A control-unit program can be adapted both parameterized and quantitatively to the vehicle in question. The control-unit program is matched to the engine to be operated in its environment by appropriate values assigned to these parameters (e.g. body, exhaust-gas regulations). This adaptation process is termed application or calibration.
A differentiation shall be made between the structure of a parameter and its data contents. The parameter structures are described in the data dictionary in
<sw-params> (compare
Parameters ). The parameter contents are included in
<sw-param-contents>.
The use of parameters in functions is by means of referencing (
<sw-param-ref>). It is thereby indicated by the attribute [owns] with the possible value "no-owns"

of whether the parameter is to be allocated to this function, or it is defined in this function.
There are different classes of parameters. These differ on the one hand by the assignment of
<sw-param-class>, whereas on the other hand they are formed by appropriate characterization of the structures.
A differentiation is made between the following parameter classes:
Characteristic value A characteristic value (
<sw-param-single-value>) is a parameter consisting of one single value. An engine-speed limit can be displayed by this for example.
System constant A system constant is a special characteristic value (
<sw-param-single-value> characterized by
[calibration]=
not-in-memory) that is used for example, for adapting conversion formulae. This is not stored in the control unit.
Characteristic text A characteristic text (
<sw-param-text>) is a parameter that consists of a one single text. Messages can be displayed by this, for the dashboard for example.
Characteristic In the case of a characteristic (
<sw-param-array-x>), the output variable is computed by the control-unit program as a function of an input variable. Considered in mathematical terms, the characteristic is a function whereby it applies that: Output value = f(input value).
This function is thereby defined as a polyline in which the associated functional value (
<sw-param-axis-value>) is given for a number (limited by
<max-count>) of datapoints. Interpolation between two datapoints is usually linear in the control-unit program, extrapolation is constant outside of the program.
Fixed characteristic The datapoints cannot be arbitrarily defined in the case of fixed characteristics, but rather are computed in the control-unit programn by shift (
<shift>) and offset (
<offset>) (
<sw-axis-shift-offset>). The fixed characteristic is displayed as
<sw-param-array-x> as well, whereby
<sw-axis-shift-offset> is used.
Map For a map (
<sw-param-array-xy>), the output variable is computed by the control-unit program as a function of two input variables. The structure is otherwise that for a characteristic.
Fixed map As in the case of a fixed characteristic, the datapoints cannot be chosen arbitrarily either. The fixed map is also displayed as
<sw-param-array-xy>, whereby
<sw-axis-shift-offset> is used for both axes.
Group characteristic Group characteristics do not have datapoints of their own, but rather use the same datapoints (
<sw-param-group-axis> referenced in
<sw-axis-grouped>) together with other group characteristics or group maps. The group characteristic is displayed as
<sw-param-array-x> as well, whereby
<sw-axis-grouped> is used for the axis.
Group map Group maps do not have datapoints of their own, but rather use the same datapoints (group datapoints) together with other group characteristics or groups maps. The group map is displayed as
<sw-param-array-xy> as well, whereby
<sw-axis-grouped> is used for both axes (compare
Example for a group map).
Characteristic values block A characteristic values block
<sw-param-value-block> is a summary of a number (
<count>) of identically structured characteristic values as a block. Hence for example, a characteristic value that is to be applied individually for each cylinder of the engine, could be displayed as a characteristic values block having 4 elements.
All characteristic values in the block possess the same properties. Each characteristic value receives however a separate identification (
<label>), whereby a description for the use of the value can also be given. The characteristic values block is always handled as being closed. The components of the characteristic values block therefore cannot be individually referenced.
Characteristic values structure A characteristic values structure (
<sw-params> in
<sw-param>) is a summary of a number of differently structured parameters. The parameters for the structure of e.g. a controller can be displayed by this (compare
Example for a characteristic values structure:).
Group datapoints Group datapoints (
<sw-param-group-axis>) define the datapoints that are jointly used by several group characteristics or group maps (
<sw-param-ref> in
<sw-axis-grouped>).
The parameter type concerned (e.g. characteristic) is defined by
<sw-param-class>. The standardized designations from ASAP shall be used for this. These are

:
Belegung von <sw-param-class>
Value 
|
Meaning
|
Remark
|
|
System constant
|
Equivalent in structure to a fixed value with [calibration]= not-in-memory
|
|
Characteristic value
|
|
|
Characteristic
|
|
|
Map
|
|
|
Fixed characteristic
|
|
|
Fixed map
|
|
|
Group characteristic
|
|
|
Group map
|
|
|
Characteristic text
|
|
|
Parameter structure
|
|
|
Characteristic values block
|
|
|
Group datapoints
|
|