Agilent Technologies AA-300, AA-400 User Manual
Overview of SpectrAA-300/400
Software Capability
Author
Jonathan Moffett
Application Note
Atomic Absorption
Introduction
It is probable that operators of the SpectrAA-300/400 are more instrument orientated
than computer orientated. Indeed it is possible to operate the SpectrAA-300/400 purely as an instrument. However operators wishing to make advantage of the controlling
computer can refer to this summary.
There has been an increasing trend for scientific instruments to be designed as “black
boxes” controlled by an external microcomputer. Except for basic instruments and
special requirements, there are a number of reasons for this.
Microcomputers have become increasingly smaller, more powerful and lower priced.
The average personal computer (PC) can potentially provide much greater automation of instruments than previously possible except for expensive dedicated instruments. The PC also provides powerful data manipulation and so can produce final
answers rather than raw data from the instrument. Additionally it is possible to
transmit data between computers and thus a variety of instruments can send their
results to a central data collection point to be integrated into a complete report.
The SpectrAA series was the first commercial atomic absorption spectrometer to
use a central computer/ controller to operate both the base instrument and its
accessories. SpectrAA was originally designed around an Agilent Data Station
(DS-15). However SpectrAA can also be controlled by an IBM PC. This configuration
is designated 300/400.
DS-15 is a dedicated instrument controller and has the facility to transfer data to a
computer for data manipulation. However the use of a PC as an instrument controller
has advantages. Hardware improvements include fixed magnetic data storage devices
that allow rapid storage and retrieval of large amounts of data and monitors that provide high resolution color displays. There is a wide range of software available that
allow data manipulation within the PC environment itself.
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The distribution disk contains four files:
ARCE.COM
INSTALL.BAT
INSTALL.DOC
SPECTRAA.ARC (or ZEEMAN.ARC)
To install, type A: [ENTER] to change to A drive. Type INSTALL
[ENTER] to run the INSTALL.BAT file. The SpectrAA files are
all compressed into one archive file (.ARC) and the program
ARCE.COM “unpacks” the files which are then copied into
the appropriate directories. The final file INSTALL.DOC contains information for use at installation. This may be read by
the command
TYPE INSTALL.DOC [ENTER]
which displays it on the screen or
TYPE INSTALL.DOC > PRN: [ENTER]
which directs the text to a printer.
After installation, the distribution disk should be stored away.
It is recommended a copy be made of it for additional security.
To run the SpectrAA instrument, type SPECTRAA (or ZEEMAN) [ENTER]. Within a few seconds a welcome screen
(with a version number) is displayed and then the instrument
software PROGRAM MODES page. If this does not happen,
turn the computer OFF and follow the troubleshooting
directions below.
Troubleshooting
• Program does not load but returns immediately to DOS
command line.
There is insufficient RAM memory available. SpectrAA
requires about 400 KB. Check that memory is not being
occupied by a program which terminates but stays resident (TSR) for example, Borland Sidekick or by a RAM
disk. Also check the CONFIG.SYS file for excess open
files or buffers.
• Program loads but only displays the welcome page.
The IDB card is not installed. This card must be present
for the software to function.
The SpectrAA software does not address any memory above
the 640 KB DOS limit. Operating SpectrAA should therefore
not affect any customization of additional RAM. Once the
software has been loaded, the computer acts as a controller
for the SpectrAA instrument.
Hardware Configuration
While the IBM PCs have many clones and compatibles, not all
of these behave in a manner identical to the IBM. The computer systems known to operate as per the SpectrAA 300/400
Operation Manual are listed in Table 1 although performance
is guaranteed on IBM computers only.
Table 1. Recommended Computer Systems for SpectrAA
Recommended
Computer memory (RAM) Comments
EPSON AX-2 640 KB 80286 CPU
IBM PS/2 Model 30 640 KB 8086 CPU; superseded
IBM PS/2 Model 30/286 1024 KB 80286 CPU
NOTES: A fixed (hard) disk (20 MB or greater) is required. Display must be
equivalent to 128 KB EGA or better (built-in IBM Model 30/286 display card
with the IBM 8513 monitor is suitable). SpectrAA IDB card must be installed.
Brief Overview of DOS
Each computer requires an operating system (OS) to be loaded
into its memory. IBM PCs and compatibles use a Disk
Operating System (DOS). All DOS information is kept in files
which must have unique names. DOS nomenclature allows up
to eight alphanumeric characters for the name and up to three
characters for an extension (for example, FILENAME.EXT).
Files are stored on (magnetic) media called disks. Disks can
either be removable (floppy) or fixed (hard). DOS assigns letters to the disk drives. The computers recommended for
SpectrAA have one floppy drive (A:) and one hard drive (C:).
The names of all the files present on a disk are stored in a
directory. Floppy disks with their limited storage are generally
assigned a single (root) directory called A:\. Hard disks have a
much larger capacity and for convenience and good housekeeping are divided into multiple directories and subdirectories
(which are all chained or PATHed back to the root directory,
C:\). Directory names also follow DOS nomenclature rules.
Hence the SpectrAA software is installed on the C: drive under
the AGILENT directory in a subdirectory called SPECTRAA.
This path is designated as C:\AGILENT\SPECTRAA\, which is
displayed if the DOS command PROMPT $P$G is used.
SpectrAA Software
There are two forms of SpectrAA software - flame/furnace
(SPECTRAA) and Zeeman (ZEEMAN). Where appropriate in
examples below both names are shown. In examples that only
show SPECTRAA, ZEEMAN may be used interchangeably.
Each form is distributed on one 3.5" 720 KB floppy disk or one
5.25" 1.2 MB high density floppy disk depending on the floppy
drive of the controlling computer.
3
Review of DOS Data Output
The data generated by a software package such as SpectrAA
should be recorded in a permanent method as well as being
displayed. The simplest method is to direct output to a printer
which is what SpectrAA as supplied does. In addition to a
printer, DOS is able to address a number of devices and the
three most commonly used devices are outlined in Table 2.
Table 2. DOS Devices
Device–DOS Name–Example
File on disk drive:\path\filename.ext A:\TEST\DATA.TXT
Parallel port PRINTER:, PRN:, LPT1: Printer (Centronics)
Serial port COM1:, COM2:, AUX: Printer (Serial) or another computer.
NOTES:
1. The drive need only be specified if it is not the current drive (usually C:).
2. The colon (:) is essential as it differentiates between a physical device
and a file.
3. SpectrAA is supplied configured for an EPSON compatible parallel
printer.
It is possible to redirect SpectrAA’s output if required. When
sending data to an external device such as a printer or another computer, care is needed to place it in a known condition.
For serial devices, the transmission rate must be specified.
For parallel devices, special ASCII escape code sequences
must be transmitted along with the data.
An operator can select most of SpectrAA’s communication
options with the SYSTEM CONFIGURATION page (page 20)
shown in Figure 1. Under this page is the EXTERNAL CONTROL
subpage shown in Figure 2. OUTPUT CONTROL (Figure 3) is
used to select the device and PRINTER CONTROL (Figure 4) to
specify the escape codes. Table 4 summarizes the escape
codes most often used with SpectrAA. Figure 4 shows the
default printer conditions supplied with the SpectrAA software.
Figure 1. Main SYSTEM CONFIGURATION page screen.
Figure 2. EXTERNAL CONTROL option selection page.
Figure 3. Example of SpectrAA's output being directed to a file SSC.PRN in
the author's directory on drive C:.
Figure 4. Default PRINTER CONTROL screen.
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