User Interface

Starting the RasCAL-2 software would show a splash screen while the software is loading. When loading is complete, the startup screen will be shown.

At the top of the startup screen is the title bar which will show the name of the software and the project name and path if a project is opened. Below the title bar is the menu bar and toolbar, which provides access to a number of operations. At the center of the screen are options for creating or loading a RasCAL project.

Note

Some operating systems can change the location and look of title and menu bar.

Menus and Toolbar

RasCAL-2 provides access to some actions in a menu bar under the tile bar. These actions are grouped into 5 groups explained below. Clicking on a menu item will perform its associated action.

Note

On startup, some menu items like the Windows menu will be disabled. These menu items will be enabled after a project is created or loaded.

1. File

   • New Project: Create a new project.

   • Open Project: Open a existing project or example project

   • Open RasCAL-1 Project: Open a RasCAL-1 project.

   • Save: Save changes to the current project.

   • Save To Folder: Save current project to another folder.

   • Export as Script: Export the project as a python script.

   • Export Fits: Export the results as CSV files.

   • Settings: Open the settings dialog.

   • Exit: Close the RasCAL application.

2. Edit

   • Undo: Undo the last action.

   • Redo: Redo the last undone action.

   • Undo History: View the action history.

3. Windows

   • Tile Windows: Arrange windows in a tile formation.

   • Reset to Default: Reset the windows locations and sizes to the user saved defaults.

   • Save Current Window Positions: Save the current positions and sizes of the windows as the user default.

4. Tools

   • Show Sliders/Hide Sliders: Show or hide slider view in the project window. see Changing Fitted Parameter Values.

   • Clear Terminal: Clears the text in the terminal window.

5. Help

   • Help: Open the documentation website in the browser.

   • Check for Update: Check online for new RasCAL-2 version.

   • About: Show information about RasCAL-2.

RasCAL-2 also provides access to some actions in a toolbar below the menu bar. The toolbar actions are New Project, Open Project, Save, Undo, Redo, Settings, and Help. Clicking on the appropriate icon in the toolbar will perform its associated action.

Window Management

After creating or loading a project, the interface will display 4 sub-windows arranged by default in 2x2 irregular grid. The sub-windows are

• Plot window (top left)

• Project window (top right)

• Terminal window (bottom left)

• Controls window (bottom right)

These sub-windows can be rearranged by clicking on the title bar of the sub-window and dragging the sub-window. The sub-window can also be resized, minimised and maximized similar to the main window. It can be useful to make a sub-window bigger or smaller to suit a workflow, after which the arrangement can be saved by clicking Windows > Save Current Window Positions in the menu, this will make that arrangement the default and RasCAL will use that saved arrangement whenever the software is started.

If you move a sub-window and want to revert back to you saved arrangement, click Windows > Reset to Default in the menu. If you want to revert to the original arrangement, click Windows > Tile Windows then click Windows > Save Current Window Positions in the menu to save the arrangement.

Note

The sub-windows cannot be dragged outside the boundary of the main software window but only within the centre area of the main window.