Omega WB-DIO User guide

Page 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
In Chapter 1

Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction
General Information
Setting Up QuickLog
Specifications
QuickLog for Windows Owner’s Manual
1 – 2 1 – 3 1 – 4
QLW 10/97 OMEGA
i
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QUICKLOG FOR WINDOWS OWNER’S MANUAL
In Chapter 2
Table of Contents
ii
Contents
Chapter 2 Getting Started
File Menu
Edit Menu
Options Menu
Chart Menu
Run Menu
Window Menu
Calibration Menu
Help Menu
2 – 2 2 – 2
2 – 3 2 – 5 2 – 5
2 – 6
2 – 6
2 – 6
Page 3
INTRODUCTION
General Information
Chapter 1: Introduction to QuickLog for Windows
Thank you for selecting an OMEGA data acquisition system for your project! Our primary objective is to provide you with data acquisition systems that are
easy to install, operate, and maintain. We also strive to provide the perfor­mance and versatility you need at the lowest overall cost. The benefits for you are increased productivity, data you can count on, and, of course, meeting your cost and time budgets.
QuickLog for Windows (QuickLog) is a menu-driven data acquisition soft­ware application that is supplied with all of our WB and DATA data acquisition hardware products. It has an easy-to-use tabular interface which brings simplicity to the laboratory and industrial environments, allow­ing you to set up a typical data acquisition application in less than 30 min­utes!
shuttle
series
Using QuickLog, together with our plug-in data acquisition boards and/or parallel port DATAshuttles, you can easily and quickly implement a broad spectrum of R&D or industrial tasks, in a wide variety of settings. Y ou can, for example,
· Display data
· Automatically linearize
· Monitor processes and experiments
· Log data to disk
· Control devices using digital outputs
· Gather data unattended
· Exchange data with other Windows applications
This chapter shows how to install the QuickLog software. Please refer to Chap­ter 2 for instructions on operation.
in meters and charts,
thermocouples and RTDs,
,
for later analysis,
,
, and
via DDE.
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QUICKLOG FOR WINDOWS OWNER’S MANUAL
WHAT YOU NEED
SYSTEM
MINIMUM
General Information
These are the items necessary to start using QuickLog:
·
This manual
·
The QuickLog disk, and
·
A data acquisition device (connected to your PC according to the Owner’s Manual).
QuickLog works with most Wintel personal computers (PCs with
REQUIREMENTS
Intel, or Intel-like CPUs, running Windows) available today. The minimum software and hardware requirements your PC needs to run QuickLog successfully are listed below. To get the best perfor­mance from the software, especially when more than one Win­dows application is to be run, we recommend additional hardware resources.
A personal computer with a 386 processor , a standard keyboar d, a
REQUIREMENTS
mouse or similar pointing device, and
· 4 MB memory (RAM),
· 2 MB of free hard disk space
· 3.5" diskette drive,
Chapter 1 Introduction
1 – 2
· A monitor and a VGA display adapter supported by Windows,
· One parallel interface (Centronics) if using a DATAshuttles, and
· DOS (v5.0 or later) and Windows (v3.1or later) or Windows 95.
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INTRODUCTION
Setting Up

Setting Up QuickLog

Make sure that your QuickLog package is complete. In addition to this printed document, it should contain a floppy disk, the Hardware Installation Manual, and the registration card.
Make sure that there is at least 2 MB of free space on the hard disk on which you intend to install QuickLog.
Insert the QuickLog disk into the floppy disk drive.
STARTING THE
INSTALLATION
SETUP SUMMARY
For Computers Running Windows 3.x
1. From the File menu in Windows Program Manager, choose Run.
Run dialog box will appear.
2. In the command line, type the drive letter
using, followed by a colon and the QuickLog installation pro­gram file name, SETUP. (You may type upper or lowercase letters.) For example:
3. Press the Enter key.
start.
A:SETUP
The QuickLog installation program will
For Computers Running Windows 95
–
The
of the drive you are
–
1. Open the Control Panel. Select Add/Delete Programs.
2.
3. Windows 95 will search for the installation disk.
the QuickLog installation program will start.
You can exit the installation procedure any time by clicking the Cancel button. However, QuickLog will not be completely and properly set up.
You will be asked to specify the drive and the directory where QuickLog is to be installed. The default is C:/QLFW. You may type a different path, but it must be a valid MS DOS path:
Drive:/ Directory/Directory
Select finish and
Then choose OK. The installation program will:
· Check if the specified directory exists, and cr eate it if necessary.
· Check if there is enough free space on your hard disk. If not, you will be asked to enter another drive or to cancel setup.
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QUICKLOG FOR WINDOWS OWNER’S MANUAL
COMPLETING SETUP
METER DISPLAY
Specifications
· Copy all QuickLog program files to the drive and directory.
· Create a QuickLog program group in the Windows Program Manager. If the group already exists, it will be opened.
· Create various program items within that group.
· Add the command line DEVICE=DRIVE;/DIRECTORY/ DIRECTORY/.../STIDA TAQ.386 to the [386Enh]section of the SYSTEM. INI file to install the virtual device drive needed to communicate with the hardware.
Restart Windows so that the changes made to your system can take effect, so that the driver will be loaded.

Specifications

SCREENS
Types of I/O Supported –
Out, Counter/Timer pulse input, Counter/Timer fr equency input, and Time.
Maximum Number of Data Acquisition Devices – Maximum Number of Channels Per Board –
units may be typed in.
Analog Input Ranges Supported –
acquisition driver.
Analog Input Resolution Supported –
data acquisition driver.
Analog Output Ranges Supported –
acquisition driver
Scaling of Any Input Type –
Outputs (analog or digital) may be changed by typing the value into the digital meter.
Size of Digital Meter Display – Number of Digital Meters –
Analog In, Analog Out, Digital In, Digital
15
160. Channel name and/or
all that are supported by the data
all that are supported by the
all that are supported by the data
linear, y=mX + b.
selectable height and width.
selectable from 1 to 100.
Chapter 1 Introduction
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Page 7
CHART DISPLAY
SCREEN
LOGGING
DDE
GENERAL
INTRODUCTION
Specifications
Single chart with selectable time scale. Y axis is % of specified range or user entered maximum and minimum range. Includes the scaling specified in the digital meter display.
Chart is a window that may be sized as desired.
CONFIGURATION
Types of I/O Supported –
Analog In, Digital In, Counter/Timer
pulse input.
Number of Traces Displayed – Data Type –
ASCII characters, tab-delimited.
Maximum Number of Logged Channels – Log Rate –
same as sample rate
Types of I/O Supported –
14 maximum.
256
Analog In, Digital In, Counter/Timer
pulse input. Any meters may be linked to another application using DDE. Inputs can be sent, and outputs can be received, from the other
source.
DDE Rate –
same as sample rate, or same as rate requested by
other application. The following settings are available for the general configuration
of QuickLog:
·
Sample rate: same for all channels, inputs and outputs,
·
Polled or synchronous mode for all types: Analog In, Analog
Out, Digital In, Digital Out, Counter/Timer pulse input, Counter/Timer frequency input,
·
Polled mode: maximum speed is several samples/second,
·
Interrupt mode: maximum speed is several hundred samples/second,
·
Number of input meters,
·
Input meter font size,
·
Log file name, and
·
Number of output meters.
·
Output meter font size.
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QUICKLOG FOR WINDOWS OWNER’S MANUAL
I/O CONFIGURATION
CHART
Specifications
The input and/or output of each channel can be configured using
BY CHANNEL
these options:
·
Device (board)
·
Channel
·
Range (AI and AO only)
·
Resolution (AI only)
·
Scale (AI only): y = mx + b where m and b may be entered.
·
Logging: yes/no.
·
Display on chart: yes/no.
Charts can be configured according to these available settings:
CONFIGURATION
·
Number of points on time axis (2 to 1000)
·
Number of labels on time axis
·
% of full scale on Y axis (0 to 100)
·
Scaling of Y axis: -1e10 to 1e10
·
Selectable options:
Color for each trace Line type for each trace Chart Colors
Chapter 1 Introduction
1 – 6
·
Viewing Style: Color, monochrome, monochrome + symbols
·
Plotting method: Line, Point, Points + Line, Points + Spline,
Spline
·
Graph or Table: Graph, Table, Both
·
Grid Lines: Both, Y axis, X axis, None
·
Grid in front
·
UnZoom
·
Font size: Large, Medium, Small
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QUICKLOG FOR WINDOWS OWNER’S MANUAL
Chapter 1 Introduction
1 – 7
Page 10
GETTING STARTED
General Information
Chapter 2: Getting Started
QuickLog is entirely menu-driven. You control data acquisition, display, and disk logging by configuring QuickLog via the pull-down menu system.
QuickLog is based on one display screen of digital meters that are used to dis­play all types of available inputs, and another screen for all types of available outputs. In addition, it displays input signals on a Y-t chart, as well as logs these inputs to disk.
You can change the name on each input or output meter to identify it. When you first launch QuickLog, it searches for hardware devices, first on
the ISA bus inside the PC, and then on all installed printer ports. It then cre­ates Input, Output, and Chart windows that reflect the installed hardware.
QuickLog runs, and collects and displays input data, as soon as it is launched. It continues to run when you are configuring the various options. If you load a configuration file that does not match the installed hardware, it automati­cally adjusts the configuration file to match the hardware, and displays a warning message.
This chapter briefly explains the various menus, with a description of their functions. QuickLog also has an extensive on-line Help facility, which has more information than what is contained here.
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QUICKLOG FOR WINDOWS OWNER’S MANUAL
SAVE AS STARTUP
PRINT WINDOW
EXPORT CHART
EXIT
PASTE LINK
The File and Edit Menus

File Menu

Standard functions include those for creating, loading, and saving configurations. These are
New
to revert to the default configuration. Other file menu com-
mands and their functions include: The Save As Startup command allows you to define your own
startup configuration, using your desired settings. Print Window immediately prints the active top window, using
the default Windows printer. Export Chart to the Windows clipboard, a file, or to your printer. Exit closes the program.
New, Open..., Save

Edit Menu

, and
Save As
. Select
Chapter 2 Getting Started
2 – 2
Cut, Copy, Paste
Paste Link allows you to paste DDE links from another applica­tion into an output meter.
, and
Delete
are standard editing functions.
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Options Menu: General

SAMPLE AND
MODE
INPUT METERS
OUTPUT METERS
GETTING STARTED
The Options Menu
LOG RATE
Y ou may select the and displaying inputs and logging to disk. The maximum rate depends on the Mode you have selected, the speed of your PC, and the data acquisition hardware installed.
The
Polled (or Asynchronous) mode
application, and is the slowest data acquisition rate. This mode does not use interrupts for most data acquisition devices. How­ever, this mode is the simplest to use.
The
Interrupt (or Synchronous) mode
the driver, and allows much faster sampling. Most data acquisi­tion devices generate hardware interrupts to pace the driver, and thereby set the rate.
Refer to the on-line help for more information about these modes.
When first launched, QuickLog detects the hardware installed, and creates a default user interface made up of a table of win­dows, called Input Meters, which display the analog, digital, or Counter/Timer values being sampled. You may change the num­ber of Meters being displayed, as well as the number of horizon­tal and vertical Meter windows, using the General Options menu. Color and font size are also selectable.
You may set up the Output Meters in the same fashion as described above, if you have a device installed that has analog or digital outputs.
Sample Rate
, in Hz, which is the rate of reading
samples at the rate set by the
samples at a precise rate set by
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QUICKLOG FOR WINDOWS OWNER’S MANUAL
WINDOW LABEL
ANALOG INPUT
RESOLUTION
SCALE
LOG
CHART
The Options Menu

Options Menu: Inputs

This window allows you to define which readings will be dis­played in the Meter window. You may select data acquisition
Device
1 through 15, the input
&
RANGE
Pulse In, Time, Date
device will be assigned that input function. The first column accepts a typed in label for that Input Meter win-
dow, in place of the default label. When you select Analog In, you may select the input Range from
a table that will depend on the ranges available on the device you have connected to your PC.
The column Resolution allows selection of A/D resolution, again dependent on the device connected. Some devices allow for aver­aging the samples to reduce noise. Also, Low Noise mode is effec­tive in greatly reducing AC line interference.
When you click on the radio button Scale = mX + b, a new field opens to allow you to enter coefficients for a linear scaling of the analog input readings into engineering units
Log and Chart columns allow you to select whether this channel will be logged to disk and/or displayed on the Chart. At least one channel must have the Log box checked to have logging to disk. At least one channel must have the Chart box checked to have a trace on the chart.
(from the PC clock), and which
Function...None, Analog In, Digital In
Channel
on that
,
Chapter 2 Getting Started
2 – 4

Options Menu: Output Meters

The functions in this menu are similar to the Input Meters Options menu described above, but these selections operate on the output signals:
Analog
and
Digital
.
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OPTIONS MENU
COLORS AND LINES
UNDO ZOOM
CHART ZOOM
OTHER OPTIONS
GETTING STARTED
The Chart and Run Menus

Options Menu: Chart

This window allows you to customize the appearance of the Y-t Chart display. All of the parameters are available in one window, as opposed to the function of the Chart menu described below, where an abbreviated set of attributes are accessible separately in the menu.
Chart Colors and Lines can be used to select colors and line types
:
on the chart.

Chart Menu

Unlike the Options menu, these selections do not cause the Chart data to be erased.
Undo Zoom allows you to cancel a Chart zooming operation; alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Z.
Chart Zoom allows you select a region of interest in the data, and expand it to fill the Chart display window. Place the cursor at one edge of the region of interest, and hold the left mouse button down. Move the cursor to draw a box around the region, and release the mouse button. The region will expand to fill the win­dow. The X and Y scales will also expand to maintain the proper scale.
The balance of the menu items,
Method
access to the same items as in Options, Chart. Refer also to the on-line Help.
,
Grid Lines, Grid in Front
Viewing Style, Font Size, Plotting
, and
Graph or T able
, are direct menu

Run Menu

To
Start
the acquisition, press F5; to sition is running, a green edge of the menu bar; when stopped, the indicator turns red.
Running
Stop
, press F6. When acqui-
indicator lights up at the left
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QUICKLOG FOR WINDOWS OWNER’S MANUAL
CALIBRATE ANALOG
AUTOCALIBRATE
CALIBRATE ANALOG
CHANGE NUMBERS
INSTALLED
The Window, Calibration and Help Menus

Window Menu

INPUTS
OUTPUTS
This menu allows you to pull the displays, and the
Y-t Chart
(F12) to the foreground of the screen.
Input
(F9),
Output Meter
(F11)

Calibration Menu

When you click on this entry, the analog input circuits of all devices are immediately calibrated against their respective internal preci­sion voltage references, which compensates for drift and offset.
Y ou may select the interval at which you wish to invoke the above calibration function.
This selection calibrates analog outputs on some hardware.
CAUTION:
all ranges during calibration. This utility allows you to perform a complete recalibration of the
device. If you follow the instructions given in the Help file, you can restore the device to the original factory accuracy. However, please observe the cautionary statement in the window, and in the Help file.
Outputs are changed from minimum to maximum on
HARDWARE
Chapter 2 Getting Started
2 – 6

Help Menu

The Help menu provides on-line help for QuickLog. The on-line help is a complete guide to the use of QuickLog, with much more information than this manual.
Installed Hardware is very helpful when calling our Technical Support people. The information contained in this window will help speed the answers to your application and troubleshooting questions.
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Chapter 2 Getting Started
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