Rogue RE-CONN Utility

Transcription

1 Rogue RE-CONN Utility Rogue s RE-CONN software is a utility that enables remote communication with compatible Rogue devices, using a Windows-based PC and a DCV-0001 data converter. With this utility you may access and graph real-time data from Rogue devices, save and examine graphs from previous sessions, view data that is stored in a device s memory, and adjust a device s operating setpoints and other parameters. Please read this file completely before installing or using the RE-CONN utility. Version Details Initial release 07/15/11 System and Hardware Requirements Intel x86 or better processor Windows 95/98/XP/Vista/7 4MB RAM Open RS232C serial (COM) port or USB port Rogue device equipped with a RE-CONN communication port Rogue DCV-0001 data converter RE-CONN network cable, RJ45M-M (Cat.5 or Cat.6 straight-thru) RS232C serial cable, DB9M-F; or serial-usb converter cable 1. Software installation The Rogue RE-CONN utility is packaged in a ZIP file. Open the folder and run setup.exe. Be sure that the utility is not already installed, or an error may result. The following window may appear:

2 Click Run and follow the instructions to complete installation. The installation process will place a shortcut on your desktop and an entry into the Program Files section of your start menu. 2. Initial setup The RE-CONN utility is extremely simple to use. Before running the utility, connect the DCV-0001 to the compatible Rogue device using a Cat.5 or 6 straight-wired network cable. Then connect the serial port on the DCV-0001 to a properly configured COM port on your PC. Alternately, you may choose to use the serial-to-usb adapter cable that is included with the DCV-0001, and make a connection with a USB port on your computer. If using the serial-to-usb converter, plug the converter into an available USB port and install the drivers for this device, which are included in the package. Note: the RE-CONN utility will not initialize without a valid COM port or USB connection. Next, it will be necessary to disable your computer s sleep and/or hibernate modes if this has not already been done. Leaving them active will disrupt communication between the Rogue device and the computer. These settings may be found under Control Panel Power Options, in Windows XP; and Control Panel System and Security Power Options Change when the computer sleeps, in Windows Vista and Windows 7. Note: If you do not disable standby and hibernate in Windows XP, or sleep in Windows Vista and 7, then the computer will lose connection with the Rogue product when the computer transitions to these modes. Upon waking up, the serial connection at the computer may need to be unplugged and plugged back in again to reset the port. With all connections made, run the utility. The following window will open:

3 Click on the Graph menu item and select Preferences. A new window will appear. By default, the RE-CONN utility will save graph segments either when they fill up (before starting a new segment), or when the utility is closed. The default location for saving these files is in the root directory of the C: drive (C:\). These defaults may be changed. The checkbox may be unselected if you do not wish to save graph segments. The location may also be changed to suit your needs. Note: When selecting a location, be certain that you have permission to write to that location. The RE-CONN utility cannot save to a location for which permission has been denied. More detailed information on graphing preferences may be found in Section Basic operation With the hardware properly connected and the initial graphing preferences set up, select your COM port from the drop-down list in the upper right corner of the main window (the box will be highlighted yellow until a connection with the port has been made). Click the Connect button. Note: if an invalid port has been chosen from the list, the RE-CONN utility will not initialize. If your port is not listed in the drop-down list, it might be in use by another device, or the driver for it might not be correctly installed.

4 The RE-CONN utility will automatically connect with the remote device and will begin receiving data from it. Real-time data will be displayed in a box on the right side of the window, and will be graphed/logged in the graphing panel in the center of the window. Accumulated kwh and Ah as logged by the remote device will be displayed in a box below real-time data. A third box below accumulated data shows the range of various parameters during the current session for which the utility has been open. The status bar on the very bottom of the window shows current operating information. 4. Accessing the remote device You may interact with the remote device via the Rogue RE-CONN utility in two ways: by adjusting its operating setpoints/parameters, and by viewing information that has been stored in its data log. To adjust setpoints, select Setpoints from the View menu item. A new window will open. The setpoints found here will be identical to those on the remote device. Consult the manual for the remote device for information on changing these setpoints. Click the Done button when finished to close the window. To view the remote device s data log, select Data Log from the View menu item. A new window will open. Data log entries may be scrolled through with the << and >> buttons. All entries may be deleted with the Erase Log button. Consult the manual for the remote device for information on using the data log. Click the Done button when finished to close the window.

5 Note: For technical reasons, opening either the Setpoint Adjust window or the Data Log window will pre-empt certain functions on the remote device. Close these windows when not in use. It is also impossible to have both windows open at the same time; close one before attempting to open the other. Note: Do not disconnect the computer from the remote device while accessing setpoint adjustments or the data log. Doing so will cause certain functions on the remote device to be disabled indefinitely, and may require that the remote device be reset to restore these functions. Setpoint adjustments and the data log may be accessed while the remote device is sleeping, provided that the data log is not already being viewed at the remote device. 5. Using the graphing function The RE-CONN utility automatically graphs real-time data from the remote device. It does so in the graphing panel at the center of the utility s window. When the panel fills up, the utility will clear the panel and start a new graph. Each of these panels forms a graph segment. By default, the utility will save each of these segments as they fill up, or when the utility is closed. A file name is automatically generated for each graph segment in the format RPTM(M)D(D)YYYY-N.bmp, where RPT identifies the file as a Rogue bitmap file, M is the numerical month that the file was saved, D is the numerical day, Y is the year, and N is the graph s number. Each time a graph segment is saved, N is increased by one, so that graph segments are saved in sequential order. If one or more graph segments has been saved, they can be opened and browsed through in sequential order in the utility s graphing panel. Use the << and >> buttons at the bottom of the panel to scroll through the segments. Note: If a graph segment s file is deleted or gets moved, then the sequential order will become corrupted and the RE-CONN utility will not be able to scroll thorough them correctly.

6 The RE-CONN utility includes a graph viewer that can be used to view any individual graph segment. To open the viewer, select Open Viewer from the Graph menu item. Then select the path and file name of the graph segment to view. Note: The graph viewer is able to open only Rogue RPT bitmaps. Bare individual graph segments may also be viewed with any graphics utility that is capable of displaying bitmap (.bmp) files. Graphing preferences may be accessed by clicking on Preferences under the Graph menu item. This will open a new window that contains two tabs: Storage and Appearance. The save option and file path name may be changed under the Storage tab. These changes take place immediately. Note: Do not change the storage preferences or save file location while the utility is actively graphing. Doing so will corrupt the sequential order of saved graph segments and will make it difficult to view them in order in the graphing panel. The Appearance tab contains drop-down lists for changing the colors of the graph s traces, and also for enabling or disabling the individual traces from appearing on the graph. You may also change the density of the graph by altering the Overflow per segment option under this tab. The smaller the number, the more detailed (but less compact) each graph segment will be. Up to twelve hours and fifty-nine minutes of data may be packed into one graph segment. Changes made under the Appearance tab take effect upon transition to the next graph segment.