Base file name

Enter a file name prefix which is always the same, e.g. a term with relation to the data storage creating the files. The base file name will be supplemented automatically by an incrementing number if more than one data file with the same name exists.

Check the “Add base file name” selection box if you want the base file name to be also (part of) the file name. Uncheck it if you want other information to be shown in the file name.

However, it is always advisable to enter a base file name even if you do not intend to use it. In case, for instance, you use the text signal only for naming the files and the text signal is not available due to an error, ibaPDA will use the base file name instead (plus numbering, if necessary).

Optionally, you can also select other information to be part of the file name:

  • File number

  • Start date and time

  • Start trigger name

  • Text signal

Simply enable the option you wish to be added to the filename.

Below the base file name, an example of a file name is shown in blue letters. Whenever you enable or disable the naming options, you can immediately see the effect it would have on the next file name.

You cannot change the order of the optional information in the file name. If you want to customize the data file names differently, you should use the text signal.

Add file number

If this option is enabled, the file number will be added based on a sequential number between 0 and the maximum number of files.

  • Maximum number of files This setting specifies the number of the files provided for the recording. If the maximum number of files is reached, the next recording will overwrite the first file with the same name (then, e.g., again with index 0) unless other restrictions have been specified in the settings under "Cleanup strategy".

  • Next file number The index of the next file created. If necessary, this index can also be set manually on any value between 0 and the maximum number of files.

Add start date and time

If enabled, the current date and time will be added to the file name.

The format is _yyyy-mm-dd_hh.mm.ss

Please note that this is the date and time at the start of the data file. The values may differ from the Windows file date, which is the date at file closure.

Add start trigger name

This option is only available if the start trigger pool is used as trigger mode.

If enabled, the name of the trigger signal from the start trigger pool which fires first will be added to the file name. So, you can easily see which trigger event started the recording.

Add text signal

If you choose this option, a text signal section selected from the dropdown list nearby will be added to the file name.

In case you disable all other naming options, the data file will be stored with a name derived from a text signal and the file will be saved under this name.

If you check this option, additional options and an entry field are activated:

  • In the field right next to the selection box, you can select the appropriate text signal from a dropdown list. Of course, the text signal must have been defined in the I/O Manager beforehand.

  • Select whether the contents of the text signal should be read at file opening (= start trigger) or at file closing (= stop trigger). Which selection is best depends on the process you are measuring, i.e. the time the correct value of the text signal is available.

  • Reuse text signal value If this option is disabled, the text signal value will only be used once right after reception. If no new text signal value is received for the next data file, the base file name will be used instead. By enabling this option, you determine that the last received text will be used again for the next data file. In this case, ibaPDA automatically supplements the file name by an index to prevent overwriting of the last file.

  • Remove all blanks in the file name When a text signal is configured with the “Fixed width” separating mode, it may happen that some characters are filled in with spaces. These blanks might have a negative effect on the a file name. Therefore, you can enable this option in order to remove blank characters in the file name.