Contents Introduction ... 11 Working with EcoLab... 12 Install the Software ...12 System Requirements ...12 Software ...12 Hardware...13 Installation...14 Overview...15 EcoLab On-screen Layout ...15 EcoLab Window Layout ...17...
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Getting Started ... 19 Set up a Recording Session ... 19 Prepare EcoLog ... 19 Enable online Video ... 20 Setup the EcoLog ... 20 Start Recording ... 21 Data recording options ... 22 Single measurement ... 22 Replace ... 23 Add ...
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Save Data ...30 Open a File...31 Create a New Project ...32 Print...33 Print a graph...33 Print a table ...34 View the Data ...35 Display Options...35 Graph Display...37 The Cursor ...38 Zooming ...40 Panning ...42 Scrolling ...42 Changing the X axis values...43 Bar graph ...43 Format the graph...44 Add a graph to the project ...45...
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Control the display with the Data Map ... 51 Understanding Data Map icons ... 53 Export Data to Excel... 55 Copy the Graph as a Picture ... 55 Program EcoLog... 56 Setup... 56 Start Recording ... 58 Stop Recording... 58 Communication Setup ...
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Reading Data Point Coordinates...62 Reading the Difference Between two Coordinate Values ...62 Linear fit ...63 Slope ...64 Area...64 Statistics...65 Workbook...67 About Workbook ...67 Working with a Worksheet ...68 To open a Worksheet ...68 To print the current Worksheet...70 To launch an experiment...70 Working with a text window ...71 Create Your Own Worksheet ...73 Create an HTML document with Word ...74...
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Working with EcoLog ... 92 Operating the EcoLog ... 92 Quick reference ... 92 EcoLog Modes ... 93 Displaying the EcoLog current mode ... 93 Switching between data collection mode and standby mode ... 94 Sleeping mode ... 94 EcoLog connections ... 95...
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Power connections...95 Working with batteries ...95 Working with the AC – DC adaptor ...95 Communication connections...96 Connecting the EcoLog to the computer ...96 Connecting external sensors...96 Specifications ... 97 Index ... 100...
PC for live online data recording and display. The EcoLog is powered either from two 1.5V batteries or from an AC/DC adaptor. It can record data from up to 7 sensors simultaneously and store up to 8,000 samples.
Working with EcoLab Install the Software System Requirements To work with EcoLab your system should be equipped with the following: Software Windows 95 or later (Windows 95 and Windows NT will not support video recording) Internet Explorer 5.0 or later (you can install Internet Explorer 5 when you install EcoLab, since it ships with the product) Install the Software...
Hardware Pentium II 300MHz or higher (Pentium 200MHz or higher without video recording) 32 MB RAM (64 MB recommended) 10 MB available disk space for the EcoLab application (50 MB to install the supporting applications) To work with the video window your system should be equipped with a video camera To be able to record and play voice comments your system should be equipped with a sound card,...
Installation Insert the CD into your CD drive Installation will begin automatically. Simply follow the on-screen instructions to continue. In case auto run is not working, open My Computer and click on the CD drive folder (d: drive in most cases), double-click on the setup icon, then follow the on-screen instructions.
EcoLab On-screen Layout EcoLab is a comprehensive program that provides you with everything you need in order to collect data from the EcoLog, display the data in graphs, meters and tables, analyze it with easy-to-use analysis tools and view online or recorded video movies of the actual experiment.
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EcoLog are located in the main (upper) toolbar. Tools that relate to a specific window are located at the bottom of that window. Another useful feature is the Workbook. A workbook is a lab activity that gives the student a step-by-step preview of the activity and then automatically configures the EcoLab program and sets up the EcoLog so that the student can begin collecting the data.
All the information you collect and process for a given experiment is stored in a single project file. Each of these files contain all the data sets you collected with the EcoLog, the analysis functions you’ve processed, the video files you’ve recorded, specific graphs and tables you’ve created, and the EcoLab settings for the...
Getting Started Set up a Recording Session Prepare EcoLog 1. Connect EcoLog to the PC (see on page 96) 2. Wake up EcoLog (see on page 92) 3. If required, plug in any external sensors (see on page 4. Open the EcoLab software...
To expand the Video window and to display it in the main window, click Video on the main toolbar. To restore to normal size click Video a second time. Setup the EcoLog In the setup window select the desired EcoLog settings (see on page Getting Started...
You can stop recording at any time by clicking Stop toolbar. 2. To conduct a remote recording disconnect the EcoLog from the Computer, place the EcoLog at the desired recording location and press the ON/OFF button on the EcoLog twice (with about two seconds between presses).
The led indicator will blink every time the EcoLog samples data. The rate of blinking reflects the sampling rate. Data recording options To set the behavior of the data display when you start a new recording session, click on the down arrow next to the Run button...
Replace EcoLab will display the new data set in place of the old one. The project’s old data sets will still be available in the same project file. They will be listed in the Data Map and you can add them to the display at any time.
Online Video EcoLab enables you to view online video of your experiment along with the data display, as well as to record video movies of the experiment and to replay them simultaneously with the data graph. You can also add voice comments to the video recordings. To work with the video window your system should be equipped with a video camera.
To display the Video window click View on the menu bar, then click Display video. To expand the Video window and to display it as the main window click Video on the main toolbar. To restore to normal size click Video a second time.
4. Once the data logging has finished, click Stop Video Recording 5. Click Replay process and the video recording simultaneously. (Note: Saving the file will automatically save the video as well.) Replaying an experiment To simultaneously replay the video and the data graphing process of a saved file: 1.
Video and Audio Properties To set the video properties click Video on the menu bar, then click Video properties to open the video properties dialog box: Getting Started...
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Changing Video Quality The video default quality is Normal, click another option to select either higher quality (12KBps) or lower quality (3KBps). Changing the video quality not only affects the image quality, but the recorded file space and the computer’s performance as well. A higher video quality means more disk space is used, which can slow down the computer’s performance.
Off-line data logging To download data that was recorded offline, or while EcoLog was not connected to a PC, connect the EcoLog to the computer, run the EcoLab program and click Download on the toolbar.
Once the transfer is complete, the data will be displayed automatically in the graph window and in the table window. Note: when downloading data that includes external sensors, make sure that the selected external sensors in the setup window match the data. Save Data Click Save on the main toolbar to save your project.
If you made any changes to a previously saved project, click Save to update the saved file or select Save as… from the file menu to save it under another name. Note: To delete a specific data set, a graph or a table from the project, use the Data Map (see page 51) To remove unwanted data from a specific data set, apply the crop tool (see page 81).
EcoLab opens the project and displays the first graph on the graph list. If the project does not include saved graphs, the file opens with an empty graph window. Use the Data Map (see page 51) to display the desired data set. Create a New Project There are three ways to create a new project: 1.
Print Print a graph 1. Click Print 2. Select the Graph option. 3. Click Print to open the print dialog box. 4. Click OK. EcoLab will print exactly what you see in the graph display. on the main toolbar. Getting Started...
Print a table 1. Click Print 2. Select the Table option. 3. If you want to print only a specific range, uncheck the Print all data check box and type the desired row numbers into the To and From edit boxes 4.
View the Data Display Options The EcoLab program’s screen consists of four parts: the main window, setup window, video window, and Data Map window. In the main window you can display graph (the default view), table, meters, workbook or video. To specify a window as the main window: Click the window’s button on the main toolbar Click View on the menu bar, then click a display...
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Click View on the menu bar, then click Display video in main window View the Data...
Graph Display Click Graph to display the graph in the main window. The default graph display is the data set/sets plotted vs. time, but you can change the X-axis to represent any of the individual data sets (see on page 42). The graph usually displays all the data sets of a given recording, but you can use the Data Map to remove one or more of the sets from the graph (see page 51).
The Cursor You can display up to two cursors on the graph simultaneously. Use the first cursor to display individual data recording values, to select a curve or to reveal the hidden Y-axis. Use two cursors to display the difference between two coordinate values or to select a range of data points.
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To display the second cursor: Double click again anywhere on the graph area or click 2 Cursor The information bar will now display the difference between the two coordinate values. To remove the cursors: Double click anywhere on the graph area, or click 1 Cursor a second time To remove the 2...
Zooming To zoom in to a specific area Click Zoom to selection cursor diagonally to select the area you want to magnify. Release the mouse button to zoom in to the selected area. Click Zoom to selection a second time to disable the zoom tool. Autoscale Click Autoscale on the graph toolbar to view the full data display,...
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Select the Scale tab, and choose the axis you want to scale in the Select axis drop list. Uncheck the Autoscale check box and enter the new values in the edit box Click OK. To manually scale a specific axis, right click on the axis to open its Properties dialog box.
Panning Use the pan tool after zooming in to see any part of the graph that is outside the zoomed area. To do this, click Pan on the graph toolbar, then click anywhere on the graph and drag the mouse to view another area. Click Pan a second time to disable the Pan tool.
Changing the X axis values To change the X axis values: Click X axis values In the dialog that opens, select the desired data set from the drop list. Click OK. To change the x values back to time click X axis values a second time.
To display a bar graph click Bar graph toolbar. To return to the default graph display click Bar graph a second time. Format the graph You can change the data line’s color, style and width. You can also add markers that represent the data points on the graph and format their style and color.
Select the Lines tab, and then select the plot or axis you want to format in the Select plot drop list. From here you can format the line’s color, style and width, as well as the markers’ color and style. To remove the line or the marker, uncheck the corresponding Visible check box.
to update a saved graph with changes you made, use the Add to project tool: Click Add to project on the graph toolbar. The Table Display Click Table to display the table in the main window. When you start a new recording, EcoLab displays the new data on the table.
Editing data values You can change the value of any data point. When any value is changed, EcoLab automatically creates a copy of the data set and leaves the original data unchanged. To do this: 1. Select a data cell by clicking on it 2.
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cursor is positioned on a data point the comment appears in the information bar. The comments are also automatically displayed on the bar graph above the corresponding bars. To add a comment: 1. In the Comment column click the cell where you want to enter the comment 2.
Adding or removing data from the table The data in the table always matches the data that is currently displayed on the graph. To add or remove data sets from the table use the Data map (see on page51) to add or remove them from the graph.
The Meters Display EcoLab enables you to view data in meters, from one sensor at a time, with up to four meters showing at once. The meters display live data and are updated 5 times per second. Data is not saved in the meters mode.
Data Map Click Data Map to display or remove the Data Map. The data map is a separate window that displays the list of data sets that were recorded or downloaded in the current session, as well as the lists of all the saved graphs and tables. Use the Data Map to navigate through the available data sets and to keep track of the data that is being displayed in the graph window.
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Double click on a category to bring up the full list. Double click a second time to collapse the list. You can also use the plus (+) and minus (-) signs next to the icons to expand or collapse the categories. The Data sets list expands to sub-categories of experiments and functions.
To delete an individual item from the Data Map and from the project, right-click on its icon and click Delete. To permanently delete the item, click Save on the main toolbar. To delete all data sets from the Data Map, right-click the Data sets icon and click Delete All Data.
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Experiment – includes all recorded data of the experiment Individual data set – currently not on display Individual data set – currently displayed on graph 1 Data recorded without video Data recorded with video List of saved graphs Saved graph – data sets vs. time Saved graph –...
Export Data to Excel Click Export to Excel displayed data to Excel. EcoLab will then open a new Excel workbook displaying the data. Copy the Graph as a Picture You can copy the graph to the clipboard as a picture and then paste it to other Windows programs such as Word or PowerPoint: 1.
Program EcoLog Setup To Setup EcoLog connect it to the PC, run EcoLab and select the desired settings in the Setup window: Temperature sensor Light sensor Humidity sensor Pressure sensor Program EcoLog Sound sensor external sensor external sensor...
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4. To specify the external sensor type: a. Double click the External sensor icon b. Select a sensor from the External sensor drop list c. Click OK You can also specify external sensor type from the Logger menu. Program EcoLog...
Click Stop on the main toolbar Communication Setup EcoLog communicates with the EcoLab software via a serial communication port. Some users may find it difficult to select the correct port, in which case EcoLab can perform an automatic port selection, and can also report on the status of all available ports.
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EcoLab can detect it for you. Connect the communication cable from EcoLog to one of the PC COM Port connectors. In most cases, the port connectors are located near the mouse port. Use the 9 25 adaptor if the PC connector is of the 25 pins variety.
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If communication fails: 1. Select Comm Setup from the Logger menu. EcoLab will display a dialog box reporting what COM Ports are already in use, and which port is recommended for use with EcoLog: Program EcoLog...
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Port yourself by clicking the check box button to the left of the desired port, and clicking Try to connect. 3. You can click Work offline if you wish to work without EcoLog. While working offline, you can still open saved files to view and analyze them. Program EcoLog...
Analyze the data Reading Data Point Coordinates Position the cursor (see page 38) on a point to display its coordinates on the information bar at the bottom of the graph window. If more than one curve is displayed, and you want to read the Y- coordinates of all of the curves simultaneously, bring up digital meters (see page 50) for each of the curves.
Linear fit 1. Use the cursors to select the graph and the data range to which you want to apply the fit. 2. Click Linear Fit linear least square fit The line’s equation will appear on the information bar at the bottom of the graph window.
Slope Click Slope on the main toolbar to calculate and display the slope of each point on the graph. Move the cursor to view the slope of other points. EcoLab will display the slope in the information bar at the bottom of the graph window.
Statistics Use the statistics tool to display statistics of a selected data set. The statistics include: Average – The average of all the numbers in the column. Maximum – The largest value in the column. Minimum – The smallest value in the column. Std.
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2. Click Analysis on the menu bar, then click Statistics. EcoLab will display the statistics in the information bar at the bottom of the graph window. Analyze the Data...
“worksheets,” that appear in the format of a web page. Each worksheet includes an experiment template that automatically configures both EcoLab and EcoLog at the push of a button. To begin recording, all you need to do is click Run.
Working with a Worksheet To open a Worksheet 1. Click Workbook 2. Click Open worksheet toolbar 3. Navigate to the folder in which the worksheet is stored 4. Double click the file name to open the worksheet Workbook on the main toolbar on the workbook (lower)
To print the current Worksheet Click Print Worksheet on the workbook toolbar To launch an experiment 1. Click Launch on the workbook toolbar to configure EcoLab and EcoLog EcoLab automatically configures EcoLog and opens a new project file with the predefined setup Workbook...
2. Click Run recording Working with a text window 1. To open a new text document click New text document 2. Type in your text 3. To paste text from the Worksheet or other files: a. In the source file, click and drag the cursor to select the text, then click Copy keyboard) on the main toolbar to begin...
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b. Return to the text window, click to position the cursor where you want to paste the text, then click Paste on the Workbook toolbar (or press Ctrl + V on the keyboard) 4. To save your text click Save text document workbook toolbar 5.
The second step is to use the EcoLab software to create a configuration file, which is a file that will store the specific settings you wish to define for the experiment. These include the EcoLog setup, Ecolab’s layout, the recording mode, the graph format desired, special preset graph scaling etc.
Create an HTML document with Word Create a new Web page 1. Open Word 2. In the File menu, click New 3. Do one of the following: • On the General tab, click Web Page to open a blank Web page •...
6. Navigate to C:\Program Files\Fourier Systems\EcoLab\Workbook 7. Click Save Create a Web page from an existing Word document 1. Open the existing file with Word 2. In the File menu, click Save as Web Page 3. Navigate to C:\Program Files\Fourier Systems\EcoLab\Workbook 4.
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2. Open the worksheet you want to configure (see page 3. Click Workbook on the menu bar, point to Launch settings and then click For EcoLog to open EcoLog’s launch settings dialog: Workbook...
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3. Select Graph display or Meter display Presetting graph display 1. Select sensors: to select a sensor click on the button next to the sensor’s icon The button’s color will change to red. Click a second time to deselect the sensor. 2.
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5. Check the Scroll run check box if you want the graph window to scroll as the data recording progresses 6. Check the Bar graph check box if you want to display the data in bar graph 7. Select the desired recording mode in the Recording mode drop list 8.
Click Run Click Pause/Continue the graph. Data transmitted from the EcoLog while the graph is frozen is stored onto the PC but is not displayed. 1. Click on the end of the curve and move the mouse according to your predictions. Click to draw a straight- on the main toolbar to start recording.
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line segment. Move the mouse again and click where you want the second segment to end, and so on 2. Click Add prediction create another prediction 3. Click Pause/Continue live data display and to compare your predictions with the real data To erase a prediction click Erase prediction on a prediction’s node and click.
Crop Tool The Crop tool enables you to trim the edges of a data set. Use it to remove unwanted data or to apply manual curve fitting to a desired range of data points. The time scale of the trimmed data is shifted so that it will start at If you want the automatic curve fit equation to start at , apply the crop tool before any type of curve fitting...
Click on the Graph menu, then click Crop To trim all data outside a selected range Use the cursors to select the range you want to keep Click on the Graph menu, then click Crop Special Tools...
Toolbar Buttons Main (upper) Toolbar Open Save Print Start new project Open saved project Save project Select print options Toolbar Buttons...
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Stop Connect Download Data map Toolbar Buttons Start a data recording session. Click on the down-arrow to select recording mode Stop recording Connect to EcoLab Download the data from the most recent recording session Display the Data Map...
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Display Meters Meter view Graph Display the graph window Table Display the table window Workbook Display workbook Video Display and enable the video window Calculate and display the area between Area the two cursors Toolbar Buttons...
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Linear fit Slope Stop Play Pause Record Toolbar Buttons Draw a line of linear fit of the selected data set Calculate and display the slope of the selected point Stop video recording or video replay Replay video and/or data Pause replaying Record video...
Graph Toolbar Zoom to selection Autoscale Cursor Cursor Zoom in to a selected area Pan in all directions while in zoom mode Display all the data Display or remove a cursor Display or remove a second cursor Toolbar Buttons...
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Split graph Edit graph Graph properties Add to project Export to Excel Pause/Continue Toolbar Buttons Switch to a split graph display Select the data to display on the axes Graph formatting, scaling and units selection Add the displayed graph to the project Export the displayed graph to Excel Pause/continue...
Add prediction Erase prediction Meter Toolbar 4 meters view Analog meter Digital meter Bar meter Add a prediction onto the graph Erase the selected prediction Format fonts and units Add the current table to the project Toolbar Buttons...
Color meter Workbook Toolbar Open Worksheet Print Worksheet display text window Copy Paste Toolbar Buttons Save the present data Open a Worksheet from Workbook library Print the current Worksheet Display or hide text window Copy selected text to clipboard Paste the current clipboard content...
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New text Open empty text file Open text Open saved text file Save text Save the current text file Print text Print the current text file Configure EcoLog and EcoLab to Launch EcoLog preset configuration Toolbar Buttons...
Operating the EcoLog Quick reference To ‘wake up’ EcoLog: press the ON/OFF button. The red led indicator will blink for 10 seconds indicating that the EcoLog is in standby mode. To start recording press the ON/OFF button a second time, within 10 seconds from the first pressing.
EcoLog Modes The EcoLog has three modes of operation: data collection mode, standby mode and sleeping mode. The RUN/STOP button switches between standby and data collection modes. Displaying the EcoLog current mode 1. Press the RUN/STOP button 2. If the led indicator is blinking for 10 seconds then the EcoLog is in Standby mode, ready for new logging 3.
3. EcoLog will switch standby mode and data collection mode Sleeping mode In sleeping mode the EcoLog power consumption is very low to ensure long battery life. EcoLog enters the sleeping mode automatically if it is in standby mode and after 15 minutes of no communication with the software or no key pressing.
Power connections Working with batteries Insert two 1.5 volt batteries to the battery compartment at the back of the EcoLog. Take care to insert them in the right polarity. Working with the AC – DC adaptor 1. Remove the battery compartment cover at the back of the EcoLog and replace it with the External DC adaptor 2.
Connecting the EcoLog to the computer 1. Connect the phone plug of the serial communication cable to the COM input on top of the EcoLog 2. Connect the 9 pins plug of the serial communication cable to a free COM input at the back of your computer...
Specifications Built in 5 sensors Two external sensor inputs Sampling rate: from 2/hour to 10/second Simultaneous sampling of up to 7 sensors 8 bit (256 levels) of sampling resolution 8k of sampling memory (optional 16k) Operated by two 1.5V AAA batteries or by AC/DC adaptor RS-232 communication port at 2400 bps Built in clock and calendar Specifications...
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Built-in Sensors specification Temperature Barometric Pressure Light Level Relative Humidity Specifications Range: -10 to 40 °C Sensitivity: 0.33 °C Max error: < 1 °C Range: 800 to 1100 mBar. Sensitivity: 1.2 mBar. Max error: ±15 mBar. Range 0 to 5000 lux. Sensitivity: 20 lux, 0.4%.
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Sound Level External Input specification Range: 60 to 108 dB Sensitivity: 1 dB Max error: ±3 dB Range: 0 to 5V Sensitivity: 19.5mV Impedance: 1MΩ Specifications...
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