Instruction manual

7 Using Settings 101
Chapter 7: Using Settings
The Settings Menu
DataTrax2 offers users several choices for recording and displaying data. When certain
choices are used repeatedly, a template known as a settings file, can be created to reduce the
time required to program the recording software and the A/D converter.
To understand how to use settings files, two terms need to be defined: settings group and
settings file. A settings group is actually a simple text document that can contain links to
individual settings files. Each settings file is a collection of settings for performing an exper-
iment and is programmed by users through the Preferences dialog window from the Edit menu.
The settings contained in a file include items like: the number and titles of channels in the
DataTrax2 windows; the sampling speed; the units conversions; and the stimulator settings.
In addition to the hardware and software provided in its teaching kits, WPI provides laboratory
manuals with a variety of experiments. To support these experiments, WPI has created a
settings group for each laboratory manual. Each settings group contains links to settings files
for each experiment. Settings groups are loaded on the computer during the installation of the
DataTrax2 recording software. Once a settings group is loaded, the settings files within the
group can be called from a list in the Settings menu.
Calling a
Settings File
Before a settings file can be selected
and activated, the settings group that
contains the file must be loaded. To do
this, select Load Group from the
Settings menu. Choose the settings
group file, that you wish to load. Settings
groups associated with WPI manuals are
saved in the DataTrax2 folder when the
WPI Laboratory manuals are installed.
Once a settings group is loaded, all of the settings files contained in the group appear by
name in the lower bracket of the Settings menu. The settings files in the menu are organized by
categories. To select a specific settings file, highlight the name of the file and click it. The
settings associated with the selected file will load into the DataTrax2 program and set param-
eters for recording and displaying data.
For a settings group associated with an WPI teaching kit, the names of the settings files on the
list correspond to the names of the experiments in the lab manual.
If the WPI laboratory manuals are installed from the installation CD as prescribed, each
settings file in the settings group for a teaching kit is associated with a helper file, which is a
.pdf copy of the laboratory exercise as it appears in the WPI laboratory manual.
Users can design their own settings groups and files. They can also associate their own
setting files with documentation (experimental procedures, protocols, instructions, lab exercises)
of their own design.