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ProCoDA Tutorials

In order to bridge the gap between previous and new members of the team that need to learn Process Controller for the AguaClara experiments, the Tube Flocculator team (07-08) and the Research Team Leader has created a series of tutorials and exercises to learn the basic tools of the software. More complex parts should be taught by your research sub-team.

Tutorial 1: Understanding Software Capabilities

Step 1:

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Open ProCoDA

ProCoDA is available on the start menu.

Open ProCoDA

The first step is to ensure that Process Controller is downloaded under Runtimes on your desktop. Process Controller is located in the Runtimes folder on the computer's desktop. If it isn't there, you can download it.

Step 2: Open Process Controller

Next, open Process Controller (PC) and follow the tutorial to learn the basics. You can also hover the mouse over the buttons for descriptions.

This is the configuration tab of the PC interfaceProCoDA  interface. In the configuration tab, you can open, save, and edit PC method ProCoDA  method files, and configure and set sensors.

Step 3: Opening and Saving Method Files

A method file is your aggregate experimental design file. Experimental design refers to how you will set up and conduct your experiment.

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For each new experimental method you develop, you should save it as its own file or if you have been working on the method file and want to save changes, click on this button. It will ask you to either rename the file, or click on the previous file to override the saved changes. This allows you to "save as" without changing an old file.

Step 4: Set up Contact Information

If you are running an experiment in the lab, make sure to put your name and email address in the correct boxes. Process Controller will email you automatically if the experiment shuts off due to an extreme change of pressure that you may have set in your program. Additionally, if there is a leak or problem with the setup in the laboratory, someone else in the lab can easily see who is running the experiment and email you.

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Step 5: Data Logging

Process control software is a ProCoDA software is a powerful tool for automating data collection. Data such as temperature, turbidity, and pH can be set to be output into an excel spreadsheet every 5 seconds where you direct the PC ProCoDA to drop them.

The datalog files are set to be named by the current date you are running the experiment. You must dictate where you want the datalog path. Click on the open folder button next to the datalog path name and you can navigate to a folder that you want the data files to be saved under. It can be a new folder with the current date, or one folder where all your files are located. Once you have the currect folder, click "Current Folder" on the screen and this folder will show up in the datalog path. Note: It is important that you ensure this is the correct folder whenever you run a new experiment, or else results from different experiments can mesh together in the same file if you run it in the same day.

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In order to run a program, you need set points, rules and states that will tell PC what ProCoDA what to do. These are all changed in another window that is opened when you select "Edit Rules" on the configuration tab. In Tutorial 2 - Edit Rules editing rules will be discussed in more depth.

Exercise 1

In this excercise, you will be creating your own PC method ProCoDA method file to which you will make future changes to in future excercises.

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