ArchaeoMation: COMLink for Windows Software

COMLink Software

Serial Instrument Agent for Windows
Version 1.0b-16 bit

COMLink connects a wide variety of serial instruments and gages to your existing Windows applications. Using COMLink, instruments such as electronic calipers and digital balances can be easily connected to your PC and smoothly integrated into your current data collection methods.

Basic Features

Compatibility
COMLink can provide instrument readings to your current database, spreadsheet, or custom-made Windows software.
Simplicity
Two-step instrument setup. Select your instrument name and its COM port; COMLink handles the rest. Readings will then appear anywhere you place the cursor.
No-Hassle Hardware
Instruments plug into your PC via its serial ports--as easily as a mouse or modem.
Look-and-Feel
COMLink boasts an intuitive, informative, and slick Windows interface. If you can operate the Windows NotePad, you can master COMLink.
Flexibility
COMLink's advanced features are always ready for demanding tasks and unusual requirements.

Supported Instruments and Gages

COMLink has been pre-configured for a variety of popular lab instruments and gages:

Balances
Ohaus CT-Series and TP-Series
MTI-Mitutoyo Model #982-505
Sargent-Welch SWE-Series
Calipers
Brown & Sharpe Digit-Cal Series Fowler External/Internal Arm Series
Fowler Ultra-Cal III Series
Fowler Ultra-Cal II Series
Mitutoyo/MTI Digimatic 500 Series
Gage Interfaces
Fowler Opto232 Connector
Mitutoyo/MTI MUX-Series Multiplexers
MRS-100 Mitutoyo-Gage Interface
GageWay II-M Mitutoyo Gage Interface

COMLink can also be easily configured to support other devices.

Advanced Features

Advanced configuration screens are available to accommodate instruments not known to COMLink.

Complete control of baud, parity, data bits, stop bits, handshaking, I/O buffer size, and DTR/RTS line states.

Both text and position filters will accommodate a wide range of data formats and control headers.

Validation of readings prior to recordation warns users when measurements exceed tolerance limits.

Readings can be prefixed or suffixed with text strings, keystroke combinations, and date/time stamps.

Remote control of Read and Tare functions for those instruments that offer the capability.

Support for user-defined remote commands.

Remote commands may be issued via hot-keys without leaving your application.

Issue instrument commands at preset intervals for unattended data collection.

Readings can be directed to whatever application has input focus, a specific application, or window name.

Keyboard macros can perform automatically tasks such as repositioning the cursor, entering text, and saving the data after a specified number of readings or elapsed time.

Scrolling terminal window displays reading history and can be logged to a disk file.

Up to four instruments may be used concurrently.

Compatible with any Windows application which accepts data from the keyboard.

A Closer Look

Click on a thumbnail for the actual-size screen shot.

Quick Configuration Screen

Advanced Configuration; Input Settings Tab Advanced Configuration, Input Settings Tab

Advanced Configuration; Filters Tab Advanced Configuration, Filters Tab

Advanced Configuration; Validation Tab Advanced Configuration, Validation Tab

Advanced Configuration; Commands Tab Advanced Configuration, Commands Tab

Advanced Configuration; Destination Tab Advanced Configuration, Destination Tab

System Requirements

386SX-class or better CPU
4MB RAM
Windows 3.1x, Windows for Workgroups, or Win95.

Our Service

ArchaeoMation has been supplying measuring, weighing, and software systems since 1990. We not only sell the equipment, we know the equipment. Our data acquisition software is developed in-house and tested against every device in our catalog. Our technical support staff has hands-on experience with the hardware and an intimate knowledge of the software. We offer technical support via eMail and 800# telephone service. On-site setup and training is available in the continental US (and most popular resort towns).

ArchaeoMation On-Line Catalog / sje / http://www.crl.com/~archaeo/catalog/software/comlinkw.html