The four areas of the NSP window
Every NSP screen is built from the same four parts. Across the top is the menu bar (File, Edit, Setup, Tools, Logging, Preferences, Help). Under it sits the toolbar, a row of icons that duplicates the most-used menu items and doubles as a status panel. Down the left is the sidebar with the search box and navigation tree. Everything else is the main display, which shows whatever page tab you have open.
Once you know that layout, the rest is about learning which button answers which question. We've grouped them by job below.
Connecting and working with maps
The Connect/Disconnect button is the first one you'll click. It does more than connect: its color tells you how you're connected, and it also shows when NSP is in log playback rather than talking to a live ECU. Glance at it before you make changes so you know whether you're editing the car or a file.
Map files are handled the usual way through New, Open, Save and Save As, with Recent Items for jumping back to files you've had open lately. Two tools in the File menu are worth special attention:
- Import/Upload pulls selected tables or settings from another map into the one you have open, or sends a whole map to the connected ECU. We use it to carry a proven fuel or ignition setup across to a new map without retyping anything.
- Compare puts another map next to the open one and shows the differences. It's the fastest way to see what changed between a customer's old tune and the new one, or to find the one setting that differs between two cars that should behave the same.
Restore Defaults puts default values back into the open map. Save a copy before you use it, because it does exactly what it says.
Save As with a new file name before every session, and include the date. Then Compare gives you a clean record of what you changed, and you always have a known-good map to fall back on.
Finding the setting you need
The navigation tree is the backbone of NSP. Each entry, or node, opens the settings and tables for one function. You can hide the whole sidebar with the Navigation Tree toolbar button when you need more room for a table, which helps a lot on small laptop screens.
The search box above the tree is the quickest route to anything. It searches disabled functions too, so it's a good way to find out whether a feature exists before you go hunting. The back and forward arrows remember the nodes you've visited, which is handy when you're bouncing between, say, a fuel table and a correction table. At the bottom, context tips give a short description of whatever is selected.
To switch features on and off in bulk, use the Enable/Disable Functions button at the top of the sidebar. On a fresh install where you're turning on a dozen functions at once, this list is much quicker than visiting each node.
Tuning tables and pages
The main display is organized into page tabs. Each tab is a layout of gauges, tables and graphs. NSP ships with preset pages, you can build your own, and you can drag tabs into whatever order suits you. Right click a tab and choose Set to Default Page to make it the one NSP opens on.
When you're in a table, Table Axis Setup lets you change the axes, for example adding more RPM breakpoints where the engine needs finer control. Copy, Paste, Undo and Redo work as you'd expect, with one detail worth knowing: undo history is kept per tree node for as long as you're online. Undo on the ignition table won't roll back something you changed in the fuel table. Our table data manipulation guide covers the editing shortcuts in more depth.
Under Preferences you can change the color theme, display units, the tree's font size and whether disabled functions show, plus table display options like the crosshair style and cell highlighting. Most US customers switch units first, so pressures, temperatures and speeds read in the units they think in.
Logging and playback
There are two kinds of logs in the Nexus world: logs recorded inside the ECU, and logs recorded straight to your laptop.
- Data Log Manager is where you pull logs out of the ECU and open them. The toolbar icon also lights up while a log is recording or downloading.
- Start Logging to PC records the live session on your laptop. F6 starts and stops it, which you'll use constantly on the dyno.
- The option that stops the PC log and opens it straight into playback is the one we use most. You can make changes to the ECU while reviewing the log, so you can spot a lean spot and fix the cell in one move.
- Choose Log for Playback opens any saved log.
For what to record and how often, see the Nexus datalog setup article.
Diagnostics: errors, warnings and codes
Three toolbar buttons on the right side are easy to ignore and shouldn't be.
| Button | What it shows | Our advice |
|---|---|---|
| Show All Errors | Configuration problems in the map | Clear every one before starting the engine |
| Show All Warnings | Informational notes about the setup | Read them once; they're normally fine to leave |
| Show All Diagnostic Trouble Codes | Current and stored DTCs | Check after every drive during a new install |
| IO Report | Which physical pins each function uses | Print it and keep it with the car's wiring notes |
| Reboot Device | Restarts the ECU | When it turns red, a change won't apply until you reboot |
The IO Report (Setup menu or toolbar) is one of the most useful screens in NSP. It lists how the wiring is allocated, so you can check that the boost solenoid really is on the output you wired it to, or find a spare input without guessing. The Oscilloscope tool, on ECUs that support it, lets you look at trigger and sensor waveforms from inside NSP; our oscilloscope guide shows how we use it for trigger problems.
Firmware, updates and protection
- Upgrade Firmware opens the firmware update tool for whatever device you're connected to. The icon turns green when an update is waiting to be applied.
- Check for Updates looks for new NSP versions. If automatic updates are on, the button also shows download progress; hover over it for details. You can turn automatic downloading off in the Help menu. If the updater can't connect, see NSP updater TLS requirements.
- Password Protection locks individual tables and settings in a map. Shops use it to protect their work, and racers use it to stop anyone changing critical settings.
Getting help inside NSP
The Help toolbar button opens a side panel that changes with the node you've selected, so it's always relevant to the screen in front of you. The Help menu adds a keyboard shortcut reference, version information and a Remote Help tool for remote technical support. If you bought your ECU from us, get in touch and we'll help you work through it.
NSP interface FAQ
How do I find a function that isn't in the navigation tree?
Type it into the search box. Search includes disabled functions, so it'll show up even if it's switched off. Then enable it from the Enable/Disable Functions list.
Why is the reboot button red?
You've changed something that only takes effect after the ECU restarts, and the button turns red to tell you. Reboot with the engine off.
Can I edit my tune while watching a log?
Yes. Stop the PC log straight into playback and you can make live changes to the connected ECU while you review it. New to Nexus? Browse the Nexus range or book a free consultation.
