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VersaCalc/VersaLogger Software
Version 4.0
General Information
The VersaCalc system software may come with one or possibly two software
applications depending on the applications that you have obtained.
VersaLogger software is required for operation of the VersaLogger data
acquisition system for collecting time temperature test data, storing that data in a
text file, and also for printing that data.
VersaCalc software is utilized for analyzing and evaluating the data and for
providing various thermal process determinations and calculations.
If you already have the software installed and have received a Software Update
the installation of these files is simple. The files are usually a VersaLogger.exe
and/or a logger.ini file, or a VersaCalc.exe file and/or a evaluate.ini file. Copy
the update files into the appropriate existing Folder.
Normal Installations
The installation procedures for Version 4.0 applications are quite different than
that for earlier versions, so read and follow ALL the instructions.
If you are operating outside of the United States it will be preferred to set the
properties of your Windows system so the installed language is English U.S.,
however, system may function in other languages providing you make other
adjustments such as setting the Decimal Symbol to a period (.) and NOT as a
comma (,) in the properties of the Regional Settings (in the Control Panel).
Default Temperature Scale cannot be changed during test run, but default Lead
Types and default Number of Probes may be modified by editing during test.
z-value and lethality reference temperature defaults should be specified in
temperature values corresponding to the temperature scale chosen.
DefaultVent temperature is that temperature that software use to calculate the
time vent can be closed.
DefaultRT and DefaultIT are the default temperatures for the Ball Method
Comparisons. They may be edited by the user during calculations of this
application.
All input in the Evaluate.ini file must be very precise as shown above (e.g. - C for
degrees Celsius, not Celsius or anything else).
Sample Data Files Two sample VersaCalc data files (BrokenHPSample.dat
contains broken heating HP data, and HP&TDSampleData.dat contains both
simple heating HP data and also Temperature Distribution data) are provided on
the Installation CD or the download. In addition, demo2.txt is a sample Ellab text
file and spread.txt is an example Excel text file both in formats ready for
Importing into VersaCalc files. These files will be located in folder in which you
installed the VersaCalc on your hard drive and can be used for familiarizing the
user with operation of the software.
2. Open Existing VersaCalc File operation allows the user to load any
previously stored or saved VersaCalc data file. In typical Windows fashion, a
previously developed and saved file must be Opened in order to enable the
menu items that control the Editing functions and Tools functions for data
reduction and analyses. Caution this open operation will basically load almost
any text file, but only text files consistent with VersaCalc File Format can be
utilized in VersaCalc other files will result in errors and confusion to the user
as the data will not have any meaningful value.
3. Save operation allows the user to save the contents of a file under its
opened name and path following editing and/or analyses.
4. Save As operation allows the user to save the opened file under a different
file name and in a different folder (path) if desired.
5. Print operation enables printing of the file containing the results of any
previously completed data logging test run. The file to be printed is specified
using the normal Windows dialog boxes, etc. for File Name selection. In
addition to the time temperature data, the Print Out includes various header
information and Parameter information including, calibration factors (if any), F
values delivered in heating and total process, and probe designations. The
maximum and minimum temperatures of all distribution (D designated) probes
are indicated by an underline and/or strike-out for each time scan throughout the
run.
6. Exit allows you to leave the program, returning to the normal program
manager screen.
TOOLS MENU - this operation on the Menu Bar provides the tools for evaluating
the data in the VersaCalc data files and performing the various thermal
processing calculations
1. BALL METHOD SEMILOG PLOTTING operation enables the user to develop
the heating factors from individual probes that can be utilized in the Ball Formula
Method for process establishment and evaluation, or to graph all probes data.
Semilog Heating Factor Development Each Heat Penetration probe
data can be viewed, evaluated and either Included or Excluded as valid
heating factor data. Numbers on the left side of the screen include only
those designated as heat penetration (P) and are the only available for
review (Figure 4). When the data file is loaded for the first time all of the
P probe numbers will have a red color.
Clicking on the probe number will display a semilog plot of the data for
that probe, and also display a first order curve fit for simple heating.
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A chart to the right of the graph allows the user to De-Select and/or Select
any or all of the P designated probe numbers plotted.
The Graph Screen has a File menu that drops down to allow the user to
either Print the graph or Save the graph to a file four different file types
are available (.jpg, .bmp, .eps, .pcx). These files will be automatically
saved in the file folder containing the data file, using the same file name,
and the appropriate file extender.
2. BALL METHOD COMPARISONS provides Ball Method Evaluations only for
each of the data probes specified as Included from the Heating Semilog
Graphing analyses (Figure 6)
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3. GENERAL METHOD provides both graphical F value and printed lethal rate
determinations. To calculate for different z values and reference temperature
use Edit and make changes in Header Parameters of the data file.
General Method Graphing plots F-value calculations for either
individual heat penetration probes or for all Included heat penetration
probes. Probes to be analyzed can be excluded or included, and the final
graph can be printed.
General Method Lethal Rate and Fo Print calculate the lethal rate and
Cumulative F values at each scan for individual specified heat penetration
probes
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TROUBLESHOOTING
If you have any problems first write down detailed information including any error
messages, what program and screen were you operating in, etc. and save a
data file to send to your supplier or the manufacturer for troubleshooting support.
Provide this information to your supplier in the event that you are unable to get
the system operating correctly. Often, if there is a problem, a complete cold boot
and re-start of both the computer is the best approach.
1. File Error or File Not Correct Format
Possibly
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you are trying to import an Ellab text file or a Excel .csv file that is not
correctly configured
your VersaCalc data file may have become corrupted or you may have
used quotation marks in the header inputs, which is not allowed
you have Opened a text file that is not a correctly formatted VersaCalc
file, in this situation the file would appear to load, but of course would not
have the correct parameters to operate the applications
check the View screen after loading to see if the time temperature grid is
realistic
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Open the Ellab data file (.dt4) to be Exported. Select Only channels that
contain Temperatures. Eliminate or remove all Pressure, Fo values etc. by
clicking Off the appropriate boxes or going to the Process bar and clicking on
Modify Configuration and clicking No Fo values, etc. (Figure A1.1.)
Determine the following information that will be required for Exporting the data
to a text file:
1. Determine the Start Time - the clock time (military format) at which the
probes are exposed to heating (i.e. steam turned in retort)
2. Determine the Stop Time - the last clock time (military format) for
significant data (i.e. well into cooling)
3. Determine the type of each probe for each Channel Number i.e.
which probes are Reference or Environment temperatures, which probes
are Heat Penetration probes and which probes are Temperature
Distribution probes. If you export data for more than 32 channels and/or
more than 460 scans incorrect data will result.
The exported text file must only contain nine rows of header type information
(such as date, file name, etc.) followed by several columns of data. The first
column will contain times (military format) and the other columns will consist of
temperatures, one column for each set of probe data. There must be no
columns of F values or any other non temperature values. Demo2.txt is a
sample Ellab text file with the correct format.
Next choose Export from the File Menu, then after choosing File Name, under
Export Style include ONLY Header, Labels and Selected Channels. Offsets must
Not be selected, but if you used offsets in the collection of data, these offsets will
be included in the temperatures exported to the Text file. See Figure A1.2.
Under Export Timing, Edit/Enter the appropriate time Interval in seconds. This
value must be equal or greater than the interval utilized for data collection.
Usually the interval is related to the containers size 15 to 30 seconds for
typical cans and 2-3 minutes for large sizes. Use an interval that allows all
necessary data to be included in 460 scans or less.
Under Export Start Enter/Edit the clock time (military format) at which probes or
containers are first exposed heating (i.e. steam on). Under Export Stop
Enter/Edit the time (military format) for last scan of data to be included, usually
well into cooling but not at the end of the data collection.
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Complete the Export procedure (OK), then save the file under the name and in
the folder desired. You may have to change the folder since the E-Val software
by default may save the file in the E-Val folder. The E-Val default text data file
name is the original .dt4 file name, but with a .txt extender. The exported file is
now saved in a format compatible for Importing into VersaCalc.
Step # 2 VersaCalc Import Operations
Basically, the text file Exported by E-Val must now be Imported by VersaCalc
software and Saved in VersaCalc format before it can be analyzed, etc.
1. First, Run (Load) VersaCalc Software. Click on the File Menu and
choose Import New Text Data, since this is a New data and not yet in
VersaCalc format. Caution !! Do Not use Open Existing VersaCalc file at
this point, although Open will open any text file, only files in VersaCalc
format can be Opened correctly by the VersaCalc software. The next step
choose (click on) Ellab Text File(.txt).
2. Then follow instructions as the program will allow you to navigate to
the correct folder and text file, and through the Importing process. First, a
window will guide you to specifying the file to be Imported. This will be
the file that was saved as a .txt file by E-Val. The data will be imported
and instruction messages will be provided (Figure A1.3). Continue the
importing procedure by clicking on OK, and choose the correct (Figure
A1.4) Temperature Scale (click on Yes for deg F, No for deg C) based on
the original temperature scale used in E-Val Exporting.
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4. Next proceed into the Edit Mode where certain information must be
input in order to maintain file compatibility. You can display the time
temperature data by clicking on View, then Data and scroll through this
data to determine the heating time, RT, come up time, etc. information that
will be required for the VersaCalc file.
5. In the Header Information screen you Must Enter the values for Total
Heating Time, Retort Temperature and Come Up Time. At this point you
should also enter all additional information in the Company, Product,
Retort Type, etc. boxes that will be include the file and/or test information.
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If the original text file has time in military format or other then decimal time,
the time values in this column must be converted to decimal.
In essence, the spreadsheet file will contain one more row than the total
number of scans of data, and one more column than the number of probes.
You will have to know the type of each probe - which probes are reference,
which probes are heat penetration probes and which probes are temperature
distribution probes for later editing in VersaCalc.
Once the file is complete, Save As the file as a Text File Comma Delimited (.csv
format). This file is now ready for Importing into VersaCalc.
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4. Next proceed into the Edit Mode where certain information must be
input in order to maintain file compatibility. You can display the time
temperature data by clicking on View, then Data and scroll through this
data to determine the heating time, RT, come up time, etc. information that
will be required for the VersaCalc file.
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5. In the Header Information screen you may edit the correct values for
Total Heating Time, Retort Temperature and Come Up Time. At this point
you should enter all additional information in the Company, Product,
Retort Type, etc. boxes that will be include in the file information.
6. In the Probe Parameters screen, Enter/Edit the Probe Types to
correctly define which are penetration, reference temperature
(environment or retort process temperature) and distribution probes.
These definitions most likely will have to be changed from the default
values. The lead numbers in the VersaCalc file will be in numerical order
starting at #1 whereas the original text data may have various probe type
for the channels (see example designations in Figure 2).
7. In the Uncalibrated Temperature Data screen, press Finish Edit
button to Exit. Then be sure to do a Save, storing the file under the
desired name and in the folder.
This saved file can now be utilized as any other VersaCalc data file.
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