DataLogger is an Utility programme written as an addition to Gumboot, the Real World Interface for Macs, and therefore is as Quick and Dirty as they come. DataLogger was written to provide a tool that would be very straight forward to use. It was written to make the most out of Microprocessor Development kits, the one that I am using at present, Gumboot, is based around the MC68HC11A8.
Specs…
Display of incoming data in Text or Graph form.
Able to save data as a file or down load data to a target processor in one command.
Soft scrolling and fast or slow display of incoming text.
A range of Baud rates and text sizes.
Display data relative to 5 volts FSD or as a count from 0 to 255.
MultiFinder or System 7.0 does work but...... the Finder cannot guarantee ‘processor time when required, you may want to Format a disk or some other horrible task.
Screen Redraws are Not supported, be careful. Avoid using dialog boxes.
In combination with Gumboot, DataLogger does the following
Sample rate from 1 per second for periods of 1 minute or greater, can be overridden.
A Faster rate which is dependent on the Mac, 5 -10 samples / second on a Mac SE / Classic.
8 bit Analogue to Digital conversion, with a maximum rate of 65,000 samples per second. 19.5mV per count, maximum reading with Gumboot is limited to 3.8 Volts by the buffering. Maximum input voltage, + 30 volts. This section can be bypassed.
Up to 8 A/D channels, 4 channels are used by this software.
The nature of data coming from Gumboot can be changed by running another Driver, data could be A/D conversions, counts, times, periods, or combinations of various types.
Files are saved as TEXT, these can be opened by Word processors and Spread sheets.
On screen graphing of incoming data.
Operation
Quick Start. This applies to the Applications, Datalogger, VoltMeter and QuickDisplay.
Run this application, (easy so far).
This application is the same as the one suplied with Gumboot and it will attempt to open the Modem port for it's own use !!
Select Demo Data from the Options menu. (
If you now select Prompt for Data a series of numbers will flash across the screen and more will follow every 2 seconds.
The first number is the number of channels, the rest are A/D conversion converted to voltages, with reference to +5 volts.
We can stop these by selecting Prompt for Data again or command-G.
Select Graph and Prompt for Data and a grid should appear and incoming values should be plotted on it.
The following section on the menu functions will show you what other options are available.
The Menus.
File
Display Text
Prompts you for a file and then flashes it past you eyes at unreadable speed. Sorry it’s only there to allow you to check on what is being saved to disk. If you wish to take a more serious look at a file I suggest a simple DA or Quit and Run a Spreadsheet or Text Editor, TeachText is a good choice.
Upload File
Does the same as Display Text but churns it out to line to be received by a waiting, whatever.. used to Upload Programmes to Gumboot.
Capture Text
This Item Toggles the Capture Mode on and off as shown by a flag next to the item in the menu. Data is saved as a TEXT file.
Quit
This command closes the programme down, freeing the Modem port, and it also closes the current Data Capture file, just in case you forget.
Edit
The Edit Menu is not supported.
Commands
Erase Screen
The screen is cleared and, if Graph is selected, a new Grid is drawn, else it will reflect my current state of mind, blank.
Use 9/12 pt Text
This is left over from an original terminal programme, it’s use is obvious, I hope.
Test.
See above.
Local Echo
Useful as a check of what is going out to line, but that’s about it.
Prompt For Data
This starts, or stops, DataLogger requesting information from Gumboot. The value of the prompt is the number Channels required. This allows different values to be used for other Drivers.
Baud
9600
This is the current Baud rate used by Gumboot, resistance is useless.
Other…
This feature is to be used carefully, some times Microprocessors need strange baud rates at the worst moments, so I included this option but it is only good from about 150 to 19,200 bits per second.
Options
Timestamp
Includes the current Mac format time with each set of readings, this format may, or may not, clash with the format required by some spread sheet applications
Graph
Once the screen has been erased, if this is active, a grid will be drawn and all incoming data will be graphed as a simple line graph. Each Channel is drawn with a different pattern, unless the amount of data to be represented makes this impossible.
data will still be save to a file as TEXT, screen redraws are not supported. At the top left hand corner are 3 Icons that give quick access to many common menu commands.
Graph Multiplier…
This item brings up a dialog box that allows you to scale up incoming data to highlight it better on the screen, this does not affect saved data.
Beep
This option has the Mac beep each time a reading is requested, good for monitoring the progress of data collection, bad if you need a quiet room in which to work.
Prompt
This allows you to set the period and frequency of readings or prompts. Defaults are Prompt every 2 seconds for 1 minute.
Channels
This item sets the number of channels for which data is required, if you are using the driver A/D.S19, it also allows different values that may be used by different drivers.
Original Data
Incoming data is normally translated to a value referenced to +5 volts DC but this item allows you to save to untranslated data to a file and the screen.
Faster
If you want to watch fast moving events select this option. The application will gather and process data and then prompt for new data, this is repeated over and over until the screen is full or you shut it off. On a Mac SE you get between 5 and 10 samples per second, the rate depends on the processing speed of the Mac, this is affected by System version Processor type and various other factors.
Demo Data
This item can be used to check the settings in DataLogger. Once clicked, random data is generated and passed on for processing in the same manner as data from the serial port. Caution, the serial port remains active.
Line Thickness
This item sets the line thickness used by the graphing function, note that the line defaults to a single point thickness if the amount of reading required reaches a set level.
Gumboot
Programme...
Like Upload and Display File, you are asked to select a file except that, files loaded this way are assumed to contain directives for Gumboot, so that it may load and then automatically run a programme. To enable some control over loading and running some ‘commands’ must be written into the file to be selected.
Kick Start
This item sends the string ‘G B600’ which starts Any driver stored in EEPROM.
Drivers are just small bits of code that have Gumboot do a particular task. In the Listings folder you will find the original source code for the Drivers that I have provided. If we then add some BUFFALO commands then reprogramming Gumboot becomes a three step operation. Reset Gumboot, press return , and select a driver using the Programme menu.
File Format
If you use an Assembler to generate a file for Gumboot then you should end up with a file of Motorola S records, these files are TEXT files and can be opened with most Text Editing tools. To make life easy, we add the commands, that are usually need to Programme Gumboot, to this file. All Gumboot commands must be in UPPERCASE letters, and two directives can be added to make it work with DataLogger, these are
‘r’, lowercase R, tells DataLogger to send a Return character.
‘d’, lowercase D, tells DataLogger to wait for a period before sending any more characters, this gives Gumboot time to shift data around or programme EEPROM addresses.
Example
BULKrd
LOAD Tr
S10600007EE00A91
|
|
S10A004427F9B7102F393F23
S9030000FCd
move 0000 0050 b600rd
G B604r
In the above example you can spot the Bulk and Load commands used to ready Gumboot for the data and, at the end, the commands to transfer the data to EEPROM and then start the programme. ‘r’ and ‘d’ are not sent to line.
DataLogger is an evolving application, it may be changed to reflect my current needs or at the suggestion of others, if you want a change made, feel free to contact me. An address will be included in this documentation or keep an eye the various BBSs, PD / Shareware people, and other sources.
You may copy this software for any non commercial purpose, but remember, it belongs to me, and if you want updates, changes or a PCB for a Microprocessor Experimenters Kit for Macintosh, then contact me.
