Link Tracker

The Link Tracker window displays a detailed chronological view of events. Events are shown on a channel-by-channel basis in columns within the window.

• Select the number of columns to view more or less data at one time.

• Each time slot in the vertical axis represents the minimum time that a DWORD requires to traverse the bus when the “Columns” is selected as 4.

• Toolbar: Shows buttons to change the format of the Link Tracker window.

• Main Display Area: Displays traffic chronologically as it occurred in the recording. The window divides into columns: the first column shows time and traffic is shown channel-by-channel in the columns on the right.

Time Overlap Indicator

Due to the sampling error of the nominal symbol time vs the granularity of our precision (~3ppm) timestamps, it can sometimes occur that 2 or more symbols seem to belong in the same time location of this view.

This is denoted by the yellow circle next to the symbol.

If you hover over the yellow circle for the timestamp, a tooltip will show the symbols that occur in this location.

The top one occurred first, followed by the bottom one, etc. This artifact can occur occasionally throughout the Link Tracker view.

Using the Link Tracker Window

The Link Tracker window can be reformatted in several ways.

Zooming In and Out

Zooming out can give you a quick, high-level view of a trace. A fully zoomed out trace only shows columns and colored lines. Using the colors, you can see what types of traffic run through the trace.

Further information can be obtained on any point of interest in the trace by positioning your mouse pointer over it. Tooltips provide detailed description of events.

Figure 10.36: Link Tracker Window Zoomed Out

Collapsing Idle Time, Enabling Tool tips, and Resetting Column Widths

Click the View Options button to open a menu with options for formatting the display. The options are:

• Collapsible Idle Time: Opens a dialog box for setting the Idle time value. Setting a value tells the analyzer when to collapse Idle times and display them as grayed out strips within the Bus View window.

• Time Format: Seconds or Clock.

• Reset Column Widths: This option resets column widths to their defaults and enables columns to resize themselves automatically any time the application window is resized. Normally, columns automatically resize themselves if the application window is made larger or smaller. However, if you manually resize any columns in the Bus View window, column widths become static. Thereafter, if you resize the application window, the Bus View columns do not adjust automatically. Reset Column Widths re-enables the automatic resizing capability.

• Reset Columns Order: Return to default column sequence.

Docking and Undocking the Window

You can undock the Link Tracker window by double-clicking the blue title bar along the left side of the window. Once undocked, the window can be dragged anywhere in the application. To redock, double-click again on the title bar.

Setting Markers

Markers can be set on any event within the Link Tracker window.

• To set a marker, right-click an event, then select Set Marker from the pop-up menu.

• Once marked, you can navigate to events with the Go to Marker command in the Search menu.

• Markers set in the Link Tracker window display the packet number and DWORD number. In contrast, markers set in the Trace window just show the packet number.

Hiding Traffic

You can hide Idles and other data from the Link Tracker window by clicking the Hide buttons on the toolbar.

Link Tracker Buttons

The Link Tracker window has a row of buttons for changing the format of the displayed data and for exporting data The buttons have the following functions: