Sensor Filmstrip: Spreadsheet View

The filmstrip can be used to play back images recorded to the PC or review images and results stored to the vision system.

Display the Filmstrip

On the View menu, click Filmstrip (alternately, click the Filmstrip button on the Job Display toolbar).

Sensor Filmstrip

When the vision system is Online and acquiring images, the Sensor filmstrip can be used to monitor a job's performance. As images are acquired, the job results, including the acquired image and accompanying job data are stored to the vision system's RAM. As results are stored to the vision system, a pass or fail graphic is added to the filmstrip. When a result is highlighted in the filmstrip, the filmstrip display changes from graphics to thumbnail images and the corresponding image is loaded to the display area. Use the controls in the Sensor Settings group box of the Filmstrip Application Step to configure the vision system's behavior. Up to 20 results can be saved, depending on the vision system's resolution and available RAM.

Note:
  • The vision system must be Online for results to be added to the filmstrip.
  • Enabling the Sensor filmstrip may increase the job execution time. Ensure that the increased time is acceptable for your application.
  • If the vision system is configured to use the maximum number of image buffers available, and is also configured to use the Sensor Filmstrip when the vision system is Online, there may not be enough memory available to save filmstrip images to the vision system. In this case, decrease the number of image buffers below the maximum. For more information, see Image Buffers Dialog.
  • Images that are output using Image tool functions are not stored to the vision system. For more information, see Image.
  • All results are deleted from the vision system if the Queue, Queue Size or Queue Type settings are modified, a new job is loaded or if the vision system is power cycled.
  • If there isn't enough memory to store the number of results originally allocated, the vision system automatically adjusts the operating Queue Size; the Queue Size setting in the Sensor Filmstrip Settings dialog remains unchanged.
  • Filmstrip does not support the SD Card installed to the vision system. For more information, see In-Sight Files.

Sensor Filmstrip Controls

Result Indicator
The result indicator status for each result. The yellow highlighting indicates the result that is currently selected in the filmstrip. The black rectangle indicates the portion of the results that are currently displayed in the filmstrip.
Navigational Buttons

Go to the first image in the filmstrip and display the accompanying results.

Go to the previous image in the filmstrip and display the accompanying results.

Go to the next image in the filmstrip and display the accompanying results.

Go to the last image in the filmstrip and display the accompanying results.

Toggles the display of passing results in the filmstrip. This button is only displayed when Separate Pass and Fail Results is selected from the Queue drop-down within the Sensor Filmstrip dialog.
Toggles the display of failing results in the filmstrip. This button is only displayed when Separate Pass and Fail Results is selected from the Queue drop-down within the Sensor Filmstrip dialog.

Click to review results.

Click to resume updates.

Click to save filmstrip images to the specified Save Path. You can save the images to any folder you have "write" privileges to on the PC, and use the PC playback mode to review the images.

Clear the queue.

Configure the Sensor Filmstrip Settings

  1. Open the Sensor Filmstrip Settings dialog. For more information, see Sensor Filmstrip Settings Dialog.
  2. Configure the filmstrip settings.

Monitor Results from the Vision System

  1. Click the Online button in the Job Display toolbar to place the vision system Online.
  2. Trigger image acquisition on the vision system. As images are acquired, the images are stored to the vision system and populated in the filmstrip, based on the Queue setting specified in the Sensor Filmstrip Settings dialog.

  1. View the updated status graphics in the filmstrip, which represent the pass/fail results. The vision system remains Online, but the filmstrip stops updating and enters "frozen" mode (indicated by a yellow bar at the top of the display area) if any of the following occurs:
    • A result receives a failing status and Freeze on Fail is specified in the Sensor Filmstrip Settings dialog.
    • A result receives a failing status and Pause on Fail is specified in the Sensor Filmstrip Settings dialog.
    • A pass or fail graphic is selected, a navigational button is clicked or the Freeze button is clicked.

    Note: When the filmstrip stops updating while Online, the job continues to run but does not send updates to the display area.

    In "frozen" mode, you can navigate through the results in the filmstrip or save images from the vision system to the PC. The stored image and spreadsheet results are loaded to the display and the spreadsheet is read-only. Meanwhile, the job continues to run, but nothing is added to the queue. The filmstrip resumes updating if one of the following occurs:

  2. When finished monitoring the results, click the Online button in the toolbar again to place the vision system Offline. When the vision system is placed Offline, no new results are added to the filmstrip. When an existing pass or fail graphic is selected, the stored image and spreadsheet results are loaded to the display and the spreadsheet is read-only. Click the Continue button to return to the standard Offline mode of operation.

Save Images from the Vision System to the PC

You can save the images from an Online or Offline vision system to any folder you have "write" privileges to on the PC.

Verify the Save Path

  1. Verify that the vision system is Offline.
  2. Open the Sensor Filmstrip Settings dialog and click the "browse" button next to the Save Path field. For more information, see Sensor Filmstrip Settings Dialog.
  3. In the Browse for Folder dialog, specify the desired destination folder and click OK. The selected folder path is now displayed in the Save Path field.
  4. Click OK to close the Sensor Filmstrip Settings dialog.

Save Images from an Online or Offline Sensor to a PC

  1. Select a result in the filmstrip or click the Freeze button to enter "frozen" mode. This mode is indicated by a yellow bar at the top of the display area. The stored image and spreadsheet results are loaded to the display and the spreadsheet is read-only. Meanwhile, the job continues to run, but nothing is added to the queue.
  2. Click the Save to PC button in the filmstrip.
  3. To add more images to the destination folder, exit "frozen" mode by clicking either the Continue button or the Clear All Results button, allow another set of results to be added to the queue and repeat steps 1 and 2.