An overview of configurations

The Configuration page uses a visual program editor where you drag interlocking blocks to build your configuration. This page offers a lot of flexibility to customize your system and your observations. Before we get into how to configure your system, let's first get familiar with the different areas of the Configuration page.

1. The Toolbox is the menu from which you can drag the many different types of blocks used to configure your system.
2. The Configuration Bar is where you can Load a configuration previously saved to your computer, Save your current configuration to your computer, Reset your configuration back to only the LI-8250 Multiplexer and Sampling Sequence blocks, or Verify your current configuration. Verifying your configuration provides feedback in three different states. Clicking Verify will provide you with details about what may be missing or incorrect in your configuration.

	Means your configuration is complete and valid–all systems go.
	Means there may be something missing from your configuration but the sampling sequence will still run.
	Means the configuration is invalid. The configuration will not be remembered by the multiplexer if you navigate away from the Configuration page and the sampling sequence will not run. However, you can Save the configuration to your computer

3. This large white field is called the Workspace. This is where you will arrange and manage the various block in your configuration. The Workspace has many different actions you can perform with your blocks. See Workspace actions for details.
4. The LI-8250 Multiplexer block is the root block under which the physical components (gas analyzer, extension manifold, chamber, etc.) are added to your configuration. This block may not be deleted and is not nested under any other blocks.
5. The Sampling Sequence block is the root block under which the events of your sampling sequence are laid out. This block may not be deleted and is not nested under any other blocks.

Workspace actions

The workspace allows you to perform many basic actions.

• Drag and snap/drop: If a block is compatible with another block, it will snap into place below it. If it is not compatible it will not snap but can be dropped to the workspace for later use.
• Delete: To delete a block, drag it to the trash (lower right hand corner), select it and press Delete or Backspace, or right-click it and select Delete Block.
• Cut: To cut a block, select it and press Ctrl + X or Cmd + X.
• Copy: To copy a block, select it and press Ctrl + C or Cmd + C.
• Paste: To paste a block, select it and press Ctrl + V or Cmd + V.
• Undo: To undo the previous action press Ctrl + Z or Cmd + Z.
• Redo: To redo the prior action Ctrl + Y or Cmd + Y.
• Duplicate: This works like copy and paste, but in one action. To duplicate a block, select it and press Ctrl + Shift + D or Cmd + Shift + D, or right-click the block and select Duplicate.
• Collapse/expand: Clicking the (-) or (+) buttons in the upper left-hand corner of a block toggles the block between a collapsed and expanded view. This can also be done by selecting the block and pressing Ctrl + Shift + E or Cmd + Shift + E, or by right-clicking the block and selecting Collapse Block/Expand Block. This is useful for hiding blocks you are not currently configuring.
• Pan: To pan around the workspace, click and drag on the open space, use the scroll button on your mouse, or use the scroll bars in the workspace pane.
• Zoom: To zoom in and out, hold Ctrl or Cmd and scroll the mouse wheel or you can use the and buttons above the trash.
• Center: To center your view, click the button above the trash. This button centers the view and returns the zoom to 100%.

You can also right-click on a block and the following options will pop up:

• Add/Remove Comment: Adding a comment will flag a block with a blue question mark (?) indicating that there are comments. Comments are added to a pop-up bubble for your records. Removing a comment removes the comment.
• Inline/External Inputs: Changes the arrangement of the block options from vertical to horizontal.
• Help: Opens the help system.