Nets and templates

A net gives a name to one channel of an instrument, for example supply1 for the output of a power supply. Tests and Workbench use the net name, not the instrument address. Lager stores the nets on the box, and the Nets tab shows them. Everyone who can open a box can see its nets. Only owners and admins can add, change, or delete nets.

​

The Nets tab

The heading shows the number of nets. When the box is online, the heading also shows how many instruments are connected. The tab groups nets by instrument. Each instrument card shows a product photo or an icon, the instrument name, the number of nets, the connection state, and the address. Select an instrument card to expand it. The table shows the Name, Type, Channel, and Purpose of each net. A USB hub also shows the State of each port. The tab refreshes every 30 seconds, and also when the box goes online or offline. When the box is offline, the tab shows the last known nets. If the box detects no instruments, the tab says so. Connect an instrument to the box over USB, and then select Check again. Each instrument card has these controls:

• Control opens the instrument in Workbench. It appears when Workbench supports a net type of the instrument.
• View Livefeed opens the Webcams tab. It appears for a camera.
• Add Net adds one net to the instrument. It does not appear when the instrument cannot take another net, for example a debug probe that already has its net.
• The … menu has Delete All Nets, which deletes the nets of this instrument.

At the top of the tab, Control in Workbench opens Workbench for this box. Add Nets adds nets for the free channels of every instrument.

​

Add nets for all free channels

Add Nets proposes one net for each instrument channel that has no net.

1. Select Add Nets.
2. Clear the check box of each channel that you do not want.
3. If you want different names, change them. Stout names each net after its type and the next free number, for example supply1 or gpio3.
4. For a debug probe, enter the Device type. This is the part number of the target MCU.
5. Select the add button, for example Add 4 Nets.

Some channels do not appear in the list. A yellow notice in the dialog explains each case:

• An instrument that runs one mode at a time offers no more channels after it has a net.
• An instrument that can switch between two roles offers its second role unchecked. If you choose that role, the instrument switches its mode.
• Stout hides two instruments that report the same address, because it cannot tell them apart.

Net names must be unique on a box. Stout ignores letter case when it compares names.

​

Add one net

1. On the instrument card, select Add Net.
2. Enter the Net Name.
3. Select the Role / Type.
4. Select the Channel. For a debug probe, enter the Device type instead.
5. Select Add Net.

To describe the new net, edit it, and then fill in Purpose.

​

Edit a net

In the net table, select Edit. The Edit Net dialog has these fields:

• Name, Role / Type, and Channel define the net on the box. Instrument, Address, and Serial are read-only.
• Purpose is one sentence about what the net does on the device under test.
• Notes holds free-form details, for example jumper positions or probe points.
• Tags holds comma-separated tags.

Purpose, Notes, and Tags are the same fields that lager nets describe sets with --purpose, --notes, and --tag. When the box supports it, Stout sends your changes to the box. A Modified on box badge next to a field means that the box has a different value for that field. Save the field in Stout to keep the value that Stout shows. When you rename a net, Stout keeps its purpose, notes, and tags. To delete one net, select Delete in its row, and then confirm. Stout removes the net from the box. For the Lager commands, see lager nets in the Lager docs.

​

Delete all nets

You can delete many nets in one step:

• On an instrument card, … > Delete All Nets deletes the nets of that instrument.
• In the header of the box page, … > Delete All Nets deletes every net on the box.

​

Templates

A template saves the nets of one box. Use it to set up other boxes the same way. Only owners and admins can save, apply, and manage templates.

​

Save a template

1. Open the box, and then open the … menu in the header.
2. Select Save as Template.
3. Enter a Template Name.
4. Select Save Template.

​

Apply a template

1. Open the box, and then open the … menu in the header.
2. Select Apply Template.
3. Select the Template.
4. Check the preview. It sorts the nets into Ready to create, Awaiting instruments, and Skipped.
5. Select the apply button, for example Apply 12 Nets.

Awaiting instruments lists nets for instruments that are not connected. Stout creates these nets now, and they show Disconnected. When you connect the instrument, Stout binds the nets to it. Skipped lists the nets that Stout cannot create, with the reason. If the box is offline, the button is Assign Template. Stout applies the template when the box comes online. You can also select a template in the Add Box dialog. Stout applies it when the new box first comes online. If that apply fails, the Nets tab shows a notice, and Stout tries again the next time that the box comes online. When the box is online, select Apply now in the notice to try at once.

​

Manage templates

On the Boxes page, select Box Groups, and then select Templates. The Box Templates dialog lists every template with its number of nets and its source box.

• Select the arrow to see the nets in a template.
• Select the pencil to rename a template.
• Select the refresh icon to update a template from its source box.
• Select the trash icon to delete a template.