Exploring parameters
3 minute read
Once connected, the Parameters panel shows the controller’s parameter tree. Values of the parameters that are on screen refresh twice a second.
Navigating the tree
- Click a folder (▶ / ▼) to expand or collapse it.
- Each leaf shows its live value on the right, and a writable leaf also has an inline input.
- Hover a row to see its full path as a tooltip.
Parameter types
The icon in front of a leaf shows the parameter’s role in the control program:
| Icon colour | Type | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | INPUT | Input of a control block |
| Amber | OUTPUT | Output of a control block |
| Green | PARAMETER | Configuration value |
| Purple | PARAMETER_VOLATILE | Configuration value, not stored on disk |
| Teal | PARAMETER_PERSISTENT | Configuration value, stored on disk |
Non-numeric parameters (strings, enums, byte arrays) are listed and can be read, but cannot be plotted.
Array parameters
An array parameter carries an [Nch] badge. Click its icon or name to expand it into channels ch0 … chN-1, each
with its own value and input.
Searching and filtering
- Press Ctrl+F (Cmd+F) to jump to the filter box.
- Typing filters by name; only matching leaves and the folders leading to them stay visible, expanded.
*works as a wildcard across path segments, e.g.01*Enable.- Click ✕ to clear the filter.
Writing a value
Writable parameters (INPUT, OUTPUT and PARAMETER variants) have an inline input next to the live value.
Warning
A write goes straight to a running machine and can move an axis. Check the path and the value before pressing Enter.
- Click the input.
- Type a value. Math expressions are evaluated —
2*pi,1/60,0.5+sin(0.3)all work. - Press Enter to write. The input flashes green on success, red on failure.
- Press Escape to leave the value untouched.
For an array leaf you can either write one channel at a time, or write the whole array in the parent input as a
list — [0, 1.5, 2] or 0 1.5 2. The list must have exactly as many values as the array has channels.
Locking a parameter
A lock (force overwrite) holds a parameter at the value you wrote, overriding whatever the control program writes to it. Locked rows are highlighted, and the same lock is shown on the signal in the Active panel.
- Lock: right-click the parameter → Lock, or use the lock button on the signal in the Active panel.
- Unlock: right-click → Unlock, or click the highlighted lock button again.
Locks live in the controller session, so they are released when you disconnect.
Context menu
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Add to plot / Delete from plot | Toggle this leaf (or channel) as a trace |
| Add to plot (array parent) | Add every channel of the array at once |
| Lock / Unlock | Force the parameter at its current value, or release it |
| Copy full path | Copy root/… path to the clipboard |
| Copy name | Copy just the leaf name |
| Copy value | Copy the current value — the whole array for an array parameter |
Saving parameters to the controller
The save button in the Parameters tab header (or Ctrl+S) tells the controller to persist its current parameter set to disk, so it survives a restart. The button is disabled while disconnected, turns green on success and red when the controller refuses the save.