HP 3000 Manuals

HP LaserRX/MPE User's Manual: Analysis Software

Drawing a Graph 

If you are new to HP LaserRX/MPE, follow the steps on the next several
pages to draw a graph and learn some of the basics of HP LaserRX/MPE.

If you are familiar with HP LaserRX/MPE, you should skip to Chapter 3  
to learn what is new in this release of the product.

Starting HP LaserRX/MPE 

You can start HP LaserRX/MPE from within Microsoft Windows or from the
MS-DOS command line.  See your Microsoft Windows manual for how to start
an application or, from the MS-DOS command line, do the following:

   1.  At the MS-DOS prompt, type CD \LASERRX and press Enter.

   2.  Type WIN LASERRX and press Enter.

When you start HP LaserRX/MPE, a version window appears on your screen:


          Figure 2-5.    

If the HP LaserRX/MPE window does not appear, reinstall HP LaserRX/MPE as
described in Chapter 1  and start the program again.  If the HP
LaserRX/MPE window still does not appear, call your Hewlett-Packard
service representative.

Please have this information available when you call:

   *   The version of your HP LaserRX/MPE software.

   *   The manufacturer and model number of your PC.

   *   The version number of MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows on your PC.

   *   The version number of the CD-ROM extensions.

   *   The type of graphics adapter card (EGA or VGA) and monitor you are
       using.

   *   The amount of regular and expanded memory in your PC.

   *   A listing of your CONFIG.SYS file.

   *   A listing of your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

Opening a Sample HP LaserRX/MPE Logfile 

You must open an HP LaserRX/MPE logfile before you can display a graph.
For this exercise open the HP LaserRX/MPE demonstration logfile DEMO.PRF.
It is a local logfile on the HP LaserRX/MPE CD.


NOTE  HP LaserRX/MPE performance will be substantially faster if you copy
      the DEMO.PRF logfile from the CD to the hard disc of the PC,
      preferably in the directory where you installed HP LaserRX/MPE.


   1.  Click on the File menu.  The following list of commands will
       display:


          Figure 2-6.    

   2.  Select Open Local.

       The Open Local dialog box appears. 


          Figure 2-7.    

   3.  Select the file DEMO.PRF from the Files list box.  The selected
       file appears in the Filename box.

   4.  Click  OK.

The Open Local dialog box disappears, the logfile is open, and you are
ready to look at data.


NOTE  Using the Open Local dialog box, you can open HP LaserRX/MPE
      logfiles in any directory on your PC's hard drive, diskette drives,
      CD drive, or networked discs.


Displaying a Sample Graph 

Once you have opened a logfile, you can display performance data from it.

   1.  Select the Draw Graphs command by clicking on the Draw menu.

       The Draw Graphs dialog box (shown below) appears on the screen.
       For this example, a graph and several display options are already
       selected. 


          Figure 2-8.    

   2.  Select  OK.

       This graph appears:


          Figure 2-9.    

   3.  You can close the graph by double-clicking in the graph's
       Control-menu box, but--if you want to try the next exercise on
       zooming--leave the graph on the screen for now.

Focusing on Specific Times in a Graph 

You can use the Time command under the Zoom menu to focus on specific
parts of an HP LaserRX/MPE graph--after the graph is displayed.

   1.  Open the Zoom menu.


          Figure 2-10.    

   2.  Select (enable) the Time command.

       The Time command toggles the zoom-by-time mode on and off.  If
       there is a check mark next to Time, zoom-by-time is enabled.

   3.  Position the pointer on any graph at either the beginning or end
       of the segment you want to focus on.

   4.  Hold down the mouse button and drag the pointer across the graph
       to highlight (show with a reverse background) the segment you
       want.

   5.  Release the mouse button.


          Figure 2-11.    

The time segment you highlight appears in a new graph window.

Getting Help 

You can find answers to most of your questions in HP LaserRX/MPE's
on-line help.  The Help index lists topics in alphabetical order.  Some
topics provide definitions, some provide step-by-step instructions.  A
few provide important background information.

You can get help in two ways:  through an index of help topics and by
pointing to things on the screen.

To get help though an index of help topics, choose the Help Index command
from the Help menu and double-click a topic in the index that appears.


          Figure 2-12.    

You can select any of the "hot buttons"--such as  Time,  Application, or  
Process in Figure 2-12 --to display more information.

To get information about things on the screen--commands in menus,
variables on graphs, dialog boxes and their options, and parts of the
window such as scroll bars and borders--select Screen/Menu Help from the
Help menu.

The pointer changes to a question-mark pointer.  Use the question-mark
pointer to get information by pointing to a screen item with it and
clicking.


          Figure 2-13.    

Once you select a context with the pointer, help is displayed and the
pointer changes back to the standard arrow.

The Cancel Help command appears under the Help menu after the Screen/Menu
Help command has been invoked.  When you use the Cancel Help command, the
question mark pointer returns to a cursor, and the Screen/Menu Help
command is again under the menu. 


Tip  Occasionally, the Cancel Help does not cancel help and the
     Screen/Menu Help command does not reappear in the Help menu.  In
     such situations, press the Shift and F1 keys at the same time twice 
     to get the Screen/Menu Help box.  Press Done to return the Cancel
     Help command to the Screen/Menu Help command.


Exiting HP LaserRX/MPE 

There are four ways to exit HP LaserRX/MPE:

   *   Press Alt, space bar, and the C key in succession.

   *   Select the File menu and then select the Exit command.

   *   Select the Control-menu box of the HP LaserRX/MPE window, then
       select the Close command.

   *   Double-click the Control-menu box.

You will return to the MS-DOS executive window or another Microsoft
Windows application.


NOTE  The HP LaserRX/MPE batch interface commands include two commands
      that exit HP LaserRX/MPE: -exitwin and -exitapp.  For details on
      these commands see Chapter 9 .

MPE/iX 5.0 Documentation