Monarch Instrument DataChart 2000 Operating Manual
Companion Software
Windows compatible software for data file transfer,
graphs, storage, printing and export to spreadsheets.
For use with Data Chart 2000 paperless recorders.
Compatible with Win XP/7/8/10
Companion Software Table of Contents
1 COMPANION SOFTWARE .......................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Overview ............................................................................................................................................ 1
2 INSTALLATION ........................................................................................................................................... 2
2.1 Microsoft Windows™ Installation ................................................................................................... 2
3 THE MENU ................................................................................................................................................... 2
3.1 Using the Menu ................................................................................................................................. 2
3.2 File ...................................................................................................................................................... 3
3.2.1 Use Disk / Use Recorder ...................................................................................................... 3
3.2.2 Open ...................................................................................................................................... 3
3.2.3 Transfer ................................................................................................................................. 3
3.2.4 Hex Dump ............................................................................................................................. 4
3.2.5 Erase (File) ............................................................................................................................ 4
3.2.6 Format ................................................................................................................................... 4
3.2.7 Export .................................................................................................................................... 4
3.2.7.1 Exported File Format – Graph Data ..................................................................................... 4
3.2.7.1.1 Start Time and Date ......................................................................................... 4
3.2.7.1.2 End Time and Date ........................................................................................... 4
3.2.7.1.3 Time Format ..................................................................................................... 4
3.2.7.1.4 Date Format ...................................................................................................... 4
3.2.7.1.5 Intervals ............................................................................................................ 4
3.2.7.2 Exported File Format - Alarms/Events ................................................................................. 5
3.2.8 Print ....................................................................................................................................... 5
3.2.8.1 Print Range .......................................................................................................................... 5
3.2.8.2 Properties or Preferences .................................................................................................... 5
3.3 Search ................................................................................................................................................ 6
3.3.1 Go to time ............................................................................................................................. 6
3.3.2 Find ........................................................................................................................................ 6
3.3.3 Search Setup ........................................................................................................................ 6
3.3.3.1 Sense .................................................................................................................................. 6
3.3.3.2 Direction .............................................................................................................................. 6
3.3.3.3 Event Hopping ..................................................................................................................... 6
3.3.3.4 Pen ...................................................................................................................................... 6
3.3.3.5 Value ................................................................................................................................... 6
3.3.3.6 Find ...................................................................................................................................... 6
3.3.3.7 Close ................................................................................................................................... 6
3.4 Serial .................................................................................................................................................. 6
3.4.1 Points .................................................................................................................................... 7
3.4.2 Alarms ................................................................................................................................... 7
3.4.3 Dial Modem ........................................................................................................................... 7
3.4.3.1 Phone Number .................................................................................................................... 8
3.4.3.2 Command ............................................................................................................................ 8
3.4.3.3 Timeout ................................................................................................................................ 8
3.4.4 Hang Up Modem ................................................................................................................... 8
3.5 Config................................................................................................................................................. 8
3.5.1 Open ...................................................................................................................................... 9
3.5.2 Save ....................................................................................................................................... 9
3.5.3 Save As ................................................................................................................................. 9
3.5.4 View Config .......................................................................................................................... 9
3.5.5 Load From Recorder ............................................................................................................ 9
3.5.6 Send To Recorder ................................................................................................................ 9
3.5.7 Displays .............................................................................................................................. 10
3.5.7.1 Time Format ...................................................................................................................... 10
3.5.7.2 Language ........................................................................................................................... 10
3.5.7.3 Rotate Scales .................................................................................................................... 10
3.5.7.4 Power Up ........................................................................................................................... 10
3.5.7.4.1 Unit Tag String ................................................................................................ 10
3.5.7.4.2 Display ............................................................................................................ 11
3.5.7.4.3 Point ............................................................................................................... 11
3.5.7.5 Dimmer .............................................................................................................................. 11
3.5.7.6 Display Rate ...................................................................................................................... 11
3.5.7.7 Assign Bars ....................................................................................................................... 11
3.5.7.8 Assign Digital Windows ..................................................................................................... 11
3.5.8 Views ................................................................................................................................... 11
3.5.9 Chart/Pens .......................................................................................................................... 11
3.5.9.1 Speed ................................................................................................................................ 12
3.5.9.2 Units .................................................................................................................................. 12
3.5.9.3 Assign Pens ....................................................................................................................... 12
3.5.9.4 Direction ............................................................................................................................ 12
3.5.9.5 Auto Speed ........................................................................................................................ 12
3.5.9.6 Abnormal Pen Park ........................................................................................................... 12
3.5.9.7 Scales ................................................................................................................................ 12
3.5.9.8 Pen Width .......................................................................................................................... 13
3.5.10 Points .................................................................................................................................. 13
3.5.10.1 Program Points .................................................................................................................. 13
3.5.10.1.1 Type ................................................................................................................ 13
3.5.10.1.2 Scale............................................................................................................... 13
3.5.10.1.3 Alarm .............................................................................................................. 13
3.5.10.1.4 Output Mode ................................................................................................... 14
3.5.10.1.5 Decimal Fix ..................................................................................................... 14
3.5.10.1.6 Current ............................................................................................................ 14
3.5.10.1.7 Filter................................................................................................................ 14
3.5.10.1.8 Engineering Units ........................................................................................... 14
3.5.10.1.9 Point Tag ........................................................................................................ 14
3.5.10.1.10 Chart Scale ..................................................................................................... 14
3.5.10.1.11 Alarm Delay .................................................................................................... 14
3.5.10.2 Constants .......................................................................................................................... 14
3.5.11 Record Setup ...................................................................................................................... 14
3.5.11.1 Check to Record ................................................................................................................ 15
3.5.11.2 Record Mode ..................................................................................................................... 15
3.5.11.3 Point .................................................................................................................................. 15
3.5.11.4 Filename ............................................................................................................................ 15
3.5.11.5 Auto Rate ........................................................................................................................... 15
3.5.11.6 Disk Full Alarm .................................................................................................................. 15
3.5.12 Measurement ...................................................................................................................... 15
3.5.12.1 Span + Offset..................................................................................................................... 15
3.5.12.2 TCBO Interval .................................................................................................................... 15
3.5.13 Digital I/O ............................................................................................................................ 15
3.5.13.1 Contact Outputs ................................................................................................................. 15
3.5.13.2 Input Switches ................................................................................................................... 16
3.5.13.3 Event Messages ................................................................................................................ 16
3.5.14 Com Port ............................................................................................................................. 16
3.5.14.1 Baud Rate .......................................................................................................................... 16
3.5.14.2 Data Bits ............................................................................................................................ 16
3.5.14.3 Stop Bits ............................................................................................................................ 16
3.5.14.4 Parity ................................................................................................................................. 16
3.5.14.5 Modbus Type ..................................................................................................................... 16
3.5.14.6 Network ID ......................................................................................................................... 16
3.5.14.7 Ethernet ............................................................................................................................. 16
3.5.14.7.1 IP Address ...................................................................................................... 17
3.5.14.7.2 Subnet Mask ................................................................................................... 17
3.5.14.7.3 Name Server IP Address ................................................................................ 17
3.5.14.8 Modem ............................................................................................................................... 17
3.5.15 System ................................................................................................................................ 17
3.5.15.1 Beeper ............................................................................................................................... 17
3.5.15.2 Passcodes ......................................................................................................................... 17
3.5.15.3 Clear Points ....................................................................................................................... 17
3.5.15.4 Init Profile ........................................................................................................................... 17
3.5.16 Function .............................................................................................................................. 17
3.5.16.1 Active ................................................................................................................................. 17
3.5.16.2 Chart Speed ...................................................................................................................... 17
3.5.16.3 Record Speed ................................................................................................ .................... 17
3.5.16.4 Check Alarms .................................................................................................................... 17
3.5.16.5 Recording .......................................................................................................................... 18
3.5.16.6 Scale Sets ......................................................................................................................... 18
3.5.17 Function (Live) ................................................................................................................... 18
3.5.17.1 Active ................................................................................................................................. 18
3.5.17.2 Reset Now ......................................................................................................................... 18
3.5.17.3 Chart Speed ...................................................................................................................... 18
3.5.17.4 Record Speed ................................................................................................ .................... 18
3.5.17.5 Check Alarms .................................................................................................................... 19
3.5.17.6 Recording .......................................................................................................................... 19
3.5.17.7 Scale Sets ......................................................................................................................... 19
3.5.17.8 Clear Buffers ...................................................................................................................... 19
3.5.18 Time / Date .......................................................................................................................... 19
3.6 Options ............................................................................................................................................ 20
3.6.1 Display ................................................................................................................................ 20
3.6.1.1 Time stamp ........................................................................................................................ 20
3.6.1.2 Date format ........................................................................................................................ 20
3.6.2 Com Port ............................................................................................................................. 20
3.6.2.1 Interface ............................................................................................................................. 20
3.6.2.1.1 Ethernet .......................................................................................................... 20
3.6.2.2 Number of Retries ............................................................................................................. 21
3.6.2.3 Ethernet Timeout ............................................................................................................... 21
3.6.2.4 Com Port ........................................................................................................................... 21
3.6.2.5 Network ID ......................................................................................................................... 21
3.6.2.6 Modbus Type ..................................................................................................................... 21
3.6.2.7 Set IP Addresses ............................................................................................................... 21
3.6.2.8 Baud .................................................................................................................................. 22
3.6.2.9 Data Bits ............................................................................................................................ 22
3.6.2.10 Stop Bits ............................................................................................................................ 22
3.6.2.11 Parity ................................................................................................................................. 22
3.6.2.12 Test .................................................................................................................................... 22
3.6.3 Set Password...................................................................................................................... 22
3.7 Graph ............................................................................................................................................... 22
3.7.1 Raw Graph .......................................................................................................................... 22
3.7.2 Cursor Toggle .................................................................................................................... 22
3.7.3 Delta Cursor ........................................................................................................................ 22
3.7.4 Area Under Curve ............................................................................................................... 23
3.7.5 Zoom In ............................................................................................................................... 23
3.7.6 Zoom Out ............................................................................................................................ 23
3.7.7 Compress ............................................................................................................................ 23
3.7.8 Expand ................................................................................................................................ 23
3.7.9 Retrace ................................................................................................................................ 23
3.7.10 Erase (Retrace Graph) ....................................................................................................... 23
3.7.11 Setup ................................................................................................................................... 23
3.8 Table................................................................................................................................................. 24
3.8.1 Label .................................................................................................................................... 24
3.8.2 Synchronize Group ............................................................................................................ 24
3.9 Event ................................................................................................................................................ 24
3.10 Window ............................................................................................................................................ 24
3.10.1 Graph ................................................................................................................................... 24
3.10.2 Table .................................................................................................................................... 24
3.10.3 Event ................................................................................................................................... 24
3.10.4 Info ....................................................................................................................................... 24
3.10.5 Report .................................................................................................................................. 24
3.10.6 Cascade .............................................................................................................................. 25
3.10.7 Tile ....................................................................................................................................... 25
3.10.8 Arrange Icons ..................................................................................................................... 25
3.11 Help .................................................................................................................................................. 25
3.11.1 About ................................................................................................................................... 25
3.11.2 Contents.............................................................................................................................. 25
4 TUTORIAL ................................................................................................................................................. 26
4.1 Copy Files from CD to Hard Disk .................................................................................................. 26
4.2 Scroll Bars ....................................................................................................................................... 26
4.3 Using Dialog Boxes ........................................................................................................................ 26
4.4 Keyboard Shortcuts Summary ...................................................................................................... 27
4.5 Opening a Graph ............................................................................................................................. 28
4.6 The Graph Window ......................................................................................................................... 29
4.7 Using the Edit Graph Dialog Box .................................................................................................. 30
4.7.1 Editing a Pen ...................................................................................................................... 31
4.7.2 Adding a Pen (Point) to the Graph ................................................................................... 31
4.7.3 Deleting a Pen .................................................................................................................... 31
4.8 Opening a Table .............................................................................................................................. 32
4.9 Opening an Alarms/Events Window ............................................................................................. 32
4.10 Printing a Graph, Table, etc. .......................................................................................................... 33
4.11 Exporting Data ................................................................................................................................ 33
4.12 Using the Search Setup Dialog Box .............................................................................................. 33
4.13 Synchronizing Windows ................................................................................................................ 33
4.13.1 Assigning Synchronize Groups ........................................................................................ 33
4.13.1.1 Graphs ............................................................................................................................... 33
4.13.1.2 Tables ................................................................................................................................ 33
4.13.1.3 Events ................................................................................................................................ 34
4.13.2 Synchronize Tips ............................................................................................................... 34
4.14 Time Discontinuities ....................................................................................................................... 34
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1 COMPANION SOFTWARE
1.1 Overview
The Companion Software is an optional (32 bit) software package that runs under Microsoft W indows™
Operating Systems and enables the user to:
• Read and analyze data files recorded on the Recorder in graphical or tabular format, and browse
Alarm Event files;
• Export files to spreadsheets such as Microsoft ExcelTM;
• Download files from remote recorders via Modbus and modem;
• Link and examine files from different locations and dates, link events to trend data;
• Search data for specific events;
• Fully configure and control up to 31 units at remote locations via the Modbus interface or via disk
transfer.
The software can read Point and Event files. It can display the data (points) graphically and in tabular
format. Multiple points can be shown in one graph. Data can also be exported in formats usable by
spreadsheet programs, etc. It can also display Event and Information windows. Graph, Table, Event, and
Information windows can be printed.
The files produced by the Recorder are in MSDOS
TM
compatible format and the WindowsTM File Manager
can be used to copy, move, save and/or rename the files.
Figure 1 Companion Software
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2 Installation
2.1 Microsoft Windows™ Installation
Exit from any open applications. Place the supplied Compact Disk (CD) into your CD drive. The CD starts
automatically if your PC has auto-run enabled. If auto-run is disabled, launch CD_Start.exe from the root
directory. Click the "Install Companion" button to install Companion Software. Follow the prompts. Once
you are satisfied with your selections, click the “Install” button.
Figure 2 Companion Installation
Click "Finish" to complete the installation.
To run the program, double-click on the icon on your desktop or use the Start button and select it from the
Programs list.
3 The Menu
3.1 Using the Menu
The menu bar displays the primary selections available and each selection controls a specific portion of
the program. Search, for example, has a sub menu that controls all the functions having to do with
searching data. Some of the choices in a sub menu may in turn have a second level of sub menu, or may
pop up a dialog box that enables data to be entered, or a selection to be made.
Figure 3 Menu Bar
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The simplest method of accessing the menu is with the mouse. Simply position the mouse pointer on the
menu selection required and press the left mouse button. Alternatively you can use the keyboard by
pressing and holding the Alt key and then pressing the highlighted (underlined) letter of the top menu
option. To make selections from the sub menus, just type in the underlined letter of the desired selection.
A third method is to press and release the Alt key; then use the arrow keys to move around through the
menus.
The menu items are as follows:
3.2 File
The File menu has the following sub menu options:
3.2.1 Use Disk / Use Recorder
A mutually exclusive selection to determine the source for file transaction. Use Disk will get files from
the disk while Use Recorder will get files from a remote recorder over the Modbus. The serial port
needs to be setup correctly for this option to work.
Note: There is one condition that will prevent a file from being read over the Modbus. Any file that is
cyclic and is currently being recorded to CANNOT be read. If the user tries to read such a file
an error message will appear.
3.2.2 Open
This option enables the user to open a file from disk or remote Recorder.
In Use Disk mode:
The user will be presented with the standard Windows™ load file dialog box. Enter one or more
filenames of the point file(s) to be graphed. This will create a new graph window with the selected
point(s) in it. Alarm/Event files may also be opened with this dialog box.
In the Use Recorder mode:
This option will present a directory of files on the disk in the remote Recorder. This will open the graph
at the beginning of the file unless the "Only part of a file" checkbox has been set and a start time and
date have been entered. Then the graph will open at the first block of data that is before the time and
date entered. As you scroll to the right through the graph, more data will be downloaded from the
Recorder as needed. You may not scroll before the start time and date entered.
3.2.3 Transfer
This option enables the user to transfer files from a source to a destination.
In Use Disk mode:
The user will be presented with the standard Windows™ open dialog box to select the files to copy,
and then a save (destination) dialog box to specify where they go.
In the Use Recorder mode:
This option will present a directory of files on the disk in the remote Recorder. The whole file will be
transferred unless the "Only part of a file" checkbox has been set. In which case, only the blocks of
data that include the start time and date through to the end time and date will be transferred.
In both modes:
The save (destination) dialog box supports the use of wildcards so that a group of files can be copied
to *.* on a local drive using the same names. Or one can change the names by specifying newname.*
or data?.*, etc. The '*' matches all characters on one side of the period. The '?' matches one
character. If your source files are: data.dt1 and data.dt2 and you use fred.* as a destination name,
your new files will be called fred.dt1 and fred.dt2. Note: Windows doesn't check for existing files with
the same name when wildcards are used.
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3.2.4 Hex Dump
This shows the first 1000 bytes of the selected file in hexadecimal format in a window and is for
diagnostic purposes only.
3.2.5 Erase (File)
This option will bring up a file dialog box. Enter the name of a file to be erased. On a card reader it
will delete the last file on the card. On a Recorder, a dialog box appears to allow one or more files to
be selected and erased.
3.2.6 Format
This will format the media on a Recorder. A dialog box appears asking “are you sure?” If you answer
Yes, the media will be formatted and All the data on the media will be lost!
3.2.7 Export
This feature takes the information from the active window and creates a file that can be read by other
programs. Graph and Alarm/Event windows are exported in comma separated variables format
(CSV), which can be read by word processing and spreadsheet programs. Configuration and Report
windows are exported as shown in the window to a text file.
3.2.7.1 Exported File Format – Graph Data
To export graph data, activate the graph window and select File, Export. The export dialog
window will be presented as shown in Figure 4.
The export dialog box allows the user to select the start and end times, the format for the time and
date, and optionally break the data up into smaller files based on a time interval.
The data is stored in engineering units as setup on the Recorder (e.g. degrees C, Volts, pressure,
etc.). These are the same values and range that you see on the axis of the graph. Temperature,
for example, is exported in actual degrees.
3.2.7.1.1 Start Time and Date
Select the time and date to start
exporting data, thus allowing part of
the file to be exported.
3.2.7.1.2 End Time and Date
Select the time and date to stop
exporting data.
3.2.7.1.3 Time Format
Select the time format either as
Sample number, where each value
output will be numbered, Elapsed
time, where the first sample is time
0:00:00 and each sample is then time
incremented, or select an absolute
time format, 12 or 24 hour.
3.2.7.1.4 Date Format
Select either month day MM/DD/YYYY (American), or day month representation
DD/MM/YYYY (European) or None to suppress the date.
3.2.7.1.5 Intervals
The Intervals option allows the user to export “Blocks” of data rather than the whole file which
may be too large for certain spreadsheets. The block may be selected as intervals of one
Figure 4 Export Dialog Box
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Minute, one Hour, one Day, one Week or one Month. An interval of None exports the entire
file. Select the option you want.
Once the export options have been selected, click on the OK button or press [Enter]. A dialog box
will appear to select or enter the filename (make sure to add a .CSV extension for use with
Microsoft Excel) and location of the export file. When a filename has been selected/entered, click
on the Save button and the data will be exported into that file.
Note: When exporting data using any interval (other than None), the filename must be less than
8 characters to allow for a sequential number for multiple files.
3.2.7.2 Exported File Format - Alarms/Events
To export Alarm/Event data, activate the Alarms/Events window and select File, Export. A dialog
box will appear to select or enter the filename (make sure to add a .CSV extension for use with
Microsoft Excel) and location of the export file. When a filename has been selected/entered, click
on the Save button and the data will be exported into that file.
The exported file for an Alarm/Event has a header as follows: "Date", "Time", "Point/Event",
"Type", "Value". Each line afterwards has a line of data that corresponds to each line in the
Alarms/Events window that is being exported. The data on each line follows the format indicated
by the labels above.
Alarm Event Exported File Format Example:
"Date","Time","Point/Event","Type","Value"
04/30/1996 ,02:32:30 pm,3,"High Peak:", 51.970
04/30/1996 ,02:33:01 pm,3,"Peak Reset:", 51.970
04/30/1996 ,02:32:52 pm,4,"Low Peak:", -95.336
The format in which time and date are stored is as it appears in the Alarms/Events window, and
may be changed by using the Options, Display menu. See Section 3.6.1 on page 20.
3.2.8 Print
In order to print a graph, table or event, the
window must be active. To print the active
window, select File, Print. This will bring up
a dialog box similar to the one shown in
Figure 5 that allows you to select a printer
and print options.
3.2.8.1 Print Range
All - will cause the printout to start
printing from the start of the file to the
end of the file.
Pages - will cause the printout to start
from the left edge of the current graph or
top edge of other windows and print the
number of pages in the Pages: box.
3.2.8.2 Properties or Preferences
This button will bring up the dialog box
for the selected printer. This is where
paper orientation, resolution, etc. can
be set.
Press the Print or OK button to start printing or Cancel to exit.
Figure 5 Print Dialog Box
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3.3 Search
The Search menu option allows the user to locate specific events in the active window.
The following sub menu options are available:
3.3.1 Go to time
Enter in the Time (24 hour format) and Date to go to. Type in all four digits for the year. All windows
that match the group number will move to the selected time. A group number of zero will update all
open windows.
3.3.2 Find
Find the next data point that matches the search criteria. Can also be activated by pressing the F2
key. Note: You must first set up the Find parameters in the Search Setup. (See Section 3.3.3 below.)
3.3.3 Search Setup
Select the pen, value, and directions for searching. Can also be activated by pressing the Alt+F2
keys. This brings up the Search Setup dialog box as shown in Figure 6.
3.3.3.1 Sense
Select whether the data must be Greater than, Less
than or Equal to the selected Value to be considered
a match.
3.3.3.2 Direction
Determines if the search will go Forward or
Backward from the current position.
3.3.3.3 Event Hopping
If this box is checked, the search criteria must be
false first then come true again before the next
search stops. This prevents the search from finding
every point above a value on a sine wave for example, but it will find each crossing of the
compare point.
3.3.3.4 Pen
Select which trace or pen the search will be performed on.
3.3.3.5 Value
Enter the actual compare value in the same engineering units as the pen being searched.
3.3.3.6 Find
The Find button will start the search immediately according to the set parameters.
3.3.3.7 Close
The Close button will just close the dialog box.
3.4 Serial
This menu option enables data to be read from the Recorder using an RS-232 or RS-485 interface. It also
allows the user to dial up a remote Recorder using a modem rather than using a direct connection. The
Recorder requires the Serial Comms hardware option. Before using these menu items, ensure that the
serial port has been set up correctly under the Options, Com Port menu option. See Section 3.6.2 on
page 20.
Figure 6 Search Setup
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Note: Before the point or alarm windows display data, they automatically query the Recorder for its
current point setup information so that the information will be displayed correctly.
3.4.1 Points
This option provides a real time display of point data from the remote Recorder. A serial link must
have been successfully made for this option to work. A window will pop up as shown in Figure 7.
Figure 7 Display Points Window
The data for each selected point will be displayed in the top left area. The current time and date set
on the Recorder will be in the top right area. Below that is a display of the percentage of the disk that
is already full. The next area shows what state each contact (relay) is in, either open or closed. The
bottom right area is the current junction temperature reading.
The display can be configured by clicking on the Display Control button to bring up the setup dialog
box. Click the points you wish to display, enter the display update rate in seconds, and click on
Accept.
External Points may be set by pressing the External Points button.
3.4.2 Alarms
This option provides a real time display of point Alarm data from the remote Recorder. This is
identical to the Points window except only points that are in alarm status are displayed.
3.4.3 Dial Modem
This option allows communications to be established to a remote Recorder and modem. It uses the
internal (or external) PC modem. Select the PC Com Port your modem uses under the Options, Com
Port menu option. The modem at the Recorder end as well as the Recorder must be set up correctly.
The baud rate must be set as the software disables the auto baud rate detection. The modem setup
string at the PC end is in the Companion “Compan.ini” file. It is set for standard Hayes compatible
modems and should not require editing. Note: Error compression and correction are disabled.
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