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I had just install the Data logging software package of Agilent ,
and took few screen shots of the process, so to present to you ..
The installer does three basic tasks .
1) Installs the USB driver .
2) Searches your system to find , if you do have installed the Microsoft framework files .
3) Updates windows if needed.
4) Installs the main software , Agilent Data logger .
There is an complete PDF at Agilent web site , and also the software includes an complete Help file.
I hope this thread to be used as troubleshooting guide for the new users, of the Data logger aplication .
Do not worry, I am new too.
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The PetrosA , a good friend of my , started to test the application.
(Personally I do not have the DMM yet )
And you can find his first impressions here .. https://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=2423.msg43379#msg43379 -
At this point I like to thanks a new forum member , Mr John @insurgent ..
He owns the U1253A .
He responded to my request about few sample files, of the Agilent data logger software in CSV format.
(So to play with them , by using the Microsoft Excel.)
Well the Agilent GUI data logger , is an very basic application,
that probably will cover most needs.
But there is another possibility for the ones that needs better analysis,
or presentation of the collected data.
And this can happen by importing the CSV files in to Microsoft Excel .
From there you get the ability to :
1) edit the log ( delete unwanted log entries ) = making the log sorter.
2) add factors in the current measurements, example : (+1,5% + 2 digits)
3) Making a 2D or 3D graph, more rich in detail , and totally customizable.
4) Print
The truth is that those tasks , are not so straight forward or easy to do,
if you are very inexperienced, about using spreadsheets .
About getting your way importing those files in Excel,
if you Google about it , there is plenty of info .
And there is specific directions for the version or brand of the software,
that you own as spreadsheet editor.
I own the Microsoft Office 2003 ( Small business edition) ,
and so , any tips that I have to share , are based to this.
I managed to import the data that John send me , in to Excel.
and also made an successful 2D graph ( X= Temperature Y= time stamp )
I got only in to problems , when noticed that the log made by the DMM,
had at its temperature value , additional insignificant numbers that caused problems on the Excel.
Example No1 : ( temp in Fahrenheit )
Entry sample No1 : 24.4701
Entry sample No2 : 24.469
Example No2
37, 5/2/2011 12:27:49 AM, {Cap},24.4701
38, 5/2/2011 12:27:50 AM, {Cap},24.4705
39, 5/2/2011 12:27:50 AM, {Cap},24.469
40, 5/2/2011 12:27:51 AM, {Cap},24.4736
41, 5/2/2011 12:27:51 AM, {Cap},24.4789
42, 5/2/2011 12:27:52 AM, {Cap},24.478
The reason of the problem that I got to ,
looks to be of how accurately the insignificant digits recorded by the device as hardware.
All the digits colored as red, they must be manually removed ,
so the Excel spreadsheet to be able to function properly , and create the graphs too.
The same data at the Agilent GUI data logger works normal as is .
(probably because the software are tweaked to ignore them )
I will come back with more about it , as soon I receive my own U1272A and examine the logs that produces.
The current sample Log of the U1253A, it looks to me, that is not an errors-free one. -
The current sample Log of the U1253A, it looks to me, that is not an errors-free one.
I love making mistakes , because it concludes that I am active ..
Well I was correct all along about the problem that I had faced,
and is an problem , that millions of computers gets troubled from it.
Especially the ones with International regional settings .
The problem are at the setting of the Thousands separator ,
that if is not correctly set (compatible with the West standards )
and causes an serious problem, about formatting properly the numbers.
Some information about the existence of the problem, came to me from another Greek,
in Greece (His name Michalis, lover of the adventure too )
And by searching more, found the proper setting in Excel ,
that I had to tweak so everything to work as expected.
Guess what .. it called international tab ( No shit )
If you face an similar problem set the fields as pictured .
Now everything works , and I can make nicely made graphs .. (last photo)
With out the Data logging , I had no reason making graphs,
and so i am two times happy , as I found another one reason , that justify s the price about getting the software,
because now it is in good use.
Pictures..
Click on, for larger image.
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My unofficial mini F.A.Q. Part 1
Subjects :
1) Software crash or not working.
2) COM Port details
On the Help file of the software ,
that is the same with the pdf document
U1251-90023.pdf = Data logger Quick Start Guide
Agilent did their part, by writing several NOTES
On the chapter : Set Up a Communication With the Multimeter
Note 1 :
a) The U1173A IR-USB cable functions as a serial RS-232 port that connects the multimeter to the USB port of your PC.
b) The RS232 port is not meant for hot plugging or hot swapping.
c) Disconnecting the U1173A IR-USB cable when it is in use will crash the Agilent GUI Data Logger.
As additional info to this note, I will add :
a) Disable any power saving modes on your laptop ,
exactly like your DMM does automatically ,
every time that you activate the data logging function.
b) The Windows power saving modes, can also control the RS232 COM port status ( power On and OFF ),
This would lead to trouble, as the software fails when this communication fails too.
( And it is equal to hot plugging or hot swapping , as Agilent correctly noted about the RS232 port )
Steps to follow for Out door Data logging :
1) Fresh booted laptop
2) Plug in the USB slot , the IR-USB cable ( as soon the laptop settles from booting )
3) Wait 10 seconds ( So the laptop to recognise the device )
4) Start the software Data logger .
5) Do your job
6) Close the software .
7) Remove the IR-USB cable ( un plug it)
8 ) Select on your laptop -> System shutdown - > Power off .
9) Go to the step one , if you need another use of it , in a later time.
Note 2 :
For U1271A and U1272A models, only baud rates of 9600 and 19200 bits/second are available.
And this Translates to:
Model Number="U1251A" Baud Rate="9600 or 14400 or 19200 "
Model Number="U1251B" Baud Rate="9600 or 14400 or 19200 "
Model Number="U1252A" Baud Rate="9600 or 14400 or 19200 "
Model Number="U1252B" Baud Rate="9600 or 14400 or 19200 "
Model Number="U1253B" Baud Rate="9600 or 14400 or 19200 "
Model Number="U1253A" Baud Rate="9600 or 14400 or 19200 "
Model Number="U1271A" Baud Rate="9600 or 19200"
Model Number="U1272A" Baud Rate="9600 or 19200"
The 19200 Baud Rate, adds Extra bandwidth = faster download time of the stored logs (DMM to PC ).
The 9600 Baud Rate are more than enough, for real-time logging.
I bet, that the function on the software named as Auto discovery of the DMM .
It will do what it says, and so, no user interaction or extra manual settings needed.
The U1271A / U1272A has two fixed Baud Rates "9600 or 19200" ,
And so it’s hard to go wrong with it, when setting it up even manually.
What is still untested by me , are if the software are capable ,
To auto-detected the U1271A / U1272A, no mater what Baud Rate, was set manually in the DMM .
For example : If I have manually set on the DMM menu 19200 Baud Rate instead of 9600.
Will be automatically detected?
( If not , I would had to set manually on the software too,
the same setting as 19200 Baud Rate & and COM port number ? )
Tip 1 : You can find the COM port number of the IR-USB cable,
In your Windows -> Device Manager -> Ports ( COM & LPT) .
Tip 2: If you set manually higher Baud Rate settings in the Data logger software,
than what your DMM supports, It will lead to No communication with your DMM.
If you like to help this thread,
you need to test and submit the workable Baud Rates of the models listed at the end of this post .
Example : Model U1272A
4800 = No
7200 = No
9600 = Yes
14400 = No
19200 = Yes
Models to be tested:
U1251A
U1251B
U1252A
U1252B
U1253BU1253A
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Hi Kiriakos,
I've tested the Model U1273A:
2400 = Yes
4800 = Yes
7200 = N/A
9600 = Yes
14400 = N/A
19200 = Yes
Note that 7200 and 14400 are not available as options for this meter.
Take care,
John -
Hi Kiriakos,
I've tested the Model U1273A:
Take care,
John
If you had I would feel jealous
Even so, you are welcome, about posting the results of the U1253A
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The last weeks I have download almost the half of the Agilent web site ..
( documents)
And found another document , related to data logging , with some extra tips.
http://cp.literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/5989-7937EN.pdf
At the bottom of the page , there is the specs of the IR-USB cable.
( The cable has a maximum baud rate of 19200 bits per second ).
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Do any of you know if the protocol used to talk to meter is documented anywhere ?
I'd like to talk to mine from my Mac.
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Hi mjo .
The current software, it has be made by using major software components, found exclusively on XP, Vista, Windows 7 - 32 bit .
It is more wise to email Agilent , and find out, if they have plans for an special release, for MAC users.
Or you can ask them, by writing your question on their web forum ..
https://forums.tm.agilent.com/community/viewforum.php
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Hi mjo,
If Agilent provides you with documentation, please let us know. I haven't asked for anything from them under the assumption that they wouldn't. I could be wrong and I'd be please if that were the case.
You'll find that the meter supports a very small subset (understandable) of the SCPI (Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments) protocol. You can make a request to the Google Gods to find documentation on SCPI and amazingly it doesn't appear that you have to pay $10,000USD to have the privilege of reading them.
Here's a minimal list of commands that the U1253A (Hey Kiriakos, I got the model number correct this time! ) meter supports:
*Query commands are post-fixed with a "?"
*For queries regarding the secondary display, append @2 to the command (e.g. CONF? @2)
*IDN? - Identification
SYST:BATT? - Request batter status. Not sure what units are returned.
CONF? - Request confirguration (e.g. "VOLT:AC +5.00000000E+00,+1.00000000E-04")
STAT? - Request unit status. I have not decoded the meaning of the return value for this. (e.g. "000000I00302L00004001")
FETC? - Request current reading (and FETC? @2 returns current reading on secondary display)
*RST - Meter reset
SYST:VERS? - Unknown, my meter returns 1990.0
SYST:ERR? - Unknown, probably returns the last error
READ? - Request current reading. I don't believe that the @2 option works for this command.
If your meter supports logging (manual or auto) then the following commands can be used:
LOG:AUTO xx - Request value of auto-log position xx
LOG:HAND xx - Request value of manual log position xx
There are other configuration commands as well. Let me know if you want them.
I haven't been able to spend a lot of time playing with the commands so I certainly can't provide comprehensive documentation especially w.r.t. the system and configuration commands.
Take care,
John
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(Hey Kiriakos, I got the model number correct this time!
)
Spot on .. Thumps Up
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Thanks for your help.
I'll report back when I've played with it. -
Well I wrote a message to Agilent forums, about my new wish list for the next version of the data logger software.
And it looks that I got an response.
https://forums.tm.agilent.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=553&t=26896
If you have any ideas or hidden wish list, join their forum, and add it on the above thread.
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Finally got my U1272A and so I can test as much I like the data logger.
Few words about the U1173A IR-USB Cable .
It is an very well made accessory.
All the details on it is well taken cared.
Even the cable it self, it can survive to temperatures like 75 - 80 Celsius ( it is printed on it )
Pictures of it at the bottom.
About the software, it has much power hidden in it, mostly if you care to get an nice graph.
But the settings about the nice looking graph demands to adjust its and every time,
the X & Y axis parameters, and if you do not play with them, you do not have a chance to get a graph as you like to be.
Tips :
a) Do not set the background as black, if you print the graph your ink-jet it will waste lots of black ink.
b) graph and laptops, just forget it, the software needs one large monitor like a 23" or more so to have the proper or good enough resolution.
When working with laptops just use the data logging table so to inspect the values.
c) You need to read the manual a bit, By blindly clicking anything like a button, you are not going anywhere.
Nags : The data logger monitors the range switch position, and auto adjusts accordingly.
unfortunately at the U1272A the software does not understand the change in the selection between the capacitor range,
that becomes also as temperature range with the key pad !!
And so even if you log temperature the data logger indicates that it is in the capacitor range and adds on the log the word CAP.
Even if correctly records temperature.
Its a small annoyance and should be fixed, logically it should write TEMP instead of CAP.
Other than that nothing major as nag, I am still exploring it
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I had a bit of time over the weekend, and managed to make some progress getting my Mac and U1272A to talk to each other.
The short take is that insurgent's notes are just what you need to know to get going.
If you want a longer version I wrote up some notes: http://mjo.tc/atelier/2011/06/agilent-macos.html
Thanks again for all your help. -
Kyriako, how would you say the Agilent data loggin/presentation software compares with Fluke View Forms?
Also, does the USB IR cable come as a bundle with the DMM? If not, do we know how much it will cost to get one?
Alex -
I do not know how the "Fluke View Forms" package compares against the Agilent basic data logger approach.
What I do know are that you have to spent 600$ or more so to get an Fluke DMM with data logging ability.
About the pricing of the USB IR cable looks like 40$ retail.
And no it does not come as standard accessory.
My opinion is that, the 40$ looks like a small loss, if you do not use the data logger so often.
If I spent lots of money on something that I will not use it daily, automatically becomes as an waste of money.
Agilent did one small mistake on the software, and I cannot blame them for it .
The mistake was that in order to make it more useful and rich,
it turned out to look a bit complicate in order to operate it.
Agilent I do forgive you about it ... I do not know about the others Lol
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Quote
About the pricing of the USB IR cable looks like 40$ retail.
Compares favourably for Agilent when Fluke's OC4USB retails for £112 ($200) on Farnell UK. I like it. I think Fluke treated the USB cable as a printer ink cartridge rather than an accessory, but it does come with Fluke View Forms as a bundle.
Alex -
Well Alex in my language that is currently the Euro coin, it translates like 430 Euro for one U1272A ( with tax) plus 35 EUR for the cable),
an total of 465 Euros, when the 87V costs 540 Euros .
If we think that the Fluke model with data logging capability retails to 750 Euros Plus 200 for the cable,
we getting near to the round number of 1000 Euros .
The price difference that comes from the numbers its like a difference of night VS day.
At list in Europe. -
I dont want to imagine how much the Fluke 289 View Forms will cost in Greece when the Fluke 87V costs 540 Euros.
For a more direct price comparison, the U5481A -Agilent's equivalent USB IR cable- costs £20 on Farnell and Fluke's OC4USB £120. Same country, same website, both in stock within the UK. The functionality is the same, I bet if you take the LEDs out and manually align them it will work just fine. -
I had a bit of time over the weekend, and managed to make some progress getting my Mac and U1272A to talk to each other.
If you want a longer version I wrote up some notes: http://mjo.tc/atelier/2011/06/agilent-macos.html
Thanks again for all your help.
My friend I did take a good look of your page, and I feel the need to congrats you for your efforts.
You did an well made presentation .
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I don't know whether anybody else has had this problem, but I don't seem to be able to receive the secondary reading either on the "virtual meter" or the data tables. Does anybody know how to fix this (I did read the manual, but still no success)?
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Data logger help file --> Agilent GUI Data logger V3.2 --> Ho Do I ? --> Log Data from the Multimeter --> Data Logging Table
Prior to using the secondary data logging option, activate the secondary display function by pressing DUAL button on the front panel of the multimeter .
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AH, It works know, I was clicking the wrong button. Thanks.