The File Utility allows you to perform a wide variety of data file tasks. You may list, print* (see bottom of page), create, delete, and edit .S2P device s-parameter and/or noise data files. While this utility is quite adequate for its intended task, it's not a full featured word processor; it doesn't have features like "search and replace," etc.


When you choose "(1) File Utility" from the Main Menu, either by pressing "1," or by using the "F1" function key, you'll enter the File Utility Menu. The screen display will look similar to the following:

File Utility Menu

(1) List File *

(2) Print Logfile *

(3) Create File

(4) Edit File

(5) Delete File

(6) Directory

(7) Main Menu

Choose (1 - 7) ?

  * Windows Print: Use (1) List File, then 'Mark' & 'Copy' into Clipboard.
  * Print Logfile (2) will direct output to Logfile.txt in the \mwdata6 sub-directory.

If you choose the option to 'Print Logfile,' the data will be directed to 'Logfile.txt' within the \mwdata6 sub-directory, and not to the screen. Right-click on 'Logfile.txt' to print it, and then DELETE the file; it will re-create when next needed.

You may make a selection from the File Utility Menu by entering a number from 1 to 7. You don't have to press <Enter>; these are hot keys and will immediately do what you want.


These three file operations are identical in that you are asked one simple question:   Filename ? _

Listing

If you want to list the NE02135A device data (demo) file that exists in the \mwdata6 data sub-directory, simply choose "(1) List File," then type NE02135A, and press <Enter>.

Printing.

On Windows PC's, follow the directions given on-screen and at the bottom of this page.

Deleting.

Simply choose "(5) Delete File" and press <Enter>.


By choosing "(6) Directory," and pressing <Enter>, you will see a list of all .S2P device data files within the \mwdata6 data sub-directory. Initially, the only files you will have will be one that we've included for demo purposes.


Creating a .S2P Device Data File

When you choose "(3) Create File," and press <Enter>, you'll see a black DOS screen similar, except in color, to the following:

Note 1: Max # lines = 255.             Note 2: Enter s-data in the following format.  Note that "<>" = a space.             F<>S11M<>S11P<>S21M<>S21P<>S12M<>S12P<>S22M<>S22P             Note 3: Enter noise data in this format.  Note that "<>" = a space.             F<>Fmin.<>Gamma opt. Mag<>Gamma opt. Phase<>Rn norm.             If you wish, you may type comment lines before entering data, BUT, the line must             begin with an exclamation "!" character. See below under "Headers."             Note 4: Press "Enter" to end.             Enter line # 1 : ? _

In accordance with industry wide convention, s-parameter files carry the three-letter DOS extension of S2P. An s-data file must have nine entries per line; the first number is frequency, the next eight is the s-data in standard format: S11, S21, S12, and S22. Noise data files requires five entries per line. Let's create a short s-data file and save it in order to see how to do it, O.K.?

Also, keep in mind that while our programs use frequency in MHz, many vendors provide data in GHz. There is a routine in the Calculations Module that detects GHz vs MHz, and asks if you wish to switch so you can use the data with our other programs.

After we create this file, we'll show you how to edit it

In answer to the request above to "Enter line # 1," type the following at the prompt. Be careful to put only ONE space between each number:

        Enter line # 1 : ? _ 100 .8 22 3.1 129 .01 -23 .7 45

As in all our programs, press <Enter> to complete the line entry. Now type the line as shown below:

        Enter line # 2 : ? _ 200 .9 30 2.9 134 .02 -27 .9 51

Press <Enter> to complete the line entry.

        Enter line # 3 : ? _

At this point, we'll stop entering data and save the file we've just created. To tell SData+ that you're done entering data, just type one extra <Enter>.

You'll now be asked:

        Enter Filename ? _

Let's call this simple two-line file "TRY." Just type it after the prompt above and press <Enter>.

You'll see a brief message on-screen telling you that the file "TRY" is being saved and then you'll be returned to the File Utility Menu.

As you can see, its very easy to create files! If you want to create a noise data file, the steps are the same, only you type five entries per line instead of nine as in s-data files.

Please note that lines must be entered in ascending order, frequency-wise, i.e., from low to high, and that the maximum number of lines in a file is 255.


Headers

If you want to enter a "header" into a file, when you begin to create one, each text line, even a blank one, must have an exclamation point "!" character at the beginning of each line. You might want a header in order to record device bias information, the device part #, etc. The following shows a short header added to our "TRY" file, the short two-liner we created earlier.

! FMT 2060 Data         !         100 .8 22 3.1 129 .01 -23 .7 45         200 .9 30 2.9 134 .02 -27 .9 51

For now, let's look into editing a file.


Editing Files

When you choose "(4) Edit File" from the File Utility Menu, either by pressing "4" or by using the "F4" function key, you'll see the following:

            Enter Filename ? _

Let's edit the short two-line .S2P data file we created. Type "TRY" to edit the file. Except for some of the colors, here is what you should see on the screen:

File: TRY             # Lines : 2             Edit Menu             1: List File             2: Delete Line             3: Insert Line             4: Replace Line             5: Save File             6: Menu            Edit Command (1-6) [<Enter>=Menu] ? _

It's always a good idea to choose "1: List File" first. However, in this case, we know that there are just two lines in this file, so we'll skip this step.

Choose "3: Insert Line" by typing "3" above and then pressing <Enter> (or just press the "F3" key).

You'll be asked where in the file you want to insert the new line:

           Insert line between (A,B): ? _

If you want to insert a line at the top of the file, as in this case, enter "0,1" to tell SData+ that the line is to go just before the first line. By the same token, if you were adding a line at the bottom of this two line file, you would type "2,3" to add the line in 3rd position just below line 2. Make sense?

Type the following at the prompt above:

           Insert line between (A,B): ? _0,1   and press <Enter>.

Enter the following at the next prompt:

           Enter new line: ?_ ! FMT 2060 Data

Note that the first character we typed above was the "!" exclamation symbol. As always, press <Enter> to complete the line entry.

Repeat this "Insert Line" operation once again, but this time insert a blank line between what is now "1,2." Don't forget,  a blank line must start with a "!" symbol.

Finally, choose the "5: Save File" option and save the modified file using the name "TRY." Don't worry about typing in the .S2P three-letter extension, SData+ will do that for you.

O.K., now when you choose "1: List File" you should see the modified file with the header in place:

File: TRY         ! FMT 2060 Data         !         100 .8 22 3.1 129 .01 -23 .7 45         200 .9 30 2.9 134 .02 -27 .9 51

When you "Press any Key" as the message at the bottom of the screen asks, you'll be returned to the File Utility Menu.

We've now covered everything you need to know to work with files in SData+. Practice until you feel comfortable.

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To print to either a parallel port, or a USB printer in Windows, from within a program running in a small DOS window, you must first copy the data in the Windows Clipboard. There are two ways to do this:

Method #1:
To print via Windows Paint, Wordpad, or Microsoft Word, from a small DOS window, use the two icons on the left, at the top. First, press 'Mark,' then left-click & drag the white cursor to highlight all the data you wish to transfer to the Clipboard. Now, with the data highlighted, press 'Copy' to paste in to the application of your choice, from which you may print.

Method #2:
To print via Windows Notepad, press the 4th icon from the left, at the top of the small DOS window, marked 'Full screen.' Now, press 'Alt + Print Scrn' to transfer the data to the clipboard. To return to the original small DOS window, press 'Alt + Enter.' Open Windows Notepad, press 'Edit' and then 'Paste.' Now you can print.