Chapter 10 File Management (2024)

The FieldFox can save any of the following types of files:

Current settings and calibration
Trace data (*.csv, *.S1P, *.S2P)
Picture of the FieldFox screen

In addition, files can be saved to the internal memory, a USB Flash drive, or a standard SD card.

In this Chapter

“Save Files”

“Recall Files”

“Move (Copy) Files”

“Set File Type and Select Device”

“Manage Files”

“Manage Folders”

“Edit Keywords”

“Prefixes and Suffixes for Filenames”

Saving and Recalling Files

FieldFox State files are intended to be recalled on the same instrument model on which they were saved. Sometimes you may able to recall them within model families. An error will result when trying to recall a state file that was saved on a different model family.

The FieldFox model families are:

N991x (VNA/SA) model family
N992x (VNA) model family
N993x (SA) model family
N995x (VNA/SA) model family

Save Files

How to Save a File

Press Save/Recall 9
Then Save
At the top of the current ‘labeler’ screen (see following image) check the File Type to save and Device (Internal, USB, Storage Card) to which the file is saved. Learn how to change these settings in “Set File Type and Select Device”.
Then use the labeler to specify a filename.

If you are having difficulty saving to a USB flash drive, it may be a timing issue. The turn-around time for “file open, write data, file close” to a USB drive is much longer than to FieldFox’s internal memory. Alternative methods are:

Save your content to the FieldFox’s internal memory; and then move your files off to a USB flash drive using FTP SCPI programming. Refer to "Move (Copy) Files" and to the FieldFox :MMEM SCPI commands in the Programming Guide (via FieldFox Manuals, Firmware, Software and Product Support).

Save your data to the FieldFox’s internal memory, then move the data to a PC using a binary block transfer, and delete the data from the FieldFox’s internal memory. An example for transferring an image to a PC, via FieldFox Programming Guide (via FieldFox Manuals, Firmware, Software and Product Support).

Please note that the receiving computer program needs to be able to handle the binary block transfer.

See also What Should I Do If My USB Flash Drive Could Not Be Recognized by FieldFox? - Technical Support Knowledge Center Open (keysight.com) .

Insert only ONE USB flash drive in the FieldFox when saving or copying files.

Saving MATLAB Files

If you have Option 351 I/Q Analyzer option, you can directly save your data as MATLAB files (*.mat). Refer to Chapter 11, “IQ Analyzer (IQA) – Option 351 (CPU2 Only)”, in the A-Series N9927-90020 (Unabridged) User's Guide.

If you have the FieldFox’s Remote Server mode (89600 VSA software connectivity), you can use the VSA software to capture and record your data as MATLAB files (*.mat). Learn more about FieldFox and 89600 VSA software, refer to Chapter 17, “Remote Server Mode (Requires CPU2 and SA Hardware/SA Option 233)”, in the A-Series N9927-90020 (Unabridged) User's Guide and to http://rfmw.em.keysight.com/wireless/helpfiles/89600B/WebHelp/89600.htm.

Figure 10-1 I/Q Analyzer Mode (IQA) MATLAB File Save

Figure 10-2 VSA Software MATLAB File Save

How to use the FieldFox Labeler

The FieldFox labeler is used to edit or change the current filename. It is also used for many other labeling functions, such as creating a title, prefix, and keyword to display on the FieldFox screen. Learn about Titles in “How to Manage files”.

Move the cursor (see section below, How to move the cursor), then press Select to add the cursor character to the end of the existing filename.
Back Space to erase the last character(s) from the end of a filename.
Press Shift to toggle keyboard between lower case and upper case characters.
Press Alt Keyboards to display the different keyword choices.

You can select either an ABC or Qwerty style keyboard. Refer to “Alpha Numeric Editing”.

The preselected keywords (File, Site, and so forth) can be selected just like a single character. These keywords can also be edited. Learn more in “Edit Keywords”.

Figure 10-3 The FieldFox Labeler

In the graphic above, the current filename is File_0. The cursor is on the custom DTF_VSWR keyword. The file will be saved to USB (flash drive). File Type is “Trace + State” (Instrument State).

How to move the cursor

Use the rotary knob to move cursor on the same row. The cursor will change rows when it comes to a row end.
Use the arrows() to move the cursor up and down the rows.

When the current filename is complete

Press Done to save the file to the specified filename.
Press Cancel to close the labeler without saving a file.
If the filename already exists, you are prompted to choose from the following:

Press Yes to overwrite the existing file.
Press Cancel to return to edit the filename.

Recall Files

The FieldFox can recall State files, Trace + State files, and image files.

State Files

ALL FieldFox instrument settings for ALL Modes are saved and recalled in a *.sta file. If error correction is ON in CAT or NA Mode, then calibration data is also saved and recalled.

If error correction is OFF (CalRdy is active), calibration data is NOT saved in the *.sta file. When a Trace + State file is recalled on a FieldFox other than the one it was saved on, differences in the CalRdy calibration data may result in differences between the displayed traces.

Image Files

The FieldFox can open and display *.png, *.jpg, and *.jpeg images.

Move (Copy) Files

The FieldFox can Move files (i.e., including Trace + State files, and image files).

How to move a file

Press Save/Recall 9
Then Device to be copied from (i.e., Internal, SD, or USB). Refer to “Set File Type and Select Device”.
Then More > Manage Files > Select Files
Navigate to the file(s) to be copied using the Up/Down arrow keys() or the knob.
Then Copy
Select the destination device using the softkeys:

Copy to Internal Copies to FieldFox’s internal memory.
Copy to USB Copies to a USB memory device.
Copy to SD Card Copies to a SD/SDHC memory card.
Cancel to cancel copy file and return to the previous menu

Use the close folder icon or the open folder icon to locate the target folder for your files.
Then Do Copy copies files to selected location and FieldFox displays a confirmation message of a successful file copy.
Cancel to cancel copy file and return to the previous menu.

Set File Type and Select Device

The following File TYPE and DEVICE settings are used to determine the type of file to save, and the location to be used for all file operations.

These two settings remain through an instrument preset, but are reset to the default values when the FieldFox power is shutdown.

Select Device (location of File Save/Recall)

Press Save/Recall 9
Then Device to set the LOCATION where the file is to be saved, recalled, or moved. Choose from the following:

Internal Saves/Recalls/Moves (Copies) files to/from the FieldFox internal memory. To specify a folder, first select Manage Folders (learn how in “Manage Folders”). The Data Link software will read data ONLY from the \UserData folder.
SD Card Saves/Recalls/Moves (Copies) files to/from the SD card (not included), inserted in the card slot. See “Take the FieldFox Tour”. Only the root folder is available.
USB Saves/Recalls/Moves (Copies) files to or from a USB Flash drive (not included) that is inserted in one of the USB connectors. Only the root folder is available.

Insert only ONE USB Flash Drive in the FieldFox when saving or copying files.

How to set File Type

Press Save/Recall 9
Then File Type. Choose one of the following:

State Saves ALL FieldFox instrument settings for ALL Modes to a *.sta file. If a calibration is ON in CAT or NA Mode, calibration data is also saved. This file can be opened ONLY by a FieldFox. State files can be saved between compatible FieldFox models. See note in.“Saving and Recalling Files”.
Trace+State Saves the current trace and instrument settings to a *.sta file. In SA Mode, all traces are saved. This file can be opened ONLY by a FieldFox. When recalled, the FieldFox sweep is set to Hold.

When using RTSA, the Density Spectrum information is not saved using Trace+State. Only the last displayed trace settings is saved.

Picture (PNG) Saves a 640 x 453 pixel image of the FieldFox screen to a *.png file. The picture does NOT include the softkeys.
Data (csv) Saves trace data from the current Mode to a *.csv file. This format can be imported into spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel. Column A is always the frequency at which the data is measured.

In SA Mode, all visible data traces are saved. Each trace is saved to a separate column that is labeled with the Trace State.
In CAT and NA Modes, only the data trace is saved – not the memory trace.
In Power Meter (with Option 208 Frequency Offset Power Sensor (FOPS)), all visible traces are saved. Each trace is saved to a separate column labeled Output Power or Memory.
In VVM Mode, NO data is saved.

Group Saves a group of file types that have been selected in the Preferences menu. Learn more, see “Group Save File Types Editing”.
Data (S1P) / (S2P) Saves CAT and NA Mode trace data to an *.S1P or *.S2P file, depending on the active measurement. This file format is used by CAE programs such as Keysight's Microwave Design System (MDS) and Advanced Design System (ADS). It can also be imported into spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel.

About SNP Files

The SNP file includes header information, and the following data:

S1P - saves 1-port (receiver) data for the active data trace. *.s1p Files contain 1 stimulus value and 1 S-parameter (total of 3 scalar values) Stim Real(Sxx) Imag(Sxx)
S2P (NA Mode ONLY) - saves 2-port data for the active trace. *.s2p Files contain 1 stimulus value and 4 S-parameters (total of 9 scalar values) Stim Real(S11) Imag(S11) Real(S21) Imag(S21) Real(S12) Imag(S12) Real(S22) Imag(S22)
Only data traces are saved – not memory traces.

Corrections

When parameters are corrected, data is returned even when not displayed. Data is returned with the correction type that is applied for each S-parameter. The correction type for each S-parameter is annotated in the header.
When parameters are NOT corrected or displayed:

With Smith chart and Polar formats, Real/Imag zero-filled data appears as (1.0, 0.0).
With all other formats, LogMag/Phase zero-filled data appears as (0.0, 0.0).

> Display formats

In CAT Mode, S1P files are always Magnitude (dB) / Phase (angle) format.

In NA Mode:

Smith chart and Polar display formats are ALWAYS saved in Real/Imag data pairs.
All other display formats are saved in LogMag/Phase (dbAngle).

> What Data Processing functions are included in saved SNP Data:

In NA Mode, the data processing functions (such as trace math) that are included in the SNP data depends on a Preference setting. Click System, then Preferences, then Preferences, then scroll to NA, SNP File Save, then select from the following:

Default – SNP data does NOT include smoothing. SNP data saves are taken AFTER data processing (location 2) on the processing chain.
Advanced – SNP data includes the following:

With Smith or Polar display format, SNP data saves are taken BEFORE most processing (location 1 on the data processing chain).
With any other display format, SNP data saves are taken just AFTER Formatting and Smoothing is applied (location 3 on the data processing chain). For each non-active trace, SNP trace data is reprocessed using the data processing chain of the active trace.

See the FieldFox data processing chainby referring to the FieldFox Supplemental Online Help(via FieldFox Manuals, Firmware, Software and Product Support). Learn more about System Preferences in “Preferences”.

Manage Files

Files that are stored in the FieldFox internal memory, standard SD card, and USB Flash drive, can be copied to another device or deleted.

How to Manage files

Press Save/Recall 9
Then Device to select the location (Internal, USB, or standard SD Card) of the file to copy or delete.

When selecting Internal, it may also be necessary to first select Manage Folders to specify an active folder which contains the files to copy or delete. Refer to “Manage Folders”.

Then More > Manage Files
Then choose from the following:

Select Files Selects a file or files to sort, copy, or delete.
Sort

Sort by Name Sorts the displayed list of files by name.
Sort by Date Sorts the displayed list of files by date.

Copy Select a file or files to copy.
Then select a device to copy the file to. Choose from Copy to Internal, Copy to USB (must be inserted), or Copy to SD Card (must be inserted).
Do Copy to complete the file copy to the media/folder selected.

Copy can be done to any FieldFox internal folder, standard SD folder, or USB storage device.

Delete

Yes The selected file is deleted.
Cancel To cancel Delete and return to previous menu.

Select Files Selects a file or files to sort, copy, or delete.
Select All selects all of the displayed files. All files that are displayed are to be copied. Then select a device and a folder to copy the file to. Choose from Internal, USB (must be inserted), or SD Card (must be inserted).
Clear All Deselects all of the displayed files.
Rename Files

For more on renaming folders/files, refer to “How to use the FieldFox labeler” and “Prefixes and Suffixes for Filenames”.

Enter the string in the filename or filenames that are to be replaced.

String to Replace is case sensitive.

Replace With Enter the string that is to be replaced by the characters entered with the String to Replace softkey.
Prefix Enter a prefix (one time) that the current filename or filenames are to be renamed. To add a prefix to subsequent filenames (persistent), refer to How to edit the Prefix and Suffix (Auto Append) in “How to edit the Prefix and Suffix (Auto Append)” on page 780.
Suffix Enter a suffix that the current filename or filenames are to be renamed.
Do Rename Enable renaming of the current file or files.

Insert only ONE USB Flash Drive in the FieldFox when saving or copying files.

Manage Folders

You can create new folders, delete old folders, and select the active folder to which files can be saved. The Parent folder [..] is listed when not in the root directory.

Creating and Managing Folders

Press Save/Recall 9 > More > Manage Folders
Then choose from the following:

Change Folder Changes the active folder to which files can be saved. The active device and current folder is displayed at the top of the screen, and below, a list of files in that folder. Use the arrows() to highlight a folder within the current folder. Each time the Change Folder softkey is pressed, the highlighted folder becomes the active folder.
Create Folder A new folder is created in the current folder. Select a name for the new folder from one of the displayed keywords: You can change these keywords using the following Edit Keywords function. Refer to Edit Keywords in “Edit Keywords”.
Delete Folder The selected folder and its contents are deleted after a warning prompt is displayed. A “Parent” folder or system folder can NOT be deleted.
Copy Folder The selected folder and its contents are copied and a message is displayed telling you that the copy was successful.

Then select a device to copy the folder to. Choose from Copy to Internal, Copy to USB (must be inserted), or Copy to SD Card (must be inserted).
Do Copy to complete the file copy to the media/folder selected.

Rename The rename folder menu opens and the selected folder’s title is displayed and available for editing.

For more on renaming folders/files, refer to “How to use the FieldFox labeler” and “Prefixes and Suffixes for Filenames”.

Press Exit when finished.

Edit Keywords

The preselected keywords (FILE, SITE, and so forth) can be edited to meet your specific needs. Your keywords will remain in the FieldFox until you change them. Keywords are limited to 30 characters.

How to edit keywords

PressSave/Recall 9 > More > Edit Keywords
Then Next Page and Previous Page to view all keywords.

Use the arrows() to select a keyword to edit.
When a keyword is selected, then press Edit.
Then choose from the following:

Press Select to add the cursor character to the end of the selected keyword.
Press Backspace to erase the last character from the end of the selected keyword.
Press Shift to change from upper-case to lower-case and vice versa.
Press Alt Keywords to toggle through different keyword choices.

How to move the cursor

Use the rotary knob to move the cursor along the same row. The cursor will change rows when it comes to a row end.

Use the arrows() to move the cursor up and down between rows.

When the selected keyword is complete:

Press Done to save all keywords and close the Edit Keywords labeler. These keywords will exist on the FieldFox until changed.

Press Cancel to close the labeler without saving changes.

Prefixes and Suffixes for Filenames

The prefix and suffix (Auto Append) can be used together to organize files. Once set and enabled, they are automatically entered as the beginning (Prefix) and end (Suffix - using Auto Append) of a filename when performing a Save operation. These settings are persistent, until disabled. Refer to “How to edit the Prefix and Suffix (Auto Append)” and “How to enable/disable Auto Append (Suffix)”.

If you are only interested in adding a prefix or a suffix to a new file or files one time, refer to “Manage Files”.

This section contains the following sections:

“How to edit the Prefix and Suffix (Auto Append)”

“How to move the cursor”.

“When the Prefix is complete”.

“How to enable/disable Auto Append (Number and Date)”.

How to edit the Prefix and Suffix (Auto Append)

If you want to edit a prefix on a finite set of files one time, refer to “Manage Files”.

Press Save/Recall 9 > More > Prefix Suffix
Then choose from the following:

Auto Append (Suffix)

OFF (default) to disable Auto Append.
Number to auto-append a number using format “nnnn” sequentially to all saved files (default).
Date to auto-append a date and time using format “YYYY-MM-DD.HH.MM.SS” sequentially to all saved files.

Prefix/Suffix

OFF (default) to disable the prefix/suffix. The Edit Prefix and Edit Suffix softkeys are grayed out (inactive). Refer to “How to enable/disable the Prefix/Suffix (persistent)”.
Last File to use the last filename saved, as your filename for subsequent saved filenames. The Edit Prefix, Auto Append, Edit Number Suffix, and Edit Suffix softkeys are grayed out (inactive).
User to use the user-selected prefix. All softkeys are active, unless Auto Append is disabled, then Edit Number Suffix is grayed out (inactive). Learn more, see “How to enable/disable the Prefix/Suffix (persistent)” and “How to enable/disable Auto Append (Number and Date)".

Edit Prefix – the last Prefix used in saving a file is displayed (default == CustomPre).

Couplings: For the softkey to be active, Prefix/Suffix == MyFilePrefix.

Then choose from the following:

Select to add the cursor character to the end of the Prefix.
Back Space to delete the last character(s) from the end of the prefix.
Shift to toggle between capital letters and lower case letters.
Alt Keywords to display the different preselected keywords (File, Site, and so forth) can be selected just like a single character. These keywords can also be edited. See Edit Keywords.
Cancel to cancel edits and return to the previous menu.
Done to save changes and return to previous softkey menu.

Edit Number Suffix – Sets the Auto Append number suffix formatting (e.g., “0001”).
Couplings: Auto Append must be set to “Number”. This softkey is inactive (grayed out) when Auto Append == Date.
Edit Suffix to edit the suffix using the labeler. For more information on the Edit Suffix softkey menu refer to the Edit Prefix softkey menu descriptions above. (Default == UserSuffix).

Couplings: For this softkey to be active, the Prefix/Suffix softkey must be set to “User”. Learn more, see "Preferences" and to "File Saving Naming Options".

Back to return to the previous menu.

When Prefix/Suffix == Last File is selected, the Edit Prefix, Auto Append, Edit Number Suffix, and Edit Suffix softkeys are grayed out (inactive).

How to move the cursor

Use the rotary knob to move cursor on the same row.
Use the arrows() to move the cursor up and down the rows.

When the Prefix is complete

Press Done Edit to save the Prefix and close the labeler. This Prefix will exist on the FieldFox until it is changed.
Press Cancel to close the labeler without saving changes.

When the Suffix is complete

Press Done Edit to save the Suffix and close the labeler. This Suffix will exist on the FieldFox until it is changed (i.e., with subsequent increments).
Press Cancel to close the labeler without saving changes.

How to enable/disable the Prefix/Suffix (persistent)

Press Save/Recall 9 > More > Prefix Suffix
Then Prefix/Suffix

OFF (default) to disable the prefix and suffix on subsequently saved files. Edit Prefix and Edit Suffix softkeys are grayed out (inactive).

How to enable/disable Auto Append (Number and Date)

Press Save/Recall 9 > More > Prefix Suffix
Then Auto Append

OFF(default) to disable the Auto Append (number suffix) on subsequently saved files. The Edit Number Suffix softkey is grayed out (inactive).

Press Printing

The current screen or selected files can be printed using a PCL-compatible printer (like older HP Deskjet printer) connected to one of the FieldFox USB ports. Newer PCL3GUI photo and all-in-one printers are NOT supported.

Measurements can also be printed using the FieldFox Data Link software.

How to print the current screen or a saved file

To save ink, first select an outdoor (white background) display color. Learn how in “Display Colors”.

Connect the printer to a FieldFox USB port. The print softkey will appear ONLY when a compatible printer is connected.
Then press Save/Recall 9
Then Print and choose from the following:

Printer & Page\nSetup - Confirm that the printer is connected and configured properly. The Status line should read “Ready’.

Make other print settings as desired.

Select Files\nfor Printing - Print up to 16 *.PNG images on one page that are stored on the Internal drive. Images can NOT be printed from the USB and SD card.
Edit the Quick Settings table to select up to FOUR Rows and FOUR Columns for up to 16 total images to be printed on a single page.
If necessary, edit the filenames to be printed.
Press Done. Then Print Selected\nFiles to begin printing.

Print Current Screen – Immediately prints the FieldFox screen using the selected Printer and Page Setup settings.