# Quickstart Guide

The quickstart guide explains how to create a simple setup using the mesytec MVLC VME controller and one mesytec VME module. The modules internal pulser is used to generate test data. Data readout is triggered by the module itself using IRQ1 on the VME bus.

Note

In this example an MDPP-16 with the SCP firmware is used but any mesytec VME module should work. For other modules the value written to the pulser register (0x6070) might need to be adjusted. Refer to the modules manual and the VME templates for details.

- Start mvme and create a new workspace directory using the file dialog that should open up. This directory will hold all configuration files, recorded listfiles, exported plots, etc.
- Three windows will open:
  - A main window containing DAQ controls, the VME configuration tree and a statistics area.
  - The analysis window. As there are no VME events and modules defined yet the window will be empty.
  - A log view where runtime messages will appear.

Fig. 6 GUI overview

Press the `Settings` button in the DAQ Control area and select the correct controller type (MVLC_USB in this example). Assuming the controller is connected and powered on mvme will automatically find and use it. Also a message containing information about the controller will appear in the Log View.

## VME Setup

- Select the mvme main window (Ctrl+1) containing the VME Config area.
- Create a VME event:
  - Right-click the Events entry in the VME tree and select Add Event.
  - Select Interrupt in the Condition combobox. Keep the default of IRQ Level = 1.

Fig. 7 Event Config Dialog

- Create a VME module:
  - Right-click the newly created event (called “event0” by default) and select Add Module.
  - Select MDPP-16_SCP from the module type list. If you changed the modules address encoders adjust the Address value accordingly (the address encoders modify the 4 most significant hex digits).

Fig. 8 Module Config Dialog

The VME Config should now look like similar to VME Config tree.

Fig. 9 VME Config tree

- Double-click the Module Init entry to open a VME Script Editor window. Scroll to the bottom of the editor window or use the search bar to search for `pulser` and adjust the register value for the modules internal pulser:

  `0x6070 1`

  This line tells mvme to write the value `1` to register address `0x6070`. The address is relative to the module base address.

- Click the Apply button on the editors toolbar to commit your changes to the VME configuration. Close the editor window.

## Analysis Setup

- Activate the Analysis UI window (the shortcut is `Ctrl+2`). The event containing the module just created should be visible in the UI.
- Right-click the mdpp16 module and select Generate default filters. Choose Yes in the messagebox that pops up. This will generate a set of data extraction filters, calibration operators and histograms for the module.

Fig. 10 Analysis UI with MDPP-16 default objects

## Starting the DAQ

Activate the main window again (`Ctrl+1`). Make sure the VME Controller is shown as Connected in the top part of the window.

Fig. 11 DAQ control

Optionally uncheck the box titled Write Listfile to avoid writing the test data to disk. If left checked a listfile will be created for each newly started DAQ run. This listfile is placed in the workspace directory under `listfiles`. It is a standard ZIP archive containing the raw readout data and copies of the current analysis setup and the log buffer contents.

The naming scheme of the listfiles can be adjusted via the `Run Settings` dialog. Note that mvme will never overwrite existing listfiles even if you manually adjust the `Next Run Number` value.

Press the Start button to start the DAQ. Check the Log View (`Ctrl+3`) for warnings and errors.

In the Analysis UI double-click the histogram entry called amplitude_raw (bottom-left corner in the L0 Data Display tree) to open a histogram window.

If data acquisition and data extraction are working properly you should see new data appear in the histogram. Use the spinbox at the top right to cycle through the individual channels.

Fig. 12 Amplitude histogram

You can pause and/or stop the DAQ at any time using the corresponding buttons at the top of the main window.

## Event Counter readout

Optionally a second event used to read out the modules event counter registers can be created. This event will be triggered periodically by the VME controller.

- Right-click Events, choose Add Event
- Set Condition to Periodic and the period to `1.0s`
- Right-click the newly created event, choose Add Module
- Select MesytecCounter as the module type
- Enter the same address as used for the MDPP-16 above