Communication basics
Connect the instrument to an available RS-232 port and start the IO Toolkit software. IO Toolkit uses an auto-detection process to establish communications with the connected instrument. Connect the instrument to an available RS-232 port and start the software. The auto-detection process sends identification commands over a range of possible baud rates until a response is received. By default the software attempts communications on COM1. If the serial port being used is not COM1 the auto-detect may be aborted. Otherwise, the auto-detect process will finish and indicate that an instrument could not be detected. The correct port may then be specified.
Log data
This feature allows data to be downloaded that has been logged by the instrument. Instruments may support two types of logging: auto and demand. IO Toolkit supports both options. Just click the Log Data icon to download logged data.
Auto log data is generally associated with a tag. You can download data for all tags or for a specific tag. Store downloaded data in a single file or separate the data into files by tag.
Demand log data is generally associated with an index. You can download data for all indexes or for a specific index. Downloaded data is stored in a single file.
The log data dialog allows you to browse and select a folder to save the logged data files to. Unless otherwise specified, the default folder is used.
The Download button retrieves and saves data from the indicated instrument log based on the selections made on the dialog.
The Erase button clears data for the indicated log. Auto log data can be erased for all tags or just a single tag. When erasing the demand log all data is erased.
Log tags
This feature provides a way to manage log tags. Log tags help you manage log data stored in the instrument. To manage log tags, click on the Log Tags icon.
The Log Tags dialog displays the tags that are currently stored in the instrument. Changes made on the dialog are not written to the instrument until the Upload button has been clicked.
You can modify a tag by selecting the tag from the list and modifying the text that appears in the Update tag box. Clicking Apply updates the Tags list with the changes. To apply the changes in the Tags list to the instrument, click Upload.
Probe settings
This feature enables you to access the probe settings. Probe settings may include information such as probe type, conversion, and calibration information.
The Probe Settings dialog displays the information currently stored for the probe(s). If the instrument has more than one channel settings for the probes are displayed on the corresponding tabs. Changes made on the dialog are not written to the instrument until the Upload button has been clicked.
Settings may be modified using the dialog. Once the changes have been made, click the Upload button to write the changes to the instrument. If the probe settings are protected, a dialog will appear, prompting for a password. Changes will not be written to the instrument unless a valid password is supplied.
Probe configurations can be saved and loaded from the dialog. Saving a probe configuration creates a file containing the current setup for the channel selected on the dialog. Loading a probe configuration populates the selected channel on the dialog with the stored settings from the selected file.
Commands
This feature allows for direct serial communication with a connected instrument. Communication settings are set up automatically during the auto-detection process.
The Commands dialog is similar to other terminal programs. Type supported serial communication commands in the Command box. Click the Send button to send the command to the instrument. Responses received from the instrument are displayed in the Response box.
The information displayed in the Response box can be saved to a text file by clicking the Save button. This feature is available regardless of the instrument and appears whether or not an instrument is detected.
Settings
The Settings dialog contains settings and configuration information used by the software. The COM Port used by the software may be specified on the Communication tab. This option stores the port that the software attempts to detect an instrument on.
The Default Folder Path option designates a folder to use as the default folder for saving and opening files on other dialogs. Click OK to save changes made on the Settings dialog. This feature is available regardless of the instrument and appears whether or not an instrument is detected.