ExReader Data Collection

Software
Instruction Manual

VICAM
313 Pleasant Street
Watertown, MA 02472 U.S.A.
Tel: 800-338-4381, 617-926-7045
Fax: 617-923-8055
e-mail: [email protected]
Effective date: August 16, 2006
ExReader Data Collection Software
__________________________________________________________________________________

1.0 INTRODUCTION
The ExReader Data Collection Software is designed to allow the user of a VICAM
Series-4EX fluorometer to have their data transferred directly into an Excel spreadsheet.
This software is designed to be used only with the VICAM Series-4EX fluorometer and a
computer running Windows 2000 or Windows XP operating systems.

2.0 SETUP THE VICAM SERIES-4EX FLUOROMETER

2.1 Set the serial port to USB

Operator Press Display Reads

VICAM 4EX Ready
[OPTIONS] --------------------------------------------- Calibrate Test
(repeat) Real Time Test
(repeat) Test Functions
(repeat) Diagnostic Functions
(repeat) Settings
[ENTER] ------------------------------------------------ Set Date and Time
[OPTIONS] --------------------------------------------- Set Serial Port
[ENTER] ------------------------------------------------ RS232
[OPTIONS] USB
(repeat toggles between USB and RS232)
[ENTER] ------------------------------------------------ VICAM 4EX Ready

2.2 Set the data format to Excel

Operator Press Display Reads

VICAM 4EX Ready
[OPTIONS] --------------------------------------------- Calibrate Test
(repeat) Real Time Test
(repeat) Test Functions
(repeat) Diagnostic Functions
(repeat) Settings
[ENTER] ------------------------------------------------ Set Date and Time
[OPTIONS] --------------------------------------------- Set Serial Port
[OPTIONS] --------------------------------------------- Enable Sample Name
[OPTIONS] --------------------------------------------- Comment Line Spacing
[OPTIONS] --------------------------------------------- Set Printer
[OPTIONS] --------------------------------------------- Set Data Format
[ENTER] ------------------------------------------------ Text
[OPTIONS] EXCEL
(repeat toggles between Text and Excel) ------------
[ENTER] ------------------------------------------------ VICAM 4EX Ready

__________________________________________________________________________________
VICAM Page 2 of 2
ExReader Data Collection Software
__________________________________________________________________________________
2.3 Turn OFF the Series-4EX printer. (This step is optional. The data transfer will
work whether the printer is ON or OFF.)

Operator Press Display Reads

VICAM 4EX Ready
[OPTIONS] --------------------------------------------- Calibrate Test
(repeat) Real Time Test
(repeat) Test Functions
(repeat) Diagnostic Functions
(repeat) Settings
[ENTER] ------------------------------------------------ Set Date and Time
[OPTIONS] --------------------------------------------- Set Serial Port
[OPTIONS] --------------------------------------------- Enable Sample Name
[OPTIONS] --------------------------------------------- Comment Line Spacing
[OPTIONS] --------------------------------------------- Set Printer
[ENTER] ------------------------------------------------ Turn Printer On
[OPTIONS] Turn Printer Off
(repeat toggles between ON and OFF) --------------
[ENTER] ------------------------------------------------ VICAM-4EX Ready
3.0 SETUP THE PC
The USB driver for the VICAM Series-4EX fluorometer and the ExReader software need
to be installed on your computer. The driver, software and instructions are all found on
the VICAM Series-4EX Distribution Disk that accompanied your new fluorometer. If
you need assistance please contact your local distributor or VICAM Technical Service.

3.1 Insert the VICAM Series-4EX Distribution Disk into your computer’s CD-ROM
drive. The Main Utilities Menu should open automatically. If it does not open,
go to the CD-ROM drive on your computer, open it and click on the CD-START
icon.
3.2 Click on the button labeled “Install USB Drivers” and then click on the button for
your Windows operating system. Next click on the “Install Drivers” button. the
utility will install the USB driver. Return back to the Main Utilities Menu by
hitting the Back button.
3.3 Click on the “Install ExReader Utility for data transfer to Excel” button. Follow
the instructions on the ExReader Setup screens. VICAM recommends accepting
all the default settings suggested. Exit the Utilities program after the ExReader
has been installed.
3.4 Set up the ExReader
- Power on the Series-4EX fluorometer and connect it to the computer with a USB
cable.
- Click Start, then select Programs, VICAM and ExReader. This starts the
ExReader application. An error may occur the first time the ExReader is started
because the port has not yet been set. If you get the error message “Invalid port
number” just click OK.

__________________________________________________________________________________
VICAM Page 3 of 3
ExReader Data Collection Software
__________________________________________________________________________________
- In the ExReader application box, select File and then Properties.
- In the properties box select the port that the fluorometer is using. You can check
which port is being used by going to the Control Panel and selecting the System
icon. Select the Hardware tab , then click on Device Manager. Expand the
Ports (COM & LPT) list by clicking on the + symbol. The correct port number
for the fluorometer will be one of the USB Serial Ports (COMx). Verify which
one it is by right clicking and selecting Properties. The manufacturer will be
FTDI. Close these windows before continuing.
- The other properties in this box should be set as follows:
Data Rate 38400
Data Bits 8
Parity None
Stop Bits 1
Flow Control None
- Click OK. The ExReader is now installed and setup.

NOTE: You will only need to setup the computer and install the ExReader software
once on each computer. Once this has been completed on a computer you can go
directly to the next step and begin data collection.

4.0 DATA COLLECTION WITH EXREADER

4.1 The fluorometer should be powered on, have serial port set to USB and data
format set to Excel. The computer should have previously had appropriate USB
drivers and ExReader installed and setup. Connect the fluorometer to the
computer with a USB cable.
4.2 It is the users’s choice as to whether the fluorometer is calibrated before or after
starting data collection with ExReader. If you calibrate the fluorometer after
starting data collection with ExReader, then the calibration settings will be
recorded on the Excel spreadsheet.
4.3 Click Start, then select Programs, VICAM and ExReader. Verify that the
communication port is open. You should see “Settings: 38400,n,8,1” and the time
connected in the Status Bar at the bottom of the window. If these do not appear,
select Port Open from The File Menu. There should be a √ in front of the Port
Open item.
4.4 You are ready to begin collecting data from the fluorometer. Perform calibration
or run samples on the fluorometer in your normal manner. The data will appear
in the box of ExReader. Once you have collected all the data required, close the
ExReader application.

NOTE: The application opens a new CSV (Comma Separated Values) file each
day, using the date as the file name. These files are stored in a folder called
“VICAM Data” on your computer’s hard drive. If you run the ExReader several
times during the day, the program will append the data to that day’s CSV file.

__________________________________________________________________________________
VICAM Page 4 of 4
ExReader Data Collection Software
__________________________________________________________________________________
4.5 Locate the data file in the folder “VICAM Data” that you would like to open.
Double click on the file and it will open as an Excel spreadsheet. If you
calibrated your fluorometer after starting ExReader, the calibration information
will appear on the first line in the format:

Date & Time Test Name Red Value Units Green Value Units INSTRUMENT CALIBRATION

A single row is used for each sample. The sample data appears in the following
format:

Date & Time Test Name Sample Name or Number Result Measurement Unit

If the date column shows “####” you will need to make the column wider to
allow all the data to be displayed. Some other rows may also need to be made
wider to allow you to view all the data. The file can then be saved as an
Microsoft Excel file if desired.
4.6 This is an example of a data file that is produced by the ExReader Data Collection
Software program. The data file generated by ExReader was opened in Excel and the
width of the first column was enlarged to display the date and time.

INSTRUMENT
5/31/06 9:09 AflaTest 22 PPB -1 PPB CALIBRATION
5/31/06 9:09 AflaTest G -1.0 PPB
5/31/06 9:10 AflaTest MEOH -0.69 PPB
5/31/06 9:11 AflaTest WATER -0.50 PPB
5/31/06 9:12 AflaTest GREEN -0.98 PPB
5/31/06 9:13 AflaTest YELLOW 10 PPB
5/31/06 9:14 AflaTest RED 22 PPB

5.0 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

For assistance please contact your local distributor or VICAM Technical Services:

Phone: 800-338-4381 Canada, Mexico and the United States

617-926-7045 all International and United States customers

Fax: 617-923-8055

e-mail: [email protected]

__________________________________________________________________________________
VICAM Page 5 of 5
ExReader Data Collection Software
__________________________________________________________________________________
6.0 LIABILITY
The software program described above have been developed by VICAM to be used
exclusively with the VICAM Series-4EX fluorometer. The user assumes all risks in using this
product. VICAM makes no warranty of any kind, express or implied, other than that the product
conforms to VICAM’s quality control standards. VICAM will at its option replace any product
or part thereof which proves to be defective. VICAM’s undertaking to replace such products is
exclusive and is in lieu of all warranties whether written, oral expressed, or implied, including
any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. VICAM shall have
no liability for anticipated or lost profits or any loss, inconvenience or damage whether direct,
incidental, consequential or otherwise, to person or property, or for strict liability or negligence
arising from or in connection with the use of this product.

THE VICAM FLUOROMETER IS DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED TO VICAM

SPECIFICATIONS AND IS INTENDED FOR USE IN CONNECTION OR CONJUCTION
WITH APPROPRIATE VICAM PRODUCTS, PROCEDURES AND METHODS, TOGETHER
ENSURING A CONSISTENT AND HIGH FIDELITY APPLICATION OF VICAM’S
SPECIALIZED AND PROPRIETARY TECHNOLOGY. THEREFORE, ANY USE OF THE
VICAM FLUOROMETER WITH OR IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANY NON-VICAM
PRODUCT MAY COMPROMISE THE INTEGRITY OF THE APPLICATION/PROCEDURE
AND MAY RESULT IN PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE PRODUCT, FOR WHICH
DAMAGE, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT THEREOF, THE
BUYER SHALL NOT HOLD VICAM RESPONSIBLE. ANY USE OF THE VICAM
FLUOROMETER WITH OR IN CONJUNCTION WITH NON-VICAM PRODUCTS,
REGARDLESS OF DAMAGE CAUSED TO THE PRODUCT, SHALL EXCUSE VICAM
FROM PERFORMING REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF THE PRODUCT UNDER OR
AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD.

The foregoing notwithstanding, protocols and other products developed by VICAM are
periodically improved and revised in order to maximize reliability and optimize customer use
and satisfaction. When an improved, new or substitute version of a protocol and product is
available, VICAM shall not be held liable or responsible for any earlier protocol or product, even
if use of earlier product or protocol be within the expiration date. Please inform yourself about
any new protocols by either e-mailing, faxing or phoning VICAM or your local VICAM
distributor.

VICAM shall not be liable or responsible for any unsatisfactory or faulty results or
performance involving the use of VICAM protocols or products if the testing or sampling in
question is not conducted properly. The customer is solely and fully responsible for educating
oneself about the proper testing and sampling procedures using VICAM protocols and products.

All VICAM products are protected by worldwide patents and trademarks.

__________________________________________________________________________________
VICAM Page 6 of 6
ExReader Data Collection Software
__________________________________________________________________________________
Instruction Manual # GN-MC9557-2

__________________________________________________________________________________
VICAM Page 7 of 7