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Using the Plot Feature in NECTO Studio

The Plot feature in NECTO Studio provides a powerful way to visualize real-time sensor data, helping you analyze trends, debug your application, and compare multiple data points efficiently. This tutorial will guide you through a practical example of using the Plot feature to display temperature sensor readings.

Practical Example: Visualizing Temperature Data from Thermo 21 Click

📌 Reference Image: Plot In Action

Step 1: Set Up Your Environment

  1. Run NECTO Studio.
  2. Navigate to the Code section on the left-hand side toolbar of the NECTO Studio interface.
  3. Open the Planet Debug tab (Right-hand side of the NECTO Studio Interface).
  4. Shortcut: Press CTRL + 6 on your keyboard.

Step 2: Connect to a Hardware Setup with a Sensor

  1. Select a hardware setup that includes a temperature sensor.
  2. Example: Smart Thermostat setup with a Thermo 21 Click board.
  3. Select GO and connect to the hardware via Planet Debug, free of charge!

Step 3: Install and Configure the Sensor Package

  1. Open the Package Manager.
  2. Shortcut: Press CTRL + 5.
  3. Search for the Thermo 21 Click package and install it.
  4. Open the package and locate the main.c file (main.c is opened by default in the Code Editor).
  5. Update the Click board's position:
  6. Replace MIKROBUS_1 with MIKROBUS_3 (or the actual mikroBUS position where the Click board is placed).

Step 4: Insert the plot Function to Visualize Data

  1. Switch to the Plot tab on the right-hand side of the interface.
  2. Shortcut: Press CTRL + 9.
  3. Read the brief Plot instructions available in the tab.

  4. Modify the code to include the plot function:

  5. Locate the application_task function inside main.c.

  6. Add the following line of code:
plot("Temperature", temperature);

📌 Reference Image: Plot Code Change

Step 5: Run the Debugger and View the Plot

  1. Run the Debug function on the left-hand side of NECTO Studio.
  2. Press F6 (Continue Debug) to start real-time data visualization.

Advanced Plot Features in NECTO Studio

Plotting Multiple Sensor Values

  • You can use the plot function multiple times to visualize data from multiple sensors.
  • Example:
plot("Temperature", temperature);
plot("Humidity", humidity);

Exploring Advanced Plot Features

Once in Continue Debug mode, you can use the following features:

  1. Search for Values
  2. Use the search for values bar to filter and locate specific sensor readings.

  3. Press Enter to display matching values.

  4. Switch View Modes

  5. Toggle between Chart View and Table View.

  6. Erase Table

  7. Clear all recorded values with the Erase Table button.

  8. Add New Charts

  9. Click Add New Chart to overlay multiple data graphs.
  10. Configure the new chart:
    • Select chart type: Line, Spline, Area, Scatter, or Bar.
    • Define units, name, and data sources.
    • Click Add Chart to finalize.

Customizing Charts

Once a chart is created, you can:

  1. Edit Chart Settings – Modify chart configurations.
  2. Reset Chart View – Restore default zoom and positioning.
  3. Detach Chart View – Move charts independently in the interface.
  4. Close Chart View – Remove charts when no longer needed.

📌 Additional Chart Controls:

  • Left-click on a chart to drag and reposition it.
  • Zoom in/out by holding CTRL and scrolling with the mouse.
  • Export Chart: Right-click on a chart to save it as a *.png image.

Stopping Debugging

Once you’ve completed your analysis, simply stop the debugger to exit Plot mode.

Plot Feature: Works with Both Local and Remote Hardware

It's important to note that the Plot feature is completely independent of the Planet Debug feature. The Smart Thermostat example showcased here was simply a way to demonstrate how you can use Plot right from your laptop, without needing additional hardware, making it accessible for free. However, you can just as easily use the Plot feature with your own hardware setup on your workbench. The plotting principles remain the same—whether you're visualizing data from a remotely accessed development board via Planet Debug or from a sensor directly connected to your local development system. 🚀

Final Thoughts

NECTO Studio’s Plot feature provides an intuitive way to visualize real-time sensor data, aiding debugging and analysis. By integrating the plot function, you can monitor multiple sensor readings simultaneously and utilize advanced features to tailor your visualization needs.