User`s manual

Manual revision 016 Section 4: Deploying and Operating FastCAT SBE 49
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Acquiring and Processing Data with Seasave and SBE Data Processing
Verifying Contents of Configuration (.xmlcon or .con) File
Seasave, our real-time data acquisition and display program, and SBE Data
Processing, our data processing software, require a configuration file, which
defines the instrument – data output rate, and serial numbers, calibration dates,
and calibration coefficients for the sensors (conductivity, temperature, and
pressure). Seasave and SBE Data Processing use the information in the
configuration file to interpret and process the raw data. If the configuration
file does not match the actual instrument configuration, the software will
not be able to interpret and process data correctly.
1. Double click on Seasave.exe.
2. Click Configure Inputs. On the Instrument Configuration tab, click Open. In
the dialog box, select the .xmlcon or .con file and click Open.
3. The configuration information appears on the Instrument Configuration
tab. Click Modify to bring up a dialog box (shown below) to change the
configuration and/or to view / modify calibration coefficients.
4. Click Save or Save As to save any changes to the .xmlcon or .con file.
Click Exit when done reviewing / modifying the configuration.
Notes:
• Seasave and SBE Data Processing
versions 7.20a introduced .xmlcon
files (in XML format). Versions 7.20a
and later allow you to open a .con or
.xmlcon file, and to save it to a .con
or .xmlcon file. Seasave and SBE
Data Processing use the same file.
• A new or recalibrated CTD ships
with a configuration file that reflects
the current configuration as we know
it. The file is named with the
instrument serial number, followed
by a .con extension. For example,
for a CTD with serial number 2375,
Sea-Bird names the file 2375.con.
You may rename the file (but not the
extension) if desired; this will not
affect the results.
Number of samples to average per scan. FastCAT samples at 16 Hz
(0.0625 seconds), averages data, and transmits averaged data real-
time. Must agree with SBE 49 setup (NAvg=); see reply from DS.
New to create new .xmlcon
or .con file for this CTD.
Open to select different
.xmlcon or .con file.
Save or Save As to save
current .xmlcon or .con file
settings.
• NMEA - Select if NMEA
navigation device used, and
select whether NMEA device is
connected directly to Deck Unit
(SBE 33 or 36) or to computer.
You can also append NMEA
depth data (3 bytes) and NMEA
time data (4 bytes) after
Lat/Lon data. Seasave adds
current latitude, longitude, and
universal time code to data
header; appends NMEA data to
every scan; and writes NMEA
data to .nav file every time Ctrl
F7 is pressed or Add to .nav
File is clicked.
Note: NMEA time can only be
appended if NMEA device
connected to computer.
• Surface PAR – Select if using
with deck unit connected to
Surface PAR sensor. Seasave
appends Surface PAR data to
every scan. Adds 2
channels to
Channel/Sensor table. See
Application Note 47.
Select to have Seasave append time (seconds
since January 1, 1970 GMT) to each data scan.
Click a sensor and
click Modify to change
calibration coefficients
for that sensor.