DH Instruments COMPASS FOR MOLBOX, User Manual

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COMPASS

for molbox™ User’s Manual
© 1998-2003 DH Instruments, Inc .
Page 118
10.3.7 [AUXILIARY]
The [Setup],[Hardware],[Auxiliary] tab is used to setup instruments to read and log data
other than the data normally used by COMPASS . If a device has the capability to output
information that you would like to include in the Data File but COMPASS would not normally
acquire, <Auxiliary Data Devices> can be used to read it. This might, for example, be DUT
specific information such as valve voltage or internal temperature. The information read
using is logged in the Data File and can be used in reports (see Section 16). Up to ten
individual auxiliary data items can be logged per test point.
Realize that an Auxiliary Data device can be a device already used by COMPASS .
The valve voltage output of the molbox can be logged using this feature even when the
molbox is the flow reference device. The only requirement is that the interface settings are
the same. An example of this setup is included with the default Auxiliary device installed with
the program. In addition, a single Auxiliary Data device can be used multiple times for the
same run mode.
A single RS-232 or IEEE-488 enabled instrument can be used for more than one device in
COMPASS. The only requirement is that the interface settings be the same in each setup.
Refer to the instrument documentation for the specifics of remote communications with
the instrument.
To select an Auxiliary device to view, single click on its name and serial number in the <List>
display panel (upper left-hand corner). To edit an existing Auxiliary device, double click it or
click on the
<Edit> toolbar function with the desired Definition highlighted. Double clicking
the device listing, clicking on the <Edit> toolbar function or clicking on the <New> new toolbar
function causes the <Edit Auxiliary Device> or <Add New Auxiliary Device> pop-up to
appear. These pop-ups are identical but differentiated by name to make it clear which task is
currently being performed. The
<Edit Auxiliary Device> or <Add New Auxiliary Device>
pop-ups allow a device to be set up from scratch or edited from an existing one.
The setup of an Auxiliary Data device is the same as a Pressure Device (see Section 10.3.4).
Enter the header information, then select the interface and interface settings. Enter any
required
<Initialization Commands> then enter the necessary <Read Commands> .
Finally, select the <Auto poll output> and <Log output as text> options depending on how
data should be gathered. See Figure 67 for an example of this setup.
Figure 67. Hardware Definition, <Auxiliary Data Device>