SuperScope II SOFTWARE FOR MACINTOSH COMPUTERS

Overview
SuperScope II is software that runs on a Macintosh Computer (not Windows PC). SuperScope II can digitize, analyze, calculate, graph and database waveform data. SuperScope II can digitize long continuous waveforms, spool them to disk, plot and analyze every point, allow on-line annotation, and then support post-acquisition viewing -- its the ultimate strip chart recorder !

SuperScope II is a Laboratory Instrumentation Design Environment that can be used to build Virtually any software instrument. Building SuperScope II instruments is as easy as setting up an Excel spreadsheet or a Filemaker database. SuperScope II is a full-featured application program like Excel or Filemaker; and NOT a programming language like C, BASIC, FORTRAN or LabVIEW.

SuperScope II is fully compatible with instruNet hardware and is used by scientists and engineers in appplications ranging from physics and physiology to chemistry and process monitoring

SuperScope II and instruNet typically works well with PowerPC/G3/G4/> computers running OS 8 or running OS 9. If running OS ≥ 10, one must boot 9.x (this is not Classic and is not Native mode under OS X, this is a full OS 9.x boot on an old computer). instruNet is NOT compatible with Macintosh computers made after July 03 that cannot boot OS 9.

SuperScope II Literature

For more information, please see:

What can I do with SuperScope II?

It is said, in the future, programmers will not program (in the traditional sense) due to the development of sophisticated software that facilitates programming by the end user, "programming" being defined as the act of building an application program. SuperScope II is another milestone in this evolution since it provides an environment where the end user can design their own menu driven application program. We refer to these applications as SuperScope II "instruments".

The SuperScope II user builds instruments by creating and customizing objects with mouse driven pull down menus and dialog boxes -- no previous programming experience is necessary. There are several types of objects as shown below. One create as many of each type of object as necessary to build the application of their dreams. Each object type has its own dialog where one can view and edit attributes, such as the objects name.

Waves - Waves are used to represent real world continuous data as a list of values, which, when plotted, produce a waveform. Waves can be digitized, synthesized, analyzed, edited, viewed, used to hold the results of analysis, loaded from disk, saved to disk, sent to the clipboard as a column of numbers in text format, and sent to the clipboard as a graphical image. Typical instruments have 3 to 10 (or more) waves and wherever you see a squiggle in SuperScope II, you are looking at a Wave object. Waves are stored in memory as a list of 16-bit integer (±32,768) or 32-bit floating point values and their maximum lengths are limited by memory (each point consumes two or four bytes depending on the storage format).

Menubars - Menubars are easily created, edited, and deleted. Each menubar consists of a set of menus and a set of items for each menu. Each menu and item can be renamed, hidden, or set up to run a Task when chosen. In some cases, it is desirable to have a very simple menubar to limit a user's options.

Displays - Displays reside on the front panel and are used to view waveforms and show calculation results. They are extremely versatile with many customizable attributes such as horizontal/vertical scroll/position controls, labels, waves, markers and much more. Displays can be positioned on the front panel in any pattern and in any number, space permitting. Each display can contain up to 8 waves and supports mouse-driven cut/copy/paste of waveform segments, drawing of waves, and logging of wave values to a journal.

Controls & Indicators - Front panel Controls and Indicators allow the adjustment of, Boolean true/false values, scalars, lists, and text. These objects appear in a variety of styles, sizes, fonts, and colors; and their states are easily read and updated with tasks.

Journals - Journals are text regions that are used to enter, view and edit text in a manner similar to that done with a word processor. With commands in the menubar, the user can Clear, Save, View, Save to Clipboard, Print, Delete and Create Journals. The contents of Journals can easily be saved to disk and then loaded by a word processor, graphics, or spreadsheet program. Journal windows can be resized and positioned on the front panel in any pattern and in any number, space permitting. Many task instructions transfer text to and from journals.

Markers - Markers are used to mark a time in a wave or display. The user can create as many markers as he/she desires and can place any marker in any display. In displays, they appear as vertical lines that can be moved with the mouse.

Tasks - Tasks are sequences of instructions that perform a series of operations. For example, one could write a task to record data, analyze the acquired data, update the screen, and then print the results. Tasks are easily created, viewed, edited, and debugged; and can be set up to run when a marker moves, when a wave changes, when a specific menu item is chosen or when the user chooses Run Task. One "programs" tasks using a simple mouse/dialog user interface. The neat thing about programming SuperScope II is you do not need to know a syntax - the mouse-driven dialog boxes take care of you!

Variables - Variables are used to hold one 32-bit floating point value (e.g. 16, 2.3, 1.34e6). They are easily created, renamed, and deleted; and their values are easily viewed and edited. Many task instructions transfer values to and from variables.

Strings - Strings are used to hold a series of characters of any length, memory permitting (e.g. "hi", "1.2"). They are easily created, renamed, and deleted; and their text is easily viewed and edited. Many task instructions transfer text to and from strings.

A 21st Century Oscilloscope

SuperScope II includes this ready-to-run oscilloscope, spectrum-analyzer, and XY recorder instrument; which is fully compatible with instruNet hardware.

The Ultimate Strip Chart Recorder

The SuperScope II Strip Chart Recorder is the ultimate recording tool. It can digitize as all channels on an instruNet network. In many cases waves are analyzed as they are acquired with results being streamed to text windows in real time. Digitized or computed waves can be spooled to disk, kept in memory, or discarded after being plotted.

Compatibility

For details on compatible Macintosh computers and operating systems, click here.

Product List

SuperScope II Version 3/CD Software with USB key , Order #gwi-ss2-USB
SoundScope Software for 1 Macintosh computer. Includes hard copy manual, CD, software, sample instruments, and USB security key (attaches to keyboard of > 1998 Macintosh). For a security key that attaches to an old style ADB Macintosh, please order "-ADB" instead of "-USB". Does Not include computer or data acquisition hardware.

SuperScope II Version 3/CD 5pak, Order #gwi-ss2-5pak-USB
SuperScope II for 5 computers. Includes 5 USB security keys. Must first order #gwi-ss2-xxx.

Upgrade SuperScope II 2.x (not 1.x) to Version 3/CD, Order #gwi-ss2-upg-USB
Must have previously purchased SuperScope II 2.x (SS2). Includes USB security key. Can operate new SS2 3.x on old ADB Macintosh with old SS2 2.x ADB security key.

Software Upgrades

One can easily upgrade the older SuperScope II Versions 2.x (not 1.x) software to Version 3.x by ordering part #gwi-ss2-upg-USB, as noted above. What is the primary difference?

MacADIOS Hardware

GW Instruments manufactured MacADIOS data acquisition hardware between 1985 and 1995. This hardware is no longer compatible with modern computers, and has therefore been discontinued. Recently, support, service, updates and upgrades have been discontinued as well. GWI is currently manufacturing instruNet hardware; which is significantly more accurate, is compatible with SuperScope II and SoundScope software, runs on Macintosh and Windows PC computers, and is a terrific replacement for MacADIOS hardware. We appologize if this transition is an inconvenience to you. To learn about instruNet, click here.