1 ETT Olfactometer C Direct Control Software Manual
2 Table of Contents Part 1: Installation 3 Download 3 Installation Process 5 Part 2: Operation 10 Startup 10 Manual Mode Paradigm Designer 13 Hierarchy of Features 14 Creating a Paradigm 15 12 Adding Valves 16 Graphing Events 17 Editing Valves 19 Moving Valves 21 Adding Groups 23 Editing Groups 27 Moving Groups 29 Paradigm Features 30 Part 3: Data 33 Interpretation 34 Part 4: Auto Update 35
3 Part 1: Installation Download: 1. The ETT Direct Control software can be found on the ETT website at http://emergingtechtrans.com/support.php. Login with your Customer ID and invoice number (from your invoice) in the username and password fields, respectively.
2. Download the installer. Its default file name will be ETTDirectControl0.0.0.31Setup. After it is downloaded, the installer can be found in the Downloads folder on your computer unless you have specified a different destination. 4
5 Installation Process: 1. Open the installer. Click
6 2. If this is the first time installing ETT Direct Control, it is advisable to select the Install Microsoft.NET Framework and the Install System USB Drivers options. If this is not your first installation, there is no need to check both boxes. Click
7 3. Check that the install path is C:\Program Files\ETTDirectControl. If your computer has more than one user account, the default path may be different. Installing in a different directory may cause issues when running the software. Click
8 4. This screen will allow you to customize ETT Direct Control s shortcut options in the Start Menu folder. Click 5. If you would like a desktop icon for ETT Direct Control, select the Create a Desktop Icon option. Click
9 6. Review this screen to ensure that the install destination location is correct. Click The user may have to update the software after installation. See Part 4: Auto Update in the manual.
10 Part 2: Operation Startup ETT Direct Control can be opened from either its desktop or start menu shortcuts. Its shortcut name will be ETTDirectControl.
11 ETT Direct Control will start in Manual Mode. It will automatically detect the olfactometer, which may be connected before or after starting ETT Direct Control. The device, version, and its status will be displayed along the bottom of the window. No devices connected ETT Olfactometer C connected Before proceeding, ensure that the olfactometer is connected to the PC. This will allow the user to access more design features in ETT Direct Control. Turning on the olfactometer s power supply is optional until further mention in this manual.
12 Manual Mode In Manual Mode, the user can open and close one valve at a time. This mode is useful for checking valve connections and for sampling individual odorants. Closed valves have their corresponding buttons highlighted in red. An open valve has its corresponding button highlighted in green. Clicking on a valve will open it and close any previously open valves. Clicking on Flush will close all other valves. No valves open Valve 4 open
13 Paradigm Designer The user can create and customize unique valve timings and sequences with the Paradigm Designer. These paradigms can be constructed using modular groups of valve timings and sequences. The user can switch to the Paradigm Designer screen by clicking on the Paradigm Designer tab at the top of the interface. The Paradigm Designer screen consists of three main segments: Paradigm Group Sequence, Group settings, and Valve settings.
14 Hierarchy of Features A valve operation is defined by its delay, open, and close times, as well as the specific valve that is performing the task. It is the most basic component of a paradigm. A single valve may perform multiple operations within a group. A group is defined by its sequence of valve operations. It is the intermediate component in a paradigm. A group can support sequential, simultaneous, and staggered valve operations. A single group may be used multiple times in a paradigm. A paradigm is defined by its sequence of groups. A paradigm can contain multiple groups. It may also be repeated a fixed number of times, and can be set to start on an external trigger. Paradigm Group Group Valve Valve Valve Valve Valve Valve
15 Creating a Paradigm The process of creating a new paradigm begins with creating sequences of valve functions and organizing them in groups. The user can then add and arrange groups in the paradigm. This modular design process allows the user to create potentially complex paradigms with ease. Specify Valve Operation Specify Valve Operation Add to Group Specify Valve Operation Add to Paradigm Specify Valve Operation Specify Valve Operation Add to Group Specify Valve Operation Paradigm design process
16 Adding Valves The user can add valve functions to the group by clicking on the corresponding valve button in the Valve settings section. By default, valves added to the sequence will have a 0 ms delay, 2500 ms open time, and 2500 ms close time. This can be changed with the valve delay, open time, and close time options on the left side of the Valve settings section. Placing the mouse cursor over a valve in the Group settings section will trigger a tooltip to appear with that valve s information. Valve 6 with default timing (as shown by the tooltip) added to group Valve 4 added to the group with user-entered values
17 Graphing Events As valve operations are added to a group, the graph will display each operation as an event, showing the valve number, valve delay, open time, close time, and its timing relative to other valves in the sequence. The graph will represent an open valve with a rectangle with a color corresponding to its valve color and width proportional to its open time. When the valve is not open (either on delay or closed), the plot will lie flush against the horizontal axis: valve delays and close times are effectively represented by the spaces between valve events. Valve 4 delay, open, and close times on the graph.
18 The user can adjust the magnification of the graphs with the slider in the Paradigm Group Sequence section. Moving it left will contract the graphs, and moving it right will expand them. Graphs expanded with slider
19 Editing Valves After a valve is added to a group, the user can edit the valve s options by right-clicking on the valve and selecting edit. A prompt will appear next to the valve in the Group settings section with options to change the valve s delay time, open time, and close time. The user may also change the specific valve. Clicking Save changes will apply the new values entered by the user. Options for Valve 4 New values entered for Valve 4
20 If a group has a long sequence of valve operations, the valve editing prompt may be partially or fully obscured. The user may have to use the scroll bar in the Group settings section to fully access the editing prompt. Editing prompt partially obscured Use the scroll bar to gain access to the editing prompt
21 Moving Valves After a valve operation is added to a group, the user can shift the valve operation laterally to change the order of valve operations or vertically to enable simultaneous valve operations. Right-clicking on a valve operation in the Group settings section will show the different movement possibilities for that particular operation. Clicking or will shift the valve to the left or right, trading locations with its adjacent valve. Clicking Delete will delete the valve. Movement options for Valve 4 Valve 4 moved to the left, switching locations with Valve 6
22 Clicking Track down will move the valve operation down to the next track, and clicking Track up will move the operation up to the previous track. In both cases, the valve operation will be appended to the end of the track. All tracks within a group engage simultaneously. This enables multiple valve operations to occur in tandem, allowing multiple valves to be open simultaneously. Valve 6 moved down to Track 2 note that now it overlaps its open time with Valve 4 Valve 6 moved back up to Track 1
23 Adding Groups After the desired valve operations have been added to a group, the user can add the group to the paradigm. This can be done by clicking the Add button in the Group settings section. Multiple instances of a group may be added to the paradigm. The dropdown box indicates the current active group. Two instances of Group 1 added to the paradigm. Group 1 is active. Note: The Ren button designates a special function that is reserved for future revisions.
24 The user may also choose to append a copy of an existing group to the paradigm by right-clicking the group in the Paradigm Group Sequence and selecting Copy and append. Shown: Copy and append, Delete, and functions A third instance of Group 1 appended
25 Clicking the Del button will delete all instances of the group from the paradigm. Doing this will also eliminate the group from the dropdown list. To delete a specific instance of a group, right-click on the group instance in the Paradigm Group Sequence section and select Delete. In contrast to clicking the Del button under the drop-down box, deleting the last instance of a group from the paradigm does not eliminate the group completely; it is still accessible via the drop-down box. Group 1 is still accessible in the drop-down box
26 The user can create a new group by clicking on the New button. The new group will be empty, and the user may add new valve operations to the group. A new group (Group 2) created, valve operations added, and then added to the paradigm
27 Editing Groups The user can edit the valve operations within a group by clicking on the group in the Paradigm Group Sequence section. The Group settings section will automatically update to show and provide access to that particular group s valve operations. The user may also select a group from the drop-down list in the Group settings section. Group 1 selected and open to editing
28 Any changes to the group will be enacted across all instances of that group in the paradigm. Edits made to Group 1 note that both instances of Group 1 in the paradigm are affected
29 Moving Groups The user can rearrange group orders in the paradigm by right-clicking on the group in the Paradigm Group Sequence section and selecting or to shift the group left or right. Movement options for second instance (middle) of Group 1 Second instance of Group1 moved to the right
30 Paradigm Features Along the bottom of the Paradigm Group Sequence section, there are three features the user may choose to customize. Paradigm Delay: This specifies the amount of time between signaling the start of the paradigm and the actual execution of the paradigm. The delay is only included on the first execution of the paradigm. Repetitions: This specifies the number of times the software will execute the paradigm. The first run counts as one repetition. The paradigm delay is not included on subsequent runs. Triggered Start: This specifies the paradigm to run based on an external trigger. Clicking Run Paradigm with the Trigged Start option checked will put the paradigm on standby until it is triggered. The paradigm is triggered with a TTL pulse > 10 ms from an external device.
31 Along the top of the Paradigm Group Sequence section, there are four options the user may select. New: Selecting this will clear the existing screen and generate a new, blank paradigm. Load: Selecting this will open the file browser in the directory C:\Program Files\ETTDirectControl\Paradigms. From there, the user may select an existing paradigm. Paradigm files are designated with.pdm. This folder will not exist until the user has created and saved at least one paradigm. Save: Selecting this will save the current paradigm in the directory C:\Program Files\ETTDirectControl\Paradigms. Run Paradigm: Selecting this will run the current paradigm. If Triggered Start has been selected, the paradigm will remain on standby until an external signal has been detected. The Run Paradigm option is not available until the current paradigm has been saved in the file folder. To run the paradigm, the user must ensure that the olfactometer is powered on, and set on PC Mode. Press the Manual/PC button on the device to toggle between modes. An LED will indicate the current active mode of the device.
While the paradigm is running, this button will be replaced with Stop Paradigm. 32
33 Part 3: Data Data collection begins when the paradigm starts running, and stops when the paradigm either finishes or is stopped by the user. The data is saved as a.csv file in the directory C:\Program Files\ETTDirectControl\data. This folder can also be accessed by right-clicking on the paradigm name and selecting Open data file location.
34 Interpretation The data file can be opened with Microsoft Excel, and consists of 19 columns (A - S). Below is a chart describing each column s function: Column: Name: A id B time Date and time of each event Description: Index for each event in the paradigm. Events include valve opening, valve closing, and trigger inputs. C cumulative time (set) [ms] Cumulative time in paradigm until current event beginning D block time (set) [ms] Length of current event E cumulative time (actual) [ms] Cumulative time in paradigm until current event beginning, accounting for device timing variability F block time (actual) [ms] Length of current event, accounting for device timing variability G-R valves 1-12 Status of each valve. [0 = closed] [1 = open] S trigger Status of trigger. [0 = no input] [1 = input] Sample data - Unused valves were hidden. Columns C, D, F denote trigger input with T
35 Part 4: Auto Update The user can check for software updates for ETT Direct Control by switching to the Auto Update screen. Clicking Update all will check if each component is current (green). Auto Update screen All components are up to date