-------------------------Monitor------------------------
The Newsletter for PC-Based Data Acquisition and Control
Issue 172 www.windmill.co.uk November 2012
--------------------ISSN 1472-0221----------------------
Welcome to Monitor. This month we've replaced the
Excel Corner with an OpenOffice Corner, giving tips
on getting live data from instruments and devices into
the Open Office Calc spreadsheet. We're also offering
subscribers 27% off pH monitoring over USB.
For more data acquisition news and tips follow us on
Twitter - @DataAcquisition.
We had some problems with our on-line store last month -
my apologies if you were affected. Everything is now back
to normal at https://www.windmillsoft.com/, and we
have a new special offer on pH measurement.
I hope you enjoy this issue, but should you wish
to remove yourself from our mailing please go to
Monitor Newsletter
CONTENTS
========
* 27% Off pH Monitoring via USB
* OpenOffice Corner: Getting Live Data into Open Office
* DAQ News Round-up
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27% Off pH Monitoring via USB
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Use your PC to monitor 12 pH
electrodes or probes with
the - now reduced - Microlink
751-pH package. Connect up
to eight 751-pH units to one PC
to monitor up to 96 pH probes. Previously available for £1095,
we are pleased to offer it to you now for just £795.
Included in the price is Windmill data acquisition software,
which makes setup and data logging very easy. Our modular
suite of software also provides charting and alarm indication,
lets you control other equipment and can send data to Excel
and other software in real-time.
The Microlink 751-pH uses an integrating analogue-to-digital
converter which reduces internal noise, and a differential
amplifier which helps remove external noise. The Microlink
also lets you monitor temperature, flow, level,
gas concentration, resistance and other parameters.
Further Reading
===============
More information on the 751-pH package:
https://www.windmillsoft.com/daqshop/pH-measurement.html
Monitor 92: Tips on using your PC to measure pH.
https://www.windmill.co.uk/monitor92.html
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OpenOffice Corner: Getting Live Data into OpenOffice
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OpenOffice is similar to the Microsoft Office suite of
programs, but OpenOffice is free! It includes a
spreadsheet program called Calc. Today I'll explain how
to get live data into OpenOffice's Calc.
Windmill programs communicate with your instruments and
devices and can send the data directly to OpenOffice.
If you don't have a copy of Windmill, subscribers can download
a free trial that will collect data from instruments
connected over TCP/IP (Ethernet and Internet) RS232,
RS422, RS484 and Modbus.
To get the live data into OpenOffice you just enter an
"array formula" there. An array formula returns multiple
results, rather than just one, so you can see readings
from all your data channels. You enter an array formula
by pressing the Ctrl+Shift+Enter keys.
Using OpenOffice with DDE Panel
===============================
To get live data from DDE Panel into OpenOffice
1. Start DDE Panel and connect your data channels.
2. In OpenOffice's Calc, select a row of cells large
enough to hold all the channels.
3. Enter this array formula:
=DDE("WINDMILL";"data";"AllChannels")
don't forget to press the Ctrl+Shift+Enter keys to
tell Calc that it is an array formula.
4. The formulas is displayed as
{=DDE("WINDMILL";"data";"AllChannels")}
and new data appears in Open Office whenever the
DDE Panel updates.
To change the update rate, go to DDE Panel and change the
Refresh Rate there.
Another way to enter the data is
1. In DDE Panel, click the Copy to Clipboard button and
select Copy All Channels.
2. In OpenOffice, choose Paste Special from the Edit menu
and select DDE Link.
3. The array formula given above is automatically entered
and the data appears.
Using OpenOffice with Logger
===============================
Windmill Logger collects readings from instruments and
devices, and saves it in a series of text files. You can
simultaneously collect data with Logger and show it
in OpenOffice.
1. Start collecting data with Windmill Logger.
2. In OpenOffice's Calc, select a row of cells large enough
to hold all the instrument channels connected to Logger
3. Enter this array formula:
=DDE("Logger";"data";"AllChannels")
don't forget to press the Ctrl+Shift+Enter keys to tell
Calc that it is an array formula.
Using OpenOffice with several copies of Logger
=================================================
You can run more than once copy of Logger at a time.
This is useful, for instance, if you want to log data
from different channels at different rates. In this
case you need to change the new Logger's DDE service name.
From the Logger File menu select DDE and type in a new
name. In your formula, change "Logger" to your new name.
Further Reading
==================
For more OpenOffice tips see
https://www.windmill.co.uk/openoffice.html
For more on array formulas see Monitor Issue 116
https://www.windmill.co.uk/monitor116.html
Any questions - e-mail monitor@windmillsoft.com.
Comments
========
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DAQ News Round-up
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Welcome to our round-up of the data acquisition and
control news. If you would like to receive more
timely DAQ news updates then follow us on Twitter at
https://twitter.com/DataAcquisition
Student's Sensor Harvests Energy from Earthquakes
A wireless vibration sensor could provide a low-cost
solution for engineers to monitor the damage of buildings
affected by earthquakes. When earthquakes occur, the
energy harvested from the vibrations activates the
wireless transceiver to transmit the data packets which
contain the sensor's identifier. The greater the
vibrations, the greater the energy harvested and the
more packets that are sent.
Source: Victoria University
http://www.victoria.ac.nz/
Fertility Technology Could Pinpoint Oil Leaks at Sea
Technology used by fertility monitors and pregnancy
tests to detect fluorescence could be used for early
detection of oil leaks at sea.
Source: SCUBA News
http://news.scubatravel.co.uk/
LIMS Growth Will Be Driven by Need for Real-time Data
The worldwide market for LIMS is expected to be
relatively flat in the near term, but is expected to
experience growth in the next few years according
to a new ARC Advisory Group market research study.
Source: ARC Advisory Group
http://www.arcweb.com/
Ocean Waves to Power Sensor Buoys
Harvesting wave energy from the sea will power ocean
sensor buoys, eliminating the need for batteries and
allowing extended operation of autonomous sensors.
Source: SCUBA News
http://news.scubatravel.co.uk/
RFID and sensor device to help older people stay at home
The development of a new device that combines passive
radio frequency identification (RFID) technology with
movement and location sensors has led researchers to
design a low-cost, passive monitoring system that
could help keep older people in their homes for longer.
Source: Pulse IT
http://www.pulseitmagazine.com.au/
Smartphone gives bikes an automatic gearbox
Combining an iPhone's sensors and Bluetooth can make
changing bicycle gears manually a thing of the past.
Source: New Scientist
http://www.newscientist.com/
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Windmill Software Ltd, PO Box 58, North District Office,
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Telephone: +44 (0)161 834 6688
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