1. ov378parw2k.zip Driver
2. README.TXT File Contents

README.TXT Driver File Contents (ov378parw2k.zip)

FILE: readme.txt                Copyright (c), Symmetric Research, 2003

Simp is a simple command line program to acquire data with the
PARxCH and save it to disk.  If you have a PARxCH attached to your
computer and powered up, you are ready to go.

To run the program, execute

> simp simp.ini

from the command line.  Simp.ini is an initialization file with
startup parameters.  For more information on the .ini format, refer
to the example simp.ini in this directory.  Run without any
command line arguments to get help on the command line switches.



* FILES EMITTED BY SIMP

Simp creates a number of files.  These files have information
about the parameters the system is running with, information for
downstream programs, and the raw data.  They are:


        SIMP.RPT     .ini report file
        SIMP.HDR     binary parameter header file
           *.OUT     binary data output file (data only)
           *.DAT     binary data output file (header, data, gps)


The simp.rpt file lets you know what information the program has
read in from your .ini file, along with summary information.  The
.rpt file follows .ini syntax.

The .ini acquisition parameters may also be saved to a binary .hdr
file.  This header file is easy for downstream programs to read in so
they can know the sampling rate and other parameters used to acquire
your data.

The .out files have the raw multiplexed binary analog data that has
been acquired.  Saving data in binary format allows for fast disk
saves and the fastest data acquisition possible.

The .hdr and .out files have the same format as those created by
scope.

The .dat files, introduced to support GPS, combine the binary header
and analog data information into a single file.  This new output
format also allows for the inclusion of other types of data such as
the GPS PPS and serial data.  See srdat.h for more information about
the .dat file layout.  See the convert\ascii directory for a program
to convert .dat files into simple ASCII text.



* NOTE TO PARGPS USERS

In order to use the SR PARGPS board with the PARxCH for adding accurate
timing information to your acquired data, you need 

1) The SR PARGPS board and software.  
2) PARxCH firmware Rev 3.0 or greater (check the label on the enclosure).  
3) The PARxCH software compiled with GPS support.  This can be done
   from the top level makeall file by changing the GPS_YES_OR_NO
   value from "No" to "Yes", recompiling, and reinstalling the driver. 

You will need to include proper settings for the .ini keywords
GpsEnable, GpsDriverName, and GpsSerialPort.  Also, be sure to set
OutputFileFormat keyword to DAT since the .out files can't accomodate
GPS data.



* NOTE TO MULTITASKING USERS

This program can be run in the background or in a separate window
while concurrent programs execute in other windows.  See the 2task
directory for a demo.

In its polling loop, simp calls sleep.  This puts the program on
hold until it needs to poll the PARxCH again to see if data is ready.
Because simp sleeps it gives other windows more chance to execute
their tasks.

Note that the 16 bit DOS version of this program does not call sleep.
It simply does infinite loop polling.  Under single threaded DOS no
sleep function is available.


* NOTE TO IASPEI SUDS (SEISMIC UNIFIED DATA STRUCTURE) USERS

Simp outputs binary data files.  See the convert\suds directory
for conversion programs.  The out2sud program works on .out files and
requires the .hdr binary header file that is automatically generated
by simp.  The dat2sud program works on .dat files.