Function Options

Meter
Metering is a way of viewing data from sensors without storing the data. To view sensors Metering on your computer screen, firstly ensure SenSci is turned on, has sensors connected and that the SenSci unit is connected to your computer via a USB or Serial cable, then within Prodigy click on the Meter icon, wait a few moments and Metering will begin. The default display mode for Metering in Prodigy is the bar graph, other modes available are numeric and colour changes, these can be viewed all at once or individually (see display options). To exit Meter simply close the Meter window.

Log Setup
When data is 'Logged' it is stored in the memory in SenSci, from here it can be transferred to your computer. In order to Log data the Log duration and intervals must be set. This can be done on SenSci or through Prodigy (with your computer connected to SenSci), If you want to view logging as it happens on your computer screen you will need to use Prodigy. With SenSci connected to your computer via a USB or Serial cable and all the required sensors connected to the Logger, click on the Log Setup icon within Prodigy. A 'Log Parameter Settings" window will appear with the following options:

Open File
To Open pre-saved data files click on the Open File icon and browse the location where the file was stored.

Download Data
To view and analyse data in Prodigy it must first be transferred to your computer, this can be done by uploading from SenSci or downloading to Prodigy. With SenSci connected to your computer via the USB or Serial cable click on the Download Data icon. A Download window will appear displaying the files available on SenSci, from here you can rename the file if required, browse the save location and then save. If you wish to remove the file from SenSci once downloaded to your computer ensure the check box is selected. Once files are downloaded follow the Open File instructions to view it.

Save File
Once you have edited or manipulated a graph to display what you require you can save simply by clicking on this icon.

Print
Upon clicking the Print icon the Print option window will appear, you can print a Time graph of the data, the corresponding data table or a screenshot of the current screen. Select the corresponding radio button and click OK to begin printing. There are more print options under the pull down File list (main window top left).

Display Options
When Logging, Metering or Viewing saved files you can select how your data is displayed through Display Options. Firstly you will need to either have the data file open or in the case of set up prior to Logging or Metering you will need to select which you intend to do - this is necessary as different display options are necessary for these two, a window will appear with the two options and corresponding radio buttons, select the one you require. Next the Display Options window will appear, the list of display modes is as follows:

These display modes all have a check box next to them in the Display Options window, you can select your display mode by selecting the corresponding check box. A maximum of four display modes can be viewed at once. Display modes not available in the current mode (i.e. Metering, Logging etc..) appear grey and cannot be checked.

Within the Display Options window under display modes, there is a collection of toggles (for each option you can have one or the other). The options are as follows:

Selection tool - pointer/cross-hair
Data points - separate/joined
Graph grid - off/on

In the top right of the Options Window there is a time graph labelling box, this allows you to label the title and axes.

Advanced Display Options
Click on the advanced tab within the Display Options window to access these features. Firstly you can select between having a standard single 'y' axis or a double allowing the labelling of two scales, select the corresponding radio button of the option you require. Next you can specify the axes, drop-down lists allow you to select the sensor scale for that axis, the default for the 'y' axis is time but it is possible to plot sensors against each other. These options apply to the time graph display mode and changes made are specific to the Channel at the top of the Channels list so you can have different preferences for different Channels. To the right of the Advanced Display Options window there is a box allowing you to set the limits of display axis for specific channels, edit the values in the boxes or click on 'Full Scale' to restore the original setting.

Analysis
Select the Analysis icon to access the following options:

Calculations: Gives you statistical values for each input (channel). Select the Channel you wish to analyse from the drop-down list, click on total graph and the values will appear. If you wish to analyse just a specific area this must first be selected using the Selection cursor prior to entering analysis, then 'Selected Area' clicked within Calculations. Other options include; Area Under Graph: Provides a reading of the total area under the chosen channel, click either the total graph or selected area button to view the data, a shaded area will also appear on the active graph to illustrate. Inter-quartile range: functions the same as Area Under Graph, also has a shaded area to illustrate the range. Ratio Between Points: this enables you to find the ratio between to specific points, to define these points first select the Channel you wish to work with, then select your first and second points with the cursor on the active graph (note, the coordinates in the tools panel can be helpful here). To change either point simply click on the button corresponding to it and re-select.

Curve Smoothing Curve Smoothing allows you to artificially smooth out large variations to create more stable data. Select the Channel you wish to apply to, select the mode of smoothing you wish to use, Fourier or Median then move the slider to the desired level. If you don't want to corrupt the data on a channel you can select the 'Create a New Channel' check box and a separate channel will be created leaving the original intact.

Gradient You can determine the gradient at any point on a graph by selecting Gradient within Analysis. When the Gradient window appears select the channel you wish to analyse from the drop-down list, then simply click on the desired point on that channel in the active graph window. The 'x' and 'y' coordinates are displayed along with the gradient at that point. Click the point button to select another point.

Curve Fitting You can apply standard line and curve formulae to existing data sets to analyse and predict behaviour. Within the Curve Smoothing window select the channel you wish to apply it to. From the drop-down formulae list select a formulae you think best represents the graph, from the Channels drop-down list select the channel to plot the new curve under then select fit, this will automatically select the most appropriate coefficient and constant values but you can manually change them. Click OK and the new curve is created.

Formula Application It is possible to apply a formula to every data point of a channel through the Formula Application within Analysis. Within the Formula Application window select the channel you wish to apply to from the drop-down list in the top right of the window, whenever you now select the 'Yn' button that channel will be used. Use the standard calculator tools to apply formulas to specific channels, select the channel you wish to save your data as in the bottom left drop-down list then select the 'Apply' button to the right of the formula, finally click OK e.g. You want to remove room temperature from a temperature experiment but save the new data as a different channel so that the original is not lost - the window should look like the following; First Temp is selected from the menu and the 'Yn' button clicked, so that Y=Y1 (this would create an exact copy of the temperature layer). Next you want to subtract 22 so click the subtract button then 2 2. Now select the channel you want to save the new graph under, 'Plot as:' has a drop-down menu adjacent to it select the channel from this, (in this case Channel 4 was the next free available). Next click 'Apply' and finally 'OK.'

Playback
Allows you to view data files as an animation to re-create the logging process. Click the playback option to access the Playback File Open window, browse the file you wish to see then select Open. A Graph window will appear with playback controls below, press play to view the samples log at a steady rate or FFW to see them appear at an accelerated rate, press Pause to freeze display or Stop to revert to the standard graph view (data will be displayed only up to the point stop was pressed). A slider bar allows you to easily move to different sections of the log file and the Values boxes give a reading for each channel at each point.

Display Toggles
Different display modes can be chosen or removed quickly using these toggle buttons, click on active modes to remove and inactive modes to apply. See Display Options for a detailed description of each mode and where it can be applied.

Help
Available help files can be accessed by pressing the Help icon.