DOWNLOADING A PANELVIEW FAULT LOG

In the following writing I will detail the procedure(s) required to download a fault
log from a PanelView 900C terminal to a computer running Windows “95”. This
method will utilize the Windows “95” terminal program called HyperTerminal.
(Note: Although requiring slightly different configuration steps, the same
procedure can be done under Windows 3.x, using its Terminal program.) The
only other requirement is the interconnection cable, a straight modem cable
available at almost any store carrying computer supplies. [This same cable
could be used for downloading a new program to the PanelView should it be
required. Note: If this would be required, all the additional files required for
downloading can be supplied on a single disk with the new program.]

The instructions will be broken down into three separate categories. The first
section will configure HyperTerminal and make a new icon specifically for
downloading the fault log. This would be required only once to configure the
terminal software. The second section will cover the actual download procedure,
including the setup of the PanelView. This would be the procedure to be
followed when actually obtaining the logged fault files. Finally in the last section I
will cover some additional options and instructions for viewing and importing the
log files into programs such as WORD 6.0 and EXCEL 5.0.

Section One: HyperTerminal Configuration

1) Before doing any other configuration, you should make a new folder in
which you will always store the downloaded fault logs. For ease of file retrieval I
would suggest you make a descriptive folder (directory) in your root directory.
For example, make a new folder in C:\ called PV-LOG.

2) Start the HyperTerminal program. It can be accessed from START,

PROGRAMS, ACCESSORIES, HYPERTERMINAL.

3) Once HyperTerminal is started, you will see several icons representing

different files. Double-click on the HYPERTRM.EXE icon. This will open a “New
Connection” window.

4) In the “New Connection” window you can type whatever name you want to
call this configuration. You can also select an icon from the list to represent the
configuration. Later, this icon with the name you select can be placed on your
“desktop” for easy access. The name chosen should somewhat describe its
intended use, for example; PV-LOG. Once the name and icon have been
chosen, select OK.

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5) The next screen will ask for a phone number. All that is necessary on this
screen is to change the connection type on the bottom selection. The pull-down
arrow associated with “Connect Using” should have selections for your serial
“COM” ports. For almost all computers, you should select “Direct to Com 1” as
your connection. Once selected, select OK to save and close this window.

6) The next window that appears allows you to set the port settings for your
selected COM port. These settings MUST match those of the PanelView. We
will therefore change these settings to match the defaults of the PanelView.

Bits per second = 9600

Data bits = 8
Parity = None
Stop bits = 1
Flow control = None

There is no need to go to the Advanced section so once the above settings are
in place, select OK.

7) You will now be at the opening screen of your new connection. One final
thing to do before saving is to select where to place the files you will be
downloading from the PanelView. This really will be required each time you
download a new fault log but by doing so now, you can at least get the default
directory (folder) set. From the menu bar select TRANSFER, CAPTURE TEXT,
and enter the path and directory you made in item 1 followed by a default
filename. For example, type in C:\PV-LOG\FAULT.TXT to initially name the
download filename “FAULT.TXT”. Once entered, selecting START will save the
path and destination.

8) Now you should close or exit this HyperTerminal session. When you try
to do this you will be warned that you are currently connected. This appears due
to the last step. Select YES to clear this message box. Next you will be asked
about saving the session. You must select YES to save this connection
configuration.

9) If you haven’t closed your initial HyperTerminal window, the newly named
session and icon you selected in item # 4 will appear. It will have the file
extension “HT” added to it. (If your window was closed, the next time you go to
HyperTerminal (START, PROGRAMS, ACCESSORIES, HYPERTERMINAL) it
will appear.)

10) To place a shortcut of this session on your desktop for future use, from
the HyperTerminal window, “right” click on your new session icon and select
Create Shortcut. The shortcut will be created in your HyperTerminal window. To
move it to your desktop, minimize the window and click and drag the shortcut
icon to your desktop. This completes “section one” of the procedure.

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Section Two: Downloading a Fault Log

1) To download a PanelView fault log from a PanelView 900C terminal you

must connect a straight modem cable between your computer and the
PanelView terminal.

2) Next start the HyperTerminal session you created in section one of this
procedure and from the menu bar, select TRANSFER, CAPTURE TEXT.
Backspace over the default name of the file and replace it with a name to better
associate the file with this particular download. You could use the machine serial
number with a incremented numeric identifier similar to that of our machine
program (for example 4198PV01.TXT). If you do not make a new filename for
each new download, each subsequent download will be added to the end of the
prior downloads. (This may or may not be a good option, depending on your
plan for the files.) You could download twice, once to a new filename and again
to the default or a base filename. Note, once you change the name, that will be
the name that appears the next time you start a session.

3) You can either press the ENTER key or click the START button once you
have your new filename typed in. Doing so will take you back to the session
window. You should notice (confirm) that at the bottom of the window, the
CAPTURE box is no longer “grayed” out but rather active. Also in the bottom
boxes you could confirm the Com port configuration... 9600 N-8-1. The
computer is now ready to capture a printed text file from the PanelView.

4) From the PanelView Fault screen you should now be able to simply press
the PanelView touchscreen “Print History” button. You should see the faults
scroll by on a single line of your session window on your computer while the log
is being transferred. Only press the button once or else the log will again be
transferred to the file, repeating each fault. If nothing appears on your session
windows top line, more than likely the PanelView does NOT have printing
enabled. If this is the case, you must first enable printing on the PanelView.
This is accomplished from the PanelView’s Printer Setup screen which can be
accessed from the Configuration mode screen. These two screens are part of
the PanelView software and can be reached from the P&H application software
installed on the PanelView. Access to these screens from the P&H application
would generally be from a maintenance type screen. The particular application
on your PanelView will determine the route required to the PanelView
configuration screens.

5) Until you become familiar with this procedure it is perhaps a good idea to
view or at least check for the file on your computer prior to disconnecting from
the PanelView. The file should be in the vicinity of 4k to 5k in size (for each
download) if checking using Explorer or DOS. Note, the file will not be updated
until you close your HyperTerminal application.

Section Three: Viewing and Importing Saved Log Files

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The Fault Log(s) you captured in section two can now be brought into different
software programs such as Word or Excel. This procedure is very straight
forward as tested with Word 6.0 and Excel 5.0. Once the program (Word or
Excel) is running, simply open the Fault Log file you created. Note that it is a text
(TXT) file and this type file must be first selected; Word generally defaults to
DOC type files and Excel to XL? type files. Word 6.0 will bring the file directly in
whereas Excel 5.0 will prompt you for additional information regarding columns,
etc. In most cases, accepting the Excel defaults results in a very workable and
sortable spreadsheet. From either program the file can now be saved to the
programs default file type.

DFS 4/98 PV-DNLD1.DOC