Assigning Cell Data Operations Within Excel

6) To set the number cells into which data will be written enter a value into the “Number Of Cells to be updated” text box. For example to have 20 cells to be updated, enter 20 into the box.

The user has the option to have a row or column within the spread sheet update with new data items. To select either row or column updating Choose the Option Tab within the Add Item Window.

Select “Items Across a row” tick box option to make date fill a specified row within the spreadsheet.

Select “Add Items Down a Column” tick box to make data items fill a specified column.

For this example select “Add Items down a Column” tab option shown on the within the “Add Items Window” Option page

Data Insertion into Spreadsheet

To insert data into the spread sheet simply move mouse pointer over designated cell

7) Select “Start Update” menu item from the OPCEx3 menu. A red data tab marker appears within the spread sheet at a point where the data will appear see Fig 13. After a few seconds data will appear and fill the specified data cells.

For this example simply move the mouse pointer above cell by B2 and select the cell for the red data insert tab to appear on the spread sheet.

Setting Data Update Rate

The update rate within Excel cannot be faster than the sample rate of the instruments.

7) Set the update rate in milli-Seconds within the “Update Rate” text box within the Add Item Window.

1 Hz = 1000 ms so a value of 1000 will update the data within the Excel spread sheet at a rate of 1 Hz.

Selection Of Input Channels

The OPC Server allows mixed sample rate operations and data from instruments running at different rates can be integrated into a single application.

In order to simply this example only a single instrument is shown but the same operation is to be carried out no matter how many instruments and inputs are being used.

5) Select the NetPodOPC server

All of the instruments identified by the PodMng software will be listed in the Data Display area of the Add Item Window.

Select the Channel to processed. Simply double click on the channel name using the left hand mouse button and the channel identifier will appear on the “Data Item ID” menu bar.

Figure 12 shows Channel 7 of instrument NetPod 4000 selected.

Repeat the operation for each required input.