Measurement Computing DataShuttle - Manual (Page 83)

DataShuttle and DynaRes 11-13-01 ACAO Analog Output & Control Board Technical Notes 9-5
CALOUT.DAT Notes
The third line in the file has the serial number followed by WCAL, XCAL, YCAL, and ZCAL for the
first analog output card.
WCAL, XCAL, YCAL, and ZCAL are the gain calibration numbers for analog output channels for Analog
Connection family products. They correspond to the 0-5V, 0-10V, ±5V, and 4-20mA ranges, respectively.
A second analog output card has its serial number and calibration numbers on the next line, and so on.
Following the “# ranges” sign are range settings. (These ordinarily result from calibrations of the ACAO
when you start up the Analog Connection programs.)
Use ACAOCAL to read board settings and to write settings to STIDRV.INI
Following the “@” sign are the fine tuning calibration values that result from a recalculation taking place
every time you use Analog Connection software. (There is no need to put numbers here. As with the range
settings, the software is going to update them.) The values are in sequence, one for each channel,
and one line for each card.
Reconstructing A Lost Calibration File
In the event the calibration file CALOUT.DAT becomes corrupt, or is missing, it’s first necessary to
reconstruct a replacement text file before running EDITCAL. Use any text editor to create a new file,
giving it the appropriate name (CALOUT.DAT).
Enter this text on the first line in the file:
ANALOG OUTPUT CALIBRATION
and then press [ENTER] ten times, to establish a total of 11 lines in the file. Save the file to the same
subdirectory as your other applications programs.
Now you can use EDITCAL to read and restore the calibration numbers by using its UPDATE menu
selection (please see “Using EDITCAL”).
Using EDITCAL
Although the preceding tables might give the impression that editing calibration files is highly complex, the
EDITCAL utility makes the task relatively easy.
Starting EDITCAL
Make sure the EDITCAL.EXE program file is in the same sub-directory as the application programs and the
CALOUT.DAT file.
Load the EDITCAL.EXE program from the keyboard:
To Start Up EDITCAL.EXE
At the DOS prompt, enter EDITCAL, then press the [ENTER] key. (This invokes the utility.)