SDS à Download Surveys and Data

The Download Surveys and Data menu option will allow the user to download surveys from a specific SDS instrument.  When the menu option is clicked, the SDS software will begin to search for any and all dataloggers located on the network (figure 2.29).

Figure 2.29 SDS80XX Data log Extractor screen

Any datalogger found on the network will be added to the drop-down list at the top of the screen.  If no devices are found, a message box will pop up letting the user know that no devices were found on the network (figure 2.30).  Check the network connections to verify that any datalogger and computer is properly connected to the network.

Figure 2.30 No SDS devices found

Select the instrument from which to download the data files from the drop-down list box labeled “SDS:”.  Note: Currently, the drop-down list will also populate with any Video Recorder data loggers as well.  Use caution when selecting the instrument to download data from, since downloading/deleting data from a Video Recorder using the SDS Reporter software could cause undesirable consequences.  Under the Options menu, the Download menu option (figure 2.31) will allow the user to choose to download only data that has been used in surveys, or all of the logged data.  The SDS data logger will log data continuously when it is on regardless if a survey is running or not.  There will be a check mark next to the menu option selected.  The default menu option is Only data used in surveys.

Figure 2.31 Download menu option

The After Downloading option will allow the user to delete the data files from the SDS instrument, or keep them on the instrument when the files have finished downloading.  Choosing the After Downloading ® Keep datalog files on SDS menu option will keep the datalog files on the SDS data logger.  Choosing the After Downloading ® Delete datalog files from SDS will delete the datalog files from the SDS data logger.  Note: Once the datalog files have been downloaded to the local computer, they will not be automatically deleted by the SDS Reporter software.  The only way to delete those datalog files will be to delete them manually.  For SDS firmware versions 1.09 or lower (SDS menu 13 – Revision Display), it is suggested that the datalog files be periodically deleted from the SDS data logger.  All survey data that is captured on the data logger is transferred to the PC using the SDS Reporter software and can be reviewed at any time from that PC.  Any data logger that retains datalog files for more than one hundred ten (110) days, or roughly three and a half (3 ½) months, will begin to experience issues with the data logger.  Datalog files can also be deleted by using menu option 34 on the SDS data logger (Clear Logged Data).  Note – With firmware version 1.10, when the file space begins to get low, every screen will begin to flash the message “Flash Card Space Low!” at the bottom of the screen.  If the file space eventually does get filled up without any data log files begin deleted, the SDS Data Logger will begin to delete the oldest files.  When this happens, every screen will begin to flash the message “File Deletion is occurring!”

The SDS software will begin to download the survey data once the user has clicked on the “Download” button (figure 2.34).  The button will read “Abort” while the data files are downloading.  If a connection to the SDS device cannot be established, the software will display a message box informing the user (figure 2.32). 

Figure 2.32 Cannot establish a connection message box

If the user chose to only download data files used in surveys, and no data files are found, the software will display an error message (figure 2.33).

Figure 2.33

The files will be downloaded to: SDS\(SDS Model number)\log(year), i.e., SDS\SDS505000\log2006.

Figure 2.34 SDS Data Log Extractor screen

The software will display a continuous progress of the download status (figure 2.35).  Note: since there may a large number of files to download, this process may take several minutes to complete.

Figure 2.35 SDS Data Log Extractor download progress

When all of the files have been downloaded, the words “Operation Complete” will be at the bottom of the list, and the button at the bottom will read “Download”.  A message box will also be displayed reading “Operation Complete”.  Clicking on the OK button on the message box will close down the download data screen.

Clicking on the “Abort” button will stop the download and close the SDS Data Log Extractor screen.  Any files that have already been downloaded will not be erased.  The next time the user wishes to download survey data from the same device, the files that have already been downloaded will be skipped and not be downloaded again.

The Drive menu option will allow the user to select the drive on the datalogger to download data from.  The choices are E or A (Troubleshooting Only).  The E drive is the default location for logged data, but sometimes when there is an issue with the E drive, the datalogger will begin to log data to the A drive.  The most common issue with the E drive is that the flash card is not firmly secured in its socket.