Datadisc Pt

Datadisc Pt for Windows 95/98/XP and NT

Current version 2.3.24

Released 11/09/2003. May be used with previous Datadisc Ag User Keys (but new Au features are not delivered with these keys).

New Features – Datadisc Pt

Datadisc Pt has all the features listed below and shared with Datadisc Ag.

Further to Datadisc Ag, Datadisc Pt now offers "derived sensors" that can be recorded alongside the sensors you actually plug in. By this we mean, for example, Power may be recorded alongside Volts and Amps. Velocity may be derived from speed; Altitude from Pressure and many many more.
Datadisc Pt also supports "zeroing" and other setting functions for appropriate sensors. (Force and Pressure sensors can be zeroed; pH can be set up in buffer solution (pH 7); Bipolar sensors such as P D can have their output inverted).

Version 2.3.24 offers in addition:
Kelvin and Fahrenheit added as "derived sensors" and can hence be recorded directly
Other new derived sensors including Volume offset and Angular velocity (rads /s)
Sensors which have been zeroed or calibrated in the meter can now be reverted to base calibration.
Sensors which have been "inverted" in the meter are shown by reversing the name display.

Known problems in previous versions

New Features

This replaces Datadisc 32 and Datadisc Explore 32, introducing Datadisc GraphPad as a new User Interface 

The installable is freeware and requires a Key Name and Key to unlock significant program capabilities 

• Runs on Chinese Windows.

• Has Chinese option for menus. (Warning ­ selecting this on Western Windows will result in question marks in all menus!)

• Includes sensor update for ScienceScope pH sensor.

• Install Info history and recordings path settings do work for this version ­ did not previously.

Datadisc

• Simplified recording parameter choice (preserving access to the full settings available in previous versions) 

• Improved accuracy of maths routines 

• Support for new interfaces / sensors being introduced in 2002. 

• The graph offers an unrivalled choice of display styles - chose these to suit your preferences:

  Tick marks "in" or "out" of the box 

  Fraction style:	parameter     unit
  OR
  Classic style	parameter / unit

  Y axis numbering on side or upright Edit menus to remove unwanted items

On previous versions these features were new:

• Comprehensive area under graph plotting and calculation via a cursor for quick work and as a permanent graph feature as well. 

• Function calculation with a user-written formula giving a very complete calculation capability. 

• Spectrum analysis for waveform files.

• User-adjusted straight line fit (for doing the "best straight line" by eye much as you used to on graph paper). 

• Duplicate channel facility 

• Average channels facility 

• Direct entry scaling - which allows easy expansion 

• Menus are now configurable 

• What's this help is now provided - click the ? button and point to the item you want help on. 

• Opportunity to show more than one graph for a set of data - for alternative presentations 

• Add labels to your graph 

• New recording graph interface - click and go 

• Save recordings - have your favourite recordings set up at the click of a button 

• Favourite files - organize short cuts to your files in the same way as Internet browsers 

• Data table is now easily formatted with WYSIWYG printing. 

• Export data in Internet ready format (html files) 

• Integration of Datamass features including histograms and the recording table

Datadisc Explore features

The layout of the Window remains much the same as always but there are three powerful new buttons as well as other new features: 

• Graph style more closely follows ASE recommendations for 5 - 16 science. 

• Sliders replaced with drop down boxes for recording choice. 

• The timer button opens a new, simple and useful feature. 

• A clock or stop-clock that reads to 0.1 second (if you want to). 

• Choose analogue or digital display and carry out those pendulum experiments (and others) using Datadisc Explore. 

• Straight line fit. Adjust your own line for "best fit" to the experimental data and have it added to the graph. 

• Type in your own spreadsheet data so that Datadisc Explore's powerful graphing and analysis are easily available for experiments you don't do with sensors. 

• The sound record option is not new but you can now collect up to 4 waveforms before you close the recording window. Great for recording different instruments playing the same note or the same instrument playing different notes. 

• The zoom button now produces a better, finer large graph. 

• Other powerful new features: 

  · Datadisc Explore can now calculate the average of two channels. 

  · Tiled graphs can now be done for data where time is not the X axis. 

  · Duplicate channel allows you to make a copy of data, keeping the original, before you change it. 

Datadisc Graphpad features

• Axis labels in suitable English - eg "Time in seconds" 

• Graph numbers printed upright 

• Grid lines kept "nearly square" 

• Larger default font Meter, one channel graph, table and clock. 

• Predict function as Explore 

• Record, Transfer and Data Entry 

• Simple visual control - use sensors to control the Logbook control output

GraphPad is aimed at Key Stage 2 needs for data-logging and data analysis. It has an easy-to-use button-click style of operation which nevertheless offers much of the power of Datadisc 32 tailored to Primary science. 

The GraphPad toolbar has a wealth of powerful features: 

• The Menu group provides all the most used File and edit functions. 

• The Logging group starts and stops a real-time recording or transfers remotely recorded data. 

• Keyboard data entry and sound wave recording buttons complete the set. 

• You can set up the real-time recording parameters with the duration control.

The Data view group allow easy switching between Meter display; Graph; Stop Clock; Tiled graph and Data table.

Known issues

New version expected             Not planned 

Known problems in previous versions of Datadisc Ag