Dakota Ultrasonics DFX-8 plus MANUAL1 - Manual (Page 126)

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CHAPTER TWELVE
DATA STORAGE – SETUP, EDIT, & VIEW FILES
12.1 Introduction to Grid and Sequential file formats
The DFX-8 is equipped with two data file format options, GRID LOG and SEQ LOG.
The GRID file format is very similar to a spreadsheet format found in popular
software programs like Excel. A GRID is simply a table of readings. A location in a
grid is specified by giving a row and column coordinate. The rows are numbered
from 1 to 999 and the columns are labeled from A to ZZ (999 Rows & 52 Columns).
The sequential file format can be viewed as a file as a single column of up to 512
possible rows (readings), and a column of corresponding identifiers associated with
each individual reading. The identifier can be a combination of up to 10 numeric,
alpha, or special characters listed above, while the file name can consist of a
combination of up to 20 of the same character set. Note: The identifier cannot start
or end with a special character. Once a start and end ID are entered into the DFX-8
and the log created, the DFX-8 will automatically generate all the identifiers within
that range.
The following character set listed below are all the allowable characters that will be
used for both file formats: GRID & SEQ LOG. Any combination of these characters
can be used for creating a Name and Note regardless of the selected format. The
allowable characters are as follows:
Numeric characters: 0 – 9 Alpha Characters: A – Z
Special Characters: ! ‘ _ # space / . – ( )
Multiple grids can be created and stored until the DFX-8’s memory is full. If the user
attempts to store a new file in the DFX-8 and the size of the file exceeds the capacity
of memory, the DFX-8 will respond with an error message indicating that the memory
is unable to store the new file.
The DFX-8 has a very large potential storage capacity, and depending on the
configuration of SD card sizes versus data, setups and screen capture images, can
store limitless amount of data. The DFX-8 has an internal SD of 4 gigabytes, and an
external slot reader that has been successfully tested with a 64 gigabyte card.
Therefore, available memory will not be an issue.
In the sections that follow, the procedures for creating, using, and editing GRID’s and
SEQ LOG’s have been combined together for the purpose of similarity in overall
functionality and structure. The illustrations below are snapshots of typical GRID and
SEQ LOG file formats: