Custom Help File

[Bob]

For information like cable data, it's easy to add custom tables and charts to the present Help or Application files. These are plain html files, like web pages. The AIM program doesn't pay any attention to the content, just the file name. When you click on the Help or Application file name, the program opens your web browser to display the page.

Therefore, you can add text or pictures to the Help files to customize them. For example, a large table of cable data can be scanned from a handbook or captured from a manufacturer's web page and then copied to the same folder where the Help file is located. By adding a little bit of html code to the Help file, this chart can be recalled.

Small amounts of data can just be typed in using any text editor, even Notepad is adequate.

-- Bob

[mbelt]

Bob,

Great idea! I am often found receiving calls from our field Maintenance offices asking for cable data (usually velocity factors) when the guys are trying to TDR tranmission lines. I am delivering the 4170Cs to each of our maintenance centers over the next two months to provide training. As I install the software on each of the technician's PC, I will be adding tables of cable and heliax data to each of the Help files. Any other tips or advice for making the 4170C more user friendly or complete for our field technicians is always appreciated.

I have been using your analyzer since December and am extremely happy with the unit. I have tested it against our Agilent analyzers (and older HP Analyzers) and am very impressed. It is so nice to be able to travel with the 4170 instead of shipping and lugging around the Agilent test equipment.

Any thoughts or plans to design a 2 port device?

Again, thanks for such a compact and accurate unit!

-- Mike

[Bob]

Hi Mike,

I'm glad to hear you're customizing the help file. The cable data will be a handy thing to have at your fingertips. If you need some other analysis functions in the AIM, let me know.

I'm considering a two-port vector network analyzer (VNA). This is still several months away and it will cost quite a bit more. It will be focused more for commercial users. If anyone would like to recommend features for a new vna, I would like to get their inputs.

73/Bob