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		SoftPlot Measurement Presentation
			Program Installation
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Introduction
------------

SoftPlot is designed for putting quality measurement plots into word processor documents 
and presentation packages.  Many instruments, such as spectrum analyzers and network 
analyzers, have the capability to generate a hard copy of the measurements by connecting 
a suitable pen-plotter to their GPIB interface.  SoftPlot improves on this by using the 
GPIB to extract only the unformatted data from the instrument and allowing it to be 
manipulated in a number of ways.  For example, the graticule type, style and scaling 
can be re-defined, and markers and limit lines added.  In addition, the graph can be 
annotated in various ways, and if there are several traces they can be drawn in different 
pen styles and colours.

A wide range of file formats are handled to allow the import and export of measurement 
data to other software such as Microwave Office (TM AWR), spreadsheets or maths packages.  
With SoftPlot, the information previously locked up in your hardcopy result is now 
accessible long after the measurement was made.


Contents
--------

1. Hardware Requirements
2. GPIB Cards, RS-232 or LAN Connection to Instruments
3. Software Installation
4. Product Passwords and Demonstration Mode
5. Registration


1. Hardware Requirements
------------------------

The minimum system requirements in order to run the software are :

IBM PC compatible Pentium 90 computer, equipped with
16MB RAM (some operating systems require more than this)
4MB hard disk space (for installation)
Microsoft Windows 95 / 98 / Me / NT4 / 2000 / XP


2. GPIB Cards, RS-232 or LAN Connection to Instruments
------------------------------------------------------

If a GPIB card is to be used for instrument transfers, this should be 
installed first.  Follow the manufacturer's  documentation and use the SETUP 
program provided with the card.  For National Instruments cards, it is only 
necessary to install the Windows driver (GPIB-32.DLL will be installed in 
the WINDOWS directory). For HP cards, it is only necessary to install the 
HP SICL32 driver.

Suitable GPIB Cards are:
	a National Instruments (www.ni.com) GPIB card, type 
	PC-IIA, AT-GPIB/TNT, PCI-GPIB, PCMCIA-GPIB, GPIB-USB-A/B
	or a ComputerBoards Inc. (www.computerboards.com) GPIB card,
	type ISA-GPIB, ISA-GPIB/LC, ISA-GPIB-PC2A, PCI-GPIB, PCM-GPIB;
	or a Hewlett-Packard/Agilent (www.agilent.com) HP82335, 
	HP82340/82341, HP82350 or HP82357 HP-IB card
	or an ines (www.inesinc.com) GPIB-PCMCIA, GPIB-PCI card.
Any other GPIB card with a National Instruments - compatible GPIB-32.DLL driver 
providing the same programming interface should work, but has not been tested.


NOTE the selection between National Instruments and HP cards is selected
once SoftPlot is running. Choose "GPIB Card / Serial / LAN Configuration" from the "Edit"
menu, and select the type of card to be used. The default is National
Instruments.

Some instruments are fitted with an RS-232 port, which allows them to be 
programmed from the PC COM1: or COM2: ports. If you only need to connect to one
instrument, and it has a suitable RS-232 port, you can avoid the cost of adding 
GPIB to your PC. When SoftPlot is running, choose "GPIB Card / Serial / LAN 
Configuration" from the "Edit" menu, and select "Enable Serial Interface". Then 
click on the Setup button which will have appeared, in order to configure the 
PC serial port settings.

LAN connections are available on some newer instruments, and SoftPlot has support
for this using Socket Services. On the appropriate instrument transfer page,
select LAN (just above the Start Transfer button), and enter the IP address of the
instrument.

In C:\program files\softplot-4\lan utils you will find SktClient.exe, which can be
used to help establish basic communication between the PC and the instrument. Enter
simple SCPI commands such at "*IDN?" to establish that the network link is working.

NOTE: The Agilent PNA series of network analyzers have a network connection but
do not implement Socket Services. Copy C:\program files\softplot-4\lan utils\
PNASocketSvr.exe to your instrument and run it on the PNA's PC to implement the
required socket services functionality.


3. Software Installation
------------------------

The installation of SoftPlot is automated by running the SETUP.EXE 
program on the distribution disk.

You will be prompted to choose the name of a new top-level directory 
which will be created to keep the program and other files.  
"C:\Program Files\SoftPlot-4\" is the default, but you may change this. 
The following files will be transferred into your chosen directory :



SOFTPLOT.EXE	the main program
SOFTPLOT.INI	configuration parameters for the main program
SOFTPLOT.HLP	the help system
TOURGUID.HLP	guided tour help file
SAMPLES\	a number of sample files will be copied to this directory
TEMPLATE\	sample measurement templates

A new program group and icon will be created by the install program 
before it closes.

Running SoftPlot will cause it to register itself as an OLE server in the system 
registration database.  If SoftPlot is moved to a different drive or directory,
or has been upgraded, it will automatically modify the registration details when
it is next run.

To uninstall SoftPlot, click on Add/Remove Programs in the Windows control panel.


4. Product Passwords and Demonstration Mode
-------------------------------------------

When the program starts for the first time, you will be prompted for user 
information and a product password. On the distribution disk of the full product
you will find a personalised Product Password which should be typed in carefully.

Prior to purchase, you can request a time-limited evaluation password, which
allows you to fully explore the capabilities of the software with no obligation.
Please send your request for a password to enquiries@ph-technology.com.

This version of the software can also be run without a product password in a
Demonstration Mode. There is a checkbox to enable this on the registration info
dialog box.

Demonstration Mode includes enough functionality to enable you to
evaluate the product thoroughly. A GPIB Card is not required or used in this mode.
Certain features are disabled so that it may be freely distributed without copyright 
infringement and without the need for payment. This mode does not include GPIB 
transfer drivers, and does not allow files to be saved. On the instrument transfer 
pages, you can browse the list of supported instrument drivers, and click on the 
Start Transfer button, as if there were a real instrument connected to the PC. 
Data files for each instrument category are supplied which simulate the behaviour 
of a real GPIB transfer, giving traces for you to evaluate and interact with.

A number of sample files are also included, which may be loaded and modified,
so that you can see how markers can be controlled and how traces can be scaled 
and overlaid. Demonstration mode may be used as a *.SPT file viewer, and it also 
allows SPT files to be pasted into documents using OLE.


5. Registration
---------------

Purchasers of a full licenced copy of the software are encouraged to fill in and 
return the enclosed registration card.  This entitles you to take advantage of 
our customer support services.  If you have lost your registration card, print 
out and fill in the following section.  Post it to the address given in Further 
Information below.

Name________________________________	Title__________________________________

Company_____________________________	Department_____________________________

Street Address_________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________		
		
City________________________________	State/Province_________________________

Country_____________________________	Postal Code____________________________

Telephone___________________________	Fax Number_____________________________

E-Mail Address______________________	Product Purchase Date__________________



Further Information
-------------------

SoftPlot was written by and is copyright of P&H Technology Consultants.  For further 
information, contact


P&H Technology Consultants,
10, Teversham Road,
Fulbourn,
Cambridge,
United Kingdom
CB1 5EB.

e-mail: support@ph-technology.com
web: http://www.ph-technology.com
