Measuring Differences and Detecting Synchronisms

Displaying a Time Stamp

To display a time stamp, proceed as follows:

Step	Action
1	Move the mouse pointer onto the trend diagram's dating scale where you wish to insert a time stamp.
2	Right-click to open a context-sensitive menu.
3	Use the Insert time stamp command from that menu. This command places a time stamp on the trend diagram. If you left-click on the dating scale, a time stamp will immediately be positioned on the trend diagram. NOTE: During the recording, you cannot place time stamps on the moving area of the trend diagram's window. This applies to all time stamp management functions in Trending Tool. Time stamps are only added to the printing file if the Print time stamps box is checked in the Options tab of the document page setup properties dialog box.

Modifying a Time Stamp Attribute

You can differentiate time stamps by modifying their color and/or by displaying the date corresponding to their position on the trend diagram's dating scale.

Use the dating scale's context-sensitive menu and proceed as follows:

Step	Action
1	Move the mouse pointer onto the arrow of the time stamp you wish to change.
2	Right-click to open the context-sensitive menu.
3	Use the Time stamp properties command and then one of the related subcommands to change one of the time stamp's attributes.

When the Show position attribute is selected, the date corresponding to the position of the time stamp is placed on the dating scale, as shown below. If this attribute is active, the corresponding item (Show position) from the dating scale's context-sensitive menu is checked. The Color context-sensitive submenu enables you to choose one of the 15 colors available for the time stamp. The active color is checked in this submenu.

Moving a Time Stamp

By moving the mouse pointer onto one of the dating scale's time stamps and by holding your finger down on the left mouse button, you can move the time stamp. Once the required position is reached, release the left button. If, while you are moving the time stamp, you approach one of the trend diagram's edges, Trending Tool will automatically shift the diagram in the required direction.

You can move and create a time stamp in one step.

Synchronizing a Time Stamp With the Edge of a Variable

When you create or move a time stamp, you can specify the edge of the variable with which it must be lined up. To do this, move the mouse pointer onto the time stamp on the trend diagram's dating scale and hold your finger down on the left mouse button. Then, move the mouse until you reach the required edge of the trend diagram. Release the left button. If the time stamp is hooked to the edge of the variable, the edge will be surrounded by a square in Trending Tool. If other trend diagram edges are synchronous with the selected edge, they will also be surrounded by a square.

This synchronization mode works with the rising and falling edges of boolean variables and with the value changes of integer and floating variables.

Deleting a Time Stamp

To delete a time stamp, proceed as follows:

Step	Action
1	Move the mouse pointer onto the trend diagram's dating scale where you want to delete a time stamp.
2	Right-click to open the context-sensitive menu.
3	Use the Delete command from this menu.

If the mouse pointer is not moved onto the time stamp, the Delete command will be gray-toned.

Locating the Position of a Time Stamp

To locate the position of a time stamp, move the mouse pointer onto the time stamp in question and wait for approximately five seconds. Trending Tool will display a small pop-up window featuring the dates and times related to this time stamp. To close this window, simply move the mouse.

Measuring a Difference

To measure a difference between two positions, proceed as follows:

Step	Action
1	Create the first time stamp and place it at the beginning of the area you want to measure.
2	Create the second time stamp and place it at the end of the area you want to measure.
3	You can apply a scale change to view both time stamps at the same time. Trending Tool displays the distance between both time stamps on the trend diagram's dating scale.