ENGLISH ENGLISH ENGLISH ENGLISH

User Manual
version 1.3

INSTRUMENT
MANAGER
 KEY TO SYMBOLS

Please see below all the symbols that will be used in the manual to draw the reader’s attention:

Pay special attention to the following instructions.

Further information.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 1
INSTALLATION AND START-UP ............................................................................................ 1
SOFTWARE CONFIGURATION .............................................................................................. 2
CONFIGURATIONS ............................................................................................................... 3
CONFIGURATION DATA ......................................................................................................... 3
IDENTITY PARAMETERS ................................................................................................................ 3
OPERATING PARAMETERS ........................................................................................................... 3
SAVING PARAMETERS................................................................................................................... 4
CREATING A NEW CONFIGURATION ................................................................................... 5
OPENING AN EXISTING CONFIGURATION ........................................................................... 6
EDITING A CONFIGURATION ................................................................................................. 7
SAVING A NEW CONFIGURATION ...................................................................................... 10
SAVING AN EXISTING CONFIGURATION............................................................................ 10
EXPORTING A CONFIGURATION ........................................................................................ 10
IMPORTING A CONFIGURATION ......................................................................................... 11
COMPARING CONFIGURATIONS ........................................................................................ 11
PRINTOUTS ........................................................................................................................... 12
PROFILES............................................................................................................................ 13
PROFILE DATA ..................................................................................................................... 13
CREATING A NEW PROFILE ................................................................................................ 13
EDITING AN EXISTING PROFILE ......................................................................................... 14
CONNECTION...................................................................................................................... 15
SERIAL SETTINGS ................................................................................................................ 15
CONNECT .............................................................................................................................. 16
REAL-TIME OPERATIONS .................................................................................................. 17
DASHBOARD......................................................................................................................... 17
CHANNELS ............................................................................................................................ 19
CHANNEL SELECTION ..................................................................................................................20
EQUALISATION ..............................................................................................................................21
REAL CALIBRATION............................................................................................................. 22
COMMANDS .......................................................................................................................... 23
FIRMWARE UPDATE .......................................................................................................... 24
ERRORS DURING UPDATE .................................................................................................. 26
INSTRUMENT RESTORE ...................................................................................................... 27
QUALIFIED ACCESS........................................................................................................... 28
LOG EXPORT ...................................................................................................................... 29
SOFTWARE BACKUP ......................................................................................................... 29
 INTRODUCTION

The Instrument Manager software allows you to set, update and monitor parameters, to be managed
from a PC for an instrument connected via a PC serial port.
Software features:
- Creation of instrument configurations.
- Configuration uploading and downloading to/ from instruments.
- Profiles and personal configuration database.
- Configuration comparison and printout.
- Real-time instrument management via serial port.
- Firmware update.
- Instrument real calibration.
- Equalisation and channel selection (multichannel instruments only).
- Restoring non-operating instruments.
- Qualified access for legally relevant operations.

INSTALLATION AND START-UP

The software can be used on Windows 7 or higher.

Double-click on the installation file and follow the on-screen instructions.

You may need to perform the operation as an administrator. In this case, right-click on the
installation file and select “Run as administrator”.

Once installed, start Instrument Manager from the Windows Start menu or double-click the icon on
your desktop.

At startup, the software will show the welcome window.

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From the welcome window, you may perform various quick operations by clicking on the displayed
icons and fields:

- New: click to create a new configuration (see section CREATING A NEW CONFIGURATION).
- Browse: click to open an existing configuration (see section OPENING AN EXISTING
CONFIGURATION).
- Connect: click to open the connection window in real time (see section CONNECT).
- Help: click to open this user manual.
- Recent configurations: double-click on an item on the list or select and click Open to open the
configuration.

SOFTWARE CONFIGURATION

Select the menu Advanced  Settings to access the Instrument Manager software settings window.

Language: select the software language (to apply

changes, you need to save and restart the software).
Theme: select the software graphic theme (to
apply the changes, you need to save and restart
the software).
Search for updates when software starts: if
activated, software updates and possible new
firmware are automatically searched for at start-up.
Use verbose logging: activate to get more
information on running the application (only if
requested by technical assistance; see section
LOG EXPORT).

Click on Save to confirm settings.

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 CONFIGURATIONS

Configurations are sets of parameters that define the identity and behaviour of an instrument.
Configuration data consist of various types of parameters:
- identity parameters;
- operating parameters;
- saving parameters.

You can create new configurations or open previously created and saved configurations.

CONFIGURATION DATA

IDENTITY PARAMETERS

The identity parameters describe the instrument with its software:

- Instrument: type of instrument.

- Firmware: instrument firmware version.
- Model: model specific to the type of instrument.
- Program: type of program loaded on the instrument.
- Legal for Trade: legal status of the instrument.
- Options: any active options on the instrument.

OPERATING PARAMETERS

The operating parameters are the set of parameters that the instrument uses while performing its
tasks. They can be set directly from the instrument menu.
For example: sensitivity, theoretical full scale, setpoint and weight filter, etc.

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 SAVING PARAMETERS

The saving parameters are the software data configurations being stored and identified within the
software:

Profile: Profiles are those attributes that may be used

to distinguish configurations of instruments belonging
to different customers or to subdivide configurations
as desired (see section PROFILES).

Name: name assigned to the configuration.

Details: any configuration details (optional).

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 CREATING A NEW CONFIGURATION

You can create a new configuration by manually defining all the identity parameters or by using the
identity parameters of a connected instrument.

To create a new configuration by manually defining all the identity parameters, proceed as follows:

- select the menu File  New

- the software will show the new configuration window;
- select the identity parameters for the configuration you want to create and click on Create to
confirm the selection;
- the software will generate a new configuration with the default operating parameters.

The configuration created may only be loaded onto an instrument with the same identity
parameters.

Create a new configuration using the identity parameters of a connected instrument as follows:
- connect the instrument to the PC;
- select the menu Connection  Connect
- the software will show the connection window with the list of instruments detected;
o if the window fails to show the connected instruments, check the serial settings (see
section SERIAL SETTINGS) and click on Refresh;
- select the instrument from which you want to load the identity parameters;
- click on New to confirm your selection;
- the software will generate a new configuration with the default operating parameters.

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 OPENING AN EXISTING CONFIGURATION

To edit or use a previously saved configuration, proceed as follows:

- select the menu Configuration  Open;
- the software will show the Configurations window containing all saved configurations,
indicating the saving and the identity parameters;
- icons are associated with each configuration in the list;
- click on to open the configuration;
- click on to edit the parameters and save the configuration (see section SAVING
PARAMETERS);
- click on to delete the configuration.

It is possible to open a configuration by dragging the .lac file into the software window.

To help the research of configurations, use the fields on top of the window to filter the items listed in
the table.

Filters Date and Last Edit allow you to search for configurations created and/or edited within a given
time frame.

Click on Clear Filters to reset the active filters and come back to display the active configurations.

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 EDITING A CONFIGURATION

After creating a new configuration or loading an existing configuration, the software will show a series
of sheets with a breakdown of the operating parameters. You may change the operating parameters
via the related fields.

When the open configuration has unsaved changes, the indication “(edited)” appears next to the
device name in the summary section at the top.

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After each edit, the software will check the new value entered. If incorrect, the parameter will be
highlighted in red and the name of the tab it belongs to will be marked by a warning icon.

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To display the type of error, place the mouse pointer onto the name of the parameter concerned.

Example: The maximum permitted value for sensitivity is 7. If set to 8 - a higher value - the parameter
will be highlighted in red. If the mouse pointer is positioned over the message Sensitivity, the display
will show the range of permitted values for this parameter.

If one or more operating parameters are in error, you cannot save the configuration nor
load it onto the instrument.

If the configuration has been set in a Legal for Trade state - e.g. OIML, OIML Multiple Range, OIML
Multi Interval, NTEP, NTEP Multiple Range or NTEP Multi Interval - you can only edit certain
parameters via a qualified access (see section QUALIFIED ACCESS). These parameters are
identified by the icon next to the name.

To close an open configuration and return to the main screen, press on the top right or select the
menu: Configuration  Close.

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 SAVING A NEW CONFIGURATION

After creating and editing a new configuration, you can save it by defining its backup parameters.
To save a new configuration, proceed as follows:

- select the menu Configuration  Save

- the software will show the save window;
- define the saving parameters (see section
SAVING PARAMETERS);
- click on Save to save the configuration.

SAVING AN EXISTING CONFIGURATION

After editing an existing configuration, you may:

- overwrite the original configuration and save it;
- save it with a different name;

To save an existing configuration by overwriting the original one, proceed as follows:

- select the menu Configuration Save

To save an existing configuration with a new name, proceed as follows:

- select the menu Configuration  Save as…
- the software will show the save window;
- define the saving parameters (see section SAVING PARAMETERS);
- click on Save to save the configuration.

EXPORTING A CONFIGURATION

You may export a configuration for sending it or using it on another PC.

To export a configuration, proceed as follows:

- select menu Configuration  Export configuration
- select the saving path;
- save the .lac file containing the configuration.

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 IMPORTING A CONFIGURATION

You may import a previously exported configuration. Imported configurations may be used and edited
even if they are not in the database.

To import a configuration, proceed as follows:

- select the menu Configuration  Import configuration;
- select the path of the file you want to import;
- upload the .lac file containing the configuration;
- the software shows the save dialog box: define the saving parameters (see section SAVING
PARAMETERS) and click on Save or ignore the saving by closing the dialog box.

COMPARING CONFIGURATIONS

You may compare two configurations to highlight any differences between parameters.

To compare two configurations, proceed as follows:

- select the menu Configuration  Compare
- the software will show the comparison window where the configurations to be compared may
be selected. You may select a configuration from the previously saved ones or read the
configuration from a connected instrument.
o To select a previously saved configuration, click on the icon :
 the software will show the Configurations window containing all saved configurations;
 select the desired configuration and click on Select to confirm.
o to read a configuration from a connected instrument, click on the icon :
 select the desired instrument form the list and click on Select;
 if the list fails to show the instrument, check the serial settings (see section
SERIAL SETTINGS) and click on Refresh;
- after selecting the configurations to be compared, click on Compare.

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The parameters and their values are shown in the table below.
Parameters with different values are highlighted in red.
To show only parameters with different values, select Only Differences in the Show drop-down menu.
To print out the comparison, click on Print.

You may compare instrument configurations with different identity parameters. In this case, the table
will only show the operating parameters of both configurations.

PRINTOUTS

After creating or editing a configuration, you may print out all its parameters.

Proceed as follows to print out a configuration:

- select the menu Configuration  Print
- select the printer or PDF printing mode;
- click on Print.

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 PROFILES

Profiles are attributes that may be used to distinguish configurations of instruments belonging to
different customers or to subdivide configurations as desired. You may create and edit profiles to
which configurations may be assigned.

PROFILE DATA

The profile data are:

Name: name of the profile identifier.

Logo: image associated with the profile (optional). You may upload
an image by clicking Open or delete it by clicking Delete.

Details: any profile details (optional).

CREATING A NEW PROFILE

To create a new profile, proceed as follows:

- select the menu Advanced  Profiles
- the software will show the Profiles window containing all the previously created profiles (only
one default profile available at the beginning);
- click on New Profile;
- the software will show the New Profile window containing profile data (see section PROFILE DATA);
- define the parameters and click on Save to generate a new profile.

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 EDITING AN EXISTING PROFILE

To edit an existing profile, proceed as follows:

- select the menu Advanced  Profiles
- the software will show the Profiles window containing all the previously created profiles (only
one default profile available at the beginning);
- icons are associated with each profile in the list;
- click on to edit the profile data (see section PROFILE DATA);
- click on to delete the profile.

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 CONNECTION

It is possible to connect to an instrument via serial port and MODBUS protocol.

SERIAL SETTINGS

Set the serial communication parameters as follows:

- select the menu Connection  Serial Settings
- the software will show the window Serial Settings containing all the communication parameters;
- set the communication parameters;
- click on Save to save the settings.

Click on Set to Default to automatically set the default communication

parameters (Baud Rate = 9600, Address = 1, Delay = 0, Parity =
None, Stop Bit=1).

To establish communication with the software, the instrument needs

to be connected via a serial port set with the Modbus protocol and
with the same communication parameters (see section SERIAL
COMMUNICATION SETTING in the instrument manual).

If the Baud Rate parameter is set to Auto, the software automatically searches for the value that
allows establishing a connection and uses it for subsequent operations on the instrument.

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 CONNECT

To connect with an instrument, proceed as follows:

- connect the instrument to the PC;
- select the menu Connection  Connect;
- the software will show the Connection window with the list of detected instruments:
o if the window fails to show the connected instruments, check the serial settings (see
section SERIAL SETTINGS) and click on Refresh;
- select the desired instrument;
- click on one of the icons in the window to execute one of the possible operations:

o New: will generate a new configuration where identity parameters will be identical to
those of the connected instrument, and operating parameters will be set by default (see
section CREATING A NEW CONFIGURATION).
o Upload Configuration: will upload the currently open configuration to the software on the
connected instrument. Each operating parameter on the instrument will be overwritten.
The configuration upload procedure ends with the restart of the instrument.
o Download Configuration: will generate and open a new configuration with all parameters
identical to those of the connected instrument. The parameters on the instrument are
not synchronised with those of the open configuration. To update them you need to
upload the configuration again.
o Connect: will activate a real time connection with the instrument (see section REAL-
TIME OPERATIONS).
o Search Instrument: will search again for connected instruments.

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 REAL-TIME OPERATIONS

All the operations described in this section are possible only if a real time connection with the
instrument is in progress (see the section CONNECT).
The instrument keypad will be locked during real-time connection. If the real-time connection is
unexpectedly interrupted, the instrument will need to be restarted to resume use.

DASHBOARD

The Dashboard is a window that shows the real-time trend of the data read by the connected instrument.
To access the Dashboard window, proceed as follows:
- establish a real time connection with the instrument (see section CONNECT)
- select the menu Operations  Dashboard
or
click on the toolbar icon .
8 2 3 4

1. Weight graph: shows the weight trend displayed on the connected instrument display
2. Weight value read by the connected instrument.
3. Information on the status of the read weight: Stable, Net/Gross, Negative, Error.
4. Buttons for interacting with the connected instrument:
- PAUSE/RESUME: will stop the weight reading by the instrument. The graph and all read
values will remain unchanged at the last value read;
- Net: will perform a net operation. This operation may be repeated several times;
- Gross: will cancel all net operations performed;
- Zero: will send the semi-automatic zero command to the instrument.

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5. Information on the status of the connected instrument inputs and outputs:
- Indicator off: Input or Output open;
- Indicator on: Input or Output closed;
6. Load graph: shows the percentage of current load, expressed in relation to the capacity of the load
cells connected to the instrument.
If the connected instrument is of the multichannel type, the section shows the status of each
channel (active, inactive or in error) and the percentage distribution of the load.

7. Information on the connected instrument.

8. Display settings:
- Show setpoints: adds horizontal highlighted lines to the graph, corresponding to the setpoint
values set on the connected instrument;
- Show stability: adds weight stability information to the graph;
o the red lines correspond to the points when the weight lost stability;
o the green lines correspond to the points when weight gained stability;
- e/10: the weight value is indicated in tenths of the current division.

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 CHANNELS

Only available for multichannel instruments.

To access the Channels window, proceed as follows:

- establish a real time connection with the instrument (see section CONNECT);
- select the menu Operations Channels
or
click on the toolbar icon .

Via the Channels window you may:

- display the weight distribution;
- select active channels;
- equalise the weighing system.
1 4 2

3 5

1. Commands for equalisation (see section EQUALISATION).

2. Commands for selecting the active channels (see section CHANNEL SELECTION).
3. Weight value read by the connected instrument and weight information: Stability, Error.
4. Weight distribution as a percentage on the active channels.
5. Cell signals in mV detected by the active channels.

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 CHANNEL SELECTION

The channel selection commands may be used to display and confirm the channels automatically
detected by the instrument. It is possible to establish active channels automatically or manually. For
further information on how to select channels, please refer to the instrument manual.

To set the automatic selection of active channels, proceed as follows:

- from the drop-down menu Selection mode, select Automatic;
- the active channels are automatically detected by the instrument when the Automatic mode is
selected;
- in this mode, each time the instrument is switched on, it scans to automatically activate the
connected channels.

To manually set the active channels, proceed as follows:

- from the drop-down menu Selection mode, select Manual;
- the channels active at the time of selecting Manual mode will be saved in the instrument's
memory;
- to manually select which channels to be activated, click on Edit;
- the Actions pane will appear, allowing you to perform the following operations:
o Scan channels: will scan the channels detected by the instrument and highlight them in
green;
o Deselect all: deactivates all channels;
o Select All: activates all channels;
- select the channels to be activated and click on Save.

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 EQUALISATION

If an instrument has been set in a Legal for Trade state - e.g. OIML, OIML Multiple Range, OIML
Multi Interval, NTEP, NTEP Multiple Range or NTEP Multi Interval - to access this feature,
qualified access is required (see section QUALIFIED ACCESS).

The equalisation procedure allows the weight differences detected on a platform to be corrected,
weighed by more than one load cell.
For more information on how equalising works, please refer to the instrument manual.

To perform the equalisation procedure, proceed as follows:

- click on Equalise;
- the software will show the wizard window with preliminary instructions;
- click on Start;
- unload the scales, wait for stability and confirm by pressing Next;
- position the sample weight at a load cell:
o if the tallest column of the graph is red, wait for stability and confirm by clicking on Next;
o if the tallest column is green, this means that the sample weight corresponds to a cell
that has already been equalised. Move the sample weight before continuing;
- repeat the positioning of the sample weight for each active channel;
- click on Finish to save the equalisation.

E.g.:

OK OK NO
Click on Next to confirm the Click Next to equalise channel 3. Channel 1 has already been
weight with the scales unloaded. equalised and by proceeding,
you would get an error.
Move the sample weight to
channel 2 or 3 before
continuing.

To delete the equalisation and return to a non-equalised system, click on Delete active equalization.

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 REAL CALIBRATION

If an instrument has been set in a Legal for Trade state - e.g. OIML, OIML Multiple Range, OIML
Multi Interval, NTEP, NTEP Multiple Range or NTEP Multi Interval - to access this feature,
qualified access is required (see section QUALIFIED ACCESS).

It is possible to perform instrument real calibration using sample weights of a known value and, if
necessary, to correct indicated value deviations from the correct value.

The graph in the Real Calibration window shows the calibration curve currently active on the
instrument. The blue dot on the graph indicates the weight currently being read by the instrument.

To perform the real calibration procedure, proceed as follows:

- establish a real time connection with the instrument (see section CONNECT)
- select the menu Operations Real Calibration
or
click on the toolbar icon ;
- the software will show the real calibration window;
- unload the weighing system and wait for stability;
- clear the weight value by clicking on Set as Zero (the weight detected by the instrument will be reset);
- load a sample weight to the weighing system and wait for stability;
- if need be, adjust the weight displayed by writing the correct value in the Manual Weight field;
- click on Insert to confirm the calibration point;
- you may repeat this operation for inserting up to 8 calibration points.

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To delete a calibration point, click on the corresponding icon in the Points pane.
To delete all calibration points, click Delete All in the Points pane.

Performing a reset will cancel all calibration points: so, this is the first operation you need
to perform in the real calibration procedure.

If you intend to calibrate a multichannel instrument, it is recommended you first equalise

the system (see section EQUALISATION).

COMMANDS

You can send commands to the connected instrument: to access the command list, proceed as follows:
- establish a real time connection with the instrument (see section CONNECT);
- select the menu Operations Commands.

Command options:
- Restart instrument: the instrument is restarted;
- Factory Reset: all instrument's operating parameters will be set to the instrument's default
values (see instrument manual to acquaint the default values).

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 FIRMWARE UPDATE

To start an update of the connected instrument proceed as follows:

- connect the instrument to the PC;
- select the menu Advanced  Device  Firmware Update;
- the software will show the window with the list of instruments detected;
o if the list fails to show the instrument, check the serial settings (see section SERIAL
SETTINGS) and click on Refresh;
- when the icon appears on the line of the connected instrument, a new firmware version is
available;
- click on Update or to start the automatic update procedure;
o After clicking Update, you can specify a firmware update file manually by browsing the
local folders on your computer.

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After launching the update, follow the instructions on the monitor and proceed as follows:
1. The software will show the Confirm Boot Mode window.

o If the window requires the RS232 port to be specified, connect the instrument RS232
serial port to the PC and select the corresponding COM port from the drop-down menu
(for further information on connecting the serial port, consult the instrument manual);
o If the window does not require you to specify the RS232 port, the COM port will be
selected automatically;
o If you are prompted to perform preliminary operations before proceeding, follow the
directions of the wizard shown;
2. Activate the Boot mode on the instrument:
o Restart the instrument by holding down the ENTER key on the instrument keyboard
until “” or “” appears;
3. Click on Proceed to confirm the update;
4. Upon completion, the software will display a message showing the outcome of the update
procedure. In case of failure, see section ERRORS DURING UPDATE.

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 ERRORS DURING UPDATE

If the firmware update is unsuccessful the software automatically saves to file the identification data
of the instrument and the information needed for recovery.

To restore the instrument see section INSTRUMENT RESTORE.

To troubleshoot errors during the firmware update, follow these tips:

1. Always try the update procedure at least twice;
2. Check the connection with the instrument and check that the earth of the serial cable is
connected to the earth of the instrument (for further information on the connection, consult the
instrument manual);
3. If the instrument is connected to the serial port of the PC, replace the cable with a Serial - USB
converter and connect the instrument to the USB port of the PC;
4. Open the update console by clicking on the arrow in the figure to check the possible causes of
the failure (see section LOG EXPORT).

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 INSTRUMENT RESTORE

If the firmware update is unsuccessful, proceed as follows to restore the instrument:

- connect the instrument to the PC;
- select the menu Advanced  Device  Restore Instrument;
- the software will show a window with the list of instruments for which data have been saved
and whose update failed;
- select the desired instrument;
- click on Restore.

The software will not check that the connected instrument corresponds with the selected one.
Pay special attention when selecting the instrument

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 QUALIFIED ACCESS

If an instrument has been set in a Legal for Trade state - e.g. OIML, OIML Multiple Range, OIML Multi
Interval, NTEP, NTEP Multiple Range or NTEP Multi Interval - you can edit certain parameters and
perform certain features only via a qualified access.

A customer password table is required to execute a Qualified Access Procedure, which is supplied by the
manufacturer to authorised service centres only. If you have the password table, proceed as follows:
- select the menu Advanced  Qualified Access;
- the software will show the Qualified Access window;
- enter your identification code (user password) in the User field, shown in the table;
- refer to the table and record the password (4-digit number) corresponding to the value shown
in the Seed field;
- type the password in the Password field and click on Authenticate.

Qualified access mode will be quitted when the software is closed.

To cancel qualified access, proceed as follows:

- select the menu Advanced  Qualified Access;
- click on Cancel Authentication.

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 LOG EXPORT

In the event of a malfunction or a failed firmware update, you can export log files, containing diagnostic
information, to facilitate technical assistance in identifying the problem.

This information must be provided in case of a request for technical assistance.

To export the log files proceed as follows:

- Select menu: ?  Export Logs;
- The software shows the window for saving the log file.

SOFTWARE BACKUP

To export a backup select the menu: ?  Backup  Save backup, the software will show the save
dialog box.

To import a backup select the menu: ?  Backup  Import from backup, select the path of the .zip
file you want to import.

WARNING: importing a backup overwrites all data contained in the current installation.

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On our website www.laumas.com you can find videos on the correct installation of weighing
systems and tutorials on the configuration of our weight transmitters and indicators.

Comprehensive user manuals for all LAUMAS products can be found online. They can be
downloaded in PDF format from either the Products section or the Download Area of the website
www.laumas.com. Registration is required.

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