============================ DecaLink Terminal Utility Version 1.4 For Windows 95/98/NT ©2000 Decagon Devices, Inc. ============================ This is Decagon's Terminal Software for use with the AccuPAR, Tru Psi, WP4, and ThermoLink. It allows you to both download data to your PC as well as upload the operating system to your instrument. This README includes the following information: * Minimum Requirements * Installation * Instructions on Downloading Data * Instructions on Uploading Firmware * License and Legal Information --------------------- Minimum Requirements --------------------- To use the DecaLink Software utility, you must have the following: * IBM-compatible PC. * Windows 95 or better NT 3.5 or better * One available serial port (COM 1 or COM 2) ------------ Installation ------------ 1. Exit any applications you are running. 2. If you are installing from diskette, insert the first diskette into drive A: of your PC. If you are using Windows 95 or later, select Run... from the Start menu, type A:\Setup.exe, and click OK. If you have downloaded this application from our website, it is a self-extracting zip file. Double-click on it to extract the installation files. You will be prompted to extract the files to a location on your hard drive (e.g. C:\temp). After the files are extracted, find this location on your hard drive. Double- click on the Setup.exe file. 3. Read the Welcome screen, then click Okay after you have ensured that you have exited all other programs. 4. Select the directory you wish to install the program, or accept the default setting of C:\Decalink\ and press the computer icon button on the top left of the screen. 5. The install wizard will continue with the installation and notify you when it is completed. A window will appear on your screen showing the new DecaLink icon located in your program files. You will now be able to access the DecaLink utility by pressing the Start button, then going into Programs. DecaLink is located among the Program files listed. ------------------- Starting DecaLink ------------------- 1. For Windows 95 or later, click on the Start Menu, then select Programs>DecaLink. 2. DecaLink will ask which COM port you wish to use. Your COM ports will be one or more serial ports located on the back of your computer, typically a 9-pin or 25-pin connector into which you will plug the instruments's RS-232 cable. Select a COM Port that is not currently in use and click OK. You can change the COM Port selected at any time by clicking on the Utility menu and selecting "Connection." --------------------------- Downloading Data to your PC --------------------------- 1. Click on the Device Menu and select the instrument you are using, (AccuPAR, Tru Psi, WP4, or ThermoLink). 2. Plug one end of the instrument's cable to the instrument, and the other to the COM port you selected from the Utility>Connection menu. You may need to use the 25-9 pin adapter that was shipped with your instrument, depending on whether your COM port has a 25- or 9-pin configuration. The cable's shorting block should be on only one program pin (the shorting block and program pins are on the cable's serial port circuit board are located at the 25-pin end of the cable, and can be accessed by lifting up on the two tabs that fasten the plastic enclosure and opening it up. Refer to the manual for an illustration). Make sure your cable is connected to the correct COM port. 3. From the Main Menu of your AccuPAR, Tru Psi, or ThermoLink, select F3: DATA and then press F1: DOWNLOAD. All data stored in your instrument's memory is downloaded to the DecaLink terminal screen. The WP4 automatically sends data to DecaLink, in real-time, as each measurement is finished. No user action is required for the WP4 to send data to DecaLink. 4. To save the data, click on the File Menu and select "Save". When the dialog box appears, name the file and save it as a text file (filename.txt) in a directory of your choice. You can then open this file in a program like Microsoft Excel for further analysis. The format of this file is comma delimited, so you can have the spreadsheet sort it with that delimination type. 5. When you are finished downloading, click on the File Menu and select "Exit." ------------------------------------- Uploading Firmware to your Instrument ------------------------------------- This feature is available for the AccuPAR, Tru Psi, and ThermoLink only. The WP4 does not support this feature. You can load your instrument's operating system (firmware) to the instrument when updated code revisions are made available, or if your current firmware installation becomes corrupted for some reason. You can check which version of code your instrument is using by turning on the instrument and looking at the boot-up screens. The newest versions of code for your instrument are available on our website at http://www.decagon.com/instruments/agdownload.html, or at our ftp site at ftp://ftp.decagon.com/firmware/ *NOTE*: You must complete the full firmware uploading procedures for your instrument to work correctly. If you interrupt the following procedure at any time, your instrument will not function until you restart and completely finished this procedure. You can restart this procedure at any time without damaging the instrument. To load the firmware follow these directions: *NOTE* If you have a Tru Psi or AccuPAR, before beginning this process make sure you have your product's registration code on hand. Once the upload is finished, it will prompt you for this, and you will not be able to use the instrument until you enter this code. If you don't have the registration code or have lost it, contact Decagon at 1-800-755-2751 or via email at support@decagon.com, and we will give it to you. 1. Connect the PC to the instrument with the RS-232 cable. The cable's shorting block should be on both program pins (shorting block and program pins are on the cable's serial port circuit board. Refer to the user's manual for an illustration). 2. Click on the Device menu and select the instrument you're using, (AccuPAR, Tru Psi, or ThermoLink) 3. Press the ON button, even if the screen is already on. If the instrument was previously turned off before connecting it to the computer, you will not see the screen appear. This is normal. The processor will still be running. 4. Click on the Utility menu and select "Upload Firmware." You should see a series of commands appear on the screen. If you receive an error message that says, "The **** is not responding. Please check the connection, turn it on and try again," press the "ON" button again and then select "Upload Firmware" again from the Utility menu. If the warning appears again, make sure you have selected the COM port that your cable is plugged to, and that the RS232 is connected as described above. Press the ON button and try again. You should see the following commands appear in the terminal window on your computer: DS5001 LOADER VERSION 0.1 COPYRIGHT (C) 1991 DALLAS SEMICONDUCTOR> U W MCON FA W RPCTL 8B F 0 0 FFFF W MSL 0 F 0 0 FFFF W MSL 1 L 5. If you have an AccuPAR or a Tru Psi, it will now ask for the Cal file, which is located on the diskette sent with your instrument. If you have a ThermoLink, this dialog box will not appear, and it will ask for the OS file. If you have a ThermoLink, skip this instruction and proceed to step 6. *NOTE*: Your instrument's cal file is unique to your instrument. If you have more than one of the same instrument, make sure you are using the cal file for that particular instrument, or your data will be incorrect. The cal file's name corresponds to your instrument's serial number. The AccuPAR's cal file will begin with AP (e.g. AP1476.hex) and the Tru Psi's cal file will begin with TP (e.g TP3487.hex). Select the correct file and click OK. The cal file will now be uploaded. 6. Next, a dialog box will appear, asking you for the Operating System file. This file is also located on the diskette that was sent with your instrument. As of this writing, here are the current versions: For the AccuPAR, it is "REL4_1.hex." For the Tru Psi, it is "T2_2.hex." For the ThermoLink for Soils, it is "Soil1_3.hex." For the ThermoLink for Foods, it is "Food1_3.hex." Select the correct file and click OK. The following commands will now appear: W CRC F1 I W CRC 00 Z E 5. Disconnect the RS-232 from the instrument. It should now begin booting up. If you have an AccuPAR or Tru Psi, it will come to the registration screen. If you have a ThermoLink, it will come to the main menu. Enter the registration code for your instrument (if AccuPAR or Tru Psi). Once the code is entered, you will be brought to the main menu. You are now ready to use your instrument. 6. When you are finished uploading to your instrument, exit the DecaLink program by clicking on the File menu and selecting "Exit." Move the cable's shorting block back to only one pin on the circuit board to allow for future data downloads. ----------------------------- License and Legal Information ----------------------------- This DecaLink Software is owned by Decagon Devices, Incorporated. Decagon grants to the user a nonexclusive license to use this software solely for use with Decagon instruments. The user may not commercially distribute, sublicense, resell, or otherwise transfer for any consideration, or reproduce for any such purposes, the software or any modification or derivation thereof, either alone or in conjunction with any other product or program. Further, the user may not modify this software. THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED TO THE USER "AS IS." DECAGON MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THIS SOFTWARE AND/OR ASSOCIATED MATERIALS PROVIDED TO THE USER, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR AGAINST INFRINGEMENT. DECAGON DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE FUNCTIONS CONTAINED IN THE SOFTWARE WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS, OR THAT THE OPERATION OF THE SOFTWARE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE, OR THAT DEFECTS IN THE SOFTWARE WILL BE CORRECTED. FURTHERMORE, DECAGON DOES NOT WARRANT OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS REGARDING THE USE OR THE RESULTS OF THE USE OF THE SOFTWARE OR ANY DOCUMENTATION PROVIDED HEREWITH IN TERMS OF THEIR CORRECTNESS, ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE. NO ORAL OR WRITTEN INFORMATION OR ADVICE GIVEN BY DECAGON OR A DECAGON AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE SHALL CREATE A WARRANTY OR IN ANY WAY INCREASE THE SCOPE OF THIS WARRANTY. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY -- DECAGON IS NOT LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIMS OR DAMAGES WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING PROPERTY DAMAGE, PERSONAL INJURY, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY INFRINGEMENT, LOSS OF PROFITS, OR INTERRUPTION OF BUSINESS, OR FOR ANY SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, HOWEVER CAUSED, WHETHER ARISING OUT OF BREACH OF WARRANTY, CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. AccuPAR, Tru Psi, WP4, and ThermoLink are registered trademarks of Decagon Devices,Inc. Copyright ©2000 Decagon Devices, Inc. All rights reserved. Decagon Devices, Inc. 950 NE Nelson Ct. P.O. Box 835 Pullman WA 99163 tel:(509) 332-2756 (800) 755-2751 fax:(509) 332-5158 support@decagon.com www.decagon.com/instruments 9/00 MG & TM