This section of the manual deals with all aspects of interfacing with the dataTaker including

connecting power supplies

interfacing to the host computer

configuring local networks of dataTaker 500/600 series loggers

connecting analog signals to the analog input channels

connecting digital signals to the digital input channels

connecting digital outputs to digital devices

connecting a Panel Mount Display module to the dataTaker 50 and dataTaker 500 series loggers

connecting Channel Expansion Modules to the dataTaker 500/600 series loggers

A Note on Commands

Throughout Section II of the manual, numerous examples of commands are given in the context of reading the different input channel types, setting the digital output channels, defining the system configuration, etc. as each is individually discussed.

In each of these situations the commands are only briefly discussed. A complete description of all commands can be found in Section III of this manual.

A Note on Examples

Throughout Section II of the manual, numerous examples of commands are given in the context of reading the different input channel types, setting the digital output channels, defining the system configuration, etc as each is individually discussed.

These examples often contain analog input channel numbers which relate to the dataTaker 500/600 series loggers, and are often greater than the maximum analog input channel for the dataTaker 50.

However the same concepts for input channel identification and specification used in these examples also apply to the dataTaker 50.

A Note on Entering Commands into the dataTaker Data Loggers

There are two different host computer applications supplied with the dataTakers for programming and supervising the loggers ñ DeTransfer and DeLogger 4.

These programs run on any of the Microsoft Windows operating systems, Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows NT4 Service Pack 5, Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

DeTransfer

DeTransfer is a simple terminal like application in which you send commands to the dataTaker from the bottom screen, and receive data and information back from the dataTaker into the top screen. In order to use DeTransfer with your dataTaker, you will need a good knowledge of the dataTaker programming language that is presented in Section II and Section III of this manual, and in the Userís Manual supplied with your logger.

When you first run DeTransfer, you first need to ëconnectí to your dataTaker before you can send commands to the logger or receive data and information back from the logger. To connect DeTransfer to the dataTaker you must

electrically connect the RS232 COMMS port of the logger to the COM1 or COM2 port of the computer using the dataTaker communications cable supplied.

logically connect DeTransfer to the dataTaker attached to the COM port of the computer

See the DeTransfer Help menu, or the Getting Started Manual supplied with Series 1 and Series 2 dataTakers for details of running DeTransfer.

The DeTransfer windows appears similar to

 

 

Commands are sent to the dataTaker from the lower ëSendí window, and the various information and data returned by the logger is displayed in the upper ëReceiveí window.

The examples throughout this manual are shown in the following formats for single line commands,

single line programs,

and multi line commands or programs

In all cases, the examples given can be entered into the dataTaker by typing the command(s) into the lower ‘Sendí window of DeTransfer.

DeLogger 4 and DeLogger Pro 4

DeLogger 4 and DeLogger Pro 4 are higher level applications for programming and supervising the dataTaker data loggers. DeLogger Pro 4 has some additional capability to process and display the data, however both versions have the same interface to programming and supervising the dataTaker.

It is possible to use DeLogger to program and supervise the dataTaker to collect and return data without having any knowledge of the dataTaker language. The DeLogger user interface is mostly graphical, both for programming the logger to collect required data, and for supervising the logger while it is collecting that data.

When you first run DeLogger, you first need to ëconnectí to your dataTaker before you can send commands to the logger or receive data and information back from the logger. To connect DeLogger to the dataTaker you must

electrically connect the RS232 COMMS port of the logger to the COM1 or COM2 port of the computer using the dataTaker communications cable supplied.

logically connect DeLogger to the dataTaker attached to the COM port of the computer

See the DeLogger Manual supplied with your dataTaker for complete details of running DeLogger.

Sending Commands Directly from DeLogger 

DeLogger has a number of windows or views, including the Text View which is similar to the DeTransfer user interface.

 

 

Commands are sent to the dataTaker from the lower ëEntryí screen or window, and the various information and data returned by the logger is displayed in the upper ëDisplayí screen or window.

The examples throughout this manual are shown in the following formats for single line commands,

single line programs,

and multi line commands or programs

In all cases, the examples given can be entered into the dataTaker by typing the command(s) into the lower ‘Entryí screen or window of DeLogger.

However, complete data acquisition programs as is shown in the last example are usually created in the Program Builder of DeLogger, and the dataTaker commands are never actually seen by the user.

In the DeLogger Program Builder the program example above would be similar to

 

 

The DeLogger Program Builder takes the program that you build up graphically, and converts it into dataTaker language script before sending it to the logger.

This script can be seen in the lower Entry screen of the Text View when you click on the Load Program Text button (second from left) on the bottom toolbar.

 

 

DeLogger does not support all aspects of the dataTaker command set, and occasionally you may have to enter these unsupported commands manually. This can be done directly from the Entry screen or window of the Text View, in much the same way as would be done from DeTransfer.

Sending Commands with a Program from DeLogger

If unsupported commands need to be part of the program developed in the Program Builder, then the commands are entered as Pre Schedule or Post Schedule Initialization Commands under the Special Commands button of the Settings tab in the Program Builder.

 

 

Any commands entered here are integrated into the script produced by the Program Builder.