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Monitor window

The monitor window displays data the filter driver captures for the selected device (fig.1). You can open this window using any of the methods described in the "User interface" section.

 

 

warning

 

 

Note: It is not recommended to capture data in this window simultaneously with the performance test, because it can have influence on the results of the latter. Before a performance test, please stop capturing data in this window.

 

 

 

warning

 

 

Note: It is not recommended to open two Monitor windows and start capturing data in both of them for the same device because it may lead to unforeseen consequences.

 

 

usb-monitor

Fig.1 Monitor window

 

The data window contains the following interface elements:

 

Toolbar - contains buttons for executing commands used to control data in the data window. The functions of these buttons are enumerated below (left to right):

 

Start/Stop monitoring - start/stop capturing data. If this button is not available, the Monitor window is waiting for the device to be connected (you used the Open waiting monitor window command) or you have opened the window for a non-existing device (for example, by opening a workspace). Before the program start capturing data, it checks that the filter driver is correctly installed and displays the corresponding message if necessary.

 

Filter - this submenu allows you to filter out data that you do not need to displayed. The filter parameters are passed to the filter driver and considerably influence the performance of the program. When you open this window, the filter parameters are set to the default values specified in the Program options dialog box. You can change the filter parameters for this window at any moment without modifying the default filter parameters. For your convenience, you can create several sets of filters and apply them when necessary. You can read about filter parameters here.

 

Write data to a binary log file - this option enables/disables writing data automatically to a binary log file. If it turns out that no log file name is specified when you enable writing data to a binary log, you will see the corresponding dialog box where you will have to enter the name of the log file.

 

View type - the way data is displayed in the data window. There are 3 data views predefined in the program.

 

Short view - the brief type of displaying data, shows only the most general information about each URB or IRP, including the direction of data flow (to the host or in the opposite direction), the identifier of a data packet in square brackets, the name of URB or IRP, time stamp and the status of a data packet or request progress;
Standard view - the standard type of displaying data, shows the same data as the Short view + some detailed information about each URB or IRP depending on the type of URB.
Full view - the standard type of displaying data, shows the same data as the Standard view + hexadecimal data transferred in URB or IRP.

 

 

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Note: The amount of information being displayed considerably influences the performance of the computer. If the data flow is very fast and the computer cannot manage to display it, it is recommended to switch to the Short view and view the full information about URB and IRP with the help of the Show details about URB button.

 

 

Show details about the URB - if the current data view does not allow you to see the entire information about URB, you can view it by clicking this button. It will open a new Information about URB window where you will see the entire information about the data packet (fig.2).

 

urb-information

Fig.2 Full information about URB

 

Clear data on the screen - this button allows you to clear the data window.

 

Open a binary log file - this button allows you to open an existing binary log file and, if you want, set it as the current log file that will be used to automatically write captured data. When you execute this command, you will see a dialog box where you are to enter the file name and that checks if the header of the binary file corresponds to the device the Monitor window is open for. In case the headers do not match, you will see a warning message.

 

Save data to a binary log file - this button allows you to specify a new log file to automatically write captured data to or to save all or part of data to a new file and it is similar to the File | Save command.

 

Copy all data to another binary file - this button allows you to save all or part of data to another log file or XML file and is similar to the File | Save as command. To save part of data, you should select two or more data packets in the data window.

 

Delete the current log file - this button allows you to delete the current log file and all data in it.

 

Find - this button is similar to the Edit | Find command.

 

Find next - this button is similar to the Edit | Find next command.

 

Print preview - this button allows you to print information from the data window using the printer. When you use this command, a new information window will be opened. It will display information about all data packets or about only those that are selected. The current data view will be used to display the information.

 

Data window - displays captured data depending on the selected data view. When you move the mouse pointer to key words in the description (function names, text in bold type, pipe handles), you will see a tooltip for this word under the pointer.

 

Status bar - located at the bottom of the Monitor window and shows its status.

 

State - the current state of the Monitor window (OK - data is being captured, Disabled - an error while starting capturing data);

Bytes processed - the number of bytes processed in each data packet. Changes in this field indicate the presence of a data flow;

Log file - indicates whether there is a binary log file and if data is automatically written to this log file (enabled/disabled).