Operation and Use, Volume 2

Using the Xprofiler graphical user interface

The Xprofiler graphical user interface (GUI) contains features and buttons that are common throughout the interface. This section explains how to use some of these common elements.

Using the dialog window buttons

The buttons that appear on the Xprofiler dialog windows are explained below:

OK

Saves the changes, executes the action, and closes the dialog window.

Apply

Saves the changes, executes the action, but leaves the dialog window open.

Reset

Restores the fields of the dialog window to their original values (at the time you opened it), and keeps the dialog window open.

Cancel

Ignores changes and closes the dialog window.

Help

Brings up the Xprofiler online help.

Filter

Executes filtering criteria provided by you in the dialog window.

Using the search engine

Some of the Xprofiler windows that are accessible via the Report and Function menus provide a Search Engine field that lets you search for a specific string. In the Search Engine field, which is located at the bottom of these windows, you type the string in which you are interested. The first row that contains the string you specified is highlighted.

To use the Search Engine to search for a string:

1. Click on the Search Engine field with the left mouse button. The Search Engine field highlights to show that it is selected.
2. Type the string you are looking for in the Search Engine field.

   Extended regular expressions are allowed. For more information, see the explanation of the regcmp and regcomp commands in AIX 5L Version 5.1 Technical Reference, Volume 2: Base Operating System and Extensions.

3. Press the <Enter> key. The first row, in the Report or Source Code window, that contains the string you specified is highlighted. Each time you press the <Enter> key, a subsequent occurrence of the string in highlighted. The Search wraps back to the first occurrence after all other occurrences have been highlighted.

Using the save dialog windows

A Save dialog window appears when you choose the Save As option from any of the Xprofiler reports windows or from the File Menu. It allows you to save the data you see, in the report window that is currently open, to a file.

Note:

If you choose the Save As option from one of the reports windows, the title of the dialog window included the name of the report (for example Save Flat Profile).

To save the current report data to a file using the Save dialog window:

1. Specify the file into which the data should be placed. You can specify either an existing file or a new one. If you specify and existing file, be aware that Xprofiler replaces the file altogether (instead of appending to the existing data). To replace an existing file, use the scroll bars of the Directories and the Files selection boxes to locate the file you want. To make locating your file easier, you can also use the Filter button (see Using the dialog window filters for more information). To specify a new file, type its name in the Selection field.
2. Click on the OK button. A file containing the profiled window data appears in the directory you specified, under the name you gave it.

Using the dialog window filters

Many of the Xprofiler dialog windows include a Filter button. The use of the Xprofiler Filter function follows the Motif standard. To use the Filter:

1. In the Filter field, specify the directory that contains the files that you wish to see in the Files selection box. You may specify an asterisk (*) as a wildcard.
2. Click on the Filter button with the left mouse button. The list of files in the Files selection box is updated to reflect your selection.

Using the Radio/Toggle buttons and sliders

Many of the dialog windows include buttons and sliders that allow you to select options and specify values.

Using the buttons

Aside from push-buttons, the Xprofiler dialog windows also use radio buttons and toggle buttons. Radio buttons let you select one item from a set of items, while toggle buttons let you activate or de-activate a single item.

In the example below, the Screen Dump Options Dialog window uses both radio buttons and toggle buttons. For instance, under Output To, there are two radio buttons; File and Printer. You must select one or the other, but you cannot select both. Just above the Default Directory field, notice two toggle buttons; Enable Landscape and Annotate Output. By using the toggle buttons, you can activate either one or both of these options.

To select (or activate) an option with a radio or toggle button, set the button to the pressed-in position by clicking on it. When a button is pressed-in, it appears shaded. Under Output To, in the example below, File is selected and Printer is not.

Figure 9. Example Showing Radio Buttons, Toggle Buttons, and Slider

View figure.

Using the sliders

Several of the Xprofiler dialog windows include sliders that let you specify a numerical value. In the example above, the Delay Before Grab slider lets you specify the number of seconds you want to pass before the screen image is actually captured.

Place your mouse cursor over the slider. Press and hold the left mouse button while moving the slider horizontally in either direction. The number above the slider changes as you move it, and indicates the number selected. Once the slider is at the setting you want, release the mouse button.

If the number of selectable values on the slider is high, you may want to have finer control over the placement of the slider. If so, click on the slider and then use the arrow keys on your keyboard to place it.