''settings.xml'' is the central settings file for Steam.

The whole program depends on this information to create the base structure of the system and
configures, in which mode it should operate and how data should be processed.

The XML is read directly at start of Steam. In case of any error in the XML file, the program stops and gives at the Terminal or in the loggerFile an error message.

Steam only starts processing data, if the xml file has been correctly read.

The program works in tow main threads (SamplingThread and ProcessingThread). The operation mode for these threads  is defined as follows:

<code>
<SamplingThread-type>
</code>

Mode the data Source will sample data. Valid options: { ETHERCAT , MODBUS , CLIENT , DUMMY , ADAS }

If the CLIENT Mode is entered, the thread will not read a conventional data source but will instead connect to an external Steam-Server and reads its data.

If the DUMMY Mode has been entered, the program will generate dummy data for testing purpose.

<code>
<ProcessingThread-type>
</code>

Mode the data is processed. Valid options: { SERVER , CSV , MQTT }

If the SERVER Mode has been entered, Steam creates a TCP server to which an other steam instance may connect in CLIENT mode. 

If the CSV Mode has been entered: the processed data will be written in a CSV file.

If the MQTT Mode has been entered: the processed data will be sent in form of a JSON structure to a mosquito server. For MQTT configurations, the user should configure the fields which start with MQTT.

In the modes ETHERCAT , MODBUS the system can be configured to read analog and digital values from Modbus or EtherCAT sources. The names and parameters of the terminals can be configured in the respective fields.