DXDKEY HelpDXDKEY HelpCopyright © 1998 Delta-X Research.
Latest revision: 1998-02-02
DXDKEY is a simple utility program for downloading data from the AVO Delta-2000 test instrument's EEPROM data key. The program communicates with the PKS-232 Interface Module to retrieve test results from a data key. Once downloaded, the data can be saved in a comma- or tab-delimited text file for use with database or spreadsheet software. DXDKEY runs under Windows 95 or Windows NT.
You can also use DXDKEY to view data files and edit them in simple ways. DXDKEY can erase data keys for re-use in the Delta-2000 instrument.
DXDKEY was developed by Delta-X Research for free distribution and use with the AVO Delta-2000 insulation test set. Because DXDKEY is free software, technical support is limited to information and occasional updates provided through our Internet web site.
Disclaimer: DXDKEY is not guaranteed or warrantied in any manner, and you may acquire, install, and use it strictly at your own risk. The documentation is not guaranteed to be free of errors, and Delta-X Research reserves the right to modify the software or documentation at any time without notice.
We hope that you will find DXDKEY reliable and easy to use. We want you to be happy with this software, and we very much appreciate your suggestions and bug reports.
Software and documentation copyright © 1998 Delta-X Research. All rights reserved. The DXDKEY setup program may be distributed freely. Separate publication or copying of the DXDKEY software, its documentation, or any of its components is prohibited.
The delta-x logo and "Delta-X Research" are trademarks of Hydra-Centaurus Technologies Inc.
The AVO logo is a trademark of AVO International.
"Microsoft" and "Windows" are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
All other brand names and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
Note: To run DXDKEY under Windows NT 4.0, you must have Windows NT Service Pack 2 installed. Service packs for updating Windows NT are available from Microsoft Corp.
To install DXDKEY, run SETUP.EXE and follow instructions.
To remove DXDKEY from your system, use the Add/Remove Programs feature in your Windows Control Panel. Data files are not deleted when you un-install DXDKEY.
Run DXDKEY and choose the Options menu.
Run DXDKEY and choose the Options menu.
Select or enter a Delimiter (usually Tab or comma), a Text Qualifier (single or double quotes, or none), and a Date Format.
The Delimiter and the Text Qualifier are used for both saving and loading data files. The Date Format is used to format dates when you download data from a data key or when you load a data file.
The Also Save Raw Data option should normally remain un-checked. It saves downloaded data to a text file in hexadecimal format for troubleshooting.
To download data from a data key, you must connect the interface module, insert the data key, designate a data file, and start the download. After inspecting, editing, and saving the file, you can repeat the process as many times as you wish to create more files or download from other data keys.
Set up the PKS-232 interface module
Create or open a data file
Start the download
WARNING: This procedure destroys all information stored in the data key. After erasure, the data key must be re-initialized by the Delta-2000 test instrument before it can be used for data logging.
View
You can use DXDKEY to inspect data, whether downloaded from a data key or loaded from a data file. The main DXDKEY window contains a data grid which can be scrolled vertically and horizontally with the mouse or the keyboard. The window can be resized or maximized for your convenience.
If you double-click any row in the data grid, the Test Data Record window opens for viewing individual formatted records. The Test Data Record window is resizable and has a toolbar with "navigation" buttons, a Copy button, a Delete button, and a Font Size button.
Edit non-measurement data
The Equipment ID and Temperature fields in the data grid are editable. For example, to enter or correct the Equipment ID in a record, click the Equipment ID column in that row and type the information. Press Esc to cancel the edit, or press Ctrl-Z to start over if you make a mistake. Move to a different column or row to accept what you typed and stop editing.
Any non-DXDKEY data fields which may be present in your data file are also editable.
All of the DXDKEY data fields representing instrument measurement data are protected and cannot be edited.
Adjust or hide columns
You can adjust the width of any column by clicking the column boundary with the left mouse button and dragging it.
WARNING: If you shrink a column to zero or near-zero width, that column is omitted when printing or saving the file.
Select the Print command in the File menu to print the data shown in the grid, using column widths similar to the ones shown in the grid. There are no options available for printing other than the ones offered in the Print dialog.
Delete
Highlight one or more rows of data and press the Del key or choose Delete from the Edit menu to delete data.
Cut, Copy, and Paste
Highlight one or more rows of data and choose Copy from the Edit menu to copy the highlighted data to the Windows Clipboard in a format which can be pasted directly into a spreadsheet or text file. If you choose Cut instead of Copy, the selected rows are copied into the Clipboard and deleted from the grid.
If you click the Copy button in the Test Data Record window, the displayed record as shown in the window is copied into the Windows Clipboard in tab-delimited text format, one data item per row. It can be pasted into a spreadsheet or text file.
Save and Save As
The Save command in the File menu saves the data grid contents in a text file using the delimiter and quotation character specified in the Data File Options. Data items in zero-width columns are not saved. The Save As command allows you to specify a new file name and directory before saving the data.For your convenience, some basic editing functions can be performed in DXDKEY. To do more complex editing, such as rearranging columns or sorting, you must use a spreadsheet or database program.
Choose Open File in the File menu and open the file you want to modify. The DXDKEY data file options must agree with the delimiter and text qualifier (if any) used in the data file. You may be asked to change the options if the data file is not in a format compatible with your selected options.
If you download data from a data key (see How to download data above) while DXDKEY already has a file loaded, the data key records are appended at the bottom of the list.
WARNING: Only columns with names identical to standard DXDKEY data columns receive data. Any data key item whose column is missing is discarded.
After editing or deleting data, you can save the file under its original name or choose Save As in the File menu to save it under a new name.
Because DXDKEY is free software, Delta-X Research does not provide telephone support for it. There is a DXDKEY Home Page in the Delta-X Research web site
where you can find helpful material such as:
Your AVO representative may be able to assist you with some questions or problems.
--------------------- End of DXDKEY Help ------------------