Valeport DataLog x2 User manual

DataLog x2 and Terminal x2
Installation and User Guide
Document ID
MANUAL-1899207337-17
Date:
August 2021
This confidential document was prepared by the staff of Valeport Limited, the Company, and is the
property of the Company, which also owns the copyright therein. All rights conferred by the law of
the copyright and by virtue of international copyright conventions are reserved to the Company.
This document must not be copied, reprinted or reproduced in any material form, either wholly or in
part, and the contents of this document, and any method or technique available there from, must
not be disclosed to any other person whatsoever without the prior written consent of the Company.
© 2021 Valeport Ltd
Valeport Ltd
St Peter's Quay
Totnes TQ9 5EW
United Kingdom
Phone:
email:
Web:
[phone]
[email protected]
www.valeport.co.uk
As part of our policy of continuous development, we reserve the right to alter, without prior notice,
all specifications, designs, prices and conditions of supply for all our equipment

Contents
©2021 –Valeport Ltd
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Contents
1 Introduction..................................................................................................................................1
2 Installation ...................................................................................................................................2
3 Terminal X2 .................................................................................................................................5
3.1 Establish a Connection.........................................................................................................7
3.2 Configure an Instrument.......................................................................................................9
3.3 Download a file ...................................................................................................................12
3.4 Record a File.......................................................................................................................14
4 Datalog X2.................................................................................................................................16
4.1 Home ToolBar.....................................................................................................................16
4.1.1 File Manager..................................................................................................................16
4.1.2 Time Series Chart..........................................................................................................16
4.1.3 Profile Chart...................................................................................................................17
4.1.4 Scatter Chart..................................................................................................................17
4.1.5 Polar Chart.....................................................................................................................17
4.1.6 Terminal Window...........................................................................................................18
4.1.7 Table View.....................................................................................................................18
4.2 Instrument ToolBar.............................................................................................................19
4.2.1 Establish a connection...................................................................................................20
4.2.2 Configure an Instrument................................................................................................22
4.2.3 Download a File.............................................................................................................25
4.2.4 Record a File..................................................................................................................27
4.2.5 Instrument Tools............................................................................................................29
4.3 Chart ToolBar......................................................................................................................30
4.4 Recording Toolbar..............................................................................................................30
5 Tutorials.....................................................................................................................................31
5.1 Configure a Model 106 Current Meter................................................................................31
5.2 Calibrate a 740 Tide Gauge ...............................................................................................35
5.3 Calculated Density and Salinity..........................................................................................37

DataLog x2 and Terminal x2 Installation and User Guide
MANUAL-1899207337-17
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©2021 –Valeport Ltd
1 Introduction
DataLog X2 and Terminal X2 are software packages to interface, configure and download data
from Valeport Instrumentation. DataLog x2, in addition to interfacing and download capability, has
extensive graphing and data analysis tools built in.
Terminal X2 will work with any Valeport Instrument that communicates via serial RS232.
Functionality may be limited with some older instruments.
At present DataLog X2 is not fully compatible with the following instruments and the listed
packages should be used instead:
Equipment
Software to be Used
TideMaster
TideMaster Express
MIDAS DWR
WaveLog Express
MIDAS WTR
WaveLog Express
MIDAS Surveyor
SurveyLog
MIDAS BathyPack
BathyLog
MIDAS CTD+
DataLog Pro
Model 803
ROVLog

Section 2 | Installation
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2 Installation
2.1 System Requirements:
DataLog X2 and Terminal X2 have been tested on Windows 8, 8.1 and 10.
Basic Requirements: 800MHz processor; 512MB of RAM; 1024 x 768 screen resolution; Free Disk-
space 20Mb (excluding data); IE6+ installed.
Recommended Requirements: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor. 2
gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 4 GB RAM (64-bit); 1280 x 1024 screen resolution; Free Disk-space
20Mb (excluding data of course!); IE9+ installed.
2.2 Installation Process:
To Install: Run Setup.exe from the installation directory.
Note: You may need to accept a Windows security warning to proceed based upon your system
configuration.
Confirm additional settings as required

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Confirm the installation tasks and click "Install" to finalise the installation.
Installation can be terminated at any time by pressing the "Cancel" button.

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2.3 Uninstall
To uninstall DataLog X2, navigate to the Windows "Control Panel" and select "Remove Program",
DataLog X2 can be selected from the program list and uninstalled.
2.3.1 Starting DataLog X2
To start DataLog X2 use the following methods:
Navigate to the "All Programs" link under the Windows "START" menu
Navigate to the folder "Valeport Software"
Click the icon "DataLog X2"
Alternatively, if during setup you chose to create a desktop icon, locate the icon on the desktop and
double-click to open DataLog X2.

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©2021 –Valeport Ltd
3 Terminal X2
Terminal x2 is a lightweight terminal program for serial communication, configuration and control of
Valeport Instruments. It is intended as a direct replacement for Hyper Terminal which is no longer
available for Windows PC's.
It has a number of additional features over and above most terminal packages including data
logging, wizard based instrument configuration, file downloads, multiple port connections and TCP-
IP serial connection for use over internet connections.
3.1 Terminal Toolbar
This allows the port to be configured, serial com ports or TCP/IP ports can be selected. Baud rates
can be changed whilst still connected. Default port settings are 8 bit, No stop bit, No 1 Parity Bit.
These settings can be changed but as standard will work with all Valeport instruments.
Other options available from this toolbar include echo on/off, wrapping, hexadecimal split screen,
hide/show special characters and time stamping.

Section 3 | Terminal X2
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Connection Status
Shows the current port, baud rate and protocol and connection status.
Connection Window
The connection window shows any communications between the PC and the connected
instrument. In the example above the time stamping is enabled. Once the window is full, it will
scroll with any received data. Data can be highlighted, selected, copied and pasted.
Commands can be typed directly into the connection window or entered into the command line
window below
Command Line and Dropdown
The command line can be used to send commands to a connected instrument. A history of sent
commands can be accessed with the drop-down functionality
Connection information
Shows volume of data received during currently connected session, number of lines of data
received and rate at which data is being received.

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©2021 –Valeport Ltd
3.2 Establish a Connection
There are two methods of establishing a connection. When the instrument type is known and when
a generic serial connection is required.
Clicking on the connect icon will
bring up the connection wizard.
The instrument type can be
selected from the drop down list.
The connection settings will
default to the factory settings for
that instrument. If these have
been changed by the user it may
be necessary to change these.
Alternatively, set the connection
up using the settings toolbar.
Once the appropriate port and
baud rate settings are selected,
press the connect icon to
establish a connection
To establish TCP-IP serial
connection, select TCP-IP port
from the drop down menu,
Enter the IP address and port in
the Host settings

Section 3 | Terminal X2
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Once the connection is established, the status bar will show the connection details and any
communications will be shown in the window.
Commands can be issued via typing directly into the command window or via the command
toolbar.
The command toolbar stores a history of issued commands.
The status toolbar shows the amount of data received, sent and the received rate of data.

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©2021 –Valeport Ltd
3.3 Configure an Instrument
The configuration wizard is instrument specific and the options given will depend on the instrument
connected, the example given here is for a MiniSVP.
Clicking on the configure tool will bring up the
configuration wizard.
Select the instrument type and the connection
settings will be set to the factory default for this
instrument. They can be altered if required.
Select the comm port the instrument is
connected to and click next.
At the next window, set the timeout setting for
interrupting the instrument.
If attempting to connect to an instrument
operating in Burst Mode, the timeout should be
set to greater than the burst interval.
When Next is clicked the configuration wizard
will attempt to interrupt the instrument and read
out the current configuration.
If the wizard fails to interrupt the instrument, then
check the connection settings and retry.
If the instrument is successfully interrupted,
commands and responses should be visible in
the command window behind the configuration
wizard.

Section 3 | Terminal X2
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The first wizard window shows information about
the instrument. Boxes are greyed out as
information cannot be changed by the user.
The next screen allows the pressure sensor to
be configured.
Output units can be set and the Tare setting can
be configured.
To set a manual Tare, enter the required figure
in the box.
To take a measured Tare, press the Set Tare
Button.
The following dialog will pop-up.
The Latitude value is used to convert pressure to
depth. An approximate value can be used for the
operational area.
If the instrument being configured has a Real
Time Clock, the option to sync it to PC time is
available.

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©2021 –Valeport Ltd
Header is a free text field that will be inserted
into the header of every recorded file.
Sampling modes will depend on the instrument
connected.
The final screen will show a summary of the
commands that will be sent to the instrument.
If settings have not been changed, then no
commands will be shown and the finish button is
greyed out.
Simply type a # into the command window and
the Finish button will be available.

Section 3 | Terminal X2
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Once the configuration is completed, the
instrument will be in a paused (‘interrupted’)
state and, therefore, will require prompting from
the user to set it running. This can be achieve in
one of 3 ways:
1. Select the RUN button in the instrument tab
of DataLog X2 (See image).
2. Enter the command #028 in the Terminal
window.
3. Disconnect, then reconnect the
Power/Comms cable to activate the
instrument.
3.4 Download a file
Clicking on the download icon invokes the
Download Wizard. As with all wizards the first
stage is to identify the connected insturment and
comms settings.
Ensure the instrument is switched on and
connected. Extend the interrupt timeout if the
unit is operating in burst mode (or cycle the
power to the instrument)

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©2021 –Valeport Ltd
Location to download files to can be defined
here. Sub folders by instrument and date will
automatically created.
For instruments that support individual file
downloads (mini and 400 series), a file list with
check boxes will be displayed.
For older instruments such as the model
106/108/308 and the model 740, the entire
memory has to be downloaded in one
A status window will show the progress of
the download and estimated completion
time.
.
Files can be deleted by clicking on the bin icon.
There is no recycle bin. If the file is
deleted from the instrument it is gone
forever

Section 3 | Terminal X2
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3.5 Record a File
Real time data can be logged to
file with the Recording wizard.
As with the other wizards, set
up the instrument type and
communications settings.
If the instrument is not listed,
then a 'Generic Instrument' can
be selected from the dropdown
and suitable comms settings
entered.
The next screen sets the
interuppt settings, but also adds
the ability to filter the incoming
string.
For example, if an instrument
such as the TideMaster is
outputting multiple NMEA
strings such as $PVTM1 for
met, and $PVTMA for Tide, the
start filter can be set to
$PVTMA to only log the tide
data.

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For data recorded on
instruments without a Real
Time Clock, there is the option
to append a timestamp to each
record.
Files will be saved to the
selected location. Files can be
automatically named,
incremented and numbered.
Data will continue to be
recorded until the record button
is clicked again, or Terminal is
closed.

Section 4 | Datalog X2
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4 Datalog X2
DataLog X2 is a package for communication, configuration and control of Valeport Instruments. It
also contains basic graphing and data display functions for internally recorded and real time data
from Valeport Instruments.
It has all the features of Valeport Terminal including data logging, wizard based instrument
configuration, file downloads, multiple port connections and TCP-IP serial connection for use over
internet connections.
4.1 Home ToolBar
The Home toolbar gives access to graphing and file management tools. Data from recorded files
and downloaded files can be loaded and viewed as tables and graphs.
4.1.1 File Manager
In DataLog X2 a file is either a recorded data file from real-time connection, or a downloaded file
from an instrument. Downloaded files and recorded files are automatically loaded into the file
manager window.
Previously downloaded or recorded files can be added by clicking on the button
Files will be sorted in the order that they are added. The select button activates or deactivates the
file.
4.1.1.1 Workspaces
A workspace is a saved configuration of files, graphs and tables. When the workspace is loaded, it
will automatically load the files and create the graphs and tables saved in the workspace.
4.1.2 Time Series Chart
A time series chart can be for single parameter or multiple parameters. Time is always on the X
axis. If multiple parameters are selected then multiple Y axes will be displayed.

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4.1.3 Profile Chart
A profile chart can show a single or multiple
parameters plotted against depth/pressure.
Depth/Pressure is always on a reversed Y
axis.
4.1.4 Scatter Chart
A scatter chart allows one
parameter to be plotted against
another. A good example of this is
T-S plot traditionally used in
oceanography to identify water
masses.
Temperature is show here on the
Y axis with Salinity plotted on the
X axis.
4.1.5 Polar Chart
Polar Charts can be used to display vector type data with a magnitude + direction. eg. water
current direction and speed or wind speed and direction.

Section 4 | Datalog X2
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4.1.6 Terminal Window
The terminal window shows any comms between the insturment and DataLog X2. It can be used to
manually interact with the instrument. It gives access to all the functionality of Terminal X2
4.1.7 Table View
The Table view shows the data contained in the file currently highlighted in the File Manager.
Greyed out data is data that has been filtered using the Filtering Tools available in the Chart
Toolbar