ZplotsLink is used in conjunction with the DG8SAQ VNWA software.  If you are not using the VNWA program you may disregard both this note and the ZplotsLink.xls file.

ZplotsLink serves as the (optional) interface between Zplots and the DG8SAQ VNWA program Tools menu (VNWA version Beta 33.f or later).  Be sure to put ZplotsLink in the same folder as Zplots, *not* in the folder with the VNWA software (unless that is also where have put Zplots).  In the VNWA Configure Tools dialog, specify the Path to ZplotsLink, not Zplots.  Leave the Argument field blank and use anything for the Name field.  (Of course, "Zplots" or "AC6LA plotting tool" would be a good choice for the name, but the choice is up to you.)

When you select Tools > Zplots (or as-named), VNWA will invoke ZplotsLink and ZplotsLink will invoke Zplots, opening it first if it is not already running in the Excel window.  If you have checked the "Autowrite measurement data" box in the Configure Tools dialog, VNWA will create a file named 'default.s2p' in the same folder with ZplotsLink and Zplots.  If that file is present, ZplotsLink will trigger Zplots to automatically load it.  This is a convenient way to view your scan results, since you will not have to use the "Load Data" button and the standard Windows "File Open" dialog in Zplots to specify the folder and name for the data file to be loaded.

In addition, again assuming you have checked the "Autowrite measurement data" box, VNWA will re-write the 'default.s2p' file after each scan.  So you can either select Tools > Zplots again or just switch to the Zplots window and click "Refresh" to see the new data.  If you are doing continuous scans with VNWA you can "Enable Polling" in Zplots and the new data file will be loaded automatically, at most once per second.

If you have not checked the "Autowrite measurement data" box in the VNWA Configure Tools dialog, selecting VNWA Tools > Zplots is the same as just switching to the Zplots window, or starting Zplots if it not already running.