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ADQUIRE
Convenient Data Acquisition & Control


(E-Mail:  adsette@nbnet.nb.ca)
(1-800-807-DATA)


DEMO

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0  General

2.0  Features of ADQUIRE
     2.1  General Information
     2.2  Screen Module
     2.3  Control Module

3.0  Installation
     3.1  Minimum Configuration
     3.2  Installation Procedure
          3.2.1     Memory
          3.2.2     Operation in Windows

4.0  The Main Screen and Keystrokes

5.0  A Program Walk Through


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1.0  GENERAL
     =======

Thank you for considering ADQUIRE.  We sincerely hope that
you will find the program fulfils your data acquisition/
control requirements.  If you have any comments concerning
the program and your future needs, we would like to hear
from you.

This document contains the same information that is
contained in the "ADQUIRE Program Demo Manual."  If you did
not receive a Demo booklet with the Demo installation disk,
this document will suffice.

ADQUIRE is user friendly as well as powerful.  You can have
the program up and running and gathering your data with
minimal effort and time.

The ADQUIRE Demo is the main program with one exception:  it
can't access the necessary data acquisition and control
cards;  it is always in "Demo" Mode.  Instead of acquiring
real data, demo mode creates meaningless data from
non-existent cards. However, you can set up your
configuration and learn program operation with the demo. 
When you purchase the actual program, the configuration
files will have been already created and can be used without
modification.

ADQUIRE is available in different configurations, depending
upon which of the following modules are needed.

     Module # 1     Monitoring. This module is necessary
                    regardless of the required
                    configuration.

     Module # 2     The Screen Creation Program.

     Module # 3     Controls.

You need only purchase that which you require at the
present, as you can upgrade later.

If you would like a quick overview of  the  package, start
at section 3: "Installation" and then proceed to section 5:
"A Program Walk Through".   Press the keys mentioned for
each step and continue through.  It should only take a few
minutes.


2.0  FEATURES OF ADQUIRE
     ===================

2.1  General Information
     -------------------

ADQUIRE is a user friendly monitoring and control program
designed for both inhouse and on-site data acquisition,
observation and analysis.  The program provides the
capability to place a PC compatible computer on-site
together with a modem and the necessary data acquisition
and/or control cards.  The system can be accessed by means
of a phone line; the operations observed, changes made, and
the data gathered in the on-site unit downloaded to the
office computer.

ADQUIRE allows the insertion of equations by the user based
on the values obtained from the input data.  The results of
the equations as well as all data can be displayed in real
time.

ADQUIRE also allows operations on each active point in real
time so that a relevant unit (gpm, psi, volts, amps, Kw's,
Kwh's, etc.) is determined and attributed to the point.
One of the attractive features of ADQUIRE is its screen
creation facility which will allow the fast development of
flow diagrams and tables showing monitored data and results. 
The created screens as well as all tabular displays are in
character mode to allow almost instantaneous transfer across
phone lines (even with a low baud rate modem).  Graphic mode
is used for the graph displays.

With the use of the Control Module, equations created by the
user or individual input points can be used as the control
points. The control operations can be changed anytime
on-site or through the use of another computer connected by
modem. Control modes can include open loop, closed loop,
on/off or PID routines  for each controlled point.  Data can
be displayed on the screen in tabular or graphical form, or
printed.  Graphs can be stored as PCX files to be integrated
into word processing and graphic programs or sent directly
to the printer immediately or at preset intervals.  Data
stored through ADQUIRE can be imported to spreadsheet
programs with ease.

ADQUIRE can accommodate up to 9 separate test setups and
change from one setup to another by user request.  An
example is a system to be tested under heating and cooling
modes.  Different equations might be necessary; different
control parameters may be required.  These can be setup
separately and the two tests taken one after the other by
requesting the proper test. This is also useful if you want
to look at different pieces of equipment in a system and
analyze each in more detail. A general test for the system
can be run first and then separate tests taken for the
different components.

The cards presently used by ADQUIRE are shown in Table#2-1.
The type and number of points that can be accommodated by
each card are also indicated.  The program can operate four
cards of each type simultaneously.



ADQUIRE Program
Table 2-1 Card Listing


                  Points Usable by ADQUIRE

  Name       Analog   Analog  Digital  Digital Counters
              In      Out       In      Out
-------------------------------------------------------
DAS-8         8        0        3        4        2
EXP-16       16        0        0        0        0
PIO-12/24 *   0        0        0       24        0
CTM-05        0        0        0        0        5
MTHERM-20    20        0        0        0        0
MAO-8         0        8        0        0        0
=======================================================
Totals       43        8        3       28        7
Totals(4)   172       32       12      112       28

  *  Notes:

    The cards named can be supplied by Keithley-Metrabyte at

    (1-800-348-0033).           
    
    Equivalent cards can be supplied by Omega Engineering 
    (1-800-327-4333). Several have greater capabilities 
    than the originals at attractive prices.

    The PIO-12/24 Card has 24 points total that can be 
    configured as a combination of inputs and/or outputs.

    The MTHERM-20 and EXP-16 cards can be used for      
    thermocouple input.  

     The first totals are for of each card.  The second    
     totals are for the maximum 4 cards each.

     Card Equivalents (Omega Engineering):
          DAS-8:    CIO-AD08(comparable to DAS-8 & Pio-12    
                combined)
          EXP-16:   CIO-MUX16
          Pio-12:   CIO-DIO24, CIO-AD08(comparable to DAS-8  
                  & Pio-12 combined)
          CTM-05:   PC-CTR-20 (equivalent to 4 CTM-05's), 
                    PCL-830 (equivalent to 2 CTM-05's)


Some of the main features of ADQUIRE are as follows:

o    Full pull-down menu and mouse capability.

o    Determines values in relevant units (gpm, KW, psi, KWH,
     etc.) for each point.

o    Calculates resultant values based on equations
     submitted by the user.  Equations can use math,
     trigonometric and boolean functions with all data
     points.

o    Cumulative results can be determined (such as total    
     energy use from one day to another).

o    Individual scan rates, offsets, calculations,    
     integrations/derivatives for all points.

o    An independent write to disk rate.

o    Determines and stores data at each write-to- disk    
     period.

o    Temperatures Degrees Celcius or degrees Farenheit.

o    Duration/ frequency of operation of all digital inputs
     and outputs.

o    Total number of pulses for each counter.

o    Minimum, maximum, average, instantaneous, rate or    
     integrated  value for all submitted  equations.

o    Displays real-time values for input data and resultant 
     equations.

o    Displays and/or prints stored data in accordance with 
     user specified start and finish dates and  times.

o    Displays and/or prints most recently stored values on
     an on-going basis.

o    Hot key activation and de-activation of data
     acquisition and control.

o    All stored data can be imported into spreadsheet
     programs.

o    Acquisition and control systems can be placed in as
     many locations as desired and accessed by means of a
     central computer and phone lines. All parameters of the
     program on-site can be modified. Data files can be
     downloaded and the instantaneous operation of each
     system can be observed at will from the host computer.

o    Line graphs can be created indicating data for up to
     six points simultaneously.

o    Real-time or stored values can be shown on graphs on
     the display and printed as required. 

o    Graph setups are stored automatically for later recall.

o    Graphic images can be saved in the PCX file format for  
     importing to word processing, desktop publishing and
     graphic programs.

o    Graphic images can be printed directly from the screen.

o    Will work with Monochrome, EGA and VGA monitors    
     (monochrome will not show graphs).


2.2  Screen Module
     -------------

Module # 2 is a separate screen creation program complete
with pull-down menus.  It can be accessed either from the
ADQUIRE Main Program or independently.

Temperatures, flows, pressures, on/off activity and
calculated values in real time can be placed where required
by indicating the location with the cursor and selecting the
point name from a vertical menu.


2.3  Control Module
     --------------

User input equations can control all output points in the
Control Module ( Module # 3).

True/False statements are supported.  Operators include =,
!, <>,  >,  <,  NOT,  AND,  OR,  +,  -,  *,  /, SIN, 
ARCSIN, TAN,  ARCTAN, COS, ARCCOS, LOG and LN.

The system operates in accordance with the parameters set by
the user through built-in On/Off, Equation,and PID control
setup tables.


3.0  INSTALLATION
     ============

3.1  Minimum Configuration
     ---------------------

In order to operate ADQUIRE you need:

o    IBM PC compatible 286 computer ( a 386-25MHz or faster  
     with a co-processor is desirable).

o    An EGA or VGA monitor and display card. CGA & Hercules
     cards can be used but the real time and stored value
     graphs can not be viewed.

o    A hard drive with a minimum of 20 Mbytes.

o    A minimum of 1 Mbyte of RAM memory (an additional 1
     Mbyte of expanded memory is helpful when the program
     includes both data acquisition and control).

o    One floppy disk drive.

o    The necessary data acquisition and control cards for
     your project.  These cards can be purchased from
     Keithley Metrabyte of Taunton, MA ( 508-880-3000/ 508- 
     880-0179 fax) or from Omega Engineering ( 800-327-4333/
     800-826-6342).  If you would like to use other cards or
     have other applications, we would be pleased to
     consider adapting ADQUIRE to your requirements.  Fax us
     at 506-363-3069.


3.2  Installation Procedure
     ----------------------

The procedure for installing ADQUIRE Demo is easy:

1.   Turn on your computer.

2.   Insert the ADQUIRE Demo install disk in the floppy
     drive A: or B:

3.   Type A:INSTALL or B:INSTALL, then press "ENTER".

 Note:
 If you receive a message "Not Ready Reading Drive" or "Disk
Failure" make certain that the drive door is closed.  If the
door is closed, you may have the wrong format disks for your
drive. If so contact Adsett & Associates for replacement
disks.

4.  A screen will appear discussing ADQUIRE and the    
installation.  Press any key to proceed or the "ESCAPE"    
key to stop.

5.   A setup table will appear. This table is similar to the
setup tables in ADQUIRE.  If you can work with this table
(we are sure that you can),  you should have minimal problem
learning ADQUIRE.  The table will give an opportunity to
edit the default directory names where the program and data
files are to be located, as well as allowing you to submit
your personal and company names. After completing the table,
press Ctrl+"ENTER" to proceed or "ESCAPE" to quit.

6.  The install program will ask you if you would like to
update the Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files.  If you answer
"N", make sure that the "FILES =" statement in your
Config.Sys setup is at least 20  (ie. Files = 20)and that
the Autoexec.bat file adds the ADQ subdirectory file name to
its "PATH =" statement.  This can be done with an Ascii word
processor or editor.

3.2.1    Memory Considerations
         ---------------------

It is important to ensure that there is approximately 580K
of free conventional memory (memory below 640K where the
program must reside).

Even with many megabytes of RAM, it is possible that memory
resident programs can occupy enough conventional memory to
reduce the amount of available memory in this area. If this
is the case, a table will appear at the beginning of the
program indicating that there may be a memory problem. Note
that this warning does not mean you cannot operate ADQUIRE,
but that there may be problems with certain operations.

The amount of conventional memory available can be
determined by the use of the DOS command "Chkdsk".  At the
DOS prompt, type "Chkdsk" + "ENTER".  The last line of the
display should indicate the available free memory.  With
higher versions of DOS the command "mem" can be used.  Refer
to the DOS manual for further information.

In order to increase the amount of free memory, you may
remove memory resident programs or (if you have a 386 or
higher CPU) you could install a memory manager (such as
DOS's EMM386 or QEMM386 or 386Max).  They will not only make
expanded memory available to ADQUIRE but will also place
your memory resident programs in memory other than
conventional memory.

DOS 6.0 or higher has a memory manager program "memmaker"
which helps in freeing up conventional memory.


3.2.2    Operation in Windows
         --------------------

ADQUIRE can be used in the Microsoft Windows 3.x environment
with the understanding of a few basic guidelines.

The best way to integrate ADQUIRE is through the use of a
"PIF" file.  The windows manual explains this technique in
detail in the section concerning the integration of DOS
applications within Windows.

For best results, ADQUIRE should be run as a full screen
program (ie. not within a window).  ADQUIRE will still work
if it is placed within a window, however, you may notice
problems accessing the menus using the mouse.  You can try
changing the windows mouse driver to correct it.  Also, if
using a resolution greater than 640x480 ADQUIRE graphs may
not be displayed properly.



4.0   The Main Screen and Keystrokes
      ==============================

1)  The Top Row - contains the menu bar.

2)  The Bottom Row  - indicates the status of program    
operation (whether monitoring and control is on or off),    
the title which is placed on all print outs and the date    
and time.

3)  The Main Body - shows all setup and display tables as    
well as screens created by the screen creation module.     
When graphs are shown, the main screen is replaced by    
graphs covering the entire display.

The following gives a quick overview of how to get from one
place to another in the program and how to enter
information.  Keys can be used at all times or a
keystroke/mouse combination can be used for faster
operation.

Right or Left Cursor - To go from one menu heading to
another. This can also be done by pressing Alt + "THE FIRST
LETTER OF EACH MENU ITEM".

Up or Down Cursor - Once the menu heading that you desire is
reached, the up and down cursor can be used to reach the
desired item on the list (Press "Enter" to access each
item).  This can also be done by pressing the letter that is
highlighted within each particular menu item.

For example, ALT+S accesses the setup menu.  Press "I" to
access the setup for input values.  Then press "G" to access
the General Setup Table.  These actions will be referred to
as Alt+S,I,G.

Once a setup table is reached, the information to be changed
can be reached by means of the left/right cursor, up/down
cursor, tab key or the mouse.  If only one or two changes
are required, the fastest way is usually to use the mouse to
go to that position and click with your left button.  If you
make changes and decide not to keep them, "ESCAPE" can be
pressed at anytime and the information in the table, before
you made the changes, will be used. If you make changes and
desire to keep them, press Ctrl+"ENTER". You can back track
or leave your present work at anytime without saving it by
pressing "ESCAPE".

If you require information on any of the items in a table or
menu, place the cursor over that item and press "F1" to
display a help message for the current item in a table or
menu.  It should be noted that pressing the "F1" key while
in the screen creation module, displays a list of shortcut
keys to help with the editing process.

In order to activate or deactivate the monitoring functions
press Ctrl+"F1" for activation and Ctrl+"F2" to deactivate.
To turn the controlling functions on and off press Ctrl+"F3"
for on, and Ctrl+"F4" for off.

To suspend control operation while the controls are in
operation, press Ctrl+"F5" and to reactivate controls, press
Ctrl+"F6".

**** Refer to Manual2.TXT for Program Walk Through  ****

