Campbell Scientific PC208 Datalogger Support Software - Manual (Page 91)

SECTION 6. SMCOM
6-3
the data storage area, the programs are
reinstalled into the storage module. Storage
module switch settings are unaffected by the C
option. During this option, a "+" is displayed for
each RAM chip cleared. Unlike the E option,
the C option does not test memory.
6.2.11 S -- SWITCH SETTINGS
Key S to change the switch settings shown at
the top of the screen. Starting with Address, the
switch setting will be highlighted. Key the
spacebar to scroll through the options. Key
Enter to move to the next switch. Key Escape
when done.
6.2.12 Q -- QUIT
Quit SMCOM and return to the system by typing
Q.
6.3 NAMING OF DATA FILES ON DISK
When one of the "Collect" options is selected
SMCOM will prompt:
Root collection file name (6 characters max):
The root collection file name is the basis for the
file names that will be created by the various
collection options. In this manual, "root" refers
to the file name entered. Enter '[path\]*' to list
files with the extension .DAT.
Data files with a given root name are numbered
sequentially. The first file will be root001.DAT.
If there are already data files with the same root
name on the directory in use, SMCOM will
assign the next available numbers. For
example, if the root name is TRAIN and two
new files are collected from the Storage
Module, if TRAIN009.DAT is already on the
disk, the files will be named: TRAIN010.DAT
and TRAIN011.DAT.
6.4 DATA COLLECTION FORMATS
Whenever data are collected, SMCOM will ask
for a data file format. The options are:
F -- Final Storage (FS) Format
D -- FS converted to ASCII arrays with
IDs
C -- FS converted to comma separated
ASCII arrays
A -- As stored (8 bit data)
P -- As stored (strip parity)
Comma separated ASCII is the most widely
used because it is reasonably compact, the
data can be viewed by typing the file, and it is a
format that is readily transferred to most
processing programs. Final Storage Format
makes the most efficient use of disk space. A
description of each format follows.
NOTE: SPLIT (section 4) can reduce and
further process data files in Final Storage
Format, or either of the ASCII formats.
However, do not use ASCII with IDs if the
data arrays contain 200 or more
elements.
6.4.1 F -- FINAL STORAGE
The F collection option will collect data from the
Storage Module as an exact copy, jumping over
any programs stored with the data. The
resulting computer file will be the most compact
of the options, however, the data cannot be
viewed by typing the file. A complete
description of Final Storage Format can be
found in the datalogger manual.
6.4.2 D -- ASCII ARRAYS WITH ELEMENT IDS
The D collection option decodes Final Storage
Format data into ASCII arrays with element IDs.
This option takes the most computer file space,
but is the easiest file to read without further
processing. This format is referred to as
PRINTABLE ASCII in other programs written by
Campbell Scientific. This format is ambiguous
for data arrays of 200 or more points and
should be avoided for purposes other than
printing.
6.4.3 C -- COMMA SEPARATED ASCII ARRAYS
The C collection option decodes Final Storage
Format data stored in the Storage Module into
ASCII arrays with elements separated by
commas. No element IDs are included. Each
array is terminated with a carriage return and a
line feed. The "Comma Separated" format files
can be imported by processing programs such
as LOTUS 123 (Lotus Development
Corporation). An example of this format is
found in Table 4.3-1.