MCDA User Guide


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Overview

Master Controller Data Analyzer is a tool for viewing and analysis of NTMC data recording files. Please click here to view a brief introduction to the program, then press the browser Back button to return to this page.

 

File Viewing

MCDA is fully integrated into NTMC components and can be started from there as described in those manuals. In those cases the relevant file gets loaded automatically and is ready for viewing and / or analysis. The program can also be started off-line, in which case the file of interested is loaded manually using a command. Once the file is loaded it can be viewed and / or analyzed.

 

Data Analysis

MCDA provides filters, reports, and data exporting tools.

 

Filters

Each filter is a set of rules defined by the user. Filter configuration parameters are listed in the Configuration section below. 

For a filter to be in effect it must be made active. The active filter identifier is displayed at the bottom right of MCDA window.

A filter can let all data be visible, or only a subset of data which conforms to the above mentioned rules. For example, one can search for data which fall in to the months of July and August of the current year only.

A number of predefined filters is shipped with MCDA, such as Today, This Week, This Month, etc. As the names suggest these filters only pass through today's data, this week's data, etc. These filters can not be modified, except for the fields which do not affect filtering attributes, such as the graph title, the Y-Axis label, etc.

Only custom filters can be edited. One such filter, called Exploring, is shipped with MCDA. Custom filters are meant to provide nonstandard filtering options. New custom filters can be created and used at any time. Care must be taken that the filters are named appropriately, or there may be confusion at a later time as to what those filters do to data. For example, one can make a filter which passes through only data from July and August of 2001. One appropriate name for such a filter is Summer 2001. If one named it Summer 2000, or Fall 2001, the name would be misleading, and would cause confusion. See the Filter Type parameter below.

 

Reports

Several standard reports are available - see the Commands section below. Each of the reports can be run over the entire data set (all data in the data recording file), or over a data subset consistent with the filter active at the time.

 

Exporting Tools

One can export all data, a subset of data consistent with the filter active at the time, or report results. In all cases exports can be analyzed with other tools, such as spreadsheet programs.  Custom data exports are available, such as export files which can be directly input into customer billing programs used by the company running NTMC.

 

Commands

Users can define custom commands. Each command specifies the file to be processed, if and how it is to be filtered, any analysis to be done (report), and the type of output (printout of data listing or graph, export to comma delimited file). Each command can be executed manually, or as a part of a job on a scheduled basis (see below).

 

Jobs

Users can define custom jobs. Each job specifies a list of commands (see above) to be executed. Each job can be executed manually, or on a scheduled basis by using Windows task scheduling utility (see below).

 

Commands

The following commands are under the MCDA menu.

COMMAND DESCRIPTION HOW TO EXECUTE BUTTON SHORTCUT
View Log Starts MCEV and loads MCDA event log file.
  1. Select the MCDA menu.
  2. Select the View Log command.
  3. Alternatively, Press the View Log button.
 Yes
Configure... Starts MCED and loads the MCDA configuration file.
  1. Select the MCDA menu.
  2. Select the  Configure command.
  3. Edit the file using MCED procedures.
  4. Alternatively, Press the Configure MCDA button.
 Yes
Exit Terminates MCDA.
  1. Select the MCDA menu.
  2. Select the View Log command.
  3. Alternatively, Press the windows X button.
 Yes - X

 

The following commands are under the Data menu.

COMMAND DESCRIPTION HOW TO EXECUTE BUTTON SHORTCUT
Open Data File... Shows the list of available data recording files, and loads the selected file.
  1. Select the Data menu.
  2. Select the Open Data File... command.
  3. Alternatively, Press the windows Load Data button.
 Yes
Export Exports the complete loaded data recording file into a comma-delimited ASCII file which can, in turn, be imported into spreadsheets, etc. The file is deposited to the export file directory.
  1. Select the Data menu.
  2. Select the Export command.
 No
Export Filtered Exports the filtered portion of loaded data recording file into a comma-delimited ASCII file which can, in turn, be imported into spreadsheets, etc. The file is deposited to the export file directory.
  1. Select the Data menu.
  2. Select the Export Filtered command.
 No
Export NeXGen Event Log Takes event log data downloaded from a specified NeXGen unit into RUEX analog points EventLog (address 4094) and EventVal (address 4095), and converts it into a human readable report - a comma delimited file importable into a spreadsheet. The file is deposited to the export file directory. 
  1. In RUEX right-click on to EventLog or EventVal analog point of a NeXGen device window.
  2. Select View NTMCRDR file.
  3. In MCDA, select the Data menu.
  4. Select the Export NeXGen Event Log command.
  
Print... Prints the highlighted window (data or graph).
  1. Select the Data menu.
  2. Select the Print command.
  3. Alternatively, Press the Print Current Window button.
 Yes
Print Setup... Display the printer setup dialog box.
  1. Select the Data menu.
  2. Select the Print Setup command.
 No

 

The following commands are under the Filter menu.

COMMAND DESCRIPTION HOW TO EXECUTE BUTTON SHORTCUT
Edit Active... Starts MCED and loads the active filter making it ready for editing.
  1. Select the Filter menu.
  2. Select the Edit Active command.
  3. Select the filter and edit it as per MCED procedures.
  4. Alternatively, press the Edit Active Filter button.
 Yes
Select Active... Selects a new active filter.
  1. Select the Filter menu.
  2. Select the Select Active command.
  3. Select the filter.
  4. Alternatively, press the Select New Active Filter button.
 Yes
Save Active As... Saves the active filter under a different name.
  1. Select the Filter menu.
  2. Select the Save Active As command.
  3. Enter the new filter id.
 No
Edit... Selects an inactive filter, loads it into MCED, making it ready for editing.
  1. Select the Filter menu.
  2. Select the Edit command.
  3. Select a filter edit the file using MCED procedures.
 No
New... Creates a new filter. After creation the filter is inactive.
  1. Select the Filter menu.
  2. Select the New command.
  3. Enter the new filter id.
  4. Alternatively, press the Create New Filter button.
 Yes
Delete... Deletes an inactive filter.
  1. Select the Filter menu.
  2. Select the Delete command.
  3. Select the filter to be deleted.
 No

 

The following commands are under the Report menu.

COMMAND DESCRIPTION HOW TO EXECUTE BUTTON SHORTCUT
Hourly Averages Generates the hourly averages report - displaying the average value of data for each hour of the day (0 - 1, 1 - 2, etc) in a window.
  1. Select the Report menu.
  2. Select the Hourly Averages command.
 No
Hourly Maxima Generates the hourly maxima report - displaying the maximum value of data for each hour of the day (0 - 1, 1 - 2, etc) in a window. Each displayed value is time stamped.
  1. Select the Report menu.
  2. Select the Hourly Maxima command.
 No
Hourly Totals Generates the hourly totals report - displaying the total value of data for each hour of the day (0 - 1, 1 - 2, etc) in a window. Each displayed value is time stamped.
  1. Select the Report menu.
  2. Select the Hourly Totals command.
 No
Daily Maxima Generates the daily maxima report - displaying the maximum value of data for each day in a window. Each displayed value is time stamped.
  1. Select the Report menu.
  2. Select the Daily Maxima command.
 No
Control Point AOT Generates the control point accumulated off time report in a text file. The file is deposited in MCDA export file directory. Start and end times for the report are specified in the active data filter. 
  1. Select the Report menu.
  2. Select the Control Point AOT command.
 No
Control Point State Generates the control point state report in a text file. The file is deposited in MCDA export file directory. Time for the report is specified in the Start Time of the active data filter. 
  1. Select the Report menu.
  2. Select the Control Point State command.
 No
Export Exports reports which are originally displayed on the screen, to a text file. The file is deposited in MCDA export file directory. 
  1. Select the Report menu.
  2. Select the Export command.
 No

 

The following commands are under the Command menu.

COMMAND DESCRIPTION HOW TO EXECUTE BUTTON SHORTCUT
Execute... Executes selected command.
  1. Select the Command menu.
  2. Select command to be executed.
 No
New... Creates a new command.
  1. Select the Command menu.
  2. Enter new command name.
 No
Copy... Copies an existing command to a new one.
  1. Select the Command menu.
  2. Select command to be copied.
  3. Enter new command name.
 No
Edit... Configures selected command.
  1. Select the Command menu.
  2. Select command to be edited.
  3. Edit the command using MCED procedures.
 No
Delete... Deletes selected command.
  1. Select the Command menu.
  2. Select command to be deleted.
 No

 

The following commands are under the Job menu. Each of these jobs can be executed manually via the Execute menu selection (below), or on a scheduled basis by using Windows task scheduling utility. In the latter case, if the job is called MyJob, the following program and arguments need to be added to the Windows task scheduler (case sensitive):

MCDA Job=MyJob

 

COMMAND DESCRIPTION HOW TO EXECUTE BUTTON SHORTCUT
Execute... Executes selected job.
  1. Select the Job menu.
  2. Select command to be executed.
 No
New... Creates a new job.
  1. Select the Job menu.
  2. Enter new command name.
 No
Edit... Configures selected job.
  1. Select the Job menu.
  2. Select the job to be edited.
  3. Configure the job using MCED procedures.
 No
Delete... Deletes selected job.
  1. Select the Job menu.
  2. Select the job to be deleted.
 No

 

Configuration

The table below shows MCDA Configuration Parameters which can be reached by selecting MCDA à Configure.

PARAMETER DESCRIPTION
Current Data Filter Selects the active data filter. This can also be accomplished by executing the Select Active Filter command.
Export File Directory Directory where data and reports get to be exported from MCDA.
Number of Decimal Places (display) Number of decimal places to be used in numerical displays.
Max Value (Displays) Maximum value to be displayed in a regular (non-scientific) format. Numbers larger than this limit are displayed in scientific format N.NNE+MM, where N.NN are the number's most significant digits, and MM is the exponent. For example, 1.23E+05 = 123000.
Y Range Determination (Plots) When set to AUTO, data Y range in plots is computed automatically. When se to MANUAL, data Y range must be entered manually (parameters below).
Y - Lowest The lowest data Y value to be included in plots. This parameter is ignored when 'Y Range Determination (Plots)' is set to AUTO.
Y - Highest The highest data Y value to be included in plots. This parameter is ignored when 'Y Range Determination (Plots)' is set to AUTO.

 

The table below shows Filter Parameters. To edit the active filter execute the Edit Active Filter command. To edit an inactive filter, execute the Edit Filter command. The items marked with the '+' in the 'E' column are those which can be edited in all kinds of filters. Items without the '+' in that column can be edited only in custom filters. See parameter Filter Type below.

PARAMETER DESCRIPTION E
Graph Title Specifies the title for the graph. If set to DEFAULT, the title is the name of the data recording file. The file extension is no displayed if the Windows Explorer is configured to hide extensions of known files. +
Y Axis Label Specifies the Y (vertical) axis label. This parameter is manipulated by other NTMC components when MCDA is spawned by them. +
Units of Measure Units of measure, used in data list column header. This parameter is manipulated by other NTMC components when MCDA is spawned by them. +
Data Gap Threshold (Sec, 0 = off) Specifies the maximum number of seconds between two data points for them to still be connected with a line. In other words, there are gaps in a graph where data points are separated by time longer than specified here. +
Filter Type Specified the type of the filter. Predefined filter types do not allow certain parameters to be edited. If the value of this parameter is set to Custom, All parameters can be edited.  
Date and Time Filtering This parameter must be Enabled for date and time filtering to work. The latter does not work when this parameter is Disabled.  
Start Date and Time This parameter defines the start date and time when Date and Time Filtering is Enabled. The filter will reject any data with time stamps prior to the date and time set here.  
End Date and Time This parameter defines the end date and time when Date and Time Filtering is Enabled. The filter will reject any data with time stamps more recent than the time set here.  
Time of Day Filtering This parameter must be Enabled for time of day filtering to work. The latter does not work when this parameter is Disabled.  
Start Time of Day This parameter defines the start time of day when Time of Day Filtering is Enabled. The filter will reject any data with time stamps prior to the time of day set here.  
End Time of Day This parameter defines the end time of day when Time of Day Filtering is Enabled. The filter will reject any data with time stamps more recent than time of day set here.  
Y Axis Filtering This parameter must be Enabled for Y-Axis filtering to work. The latter does not work when this parameter is Disabled.  
Y Lowest This parameter defines the lowest data value when Y Axis Filtering is Enabled. The filter will reject any data with values lower than the one  specified here.  
Y Highest This parameter defines the highest data value when Y Axis Filtering is Enabled. The filter will reject any data with values higher than the one  specified here.  
LMEX Peak Billing Period Filtering This parameter must not be Disabled for LMEX Peak Billing Period Filtering to work. When set to Peak, only data with Peak Billing Period attribute are passed through. When set to Off Peak, only data with Off Peak Billing Period Attribute are passed through.  

 

The table below shows Command Parameters which can be reached by selecting MCDA à Command à Edit.

PARAMETER DESCRIPTION
Data File Type Specifies type of data file (analog readings, pulse counter data, control point operation data, etc) that is to be processed.
Data File Copy Specifies which copy of data recording file is to be processed. The choices are Latest, NTMCRDR Archive, and RURDR Archive.
Data File Id Specifies the actual data file (of the type specified above) to be processed.
Filter Id Specifies the filter to use before processing. Data is first filtered through the selected filter before it is processed. If NONE is selected, all data in above file is processed.
Data Analysis Specifies whether or not a report is to be generated. The choices are NONE (no report is generated, i.e. raw data is passed on), Hourly Averages, Hourly Maxima, Hourly Totals, and Daily Maxima.
Output Format Choices are Printed List (time stamped data is printed on default printer),  Printed Plot (a plot of above data is printed on default printer), or Comma Delimited File (data is exported into comma delimited file, which can be read by spreadsheet programs). Default printer is selected in Windows Control Panel.

 

The table below shows Job Parameters which can be reached by selecting MCDA à Job à Edit.

PARAMETER DESCRIPTION
Command One or more of these commands follows. Each command specifies one Command as defined above.

 

 

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