Difference between revisions of "Frequently Asked Questions General Software Questions"

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(How can I run eDAQ software on Mac hardware)
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''You can download the latest eDAQ software from the [http://www.edaq.com/software-downloads software download page]. Learn more about eDAQ software by looking at the [http://wiki.edaq.com/index.php/Screencast_Training_Videos videos], [http://wiki.edaq.com/index.php/Application_Notes application notes] and [http://www.edaq.com/edaq-product-manuals manuals].''
 
__TOC__
 
__TOC__
  
 
== What do you do if there is a software problem? ==
 
== What do you do if there is a software problem? ==
  
Software bugs and problems range from simple problems easily reproducible to difficult problems that cannot be reproduced. Before we can react to a software problem we need a minimum amount of information:
+
Software bugs and problems range from simple problems easily reproducible to difficult problems that cannot be reproduced.  
 +
 
 +
The first thing to do is always to make sure you are using the latest version of the software. Visit the [https://www.edaq.com/software-downloads software download page] and if there is a new version, download and install it. Your problem may have been solved in the new version.
 +
 
 +
You can then check the [http://wiki.edaq.com/index.php/Screencast_Training_Videos videos], [http://wiki.edaq.com/index.php/Application_Notes application dates] and [http://www.edaq.com/edaq-product-manuals manuals] to see if your problem is explained in these.
 +
 
 +
Before we can react to a software problem we need a minimum amount of information:
  
 
* Software name and version used
 
* Software name and version used
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* Description of problem
 
* Description of problem
  
When a problem requires accurate capture of events leading up to the error condition we have the following tool available:
+
When a problem requires accurate capture of events leading up to the error condition we have the eRRS Software (eDAQ Remote Reporting Software). This is used to send software log files and system information to eDAQ support staff. Please get a customer to use this software '''only when requested''' by eDAQ Sydney, by downloading it and emailing the software to the customer.
  
 +
== Why can I see steps in my data instead of getting smooth curves? ==
 +
It is likely that you have chosen a recording range which is too big and you are seeing [https://www.edaq.com/wiki/Basics_of_Data_Acquisition#Digitization digitization]. If your peaks are only a few millivolts high, and you have left the default 10 volt range, you will see stepped peaks; the signal and areas will be inaccurate. You should select a recording range slightly higher than the largest signal you will record. Have a look at the [https://www.edaq.com/wiki/Basics_of_Data_Acquisition#Range Basics of Data Acquisition] application note.
  
'''eRRS Software'''
 
  
The eRRS Software (eDAQ Remote Reporting Software) is used to send software log files and system information to eDAQ support staff. Please get a customer to use this software '''only when requested''' by eDAQ Sydney, by downloading it and emailing the software to the customer.
+
== Why am I getting a noisy signal? / Why is there noise in my data? ==
 +
There can be many reasons why you are getting noise. Have a look at this [https://www.edaq.com/wiki/Problems_with_Noise application note].
  
  
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Other software packages may have similar options.  Another workaround is to temporarily change your regional settings (in the Windows control panel), to set the decimal and thousands separators to "." and "," respectively, then put them back after importing. Your software may require a restart after changing the settings, to get it to notice they have changed.
 
Other software packages may have similar options.  Another workaround is to temporarily change your regional settings (in the Windows control panel), to set the decimal and thousands separators to "." and "," respectively, then put them back after importing. Your software may require a restart after changing the settings, to get it to notice they have changed.
  
== PowerChom Error codes ==
+
== Profiler and offset did not work on an ER125? ==
 
+
When a PowerChrom system stops or crashes unexpectedly, a cryptic error message is often generated. This can be caused by:
+
 
+
* Hardware error
+
* Software error
+
* Operating system action - for example an update
+
* Other software application
+
 
+
 
+
'''List of error messages:'''
+
 
+
These error messages are not always useful in identifying a fault and the eRRS Software (eDAQ Remote Reporting Software) is much more useful in identifying problems.
+
 
+
See below. There are two sets of error codes, so depending on where/when it occurred, it might be one thing or another.
+
 
+
 
+
Maybe
+
 
+
dsMustUseFCBAccessors        = 119,  /* FCBSPtr and FSFCBLen are invalid - must use FSM FCB accessor functions */
+
 
+
dsVMBadBackingStore          = 113,  /*Error occurred while reading or writing the VM backing-store file*/
+
 
+
or
+
 
+
eParamErr      = 113;    { Bad parameter error }
+
 
+
eRestarted    = 119;    { Application wasn't recognised }
+
 
+
 
+
The full error lists are:
+
 
+
 
+
 
+
  dsNoFPU                      = 90,  /*an FPU instruction was executed and the machine doesnÕt have one*/
+
  dsNoPatch                    = 98,  /*Can't patch for particular Model Mac*/
+
  dsBadPatch                    = 99,  /*Can't load patch resource*/
+
  dsParityErr                  = 101,  /*memory parity error*/
+
  dsOldSystem                  = 102,  /*System is too old for this ROM*/
+
  ds32BitMode                  = 103,  /*booting in 32-bit on a 24-bit sys*/
+
  dsNeedToWriteBootBlocks      = 104,  /*need to write new boot blocks*/
+
  dsNotEnoughRAMToBoot          = 105,  /*must have at least 1.5MB of RAM to boot 7.0*/
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  dsBufPtrTooLow                = 106,  /*bufPtr moved too far during boot*/
+
  dsVMDeferredFuncTableFull    = 112,  /*VM's DeferUserFn table is full*/
+
  dsVMBadBackingStore          = 113,  /*Error occurred while reading or writing the VM backing-store file*/
+
  dsCantHoldSystemHeap          = 114,  /*Unable to hold the system heap during boot*/
+
  dsSystemRequiresPowerPC      = 116,  /*Startup disk requires PowerPC*/
+
  dsGibblyMovedToDisabledFolder = 117,  /* For debug builds only, signals that active gibbly was disabled during boot. */
+
  dsUnBootableSystem            = 118,  /* Active system file will not boot on this system because it was designed only to boot from a CD. */
+
  dsMustUseFCBAccessors        = 119,  /* FCBSPtr and FSFCBLen are invalid - must use FSM FCB accessor functions */
+
  dsMacOSROMVersionTooOld      = 120,  /* The version of the "Mac OS ROM" file is too old to be used with the installed version of system software */
+
  dsLostConnectionToNetworkDisk = 121,  /* Lost communication with Netboot server */
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  dsRAMDiskTooBig              = 122,  /* The RAM disk is too big to boot safely; will be turned off */
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  dsWriteToSupervisorStackGuardPage = 128, /*the supervisor stack overflowed into its guard page */
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  dsReinsert                    = 30,  /*request user to reinsert off-line volume*/
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  shutDownAlert                = 42,  /*handled like a shutdown error*/
+
  dsShutDownOrRestart          = 20000, /*user choice between ShutDown and Restart*/
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  dsSwitchOffOrRestart          = 20001, /*user choice between switching off and Restart*/
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  dsForcedQuit                  = 20002, /*allow the user to ExitToShell, return if Cancel*/
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  dsRemoveDisk                  = 20003, /*request user to remove disk from manual eject drive*/
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  dsDirtyDisk                  = 20004, /*request user to return a manually-ejected dirty disk*/
+
  dsShutDownOrResume            = 20109, /*allow user to return to Finder or ShutDown*/
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  dsSCSIWarn                    = 20010, /*Portable SCSI adapter warning.*/
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  dsMBSysError                  = 29200, /*Media Bay replace warning.*/
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  dsMBFlpySysError              = 29201, /*Media Bay, floppy replace warning.*/
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  dsMBATASysError              = 29202, /*Media Bay, ATA replace warning.*/
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  dsMBATAPISysError            = 29203, /*Media Bay, ATAPI replace warning...*/
+
  dsMBExternFlpySysError        = 29204, /*Media Bay, external floppy drive reconnect warning*/
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  dsPCCardATASysError          = 29205 /*PCCard has been ejected while still in use. */
+
 
+
 
+
 
+
      kMajorVersion    = 1;    { Required major patch level for this interface code }
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      kNWarnings    = 4;    { # of warning records: enough to bore the user }
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      kMaxConnected  = 10;    { Maximum simultaneous connections, not widely used so could remove restriction if we cared! }
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      kInitialTimeOut = 30;  { Red Bear application timeout in seconds; we have to
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                                  communicate with it at least this often }
+
 
+
      eQFull        = 112;    { Queue-full error code }
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      eParamErr      = 113;    { Bad parameter error }
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      eIntfBad      = 114;    { Interface bad }
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      eTimeOut      = 115;    { Something timed out }
+
      eUpdateProblem = 116;    { Updating process got unexpected response }
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      eMissingClass  = 117;    { Class needed for updating wasn't there }
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      eClassLimit    = 118;
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      eRestarted    = 119;    { Application wasn't recognised }
+
      eNotImplemented= 120;
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      eBadContext    = 121;
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      eNoSuchUnit    = 122;
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      eNoEcho        = 123;    { Didn't echo: check patchlevel }
+
      eTruncHeader  = 130;    { AppleTalk protocol problems }
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      eWriteTrunc    = 131;
+
      eSyncLost      = 132;
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      eRetarded_s    = 133;  { Enabler/MacLab too old for this code }
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      eAdvanced      = 134;    { Enabler or MacLab version too new for ths code }
+
      e6502Based    = 135;    { Maclab isn't an s-series }
+
      //eNoEnabler_s  = 136;    { No enabler found and MacLab not up to date }
+
      eWrongUSBDriver= 137;  { Wrong USB driver version }
+
      eUSBGoneAway    = 138;    { USB MacLab has gone away }
+
      //eNoEnabler_20  = 139;    { No enabler found and MacLab not up to date }
+
 
+
      eNoEnabler        = 900;
+
      eNoEnabler_s        = eNoEnabler + kEnablerKind_68k;    // No enabler found and MacLab not up to date
+
      eNoEnabler_Last    = eNoEnabler + kEnablerKind_Last;    // No enabler found and MacLab not up to date
+
  
 +
The problem was fixed due regional variations in using a "." or "," as a decimal separator, e.g. in numbers like "3.14159".  We are guessing your computer was set to use Portuguese (Brazil) settings, which use a comma, but communications with the ER125 always uses a dot.  The C4D App was using your OS's settings, which meant it couldn't understand the number.  This new version forces the software to internally always use a "." in numbers when communicating with the hardware.
  
  
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The drivers are on the installation software thumb drives and CDs that are sent from eDAQ. When you install the software, the driver will be copied onto the computer.
 
The drivers are on the installation software thumb drives and CDs that are sent from eDAQ. When you install the software, the driver will be copied onto the computer.
  
The drivers are also found on the installation file when you download the software from the [http://www.edaq.com/software-downloads eDAQ website]
+
The drivers are also found [https://www.edaq.com/utilities-tools here] and on the installation file when you download the software from the [http://www.edaq.com/software-downloads software download page]
  
 +
Have a look at this troubleshooting [https://www.edaq.com/wiki/Troubleshooting_Communication_between_Hardware_and_Computer,_Hardware_Unavailable,_Cannot_Find_a_Hardware_Unit application note].
  
 
== How can I run eDAQ software on Mac hardware ==
 
== How can I run eDAQ software on Mac hardware ==
  
 
MacOS software development was halted in July 2009. Mac OS Lion (Max OS10.7), released in 2011, no longer includes the 'Rosetta' function which enables old eDAQ Mac software to run.  Latest Windows versions of the software can be run on Mac OSX computers based on Intel processors using Windows XP, Vista, 7 or 8 with a suitable virtual machine software such as VMware Fusion or Parallels.
 
MacOS software development was halted in July 2009. Mac OS Lion (Max OS10.7), released in 2011, no longer includes the 'Rosetta' function which enables old eDAQ Mac software to run.  Latest Windows versions of the software can be run on Mac OSX computers based on Intel processors using Windows XP, Vista, 7 or 8 with a suitable virtual machine software such as VMware Fusion or Parallels.
 +
 +
== Problem running C4D profiler (V2.5.2) after using PowerChrom ==
 +
 +
If you try and run the C4D Profiler after running PowerChrom it may fail to perform a complete Zero operation.
 +
PowerChrom may leave internal registers in a state that prevents the C4D application from performing a complete Zero operation. So before running C4D Profiler,after running PowerChrom, turn power ON and OFF.

Revision as of 11:46, 10 September 2018

You can download the latest eDAQ software from the software download page. Learn more about eDAQ software by looking at the videos, application notes and manuals.

What do you do if there is a software problem?

Software bugs and problems range from simple problems easily reproducible to difficult problems that cannot be reproduced.

The first thing to do is always to make sure you are using the latest version of the software. Visit the software download page and if there is a new version, download and install it. Your problem may have been solved in the new version.

You can then check the videos, application dates and manuals to see if your problem is explained in these.

Before we can react to a software problem we need a minimum amount of information:

  • Software name and version used
  • Hardware used and serial number
  • Operating system version
  • Description of problem

When a problem requires accurate capture of events leading up to the error condition we have the eRRS Software (eDAQ Remote Reporting Software). This is used to send software log files and system information to eDAQ support staff. Please get a customer to use this software only when requested by eDAQ Sydney, by downloading it and emailing the software to the customer.

Why can I see steps in my data instead of getting smooth curves?

It is likely that you have chosen a recording range which is too big and you are seeing digitization. If your peaks are only a few millivolts high, and you have left the default 10 volt range, you will see stepped peaks; the signal and areas will be inaccurate. You should select a recording range slightly higher than the largest signal you will record. Have a look at the Basics of Data Acquisition application note.


Why am I getting a noisy signal? / Why is there noise in my data?

There can be many reasons why you are getting noise. Have a look at this application note.


Treatment of "." and "," as Decimal Separators. Why are numbers copied from our serial devices into Excel not handled correctly in Europe?

This applies to all our serial devices, including the EPU35x isoPods, EPU452 MF isoPod, and the ER815/ER825 C4D detector.

Serial devices made at eDAQ use a dot "." as a decimal separator, however in European countries a comma "," is often used. This can cause problems when importing or copy and pasting data into programs like Excel. This is because Excel will use the computer's regional settings to see how to interpret numbers, which is different to how eDAQ devices are representing them.

We cannot change our software easily to accommodate this difference in decimal point usage within our firmware. Typically customer provided application software, such as LabVIEW, will be able to use the appropriate separators.

For Excel, the solution to this is when either importing a file, or using the "text to columns" feature, go to the third page of the import Wizard, click "Advanced", then specify a decimal separator of ".".

If you don't see this Wizard when loading a ".txt" file, then create a new workbook/sheet, then use the Data > From Text ribbon button to import the ".txt" file.

Other software packages may have similar options. Another workaround is to temporarily change your regional settings (in the Windows control panel), to set the decimal and thousands separators to "." and "," respectively, then put them back after importing. Your software may require a restart after changing the settings, to get it to notice they have changed.

Profiler and offset did not work on an ER125?

The problem was fixed due regional variations in using a "." or "," as a decimal separator, e.g. in numbers like "3.14159". We are guessing your computer was set to use Portuguese (Brazil) settings, which use a comma, but communications with the ER125 always uses a dot. The C4D App was using your OS's settings, which meant it couldn't understand the number. This new version forces the software to internally always use a "." in numbers when communicating with the hardware.


Where can I find a driver for my eDAQ hardware?

The drivers are on the installation software thumb drives and CDs that are sent from eDAQ. When you install the software, the driver will be copied onto the computer.

The drivers are also found here and on the installation file when you download the software from the software download page

Have a look at this troubleshooting application note.

How can I run eDAQ software on Mac hardware

MacOS software development was halted in July 2009. Mac OS Lion (Max OS10.7), released in 2011, no longer includes the 'Rosetta' function which enables old eDAQ Mac software to run. Latest Windows versions of the software can be run on Mac OSX computers based on Intel processors using Windows XP, Vista, 7 or 8 with a suitable virtual machine software such as VMware Fusion or Parallels.

Problem running C4D profiler (V2.5.2) after using PowerChrom

If you try and run the C4D Profiler after running PowerChrom it may fail to perform a complete Zero operation. PowerChrom may leave internal registers in a state that prevents the C4D application from performing a complete Zero operation. So before running C4D Profiler,after running PowerChrom, turn power ON and OFF.