KickStart Software Quick Start Guide

Introduction to KickStart Software

KickStart software drives innovation by providing faster test and measurement results. It allows users to take instruments out of the box and quickly obtain real data. KickStart plots data immediately, offering quick statistical summaries in a reading table, enabling faster insights and informed decisions for the next stage of device development. Users can focus on interpreting test results to meet their goals.

KickStart supports various Keithley instruments, including arbitrary function generators, power supplies, data acquisition instruments, digital multimeters (DMMs), and source measure units (SMUs). It can also be used as oscilloscope software to control Tektronix bench oscilloscopes.

Users can create applications, manage settings, and view and export previous runs without a license. A license, including a limited-time trial license, enables running applications, communicating with, or controlling instruments. The trial license includes all KickStart applications.

For more information, to download the trial software, or to purchase a license, visit tek.com/keithley-kickstart.

Safety Precautions

Before using this product, consult the safety precautions associated with your instrument. The instrumentation is intended for use by personnel who recognize shock hazards and are familiar with instrument safety precautions to avoid possible injury or death. Read and follow all installation, operation, and maintenance information carefully before using any instrument.

Refer to the instrument user documentation for complete product specifications. Using the product in a manner not specified may impair the protection provided by the product warranty.

Safety precaution revision as of January 2018.

Managing Licenses

The KickStart software license unlocks applications and features. Licenses can be purchased with the software or obtained as a limited-time trial, allowing full functionality for a specified period.

To manage your KickStart license:

1. Select the key icon ? located in the upper right-hand corner of the application interface.

This action allows you to view previously entered licenses, including their entry and expiration dates.

Each license provides support from Tektronix worldwide technical support centers and field applications engineers.

Installing a License

Each KickStart license is valid for a single computer and is managed through the Tektronix Asset Management System (TekAMS). Visit tek.com/en/support/products/product-license for more information.

TekAMS can be used to unregister a license, allowing it to be moved to a different computer. The license key manager is the primary user or administrator's email address, who can add users and assign licenses to specific instruments and computers.

To install or remove a license, select the key icon ?.

To generate and install a license file:

1. Open the KickStart software and select the key icon ? in the upper right-hand corner.
2. Submit your Host ID (found at the top of the Manage Licenses window) to TekAMS.
3. Download the license file from TekAMS.
4. In the KickStart Manage Licenses window, select "Install License" and browse to the downloaded license file.
5. Select "Open" to complete the installation.

Figure 1: KickStart Menu Bar (Illustrates the software interface with the key icon highlighted)

Figure 2: Manage Licenses (Displays license details including Host ID and expiration dates)

Figure 3: Install a License (Shows the license installation interface)

Figure 4: Select install license (Dialog for selecting the license file)

Figure 5: Open the license file (File explorer dialog for selecting the license file)

Figure 6: Manage Licenses (Shows license details after entry)

Figure 7: Manage Licenses (Another view of license management details)

Maintenance and License Key Expiration

License expiration can be managed within the "Manage Licenses" window.

Maintenance:

The maintenance period determines eligibility for software updates. The displayed date indicates when your maintenance expires. After expiration, future software updates will not be available.

License Key Expiration:

This date indicates when the license for your specific PC will expire. When generating a license file in TekAMS, a checkout time can be set. Upon expiration, a new license file must be checked out from TekAMS. To move a license to another PC, select "Remove License" on the current PC, then check the license into TekAMS and generate a new file for the new PC.

Starting a Trial License

The trial license grants full functionality of KickStart for a limited time. Upon opening the KickStart application, the Instruments tab displays available instruments. Selecting the Apps tab reveals a lock icon on each app.

Lock Icon Meanings:

• [Open red lock]: Indicates the license or trial will expire within 30 days.
• [Closed red lock]: Indicates the license has expired, and a trial license is not available.
• [Open green lock]: Indicates a license is currently in use.
• [Closed green lock]: Indicates a trial or license is available but has not been activated.

Figure 8: Lock icons explained (Illustrates the meaning of different lock icon states)

Figure 9: Start trial (Shows the dialog to initiate a trial)

Figure 10: Trial activated (Displays the software interface with an activated trial)

Launching an App

To launch an application:

1. Launch an app by double-clicking or dragging an instrument to the main window. For example, the Data Logger application can be added this way.
2. Select the desired application.
3. Select "OK" to run it.

Alternatively, an app can be dragged from the Apps tab to the main window, followed by selecting an applicable connected instrument.

Multiple instruments can be added, with an application selected for each. Some applications support multiple instruments.

Figure 11: Launching an app (Demonstrates launching an application within the software)

Instrument Name and Settings

Instruments are automatically discovered and appear in the instruments pane.

To change an instrument name or settings:

1. Select an instrument name to change it.
2. Right-click the instrument name to view more details.

The gear icon ⚙️ can be selected to open Settings and change the color theme.

Figure 12: Instrument name (Shows the instruments pane with options for renaming and settings)

Application Settings Examples

The following examples demonstrate how to set test settings in various KickStart applications.

Data Logger Test Settings

The KickStart Data Logger app allows setup and control of multi-channel data acquisition instruments. It supports setting up multiple channels with the same configuration. It is recommended to provide meaningful labels for each channel for quick scanning of results.

Figure 3: Install a License (Note: This figure caption appears to be a mislabeling from OCR; it likely illustrates Data Logger setup.)

Within the Data Logger application, users can create multiple scan groups and select a group to make changes. The "Instruments" button allows viewing instrument information and selecting multiple instruments for supported applications.

Users can select "Run" to start testing.

Scope App Test Settings

The Scope app is used for data capture and logging of waveforms, measurements, and screenshots.

Figure 12: Scope app test settings (Illustrates the Scope application interface for waveform capture and data logging)

In the Scope app, select "Waveform" and open the "Graph" tab to confirm the correct waveform. Channel information is displayed, and the "Retrieve Data" button allows viewing collected data for each channel. Channels can be enabled or disabled from the instrument; data cannot be retrieved from disabled channels.

The "Save Setup to File" and "Load Setup" options are available, along with "References" and "Math" settings.

Acquisition settings include Acquisition Mode, Record Length, Horizontal Scale, Sample Rate, and Trigger settings.

Test Results, Table and Graph Display

While running an app, results can be viewed in a table or graph. The following examples show how to use these displays to review acquired data.

Data Logger Table Test Results

In the Data Logger app, results can be viewed in a table or graph. Columns can be renamed or hidden by moving the cursor to the far right and selecting the menu. This functionality is available in all apps.

To use the Table View:

1. Select "Table" in the Settings.
2. Rename or hide columns by moving the cursor to the right edge and selecting the menu.

Figure 13: Data Logger table test results (Shows the Data Logger results displayed in a table format)

While running the Data Logger application, results can be viewed in a table or graph. Columns can be renamed or hidden via a menu accessible by moving the cursor to the far right.

Data Logger Graph Test Results

To use the Graph View:

1. Move the cursor over the legend to reveal checkboxes that allow removing or adding data series.
2. The box zoom button ? allows zooming into a specific area of the graph.
3. Use the autoscale button to view all data.

Figure 14: Data Logger graph test results (Displays the Data Logger results in a graph format)

The legend checkboxes allow managing data series visibility. The box zoom button ? enables focused viewing, and the autoscale button displays all data.

DMM Graph Test Results

To use the DMM graph app:

1. Right-click to add a cursor.
2. Hover the cursor over the X- or Y-axis to change the scale and minimum/maximum values.
3. Placing two cursors allows viewing statistics between two points.

Figure 15: DMM Application test results (Shows DMM results in a graph with cursor functionality)

The DMM graph allows adding cursors via right-click, adjusting axis scales by hovering over them, and analyzing data between points using two cursors.

Power Supply Graph Test Results

This application simplifies supplying power to a device or system. Users can view previous data using Run History, select a test run for table or graph viewing, and export tables or graphs.

Figure 16: Graph test results (Illustrates the Power Supply application results in a graph)

Users can view previous data via Run History, select a test run to view results, and export data as a table or graph.

Export Selected Data

Selecting the export icon opens the "Export Data" window, where users can choose to export a table, graph, or both. Test runs can be set to export automatically.

To export selected data:

1. Choose the path for the saved files.
2. Create a filename for the resulting data file.

The "Automatically export new runs" option exports data in the selected format during each run. If unselected, manual export of selected or all runs is required.

Figure 17: Export selected data (Shows the Export Data window with various options)

Users can also choose to "Export Selected Runs" or "Export All Runs".

Screenshot Tab

The Screenshot tab is available in screenshot mode.

How to navigate the screenshot tab:

1. The Screenshot tab is available in screenshot mode.
2. Right-click to save screenshots.
3. Select multiple runs to compare multiple datasets of similar types.

Comparing multiple datasets of similar types in a graph setting is a feature available in all Apps.

Figure 18: Screenshot tab (Displays the Screenshot tab interface for saving and comparing data)

Next Steps

For more information and to view documentation specific to your instrument, visit the Keithley Instruments website: tek.com/keithley.

© 2024 Keithley Instruments, LLC. Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A. All rights reserved.

Unauthorized reproduction, photocopy, or use of this information, in whole or in part, without prior written approval from Keithley Instruments, LLC, is strictly prohibited. These are the original instructions in English.

Keithley Instruments product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of Keithley Instruments, LLC. Other brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Microsoft, Visual C++, Excel, and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.