AWG710&AWG710B Arbitrary Waveform Generator User Manual 3-109
The Equation Editor
The Equation editor is an ASCII text editor th at includes menus and command s 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 AWG710&AWG710B Arbitrary Waveform
Generator Waveform and Pattern editor functions. However, you cannot perform
sequential data processing on a point–by–point basis. Instead, the Equat io n edi tor
has functions for performing calculations between two o r more wav eform fi les that
affect all the points in a waveform.
To output an equation waveform you must compile the equation file into a
waveform file.
NOTE. It is highly rec ommended that you in stall a PC–style ke yboard 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 ext ens ion .equ to differentiate them
from nonequation–content text files.
You can use the Equation edit or t o c reate and load text–only files, su ch 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.