DH Instruments COMPASS FOR MOLBOX, User Manual

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COMPASS
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for molbox™ User’s Manual
Page 7
© 1998-2003 DH Instruments, Inc .
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3.1 OVERVIEW
COMPASS for molbox is an application program intended to automate the test and calibration process
to the extent supported by the available calibration hardware and appropriate for the DUT being tested.
COMPASS supports automated operation of DHI molbloc/molbox transfer standards but can also be
used with any type of flow measurement system from any manufacturer. This feature allows COMPASS to be
used systematically to provide consistent data formats and report generation for all of your flow calibrations.
COMPASS sets up and maintains setup requirements on devices under test (DUTs) (see Section 8) and
testing procedures (see Section 9) to associate with DUTs. This information is recalled to run tests.
Tests are run using the hardware that has been configured (see Section 10) in
COMPASS . While running
a test, data is acquired and stored in a delimited Data File (see Section 12). Within COMPASS , Data Files
may be viewed, used to generate plots and to generate reports which can be customized with user
editable templates (see Section 16).
COMPASS operations follow conventional Windows protocol for file
management, menu and message formatting, graphics and editing.
To run a test, first a DUT Definition must be created (see Section 8) to define the DUT that will be tested
and a Test Definition must be created (see Section 9) to provide
COMPASS with the exact testing
procedure for the DUT. The Hardware Definition, must be set up with the necessary instruments to
support the DUT, including the setup of the molbox remote interface. If the DUT requires voltage or
current measurement, a DMM must be set up using the Hardware Definition Tool (see Section 10).
The devices set up in the Hardware Definition must be selected as the current System Configuration
(see Section 10.2). Once a DUT and test have been set up, and the Hardware Definition has been
defined and selected, tests can be run (see Section 7.2).
The results of the test are stored in a Data File (see Section 18) that is designed to be used by
COMPASS to generate reports or easily exported to other applications by the user for further analysis.
Over 40 individual data items are logged for each test point. COMPASS includes integrated analysis and
reporting functions. Fully customizable reports and plots can be created using Data Files (see Section 16).
Other than running tests, COMPASS supports direct molbox and DUT run options to allow remote control
of the molbox and/or a DUT with all COMPASS features active (see Sections 0, 7.4). This feature
provides a remote interface to all measurement and control instruments required by the DUT and setup in
the current System Configuration (see Section 10.2). The output information displays on various program
run screens. Use this feature to perform tests or operations that do not require creation of a Data File or
execution of a specific test script.
Many operational preferences relating to how tests are initialized and run, and how data is gathered and
stored are configurable with user options (see Section 11). The use of these configurable preferences
results in a customized test environment to meet a very wide variety of testing requirements. By selecting
the proper options, a user can start an automated test and return to a custom formatted report.
Detailed information and assistance on COMPASS application and functions are available in this manual
(see Sections 4, 5 and 20) and with on-line help (accessed by pressing [F1] or selecting [Help] ).
3.1.1 BASICS SUMMARY
In summary, the following steps and sections should be referred to when setting up and