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## 3. General Usage

This chapter describes the general usage of QWireless. It describes the GUI interface as well as the function provided by the program.

To fulfill the paltop GUI requirement the interface mainly consists out of a ToolBar and multi column listviews, which allow the system to present the information in a "overview" way. The listviews come with some toolbuttons itself. The main listviews are located on a central tabwidget, which has an overview page, a detail page and a info page.

## 3.1 Data structure and storage

QWireless reads a file qwireless.cfg out of its `QWIRELESSCFG` directory first, to define its configuration parameters. QWIRLESSCFG is an environment variable you have to export before starting QWireless (see Configuration).

The data directory contains the config file itself as well as the so called session files (`*.wir`) which contain the session specific information like wireless info location list, e.g.). Also a file `last` is found here, where qwireless memorizes the last session (file) you edited.

The file format is plain ascii with sections defining the different entries. The file contains all information belonging to the session including the different lists like infolist, x-y raster list.

## 3.2 File dialog

As QTopia does not include the class QFileDialog, I designed my own. It is easy to use and does not support all the rubbish of standard file dialogs.

The filedialog consists out of a listview to show the files (name, size and type). On top of that, it has a filter combobox (editable), where file filters can be entered or selected. The combobox will store the last 7 entered filters and the filter "*".

A lineedit to show the selected filename comes below. It shows the filename selected until it isn't a link or dir.

Another combobox (editable) is the directory combobox, where the directory can be entered or selected. The combobox will store the last 7 entered directories and the dir "/".

The `OK` toolbutton confirms the selection and closes the dialog, while the `Cancel` toolbutton only closes the dialog (without selecting a file).

The following figure shows the filedialog selecting a journey file.

In case of `file->saveAs` the file extension will (e.g. `.qtr` will be added automatically, if not done manually.

## 3.3 The toolbar

The following image shows the toolbar of QWireless. In the left area, the user finds the file buttons, in the middle some program buttons are arranged, while the right part shows the online help buttons.

The following list describes the functions behind the single buttons.

- The new button clears the actual dialog and opens a new empty dialog..
- The open button opens the integrated filedialog. This allows to select a qwireless data file. The actual data is overwritten.
- The save button saves the data under the actual filename. If the filename is not yet specified, it opens the integrated filedialog. This allows to select a qwireless data file or enter a new filename.
- The saveas button opens the integrated filedialog. This allows to select a qwireless data file or enter a new filename.
- The setup dialog button opens the base dialog. This allows to define or change the basic config entries.

## 3.4 General listview handling

QWireless presents some of its data in listviews, which allow an overview presentation. A QWireless listview normally constist of the listview itself and some toolbuttons to work with the listview. This tool buttons are explained below.

Buttons are enabled only if usefull in the actual environment.

- The new button appends an entry to the existing list and opens the items editor. If the list is empty, this is the only way to enter a new entry.
- The change button changes the selected item (open the edit dialog).
- The delete button deletes the selected entry. The user is warned by a messagebox. If he confirms, the entry is deleted from the list.
- The OK button confirms the changes, saves the changed data and close the dialog.
- The Cancel button cancels the changes inside the open dialog. The dialog is closed.
- The Close button closes the dialog (is used, if nothing has to be stored).

## 3.5 The tabview

The main tabview has 3 pages.

### The first page

The first page shows the frequently updated wireless info, which defines the main parameters of a wireless network.

- X-combobox, SaveButton, Y-Combobox
  These widgets allow a quick input of the position in the raster of a large network. If the save-button is clicked, the value is stored in the location list.
- AP
  The AP field shows the Accesspoints MAC adress or its nickname, if found in the accesspoint list to which the wireless card is actually connected.
- freq
  The freq field shows the actually used frequency / channel.
- bitrate
  The bitrate field shows the actually used bitrate.
- quality
  The quality field shows the actually available signal quality as a bargraph as well as the maximum quality.
- level
  The level field shows the actually available signal level as a bargraph. If the signal is given in dbm, the bargraph growth form the right edge, else from the left.
- noise
  The noise field shows the actually noise level as a bargraph. If the signal is given in dbm, the bargraph growth form the right edge, else from the left.
- ping icon
  The ping icon (below the noise bar) shows the ping state. If the light yellow,the ping is actually not executed. Red indicates NOK, while a green hook shows success.

### The second page

The second page shows the frequently updated wireless static info, which manily is used for information. The data is presented in a listview. Beside the session specific parameters, there is information about protocoll specific parameters (essid, e.g.), available frequencies and bitrates and the accesspointlist (editabel in the session menu).

Beside that information the dialog shows 3 buttons.

- Host
  These button starts / stops the host ping. The host with ipadress set in the config setup is pinged frequently (e.g. every 3 secs).
- P
  This button pings the accesspoint, which is actually selected. A success is indicated with a green hook icon in fromt of the accesspoint fullname, while NOK shows a red icon.
- S
  This button opens the session dialog (see below).

### The third page

The third page shows the actually sampled location list. X,Y coordinates, bitrate, quality and accesspoint are shown in a listview. Single entries can be deleted using the delet button.

## 3.6 The session dialog

To be documented

## 3.7 The accesspoint dialog

To be documented

## 3.8 The setup dialog

To be documented

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