After starting it, the T3Ster software first checks the existence of the specified device driver and the existence of the T3Ster hardware. If the software does not find the device driver or the measuring equipment (e.g. there was a device driver installation problem or the equipment is not connected or switched off) one of the warning windows shown in Figure 4-1 is displayed. After pressing the OK button the main window of the T3Ster software is shown in its initial state - all the "off-line" functions such as post-processing previously measured results will be still available (see Figure 4-2), provided, that there is a valid license key available. For details of licensing, please refer to section 3.5.
If the hardware is detected at startup, the T3Ster logo is shown for about 2 seconds. After this splash screen disappears, the program is ready for use.
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Figure 4-1: Warning window at startup: a) failing to communicate with the device driver of the parallel interface card, b) failing to communicate with the T3Ster equipment
Figure 4-2: The main window of the T3Ster software in its initial state
This program version uses the so called multi-document graphical user interface style that is usual in many Windows applications. The main visual elements of the user interface (shown in Figure 4-3) are as follows:
Figure 4-3: Visual elements in the user interface of the T3Ster software
The content of the menu bar depends on the contents of the desktop of the T3Ster software. If function plot windows are available, the Plot item is also included in the menu bar. The state of the toolbar also depends on the actual phase of the work, since only buttons with existing, valid menu items are available for use
The display of the toolbar, project bar and status bar can be controlled from-within the View menu: they can be switched on and off.
Most of the functions of the T3Ster software are available both from-within a menu or a submenu item or by pressing the corresponding button in the toolbar. If the cursor is moved onto a button, tool tips give a short description what the given button is used for. Somewhat more detailed information also appears in the status bar about the buttons as well as about the actual status of the software.
The list of the open projects is in the project bar. Any number of T3Ster projects can be open at the same time. By clicking on the name of a project one can browse among the different views. Each view corresponds to a disk file. By clicking on a view name the contents of the corresponding file are displayed in the appropriate format (e.g. as a function plot) in a separate window within the desktop of the T3Ster software. In case of a recently saved measurement there exist only two such views: the measurement parameters and the raw, unprocessed record of the measured data. The other views (files) are generated as a result of evaluation.