SpecWare 9

Pro and Basic

QUICK-START GUIDE
Item #’s
3654P9, 3654P9U, 3654P9X,
3654B9, 3654B9U, 3654B9X
 Table of Contents

Installation 3

SpecWare Directory 3

Viewing Data 3

Default Settings 4

Testing the Com Port 5

Data Loggers 6

WatchDog Manager 7

Thank you for purchasing SpecWare software. Several manuals, including the full User Man-
ual, Disease Model Manual and Advanced Features Manual are included as .pdf files on the
installation CD, and during software installation will be installed in your SpecWare folder.
These can be easily accessed via the Help menu in SpecWare. Adobe® Reader or Foxit
Reader (available free from www.adobe.com or www.foxitsoftware.com, respectively) is re-
quired to view these documents.

SpecWare Software © 1997-2010 Spectrum Technologies, Inc.

Spectrum Technologies, Inc.

12360 S. Industrial Dr. East
Plainfield, IL 60585
(800) 248-8873 or (815) 436-4440, Fax (815) 436-4460
E-Mail: [email protected]
www.specmeters.com

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 Installation
Insert the SpecWare installation CD in your computer’s disk drive. On most machines, the
software installation will begin automatically. If it does not, run the Setup.exe program on the
CD. When prompt to Select Install Type click on Complete and then Next. Follow the screen
instructions to complete the installation. A desktop icon and a Start menu entry for SpecWare
will be created. The program can also be run by clicking on the Spec9Pro.exe (or
Spec9Basic.exe) file in the C:\SpecWare directory.

Upgrading From Prior Versions

If you have a prior version of SpecWare already installed on a given computer, it is recom-
mended that SpecWare be installed in the same directory as the existing version. Multiple ver-
sions of SpecWare can co-exist without interfering with one another. Data files from
SpecWare versions 6 or earlier must be imported into the current version of SpecWare before
they can be viewed and manipulated. SpecWare cannot convert current format SpecWare
data files to a format compatible with earlier versions.

SpecWare Directory
The SpecWare directory is created during the installation process. The default location of this
directory is usually C:\SpecWare or wherever SpecWare has been previously installed. The
SpecWare directory contains the program’s executable file as well as other support files. The
SpecWare directory is also where logger and weather station data is saved. Data are stored in
sub-directories of the SpecWare directory (usually referred to as Logger Locations). Upon
installation, SpecWare will create a sub-directory called SPECDEMO. This sub-directory con-
tains sample data and allows new users to try out SpecWare’s graph and report features.

Viewing Data
1. Select Open File option from the SpecWare File menu.
2. Select Logger Location of interest as well one or more months of data you wish to view
and click the Open button.
3. Select one or two parameters to plot and click Redraw button.
4. To view reports, select an option from the Tools menu. After selecting a specific report,
click the View Report tab.

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 Default Settings

The default settings are selected in the Preferences screen which is accessed from the File
toolbar menu. This screen allows you to configure the software’s default settings. Two impor-
tant ones should be set immediately.

♦ The unit system to be used (English or Metric) should be set in the General tab.

♦ The Com Port SpecWare will use to communicate with the data logger is selected, and can
be tested, in the Communication tab (see Testing the Com Port, p. 5).

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 Testing the Com Port
USB-Connection

With newer personal computers, an RS-232 serial port may not be available. If you cannot es-
tablish communication with the serial port, a USB-RS232 serial port adapter (item # 3661USB)
is the best option. The adapter requires a driver to be installed on your machine and will work
out of a different Com Port than the RS-232 port.

Identifying the Correct Com Port

The computer Communications Port to which the PC interface cable is connected can be
identified by using a standard size paper clip. By default, a list of the available Com Ports will
be listed, if not click on the pull down arrow. This test is performed with the cable disconnected
from the logger.

1. Go to the Communications tab of the Preferences screen (see p. 4).

2. Select the com port to be tested and click on the Test Port button. If the message
“Connection OK” is displayed, another device (such as a modem) is probably connected to that
port. If the message “No Connection” is displayed, this port may be the one connected to your
serial cable and you can proceed to the next step.

3. Place the smallest side of a standard size paperclip (about 1 3/8” long) on the end of the
serial pin so that it touches BOTH the tip of the pin and the metal area between the two black
rings. Again click on the Test Port button. If the message “Connection OK” now appears, this
is the com port connected to your serial cable.

Paper clip or wire

NOTE: The Original dataloggers do not short-circuit the serial pin. Therefore, when the Test
Port button is clicked while the logger is connected, a “Bad Data Returned” message will be
displayed.

Testing a Connection to a 1000 or 2000-Series Logger/Station

In addition to testing the PC interface cable, the connection to a 1000 or 2000-Series logger
can easily be checked by plugging the cable into the logger’s data port and clicking the 2000
button in the Preferences screen (refer to the Communications tab of the Preferences
screen, p. 4).

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 Data Loggers

Activating (Launching) a Data Logger

These models will not actively record data until they have been started via SpecWare software.
Launching a logger will clear all data from its memory.* Care should be taken that the logger
has been downloaded before initiating the launch sequence. The launch procedure is as fol-
lows:
1. Plug the PC connection cable (see chart on pg. 7) into your PC and into the logger.
2. Use the Logger menu item or toolbar icons to launch the logger.

Launch/Set Properties for WatchDog 1000 or 2000

Launch a WatchDog A-Series

Launch Original WatchDog (B or C-Series)

3. Enter the appropriate information in the WatchDog Properties screen.

4. Click the OK button to transfer the settings to the logger and begin the data logging proc-
ess.

*Note: 1000 Series Data Loggers do not need to be re-launched if the “Wrap around when full”
has been checked in the WatchDog Properties. They will retain old data until the space is
needed for new data.

Downloading a Data Logger

1. Plug the PC connection cable (see chart pg. 7) into your PC and into the logger.
3. Use the Logger menu item or toolbar icons to get data from the logger..

Get Data form WatchDog 1000 or 2000 Series

Get data from a WatchDog A-Series Logger

Get Data from an Original WatchDog Data Logger (B or C-Series)

4. The first time a logger is downloaded or if a new name has been given to it, the message
“An attempt is being made to save data into a nonexistent folder. There is no directory
(folder)….” will be displayed. Click on the Yes button to create a new folder.

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 Logger Type Direct Connection Item #
1000-Series Logger Gray 9 Pin Serial Cable Included with Specware
A-Series Logger USB Cable 3661A
B-Series (Button) Logger 9-Pin Serial or USB Dock 3655K/3655K1
C-Series Original Logger/
Weather Station Gray 9 Pin Serial Cable Included with Specware
2000 Series Stations Gray 9-Pin Serial Cable Included with Specware

WatchDog Manager
Loggers and 2000 Series Stations
WatchDog Manager easily tracks stations, loggers and their data. Essential for remote
weather stations also can be used for loggers.
Configuring a 2000 Series Station or Data Logger with WatchDog Manager
To change the configuration of the 2000 Series Station or Data Logger:

1. Plug the connection cable into your PC and into the logger and open up SpecWare

2. Select WatchDog Manager icon from the toolbar icons.

3. Click the New Station

4. Enter the logger name, and select the appropriate WatchDog Type
and Connection Type and where appropriate Number as noted below.
♦ Local (Direct Connect)- (no number required)
♦ Wireless (Multipoint) - Enter the Serial # of Weather Station
♦ Modem (Dial-out to remote wired) - Enter the phone number for the station modem.
♦ Modem (Dial-out to remote cellular) - Enter the phone number for the station modem.
♦ Web (SpectrumWeather.com) - Enter Weather Station Model & Serial as a nine digit #

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5. Click the More button to display the properties saved on the station/logger..

6. Make any changes to the WatchDog Properties, and click the OK button to transfer the
settings to the station/logger.

2000 Series Station Note:

When a new station is created in WatchDog Manager, that station name is compared to the
name on the station itself. If they differ, you will be given the option to change the name and
clear the stations memory. See the SpecWare User’s manual for details on erasing station
data.

Configuring an Existing Station/Logger with SpecWare

The process for reconfiguring a station/logger that has previously been set up in the Watch-
Dog Manager is similar to creating a new station.

1. Plug the PC connection cable into your PC and into the station/logger. Select Watchdog-
Manager icon from the toolbar menu.
2. Select the desired station/logger within the WatchDog Manager screen.*
3. Click the Properties button.
4. Click the More button to expand the screen.
5. After setting all configuration settings, click the OK button to transfer this information to the
logger

Downloading a Station/Logger
1. Plug the PC interface cable into your PC and into the station/logger.
2. Select WatchDog Manager icon from the toolbar buttons..
3. Select the <Direct-Connect 2000 Series> and click the Readout button.*
4. Data will be saved to a Logger Location with the same name as the Station/Logger
Name. If such a location does not exist, SpecWare will prompt you before creating it.

* If the station/logger is connected directly, it is easiest to select the <Direct Connect 2000
Series> entry in the list. For remote connections, such as wireless, select the station’s entry
that was set up previously.

Configuring a 2000 Series Weather Station with the Keypad

It is possible to deploy a weather station (Model 2900 ET, 2700 and 2550) without configuring
it with SpecWare. See the WatchDog 2000 Series Weather Stations User’s Guide for details.

Rev 3/10
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