Navigating ASAM ODS with NI DIAdem 2010 - Developer Zone - National Instruments Page 1 of 8

Document Type: Tutorial

NI Supported: Yes
Publish Date: Dec 21, 2010

Navigating ASAM ODS with NI DIAdem 2010

Overview

The ASAM ODS standard was created to simplify the universal interpretation of data acquired from testing, evaluation,
and simulation applications. The popularity of the standard today can be attributed to the foundation it provides as a
stable yet adaptable and extensible model applicable to a wide array of test and measurement applications with varying
requirements. National Instruments has abstracted some of the complexity and details of the ASAM ODS standard-
defined interfaces for data storage and retrieval from the user via its model-driven Universal Storage Interface (USI)
technology, an underlying data communication layer that groups together input and output routines common to all data
sources (including common file and database formats). By leveraging the power of USI, the redesigned ASAM ODS
browser introduced in NI DIAdem 2010 becomes a powerful client to ASAM ODS data sources that allows scientists and
engineers to more easily realize the flexible solution that they set forth to achieve by adopting ASAM ODS.

Table of Contents

1. The ASAM ODS Base Model

2. Navigating the ASAM ODS Data Model with NI DIAdem
3. Learn More Today

The ASAM ODS Base Model

The ASAM ODS standard defines a generic base data model for universal interpretation of data. The model itself
Hello AE (This is not
defines a set of structures for test and measurement data storage and the relationships between these structures.
These constructs are purposefully generalized so as to isolate fundamental elements of a measurement and automation
environment and guarantee standardized data interpretation from a variety of application areas within the domain of test
automation and measurement. The base model was designed to be adaptable because it is assumed that the base
model will be used to derive a concrete model specific to an application. The entirety of the base model is beyond the
scope of this white paper; however, some of the components that it defines include elements detailing:

Test Environment
Test Administration
Test Dimensions
Test Units
Test Measurements
Test Security
Test Description

An example of a subset of the ASAM ODS base model is portrayed in Figure 1.

http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/11879 12/23/2010
Navigating ASAM ODS with NI DIAdem 2010 - Developer Zone - National Instruments Page 2 of 8

[+] Enlarge Image

Figure 1. A base model subset of the ASAM ODS standard defines the fundamental elements (and their relationships)
used to describe test and measurement systems.

The common building blocks defined in the subset of the ASAM ODS base model displayed in Figure 1 are meant to
describe a structure for universal storage of data acquired in test and measurement applications. These elements could
be used to more concretely describe specific applications from a variety of domains. When the ASAM ODS base model
is used to derive data models specific to an application, the derived data model is called the application model. An
example of one way in which the sample base model subset in Figure 1 can be used to derive an application model is
shown in Figure 2 and Table 1.

[+] Enlarge Image

Figure 2. This application model is one possible derivation from the ASAM ODS base model subset show in Figure 1.

http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/11879 12/23/2010
Navigating ASAM ODS with NI DIAdem 2010 - Developer Zone - National Instruments Page 3 of 8

[+] Enlarge Image

Table 1. Each element from the application model is derived from the base model to create a data model unique to an
application.

Because of the relationships defining the connections between elements in the ASAM ODS data model, data stored in
compliance with the standard has the potential to be interpreted in different ways, which is often a requirement given the
numerous people – and even companies – involved in today’s data lifecycle.

For example, if a design engineer wanted to investigate reports of a faulty engine design, he might view the
measurements from all tests performed on that engine that he designed and interpret the data as shown in Figure 3.

[+] Enlarge Image

Figure 3. A design engineer might want to view measurements from all tests on a given engine that he designed.

In contrast, if a plant manager wanted to investigate whether or not an individual thermocouple channel was always
returning erroneous results during temperature measurements performed in tests across all engines, she might choose
to view the data as show in Figure 4.

http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/11879 12/23/2010
Navigating ASAM ODS with NI DIAdem 2010 - Developer Zone - National Instruments Page 4 of 8

[+] Enlarge Image

Figure 4. A plant manager, however, might want to investigate erroneous data coming from the same thermocouple
used in temperature measurements in tests of all engines and need to interact with the data in a different way.

One of the biggest benefits of storing data compliant with the ASAM ODS standard is the flexibility in perspective of data
interpretation. However, it is important to remember that without extensible, scalable client software for retrieving and
navigating an ASAM ODS application model, all intended and desired flexibility is lost and the effort required to
standardize on and migrate to the ASAM ODS data model is wasted. National Instruments helped define the ASAM
ODS standard from its creation, and NI DIAdem was one of the first ASAM ODS clients available. NI DIAdem 2010
introduces an integrated ASAM ODS browser and query interface specifically designed to ensure flexibility,
performance, and ease of use in navigating and querying ASAM ODS data sources.

Navigating the ASAM ODS Data Model with NI DIAdem

The ASAM ODS standard defines interfaces for data storage and retrieval. However, the concept of standardized
interfaces for data storage and retrieval is not unique to ASAM ODS; in fact, many database and file formats define
similar application programming interfaces (APIs) that clearly specify the required routines for writing data to or reading
data from their physical storage formats. National Instruments has built upon the standard-defined interfaces for data
storage and retrieval across a variety of formats to create its Universal Storage Interface (USI) technology, an underlying
software abstraction layer for data communication found in many National Instruments software environments. USI
abstracts the user from the low-level programming required to store or retrieve data in most formats, including ASAM
ODS. For example, with USI, the user does not require low level knowledge of the operating system commands
necessary to create an ASCII file on disk. Similarly, USI abstracts the complex details of the ASAM ODS access
functions for data storage and retrieval from the user.

DIAdem provides a browser for ASAM ODS data sources that fully leverages the power of USI. DIAdem provides a
communication interface that is extensible enough to handle future additions or modifications to the ASAM ODS
standard, and can easily interface with data stored in ASAM ODS AOP servers and both Classic and XML ASAM ODS
Transport Format (ATF) files. By using USI as an abstraction layer for ASAM ODS and file-based data stores, finding,
browsing and loading data from any of these common data sources is a seamless experience.

Browsing ASAM ODS Data Stores

The DIAdem NAVIGATOR provides a simple and intuitive user interface for browsing data stored in compliance with the
ASAM ODS standard. By simply connecting to an ASAM ODS database or choosing an ATF file, DIAdem displays the
data hierarchy contained within the data store including AoTest, AoSubTest, AoMeasurement, and
AoMeasurementQuantity nodes. You can quickly expand and collapse the hierarchy to traverse the ASAM ODS data
structure, and by simply selecting an item that maps to the AoMeasurementQuantity base model element, you can
preview the data in the signal as shown in Figure 5.

http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/11879 12/23/2010
Navigating ASAM ODS with NI DIAdem 2010 - Developer Zone - National Instruments Page 5 of 8

[+] Enlarge Image

Figure 5. To preview a signal, simply select a node in the data hierarchy that was derived from the
AoMeasurementQuantity base model element.

Constructing Advanced Searches for ASAM ODS Data

Manually browsing the ASAM ODS data structure is not the most efficient way to quickly find the data you are looking
for, especially as your application scales. In order to identify the exact data sets you are interested in, you can use
DIAdem to construct advanced queries to isolate pertinent data within ASAM data stores. DIAdem abstracts all required
knowledge of both databases and the ASAM ODS standard to make query construction interactive and intuitive. For
example, when choosing properties from elements in the ASAM ODS hierarchy to search on, DIAdem presents you with
a list of all available options as shown in Figure 6.

[+] Enlarge Image

Figure 6. DIAdem makes query construction simple by presenting you with a list of available properties to search on. In
this case, the properties listed describe the items derived from the AoMeasurement element.

After selecting a property to search on, DIAdem can show you all of the possible values of the selected property, as
shown in Figure 7, which helps ensure the accuracy of your query conditions. Because query conditions build upon one
another in a consecutive fashion, DIAdem automatically filters available results based upon the conditions that have
been previously specified.

http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/11879 12/23/2010
Navigating ASAM ODS with NI DIAdem 2010 - Developer Zone - National Instruments Page 6 of 8

[+] Enlarge Image

Figure 7. DIAdem provides you a list of all possible values of the property you've chosen to search for, which helps
ensure search accuracy.

Once you construct and finalize search conditions, you can use Boolean logic to determine the way each individual
query condition influences search results. For example, in Figure 8, all four search conditions (C1, C2, C3, C4) are
combined using Boolean AND, so that all four conditions must evaluate to true in order return a qualified result. Using
Boolean OR, the logic behind returned search results could be changed.

When searches are performed using DIAdem with ASAM ODS data sources, you can choose to return tests,
measurements, or measurement quantities, providing flexibility in the level of detail of the data returned from queries.
For example, by choosing to return results as tests, you can quickly view all tests that contained even a single failed
signal; by choosing to return measurement quantities, you can view precisely those signals (from any measurement or
test) that actually failed. With the ASAM ODS Data Browser, searching ASAM ODS data is now as simple and powerful
as using the NI DataFinder to search files.

[+] Enlarge Image

Figure 8. By choosing to return results as measurement quantities, you can view only the signals that meet your
specified search conditions, including those from different tests and measurements.

http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/11879 12/23/2010
Navigating ASAM ODS with NI DIAdem 2010 - Developer Zone - National Instruments Page 7 of 8

As you construct advanced queries using DIAdem, you can also filter the tests, measurements, and measurement
quantities displayed in the ASAM ODS Data Browser so that the only data shown in the browsing view meets the search
criteria specified.

Loading Data with Drag-and-Drop

After you browse or search for data sets that require further visualization, analysis, or reporting, loading data into the
DIAdem environment is as simple as dragging-and-dropping. You can drag-and-drop tests, measurements, or
measurement quantities from the ASAM ODS Data Browser or from Search Results directly into the DIAdem Data Portal
for instant loading of data. DIAdem also features the declaration of custom Loading Configurations that parameterize
the properties of the ASAM ODS data store that will be loaded into the Data Portal for complete control over how
information from the data store is loaded.

[+] Enlarge Image

Figure 9. Loading data into the DIAdem environment for further visualization, analysis, or reporting is as simple as
dragging-and-dropping data into the Data Portal.

Once you have loaded data into the DIAdem environment, it is completely accessible by the other panels in the
environment and available for continued interaction. DIAdem has a robust feature set that extends far beyond merely
browsing and searching for data. Using DIAdem, you can interactively visualize and inspect data, perform complex
analysis, create publication ready reports using a what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) editor, and automate
repetitive tasks. To learn more about the capabilities of DIAdem by viewing short introductory videos, see What is
DIAdem?

http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/11879 12/23/2010
Navigating ASAM ODS with NI DIAdem 2010 - Developer Zone - National Instruments Page 8 of 8

[+] Enlarge Image

Figure 10. You can perform interactive inspection, complex analysis, and even create and export template-based
WYSIWYG reports in DIAdem.

Learn More Today

Without an intuitive, fully-featured software client to ASAM ODS data sources, the flexibility in the ASAM ODS standard
and the effort required to adopt the standard are completely lost. DIAdem is a powerful client to ASAM ODS data
sources (both servers and transport files) and features a variety of additional tools to help manage, process, and report
on data.

To learn more about NI DIAdem and view short example videos, see What is DIAdem?
Evaluate DIAdem today for a free, fully-featured 30-day trial of DIAdem
View a webcast to see how DIAdem fits into the entire data management platform from National Instruments

Reader Comments | Submit a comment »

Legal
This tutorial (this "tutorial") was developed by National Instruments ("NI"). Although technical support of this tutorial may
be made available by National Instruments, the content in this tutorial may not be completely tested and verified, and NI
does not guarantee its quality in any way or that NI will continue to support this content with each new revision of related
products and drivers. THIS TUTORIAL IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND AND SUBJECT
TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS AS MORE SPECIFICALLY SET FORTH IN NI.COM'S TERMS OF USE
(http://ni.com/legal/termsofuse/unitedstates/us/).

My Profile | RSS | Privacy | Legal | Contact NI © 2010 National Instruments Corporation. All rights reserved. | E-Mail this Page

http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/11879 12/23/2010