Channels

Store data in channels.

A channel is a collection of time-ordered data. Channels store sensor readings, actuator commands, post-processed results, logs, or any other time-ordered data.

Calculated channels are computed from other channels.

Creating Channels

Create a channel from the Channels Toolbar, or with the “Create Channel” command in the Command Palette.

Channel Creation Parameters

Field	Description
Name	A name for the channel.
Virtual	If true, the channel will be virtual, meaning no data will be permanently stored.
Is Index	If true, the channel will be an index channel. Otherwise, the channel will be a data channel.
Data Type	What data type the channel stores. If the channel is an index channel, then the data type must be a timestamp.
Index	For data channels, the index channel used to store timestamps for the data channels.

Index vs. Data Channels

Index channels store timestamps for data channels. A stored channel in Synnax must be associated with an index channel, which records the timestamp for each data point.

Virtual channels are the exception. They are used for live streaming only, are not persisted to the database, and cannot be plotted or queried by time range later.

The channel concepts page covers the differences in more detail.

Aliasing Channels

Channels can be aliased under a particular range. This gives a readable name to hardware channels shared between campaigns or stand configurations. For example, cdaq1_mod2_0 can be nv_110 in one range and nv_facility in another.

Example: cdaq1_mod2_0 as nv_110 or nv_facility

The alias is only shown while its range is active, and only in your own Console.

UI Overview

Calculated Channels