Campbell Scientific ID-2000W Software - Manual (Page 30)

SECTION 2. PLOT TEMPLATE VIEW
2-8
FIGURE 2-13. “Smoothing” Group
Data smoothing uses a “running” average
technique to smooth out the small bumps and
variations in data that was recorded. There are
four levels of data smoothing: off, small,
medium, and large. These levels correspond to
averaging the current data point with 0, 3, 7, or
11 data points before AND after it. Figure 2-14
shows an example of a Strip-Chart plot of the
same parameter with and without smoothing.
The top is the original unsmoothed data
corresponding to the derivative of FanSpeed in
REALDATA.IDW. The lower trace is the same
derivative with a small level of smoothing
applied. Any time you plot a smoothed
parameter an “(S)” will appear beside the
parameter label and a legend is included at the
bottom of the plot identifying that “(S)” means
the parameter is smoothed.
FIGURE 2-14. Smoothed and Unsmoothed
You can see from Figure 2-14 that in some
cases data smoothing can substantially improve
the readability of a graph. However, caution
should be used when smoothing data because
you are not plotting the original recorded data -
you are plotting a running average of the data.
Because all graphs use a common X parameter
when plotted all graphs must also use the same
level of X parameter smoothing. If you change
the smoothing level for one X parameter it
automatically changes them for all graphs.
2.6 “PRIMARY FILE” GROUP
Although not visibly grouped together as the
previous groups, the Primary File group is
nonetheless a group consisting of one button
and informational text (Figure 2-15). This group
displays the name of the current primary file on
the button. To the right of the button is
information about the file such as what rate its
data was recorded at, the starting date/time of
the recording, and the length of the recording.
FIGURE 2-15. “Primary File” Group
As described previously, the primary data file is
the default data file used for all graphs. You
may manually select a “secondary” data file for
a single graph if desired but all graphs default to
using the primary file. If you change the primary
file all graphs that are using the primary file are
automatically updated with the new file.
Like the buttons in the Data File group
previously discussed, the primary data file
button allows you to either select a new primary
data file (left mouse button) or displays
information about the current primary data file
(right mouse button).
2.7 “PLOT TYPE” GROUP
This group is also not visibly marked as a group
but contains four radio buttons labeled: “X-Y”,
“X-Y-Y”, “Strip Chart”, and “Multi-Plot” (Figure 2-
16). To change plot types simply click the plot
type desired.