User manual

when the program is drawing real time data to the screen from
the Capture menu). If you are displaying wildly varying
radiation levels, so that the screen auto scrolls up and down
with every few points, you can use Setup to reduce the verti-
cal resolution so that every row equates to a change of as
many microroentgens/hr. as you want, or you can average
more minutes of data per point by increasing the time resolu-
tion, or if you have an EGA or VGA you can set the program
to operate in 43 or 50 line mode.
You can leave Strip/Bar Chart by hitting the escape key. The
raw data file will be held open. You can select the "Change
Setup" item in the Display menu, to change operating para-
meters, and then return to Strip/Bar Chart to review the data
using the new parameters, without having to reload the raw
data file. For example, you might want to leave Strip/Bar
Chart to change the Time Resolution in Setup, and then return
to Strip/Bar Chart. If you leave the Display Menu by hitting
the escape key again, the raw data file will close and you will
be prompted to load another file if you try to select Strip/Bar
Chart again.
As explained earlier, Setup allows you to use any character(s)
you want for the point, for example * or ## or &&& etc.
(Note: To enter non-ascii IBM characters, hold down the
<ALT> key then enter the IBM character code into the key-
pad of your keyboard. For example to enter the IBM square
character #254 hold down the <ALT> key and key in 254 on
the keypad then release the <ALT> key).
Alternatively you can use the string <num> for each point
where num is the average microroentgens/hr. for the point.
For example <14> would mean the data averaged for the
point equals 14 microroentgens/hr.
You can specify the number of columns used for each bar/po-
int, for example, a display string of ### would need three
columns per point, <14> would need four columns per point,
etc. By specifying more columns than needed, each bar/point
will be separated.
You also can choose bar colors and characters. To deactivate
bar chart mode see Strip/Bar Chart’s help screen.
Strip/Bar Chart has a repeat command feature. Enter any
number, then a command and Strip/Bar Chart will repeat that
command by the number. For example, to move quickly 5
screens down the file, enter 5<PGDN KEY>, or to move 60
points down enter 60<LEFT ARROW>. The fastest way to
move around in a file is by using the repeat PGDN KEY or
repeat PGUP KEY because the program skips drawing inter-
vening screens and draws only the last screen of data.
Strip/Bar Chart also will auto scroll through a file, and you
can set the scroll speed or change it on the fly.
Strip/Bar Chart’s help screen is activated by the <F1> key.
ALARM FEATURES:
Both Aw-srad and the TSR code (Aw-mrad) have an alarm
feature. When running Aw-srad’s "Display Current Input"
mode with the alarm activated, if the average for any point
displayed is greater than the alarm level, an alarm will sound
from the computer’s speaker. For example, if you run Setup
so that each point displayed is the average of the last ten
minutes of data, and a ten minute average exceeds the alarm
level chosen with Setup, the alarm will sound until a point is
displayed below the alarm level. You can activate/deactivate
the alarm during the "Display Current Input" mode. Just
press F1 for commands.
The TSR code also has an alarm feature. (See TSR CODE
section below). Since the TSR code always stores averaged
raw data gathered each TBU (Time Base Unit), either to its
buffer or disk, the TSR code has a special running average for
the alarm. You can select the length of the running average
while activating the TSR code, or from the TSR’s pop-up
window. For example, if you select 600 sec. for the running
average length, the TSR code will calculate the average radia-
tion level every TBU, using the data gathered over the prev-
ious 10 minutes. If the running average is equal or above the
alarm trigger level, the alarm will sound until the running
average drops below the alarm trigger level or the alarm is
shut off from the pop-up window.
The TSR code and Aw-srad always round up a fractional part
equal to or above 0.5 and round down any fractional part
below 0.5.
PRINTER FEATURES:
You can print to any DOS device or file including a LPT,
COM, AUX, or CON device or a disk file. DOS’s "Mode"
program can set baud rates, etc. for serial printers.
By printing to the CON device, you can see exactly what will
be sent to your line printer. Use ctrl s or ctrl c as you would
with the DOS "Type" command.
By printing to a disk file, you can use a text editor to edit the
file and then use your DOS "Print" program ("print file-
name"), DOS "Copy" ("copy filename PRN"), or DOS "redi-
rect" ("type filename > PRN") to print the file.
Printer formatting is controlled both by Setup’s "Printer" and
Setup’s "Strip/Bar Chart" selections.
You can enter an initialization string that the program will
send to your printer before any data. To enter any non-ascii
character in the initialization string, hold down the ALT key
and then key in the code on the keypad, then release the ALT
key. For example, if you need to enter the escape character
in the initialization string, hold down the ALT key and key in
27 then release the ALT key. 27 is the base 10 code for the
escape character. All non-ascii codes will display as the
equivalent IBM character. For example code 27 will display
as the IBM character left arrow. (You can view all the IBM
characters from Setup’s "Chart Character" option)
Also, Aw-srad includes a selection that prints any Strip/Bar
Chart screen to a DOS device or file. (First use Setup to select
a printable bar drawing character).
ASCII / SPREADSHEET OUTPUT:
To accommodate easy transfer of radiation data to a
spreadsheet or database, AW-SRAD’S "Display" menu in-
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