DH Instruments COMPASS FOR PPC - V2.0 User manual

© 1998-2000 DH Instruments, Inc.
COMPASS®FOR PPC/RPM™
Pressure Calibration Software
User’s Manual

High pressure liquids and gases are potentially hazardous. Energy stored in these liquids and gases
can be released unexpectedly and with extreme force. High pressure systems should be assembled and
operated only by personnel who have been instructed in proper safety practices.
© 1998-2000 DH Instruments, Inc. All rights reserved.
Information in this document is subject to change without notice. No part of this document may be
reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, for any purpose,
without the express written permission of DH Instruments, Inc. 4765 East Beautiful Lane Phoenix AZ
85044-5318 USA.
DH Instruments makes sincere efforts to ensure accuracy and quality of its’ published materials;
however, no warranty, expressed or implied, is provided. DH Instruments disclaims any responsibility or
liability for any direct or indirect damages resulting from the use of the information in this manual or
products described in it. Mention of any product does not constitute an endorsement by DH Instruments
of that product. This manual was originally composed in English and was subsequently translated into
other languages. The fidelity of the translation cannot be guaranteed. In case of conflict between the
English version and other language versions, the English version predominates.
DH Instruments, DH, DHI, PPCK, PPC2, PPC2+ and COMPASS are trademarks, registered and
otherwise of DH Instruments, Inc.
Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
Document No. 550095a-02
020925
Printed in the USA.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page I © 1998-2000 DH Instruments, Inc.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................. I
TABLES ................................................................................ V
FIGURES.............................................................................. VI
USER REGISTRATION............................................................ IX
ABOUT THIS MANUAL............................................................ XI
1. INTRODUCTION.................................................................1
1.1 PRODUCT OVERVIEW ...........................................................................................................................1
2. GETTING STARTED............................................................3
2.1 OVERVIEW..............................................................................................................................................3
2.2 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS.....................................................................................................................3
2.3 INSTALLING COMPASS FOR PPC/RPM...............................................................................................3
2.4 RUNNING THE PROGRAM.....................................................................................................................3
2.5 LANGUAGE SUPPORT...........................................................................................................................3
2.6 UNINSTALLING.......................................................................................................................................4
3. OPERATING PRINCIPLES ...................................................5
3.1 OVERVIEW..............................................................................................................................................5
3.1.1 BASICS SUMMARY.................................................................................................................................. 6
4. MAIN RUN SCREEN............................................................7
4.1 OVERVIEW..............................................................................................................................................7
4.2 MAIN MENU BAR....................................................................................................................................7
4.3 RUN TEST SCREEN................................................................................................................................8
4.4 RUN TEST TOOLBAR...........................................................................................................................10
5. THE [RUN] MENU.............................................................11
5.1 OVERVIEW............................................................................................................................................11
5.2 [RUN], [RUN TEST]...............................................................................................................................11
5.2.1 TEST INITIALIZATION ............................................................................................................................ 11
5.2.1.1 SELECT DUT FILE .............................................................................................................................. 12
5.2.1.2 PREVIEW DUT.................................................................................................................................... 13
5.2.1.3 SELECT TEST FILE............................................................................................................................. 14
5.2.1.4 PREVIEW TEST .................................................................................................................................. 14
5.2.1.5 REFERENCE VERIFICATION ............................................................................................................. 15
5.2.1.6 SETUP DUT(S).................................................................................................................................... 16
5.2.1.7 USER ID .............................................................................................................................................. 18
5.2.2 RUN TEST............................................................................................................................................... 18
5.2.2.1 MANUAL ENTRY DATA ACQUISITION............................................................................................... 19
5.2.3 TEST CONCLUSION............................................................................................................................... 20
5.3 [RUN], [RE-RUN TEST].........................................................................................................................21
5.4 [RUN], [EXIT].........................................................................................................................................21

COMPASS®FOR PPC/RPM™ USER’S MANUAL
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6. THE [DUT] MENU.............................................................23
6.1 OVERVIEW............................................................................................................................................23
6.2 [DUT], [CREATE DUT]..........................................................................................................................23
6.3 [DUT], [EDIT DUT FILE]........................................................................................................................27
6.4 [DUT], [REMOVE DUT FILE].................................................................................................................27
7. THE [TEST] MENU ...........................................................29
7.1 OVERVIEW............................................................................................................................................29
7.2 [TEST], [CREATE TEST].......................................................................................................................29
7.2.1 [TEST], [CREATE TEST], <TEST POINTS> TABLE............................................................................... 30
7.2.1.1 ZERO ABSOLUTE TEST POINTS.......................................................................................................31
7.2.2 [TEST], [CREATE TEST], [AUTO FILL POINTS] TAB............................................................................ 31
7.2.3 [TEST], [CREATE TEST], [LEAK TEST] TAB......................................................................................... 32
7.2.4 [TEST], [CREATE TEST], [CYCLE] TAB ................................................................................................ 34
7.2.5 [TEST], [CREATE TEST], [CONTROL SETTINGS] TAB ........................................................................ 35
7.2.6 [TEST], [CREATE TEST], [SEQUENCE] TAB ........................................................................................ 37
7.3 [TEST], [EDIT TEST FILE] ....................................................................................................................38
7.4 [TEST], [REMOVE TEST FILE].............................................................................................................38
8. THE [TOOLS] MENU.........................................................39
8.1 OVERVIEW............................................................................................................................................39
8.2 [TOOLS], [CONFIG HARDWARE]........................................................................................................39
8.2.1 [TOOLS], [CONFIG HARDWARE], [CONFIGURATION] TAB ................................................................ 40
8.2.2 [TOOLS], [CONFIG HARDWARE], [REFERENCE] TAB........................................................................ 41
8.2.3 [TOOLS], [CONFIG HARDWARE], [DMM] TAB ..................................................................................... 43
8.2.4 [TOOLS], [CONFIG HARDWARE], [MULTIPLEXER] TAB..................................................................... 46
8.2.5 [TOOLS], [CONFIG HARDWARE], [IEEE 488]....................................................................................... 48
8.2.6 RS232 SETUP......................................................................................................................................... 48
8.3 [TOOLS], [OPTIONS]............................................................................................................................49
8.3.1 [TOOLS], [OPTIONS], [MAINTAIN LISTS].............................................................................................. 50
8.3.2 [TOOLS], [OPTIONS], [INITIALIZE TEST].............................................................................................. 50
8.3.3 [TOOLS], [OPTIONS], [RUN TEST]........................................................................................................ 51
8.3.4 [TOOLS], [OPTIONS], [DATA FILE] ....................................................................................................... 53
8.3.5 [TOOLS], [OPTIONS], [FILE LOCATIONS] ............................................................................................54
8.3.6 [TOOLS], [OPTIONS], [LANGUAGE]...................................................................................................... 54
8.4 [TOOLS], [REMOTE COMMUNICATIONS] ..........................................................................................55
9. THE [DATA] MENU...........................................................57
9.1 OVERVIEW............................................................................................................................................57
9.2 [DATA], [VIEW TEST DATA] ................................................................................................................57
9.3 [DATA], [PRINT TEST DATA]...............................................................................................................58
9.4 [DATA], [PLOT TEST DATA]................................................................................................................58
9.4.1 [DATA], [PLOT TEST DATA], [FILE]...................................................................................................... 59
9.4.2 [DATA], [PLOT TEST DATA], [PLOTS].................................................................................................. 59
10. THE [REPORT] MENU.......................................................61
10.1 OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................................61
10.2 REPORT PRINCIPLES..........................................................................................................................61
10.3 MAIN MENU BAR..................................................................................................................................62
10.3.1 [FILE] MENU........................................................................................................................................... 62
10.3.1.1 [FI LE], [EDI T REP OR T] ..................................................................................................... 63
10.3.1.2 [FILE],[GENERATE REPORT] ....................................................................................... 63
10.3.1.3 [FILE], [EDIT TEMPLATE] ........................................................................................................ 63

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Page III © 1998-2000 DH Instruments, Inc.
10.3.1.4 [FILE], [CREATE TEMPLATE] .................................................................................................. 64
10.3.1.5 [FILE], [SAVE] .......................................................................................................................... 64
10.3.1.6 [FILE], [SAVE AS]................................................................................................................................ 65
10.3.1.7 [FILE], [SAVE ALL]............................................................................................................................... 65
10.3.1.8 [FILE], [CLOSE] ................................................................................................................................... 65
10.3.1.9 [FILE], [CLOSE ALL]............................................................................................................................ 65
10.3.1.10 [FILE], [PRINT] ......................................................................................................................... 65
10.3.1.11 [FILE], [PRINT ALL].............................................................................................................................. 65
10.3.1.12 [FILE], [EXIT] ....................................................................................................................................... 65
10.3.2 [EDIT] MENU........................................................................................................................................... 66
10.3.2.1 [EDIT], [UNDO] ......................................................................................................................... 66
10.3.2.2 [EDIT], [CUT] ............................................................................................................................ 66
10.3.2.3 [EDIT], [COPY] ......................................................................................................................... 66
10.3.2.4 [EDIT], [PASTE] ....................................................................................................................... 66
10.3.2.5 [EDIT], [FIND] ........................................................................................................................... 66
10.3.2.6 [EDIT], [FIND NEXT]............................................................................................................................ 67
10.3.2.7 [EDIT], [SELECT ALL].......................................................................................................................... 67
10.3.3 [FORMAT] MENU.................................................................................................................................... 67
10.3.3.1 [FORMAT], [INSERT DATE/TIME] ....................................................................................................... 67
10.3.3.2 [FORMAT], [INSERT FIELD KEY] ............................................................................................ 67
10.3.3.3 [FORMAT], [SELECT TEMPLATE]....................................................................................................... 68
10.3.3.4 [FORMAT], [PAGE SETUP] ................................................................................................................. 68
10.3.4 [OPTIONS] MENU................................................................................................................................... 69
10.3.4.1 [OPTIONS], [TOOLBAR]...................................................................................................................... 69
10.3.4.2 [OPTIONS], [FONT FORMAT BAR]..................................................................................................... 69
10.3.4.3 [OPTIONS], [RULER]........................................................................................................................... 70
10.3.5 [WINDOW] MENU ................................................................................................................................... 71
10.3.6 [HELP] MENU ......................................................................................................................................... 71
10.4 REPORT EDITOR AUTOMATION.........................................................................................................71
10.4.1 DRAG AND DROP .................................................................................................................................. 72
10.4.2 COMMAND LINE ARGUMENTS............................................................................................................. 72
10.4.3 DDE (DYNAMIC DATA EXCHANGE)...................................................................................................... 72
11. THE [HELP] MENU ...........................................................73
11.1 OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................................73
12. DATA FILES....................................................................75
12.1 OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................................75
12.2 DATA FILE CREATION (LOG FILES)...................................................................................................75
12.3 NAMING AND STORING DATA FILES.................................................................................................75
12.4 DATA FILE STRUCTURE......................................................................................................................76
13. APPLICATION EXAMPLES.................................................79
13.1 OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................................79
13.1.1 EXAMPLE #1........................................................................................................................................... 79
13.1.1.1 SET UP AN RS232 DUT...................................................................................................................... 79
13.1.1.2 SET UP A PPC2+ AS THE REFERENCE............................................................................................ 80
13.1.1.3 RUN THE TEST................................................................................................................................... 81
13.1.2 EXAMPLE #2........................................................................................................................................... 82
13.1.2.1 SET UP DMM DATA ACQUISITION DUT............................................................................................ 82
13.1.2.2 DMM CONFIGURATION SETUP.........................................................................................................84
13.1.2.3 RUN THE TEST................................................................................................................................... 85

COMPASS®FOR PPC/RPM™ USER’S MANUAL
© 1998-2000 DH Instruments, Inc. Page IV
13.1.3 EXAMPLE #3........................................................................................................................................... 85
13.1.3.1 EXAMPLE MULTIPLEXER SETUP...................................................................................................... 86
13.1.3.2 EXAMPLE DMM SETUP...................................................................................................................... 87
13.1.3.3 UPDATE THE CONFIGURATION........................................................................................................87
13.1.3.4 CONNECT THE DUTS......................................................................................................................... 87
13.1.3.5 RUN THE TEST................................................................................................................................... 87
14. QUICK TIPS ....................................................................89
14.1 HOW DO I? ............................................................................................................................................89
15. CALCULATIONS ..............................................................93
15.1 OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................................93
15.2 DUT PRESSURE....................................................................................................................................93
15.3 ERROR DETERMINATION....................................................................................................................93
15.4 TOLERANCE .........................................................................................................................................94
15.5 BEST FIT................................................................................................................................................94
15.6 LINEARITY.............................................................................................................................................94
15.7 HYSTERESIS.........................................................................................................................................95
15.8 PRESSURE UNIT CONVERSIONS.......................................................................................................95
16. DDE SUPPORT ................................................................97
16.1 OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................................97
17. TROUBLESHOOTING........................................................99
17.1 OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................................99
18. APPENDIX .................................................................... 101
18.1 GLOSSARY .........................................................................................................................................101
19. END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT ................................... 103
19.1 OVERVIEW ..........................................................................................................................................103
INDEX................................................................................ 105

TABLES & FIGURES
Page V © 1998-2000 DH Instruments, Inc.
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Table 1. Run Test Screen............................................................................................................................8
Table 2. Tools Available on the Toolbar ....................................................................................................10
Table 3. <Test Complete> Screen Options................................................................................................20
Table 4. <DUT Definition/Profile> Screen..................................................................................................24
Table 5. <Test Points> Table.....................................................................................................................31
Table 6. [Auto Fill Points] Tab....................................................................................................................32
Table 7. [Leak Test] Tab............................................................................................................................33
Table 8. [Cycle] Tab...................................................................................................................................35
Table 9. [Control Settings] Tab ..................................................................................................................36
Table 10. [Sequence] Tab..........................................................................................................................37
Table 11. [CONFIGURATION] Tab............................................................................................................41
Table 12. [Reference] Tab .........................................................................................................................43
Table 13. [DMM] Tab .................................................................................................................................45
Table 14. [Multiplexer] Tab.........................................................................................................................47
Table 15. COMPASS Lists.........................................................................................................................50
Table 16. [Initialize Test] Tab.....................................................................................................................51
Table 17. [Run Test] Tab ...........................................................................................................................52
Table 18. [Data File] Tab............................................................................................................................53
Table 19. <Find> Screen............................................................................................................................67
Table 20. Font Format Toolbar..................................................................................................................70
Table 21. Ruler...........................................................................................................................................71
Table 22. Pressure Unit Conversion Chart ................................................................................................96
Table 23. DDE Link Items..........................................................................................................................97
Table 24. Symptom / Probable Cause / Solution Checklist.......................................................................99

COMPASS®FOR PPC/RPM™ USER’S MANUAL
© 1998-2000 DH Instruments, Inc. Page VI
F
FI
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Figure 1. Language Selection......................................................................................................................4
Figure 2. Run Test Screen...........................................................................................................................8
Figure 3. Select the DUT file for the Test Screen......................................................................................13
Figure 4. DUT Definition (C:\COMP4PRS\DUT\DUCE …) Screen ...........................................................13
Figure 5. Select Test File Screen...............................................................................................................14
Figure 6. Test Definition (C:\COMP4PRS\TEST\TEST1.TST) Screen......................................................14
Figure 7. Reference Range Selection Screen ...........................................................................................15
Figure 8. Setup DUT(s) Screen .................................................................................................................16
Figure 9. Manual Pressure Entry...............................................................................................................19
Figure 10. Test Complete Screen..............................................................................................................20
Figure 11. DUT Definition (C:\COMP4PRS\DUT\XMITT …) Screen.........................................................23
Figure 12. Unit/Mode Selection..................................................................................................................24
Figure 13. Test Definition Screen - Sequence...........................................................................................29
Figure 14. Test Definition Screen - Auto Fill Points...................................................................................32
Figure 15. Test Definition Screen - Leak Test ...........................................................................................33
Figure 16. Test Definition Screen - Cycle..................................................................................................34
Figure 17. Test Definition Screen – Control Settings.................................................................................36
Figure 18. Test Definition Screen - Sequence...........................................................................................37
Figure 19. COMPASS Configuration Settings Screen...............................................................................40
Figure 20. COMPASS Configuration Settings ...........................................................................................42
Figure 21. Edit Reference Device Screen..................................................................................................42
Figure 22. COMPASS Configuration Settings Screen - DMM...................................................................44
Figure 23. Edit DMM Screen......................................................................................................................44
Figure 24. COMPASS Configuration Settings Screen - Multiplexer.........................................................46
Figure 25. Edit Multiplexer Screen.............................................................................................................46
Figure 26. COMPASS Configuration Settings Screen - IEE-488...............................................................48
Figure 27. RS232 Settings Screen ............................................................................................................49
Figure 28. Options Screen - Maintain Lists................................................................................................49
Figure 29. Options Screen - Initialize Test.................................................................................................50
Figure 30. Options Screen - Run Test.......................................................................................................52
Figure 31. Options Screen - File Locations................................................................................................54
Figure 32. Options Screen - Language......................................................................................................55
Figure 33. Remote Communications Screen.............................................................................................56
Figure 34. Data Viewer Screen..................................................................................................................57
Figure 35. Plot Screen ...............................................................................................................................58
Figure 36. COMPASS Report Editor..........................................................................................................62
Figure 37. Find Text Screen.......................................................................................................................67
Figure 38. Data Field Insertion Tool Screen..............................................................................................68
Figure 39. Page Setup Screen...................................................................................................................69
Figure 40. COMPASS Report Editor, Main Toolbar ..................................................................................69
Figure 41. COMPASS Report Editor, Font Format Bar .............................................................................69
Figure 42. COMPASS Report Editor, Ruler...............................................................................................71
Figure 43. RS232 DUT Example ...............................................................................................................80
Figure 44. Example #1 PPC2+ Reference Setup......................................................................................80

TABLES & FIGURES
Page VII © 1998-2000 DH Instruments, Inc.
Figure 45. Example #1 Configuration ........................................................................................................81
Figure 46. Example #1 DUT Interface Setup.............................................................................................81
Figure 47. Example #1 RS232 Setup with Ref Com2................................................................................82
Figure 48. Example #2 User Defined Unit Setup.......................................................................................83
Figure 49. Example #2 DMM DUT Data Acquisition..................................................................................83
Figure 50. Example #2 DMM Setup...........................................................................................................84
Figure 51. Example #2 DMM Configuration...............................................................................................85
Figure 52. Example #2 DUT DAQ with DMM.............................................................................................85
Figure 53. Example Multiplexer Setup.......................................................................................................87
Figure 54. Multiple DUT Setup with DMM+Multiplexer DAQ.....................................................................88

COMPASS®FOR PPC/RPM™ USER’S MANUAL
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USER REGISTRATION
Page IX © 1998-2000 DH Instruments, Inc.
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US
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EG GI IS ST TR RA AT TI IO ON N
Pressure Calibration Software
Please fill out this registration sheet and return it to DH Instruments. Registering as a user will allow us
to contact you with important information about COMPASS®including product upgrades, possible recalls
and product announcements.
COMPASS®for PPC
/
RPM™ User Contact:
Name:
Com
p
an
y
/Or
g
anization:
Address 1:
Address 2:
Cit
y
: State/Province:
Postal Code: Countr
y
:
Tel: Fax:
email:
1) I am using COMPASS for PPC/RPMVer. ______________.
2) I will run COMPASS on a computer whose operating system is:
Windows95 WindowNT Other__________
3) I plan to use COMPASS with the following reference pressure devices:
PPC2PPC2+PPCKRPM1RPM3Other________
4) I plan to test up to __________ DUTs at a time with COMPASS.
5) When I run tests with COMPASS, I will acquire data from the DUT(s) using the following:
Manual DMM DMM+multiplexer RS232 direct IEEE 488 direct
Please return this form by mail or fax to: ATTN: COMPASS Registration
DH Instruments, Inc.
4765 East Beautiful Lane
Phoenix AZ 85044-5318
or via
Fax: [phone]
email: [e-mail]
NOTE: COMPASS for PPC/RPM is a licensed software product intended for single computer use.

COMPASS®FOR PPC/RPM™ USER’S MANUAL
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ABOUT THIS MANUAL
Page XI © 1998-2000 DH Instruments, Inc.
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Manual Conventions
This manual provides the user with the basic information necessary to set up and run COMPASS
for PPC/RPM. It also includes a great deal of additional information provided to help you optimize
COMPASS use and take full advantage of its many features and functions.
Before using the manual, take a moment to familiarize yourself with the Table of Contents structure.
Sections 1 through 12 describe each of the six main menu selections in detail.
Quick Tips (see Section 13) provides responses to commonly asked questions and situations.
Certain words and expressions have specific meaning as they pertain to COMPASS for PPC/RPM.
The Glossary (see Section 15) is useful as a quick reference for usage of specific terms and expressions
as they are used in this manual and the program.
For those of you who don’t read manuals, go directly to Section 2.3 to install COMPASS and then
Section 3 for a summary of operating principles. Later … when you have questions or start to wonder
about all the great features you might be missing, get into the manual.
Cross references are used extensively to direct you towards additional information on a topic.
Cross references are generally in parentheses and give the reference’s section number. For example:
(see Section 11).
[ ] indicates COMPASS menu or tab selections (for example [Data]). Menu or tab selection paths are
always described hierarchically from highest to lowest level. For example: [Tools], [Options],
[Maintain Lists].
< > indicates COMPASS text displays such as screen names, field names, prompts, warnings
and instructions. For example: <Enter user ID>.
File names are designated in quotation marks when they do NOT include a file extension. For example:
“log” file or *.log.
(CAUTION) is used in manual to identify user warnings and cautions.
(NOTE) is used in the manual to identify operating and applications advice and
additional explanations.

COMPASS®FOR PPC/RPM™ USER’S MANUAL
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1. INTRODUCTION
Page 1 © 1998-2000 DH Instruments, Inc.
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1.1 PRODUCT OVERVIEW
Welcome to COMPASS®for PPC/RPM™, the complete pressure calibration software package for users
of DHI PPC2, PPC2+, PPCK and RPM3 pressure transfer standards. COMPASS for PPC/RPM is
designed to supply the missing link needed to get from individual automated hardware components to an
automated pressure calibration system. Using COMPASS for PPC/RPM, you can create any number of
calibration test scenarios; define characteristics of various devices under test (DUT); run tests; analyze
test data and generate reports without ever leaving the program or you can export test data for analysis
using other applications. COMPASS’s flexible approach makes it easily adaptable to a wide variety of
hardware and allows you to adjust the level of automation for a variety of tasks and hardware
configurations from analog gauge calibration to fully automated multiple DUT test runs.
Please fill in and return the User Registration form located in this manual immediately following the
Table of Contents.

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2. GETTING STARTED
Page 3 © 1998-2000 DH Instruments, Inc.
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2.1 OVERVIEW
This section explains how to install COMPASS for PPC/RPM on your computer. Although COMPASS
for PPC/RPM is a multilingual application, the installation always uses English.
2.2 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
COMPASS for PPC/RPM is an application designed for Windows 32 bit operating systems.
The following minimum configuration is required to run COMPASS:
• Windows 95, 98, or NT
• 100 MHz, Pentium processor
• 16 MB RAM
• 5 MB free hard disk space
2.3 INSTALLING COMPASS FOR PPC/RPM
 Insert the COMPASS for PPC/RPM disk 1 in your floppy drive.
 Press the [Start] button and select [Run].
 In the Run dialog box, type a:\setup or b:\setup, depending on the drive in which you placed the
COMPASS for PPC/RPM disk.
OR
 Insert the COMPASS for PPC/RPM disk 1 in your floppy drive.
 Use the Add/Remove Programs feature in the Windows Control Panel. Press [Start] and select
[Settings] followed by [Control Panel].
 Double-click the [Add/Remove Programs] icon and click the [Install] button. Follow the prompts to
install COMPASS.
2.4 RUNNING THE PROGRAM
When the software installation is complete, a new Windows group is created to hold the
COMPASS program. To run the program, select it by pressing [Start], selecting the [Programs] sub-menu
followed by the [COMPASS] group. Click the [COMPASS for PPC/RPM] icon to start the program.
2.5 LANGUAGE SUPPORT
When COMPASS loads, a prompt displays requiring the selection of the language to use. Make the
selection from the list and press [OK]. The program displays all messages and prompts in the selected

COMPASS®FOR PPC/RPM™ USER’S MANUAL
© 1998-2000 DH Instruments, Inc. Page 4
language. Subsequent runs of COMPASS display this dialog in the language selected in the previous run.
The [English] button will always run COMPASS in English and has the same effect as choosing
[English] from the language list. Check the <Do not display..> box at the bottom of the window to
prevent this display in the future. The language can be changed while running COMPASS by selecting
[Tools], [Options], [Language] (see Section 8.3.6).
Figure 1. Language Selection
2.6 UNINSTALLING
To uninstall COMPASS, use the Remove COMPASS for PPC/RPM icon in the COMPASS program
group created during installation. Alternatively, use the Add/Remove Programs feature in the Windows
Control Panel and select COMPASS for PPC/RPM. In both cases, a series of prompts must be followed in the
application removal program to uninstall COMPASS. All installation files and registry updates are removed.
Data directories created by running COMPASS are not removed by uninstalling. It is up to the user to
manually remove these data directories. The application removal program will always display a message
indicating COMPASS was not completely removed when executed and the data directories are present.
Any file management tool such as Windows Explorer can be used to remove these data directories.

3. OPERATING PRINCIPLES
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3.1 OVERVIEW
COMPASS for PPC/RPM is an application program intended to automate the test and calibration process
to the extent supported by your calibration hardware and appropriate for the DUT being calibrated.
COMPASS supports automated operation of DHI PPC and RPM transfer standards but can also be used
with any type of pressure standard from any manufacturer. This feature allows COMPASS to be used
systematically to provide consistent data formats and report generation for all of your pressure calibrations.
COMPASS sets up and maintains files on devices under test (DUT) (see Section 6) and testing
procedures (see Section 7) to associate with DUTs. These files are recalled to run tests. Tests are run
using the hardware that has been configured (see Section 8.2) in COMPASS. While running a test, data
is acquired and stored in a standard ASCII comma or tab delimited data file (see Section 12). Within
COMPASS, data files may be viewed (see Section 9.2), used to generate plots (see Section 9.4) and
used to generate reports (see Section 1) which can be customized with user edited templates.
COMPASS operations follow conventional Windows protocol for file management, menu and message
formatting, graphics and editing.
Devices under test (DUT) and test procedures are defined and recorded in *.dut and *.tst files. To run a
test, first a *.dut file must be created (see Section 6.2) to define the DUT that will be tested and a *.tst file
must be created (see Section 7.2) to provide COMPASS with the exact testing procedure for that DUT.
The hardware configuration, including the pressure reference device, the electrical measuring device (if
present) and the computer’s IEEE 488 card (if present) used to run the test is specified with a Hardware
Configuration Tool (see Section 8.2). Once “DUT” and “test” files have been set up, and the hardware
configuration has been defined, tests can be run (see Section 5.2).
Many operational preferences relating to how test are initialized and run, and how data is gathered and
stored are configurable with user options (see Section 8.3). The use of these configurable preferences
results in a test environment that is customizable to meet the testing needs of a diverse group of end users.
As a test runs, the data is collected in a “log” file (see Section 12.2). When the test completes, the results
of the test are copied from the “log” file into “data” files. “Data” files are designed to be easily exported to
other applications by the user for further analysis or report generation. In addition, COMPASS includes
integrated analysis and reporting functions which allow full customization of reports (see Section 1). Any
number of custom report formats can be created and employed. Reports can then be edited, printed or
saved. A plotting function allows various auto-scaled error plots for test results to be viewed and printed
(see Section 9.4).
Detailed information and assistance on COMPASS application and functions are available in this manual
and with on-line help (accessed by pressing [F1] or selecting [Help]).

COMPASS®FOR PPC/RPM™ USER’S MANUAL
© 1998-2000 DH Instruments, Inc. Page 6
3.1.1 BASICS SUMMARY
In summary, the following steps and sections should be referred to while trying to set up and
run a test for the first time. Subsequent tests will only require a selection of the desired DUT
and test file. The Run Test section of this manual has a more detailed explanation of the
requirements to run a test in COMPASS (see Section 5.2). Several COMPASS examples
and frequently asked questions are in the Quick Tips section of this manual (see Section 13).
These sections are also very useful in getting started.
• Select [DUT], [Create] to create a DUT (see Section 6.2). A DUT that outputs an
electrical signal such as V, mV or mA will most likely use a digital multimeter. This DMM
should be set up in the program configuration (see Section 8.2).
• Select [Tools], [Configure Hardware] to update the program configuration
(see Section 8.2). This includes setting up the pressure reference as well as any other
peripheral devices required by a DUT. This option should be used to set up a DMM,
multiplexer and select the system IEEE 488 interface card. Once these selections are
made there is no need to access the configuration unless a change in one of these
devices occurs. Make sure the desired selections are made on the [CONFIGURATION]
tab of the hardware configuration.
• Select [Test], [Create Test] to create a test that will define the pressure sequence and
other aspects of the testing procedure (see Section 7.2).
• Select [Run], [Run Test] or the corresponding toolbar shortcut to run the test.