YSI Data Scout Advanced - Manual (Page 93)

YSI Incorporated Data Scout Advanced 89
This tolerance value also applies to Record files if two separate input files are used. For Record files, where the barometer data and
pressure samples to be compensated are being scanned together in the same file, the tolerance value is not used.
The tolerance can be changed by the user in the special frame shown at the bottom right of the window. The last entry of this tolerance
is persistent and is the tolerance used during each subsequent convert session unless change.
When a separate Barometer file’s data has individual samples which were recorded at a much lower or greater frequency than those in
the Original file, the program uses an interpolated Barometer value which is calculated using the pressure values and date/time stamps
of the closest “bracketing” current and previous samples of Barometer data, and the date/time stamp of the Original data sample being
converted.
If a suitable Barometer file does not exist, and the general barometric profile for the same date/time period of the Original file is known
from other sources, then one can use the Browse and View/Edit buttons in the Barometer frame to “create” a Barometer data file from
scratch, from a copy of the Original data file. This file copy can then be edited down with a text editor to include as many samples of
“Simulated Barometer” data as needed to re-create the known barometric profile.
Both “input” files must exist before you can convert these data. Click each input file’s View/Edit button to open it with DSPlay’s
configured text editor to verify its existence manually and to examine its contents. The “output” (New) file must not exist in advance.
The user is warned, and allowed to abort or overwrite it, if it does exist.
The Comp. controls (whether single or multiple) need to be checked only if you want that particular transducer’s data to be
compensated in the New (output) file. At least one transducer must be selected or you are warned to do so. The extra text box (at the
right end of each control) should be set to the Elevation of the Barometer above the surface of the water (well or lake) being measured.
Since a single barometer may also be used to reference transducers recorded from different lakes or wells, the distance from the water
surface to the single barometer must be specified for each transducer separately and this elevation value may be a positive number (if
the barometer is located above the water surface of the well or lake containing that transducer) or a negative number (if barometer is
located below the water surface of the well or lake containing the transducer). However, if all the level transducers are located in the
same lake or well, then the same Elevation value (positive or negative) should be entered into each text box. If the Barometer is located
at essentially the surface of the well or lake then a zero (0) value should be entered for each elevation (which is the default value if the
no elevation value is entered manually).
If you check the ToolTip for each Elevation text box, you discover that you can enter not only a number but a unit abbreviation as well
(following the number, separated by one space). Valid unit abbreviations are: in (inches), ft (feet), cm (centimeters), or m (meters). If
no unit abbreviation follows the elevation value, then inches (in) are assumed by default. If no value is entered, zero (0) inches is
assumed.
After the Convert button is clicked, a status box appears (below the Exit button) to indicate the progress of the conversion or to show
any problems it finds with the two input files and one output file. Except for very large text files, with many samples, conversion is
nearly instantaneous. A bright green status field background appears for a successful conversion. A pale yellow background usually
indicates errors have occurred, as indicated by the message. A bright orange status field indicates conversion in progress.
After the new “compensated” file is created, clicking the View/Edit button in the New (third) frame allows the user to view it as a text
report. If you click Exit, the Convert window closes and the new converted file becomes the new last file selected of DSPlay, and is
immediately displayed (e.g., re-plotted). You may then use the File | Open menu of DSPlay to delete it or rename it as required.
If the New compensated file has its pressure still expressed in psi units after conversion, and some other water level units (e.g., ftH
2
0)
are desired, select the second Convert menu item, after exiting the convert window, to convert this file again into the desired units.
However, avoid compensating an already-compensated file a second time, as the units are no longer expressed in the absolute pressure
units of a sealed-gauge transducer (with the ambient barometric pressure added to it). A second conversion would make no sense and
yield meaningless data.
The last Convert window has an extra button labeled View Details. A diagnostic report is generated during each compensation session
and saved in a file (named CnvDetails.Txt). This file is overwritten each time the Convert button is clicked on this convert window, so
you must save it elsewhere, or rename it, if you want to keep the detailed results of any other than the latest conversion session. This
button is always enabled to allow the user to view the most recent such report.
If you are happy with the compensated results of the final New data file, you need not view its Details report and particularly if the
status box between the Convert button and the View Details button turns bright green when the conversion is completed. However, if
this status box turns yellow or red and contains an obvious error message, if upon examining the converted data you have one or more