AWG610 Arbitrary Waveform Generator User Manual 3-103
The Equation Editor
The Equation editor is an ASCII text editor that includes menus and commands
for writing waveform equation files using the Waveform Programming Language
(WPL). You can use WPL to generate a waveform from a mathematical function,
perform calculations between two or more waveform files, and use loop and
conditional branch commands to define waveform values.
The WPL duplicates almost all of the AWG610 Arbitrary Waveform Generator
Waveform and Pattern editor functions. However, you cannot perform sequential
data processing on a point-by-point basis. Instead, the Equation editor has
functions for performing calculations between two or more waveform files that
affect all the points in a waveform.
By default, all Equation editor files are saved to a specified filename and have
the extension .txt. However, in this manual all equation file names use the
extension .equ to differentiate them from nonequation-content text files. To
output an equation waveform you must compile the equation file into a
waveform file.
. It is highly recommended that you install a PC-style keyboard if you
intend to use the Equation editor. It is much easier to enter and edit text from a
keyboard then to use the front-panel controls to edit a file.
In this manual, all equation file names use the extension .equ to differentiate
them from nonequation-content text files.
You can use the Equation editor to create and load text-only files, such as
readme or other text files. However, the focus of this section is to describe how
to use the Equation editor to create waveform equations.

Starting the Equation Editor

To start the Equation editor, push EDIT (front)Edit (bottom)New Equation
(side). You can also automatically start the Equation editor by loading an
equation file from the EDIT menu file list. Figure 3–23 shows the Equation
editor screen. Table 3–29 describes the editor screen elements that are specific to
the Equation editor. Table 3–30 describes the bottom menu functions. The
sections that follow Table 3–30 describe the menu operations in detail.