Open a project - thetoolbar button

By selecting the Open item of the File menu (or pressing the Ctrl+O hotkey) parameters of measurement data (the contents of .par T3Ster parameter files) can be loaded into the memory of the computer.  These files contain essential measurement information about a T3Ster measurement project (or a "virtual measurement" created using the import wizard). This is a pure ASCII file describing configuration, range settings, etc. The file to be loaded can be selected in the Open window (Figure 4‑2). Actual loading takes place if the Open button is pressed. Pressing the ESC key closes the window without loading any file.

Of course, there are alternative methods for opening a file. You can also click on a .par file in the explorer or drag and drop multiple .par files from an explorer window into the T3Ster-Master window – this is the most practical way for opening more than one file at once.

Figure 4-2: Opening a T3Ster project in T3Ster-Master

Figure 4-3: Display of a recently opened parameter file

Clicking on the project name in the project bar opens / closes the display of views in a project. All views represent separate files. Beside the T3Ster parameter file the next important data sets of a project are the .raw file and the .rec file that contain the measured and pre-processed transient functions.

Clicking on a given project view the contents of the given file will be displayed in the appropriate format, e.g. as a function plot, see Figure 4‑4. Some views (files) are available immediately after having saved the results of a T3Ster measurement. These are:

• Record Parameters – the T3Ster parameter file (.par file),
• Measured response – the recorded transient response(s) file (.raw file; .rec file, this latter also contains the  initial transient correction)

The following views (files) are available only as a result of the evaluation of corrected transient responses:

• Smoothed response –  the transient after smoothing by a moving average technique
• Derivative - the view containing the 1^st derivative of the response,
• Zth – the view of the transient response normalized by the power step,
• Tau Intensity - the view containing the time-constant spectrum,
• Complex Locus - the view of the complex loci,
• Pulse Thermal Resistance - view of the calculated pulse thermal resistance diagrams,
• Structure Function (Differential) - the view of the differential structure function (calculated for driving point response only),
• Structure Function (Integral) - the view of the integral structure function (calculated for driving point response only).

For more information on project views refer to Section 3.3.
In the case of imported simulation results, the .rec files are displayed only after evaluation. The way function plot views are shown can be controlled either with toolbar buttons or by the different items of the Plot or the Manipulate menu.

Note that evaluation can be initiated without having one of the .raw or .rec files. If a .rec is missing, the evaluation engine will convert a .raw file into a .rec file automatically (without initial parasitic transient correction). The .rec file can be also created from the Measured response view (.raw file) by means of the Initial transient correction item of the Manipulate menu. This behavior was implemented for compatibility with any version of existing T3Ster software. For details on initial parasitic transient correction refer to section 5.1.4 of the T3Ster Measurement Control Reference Guide.

Figure 4-4: Double click on a project view displays the data in appropriate format (e.g. a function plot)