graticule, waveform, status line, and softkeys. While you can use your PC to convert these files to other graphical formats (e.g. GIF or JPG), it is not possible to make precise measurements on the waveforms or extract waveform data from them.
• CSV waveform data: CSV (Comma-Separated Values) waveform data is in ASCII format. Use CSV format to obtain precision waveform data in time-amplitude pairs. You can then post-process this data with your PC however you see fit.

To save setups and traces, press the Save/Recall button followed by Save or AutoSave. The scope always saves both setup and trace simultaneously, to a single file. The Save softkey takes you to a menu that allows you to specify a location for the file (floppy disk or internal memory) and a name for the file if you are saving to floppy disk. The AutoSave softkey saves to floppy disk with an automatically generated file name.

To save TIF or BMP screen shots, press the Save/Recall button, the Formats softkey, and then either the TIF or BMP softkey. When you’re ready to capture the screen image, press the Quick Print button. The scope will then create the TIF or BMP file on your floppy disk, starting with the file name PRINT_00. Subsequent presses of Quick Print create additional files with each file name incremented by 1.

To save CSV waveform data, press the Save/Recall button, the Formats softkey, and then the CSV softkey. When you’re ready to capture the waveform data, press the Quick Print button. The scope will then create the CSV file on your floppy disk, starting with the file name PRINT_00. Subsequent presses of Quick Print create new files with the file name incremented by 1. Note that it is not possible to save record lengths beyond 2000 points to floppy disk. Our free IntuiLink Data Capture software (see link below) will allow you to transfer the full contents of acquisition memory to your PC via RS-232 or GPIB.

Another option for obtaining TIF, BMP, or CSV data is to use our free IntuiLink software. There are two versions of IntuiLink for 54600-series scopes. The standard version gives the user a toolbar in either Microsoft Word or Excel. The toolbar has buttons for transferring screen images, waveform data (limited to 2000 points), and automatic measurements directly into the user’s document. Intuilink Data Capture is a standalone application that only transfers waveform data but does not have the 2000-point limitation. Both versions use either the scope’s integrated RS-232 interface or the optional N2757A GPIB interface.