Function Blocks

Overview

Vehicle Spy contains a very powerful feature called Function Blocks.  Function Blocks offer users custom control over Vehicle Spy.  They accomplish user specified tasks while Vehicle Spy is running.  For example, a function block can collect a buffer in addition to the Messages view buffer or playback messages by transmitting collected messages on the network. 

Function blocks are divided into different types based on the tasks that they can perform.  You can have as many function blocks as you need running simultaneously.  You can even connect them--one function block can start, stop, or trigger another!

Setting Up

Open Function Blocks view by clicking on "Scripting & Automation" and then "Function Blocks".

Figure 1: Access Function Blocks view from the Scripting and Automation menu.

The Function Blocks view (Figure 2) is divided into two main areas.  The top half lists all function blocks along with status information.  This area includes a toolbar along the top and an editor with buttons for starting, stopping, triggering, and saving. 

The lower half of Function Blocks view is reserved for setting up each function block.  The name of the currently selected function block is shown in a blue title bar.  To the left of the name is a row of tabs containing fields that must be setup to implement the function block.  These tabs automatically change based upon which type of function block is selected, but all types have a Start tab. 

Adding Function Blocks

You can add new function blocks by pressing the "+" button at the top of Function Blocks view (Figure 2: ).  A dropdown list of available function block types will appear.  Select the desired type and it will be added to the list in the upper portion of the view.

Custom Names

Vehicle Spy names the added function blocks as Function Block 1, Function Block 2, etc. by default.  If you are working with more than one function block, it may be useful to give each a custom name.  To do this, click in the description field in the function block list and type in the desired name (Figure 2: ).

Deleting Function Blocks

You can delete an existing function block by first stopping Vehicle Spy, selecting the unwanted function block, and then pressing the "-" button (Figure 2: ).

Figure 2: Easily add function blocks in the Function Blocks view.

Vehicle Spy Documentation - (C) Copyright 1997-2011 Intrepid Control Systems, Inc.

Last Update: Monday, August 23, 2010