Section 1
1.1 Test Types
ProCalV5 allows for the addition of different “Test Types” to the database that may be applied to any item master record whose required calibration does not fit perfectly into the typical ProCal template. Test types may be used to provide specific testing in addition to or instead of a standard calibration with target set points and as found/as left readings. Examples of some calibration test types that ProCalV5 normally could not accommodate efficiently are extreme values, linearity and standard deviation tests.
1.2 Set Up Test Type Packages Screen
The Set Up Test Type Packages screen (shown in the figure below) is used to add, modify and if necessary delete test type packages from the database. This screen is invoked by selecting the “Set Up Test Type Packages…” option on the File menu when the System Options and Defaults screen is open.
1.3 Adding New Test Types
To add a new test type to your database you must first copy the required library file “XtmVals.bpl” into the folder labeled “bin” under the ProCalV5 directory (typically “C:\Program Files\Prime Technologies\ProCal V5\bin”) in Windows Explorer. The “XtmVals.bpl” file contains all the information necessary for the test type’s automatic and proper setup in ProCal. Once the file has been copied into the correct folder you may launch the Set Up Test Type Packages screen. Once the screen is open you may click the Add New Record button or select “New Record” from the screen’s File menu. This will invoke a browser screen titled Choose New Package File that automatically directs you to the “bin” folder in which all the “.bpl” files reside. Select the required file “XtmVals.bpl” and click the Open button or double-click the file name.
Once the correct file has been selected you will be returned to the new test type record which will already be set up for you. In this instance you can save the record, making it available for application to all types of item master records in the system (i.e. instruments, loops, systems, test instruments, in addition to any PM records that may require a calibration). Once a test type has been saved to the database, as long as it is marked as “Active”, it will be available for selection on the Test Type field’s drop-down list on the Calibration Points tab in all screens where that tab exists.
Although you will have no ability to change the test type’s calibration requirements, you do have the ability to make some customizations to it in terms of field label changes and also giving users the ability to edit target set points and such when entering calibrations using that test type.
1.4 Distributing Test Types
Test Types only need to be installed in the System Option and Defaults screen once, but for all Client, Administrator, or Mobile Workstations, the “XtmVals.bpl” file must be present in the “bin” directory one level down from the ProCalV5 installation directory.
Section 2
2.1 Entering Item Records Using the Extreme Values Test Type Package
When creating a new master record that uses the Flow Rate Test Type, the test type must be applied to the record through the Calibration Points tab on the master record screen. After adding a new test point group to the record, click the Test Type drop-down list and select Extreme Values from the available test types, as shown in the figure below. The Extreme Values Test Type is now attached to this test point group.
Calibration Code: This A/B/C/D code helps describe the state of the passing/failing of the test.
Once the test type has been selected, the inputs on the Calibration Points tab will change according to the settings defined by the library file. This test involves checking the values at which the minimum or maximum readings occur
The Check Type, Target +/-, and Target Value can be entered into the corresponding fields under the Additional Test Type Inputs grid, accessed by clicking the Show Group Options button on the right side of the screen. This interface is shown in the figure below.
The inputs appear as follows:
• Check Type - List contents: “Minimum At Input” & “Maximum At input””.
• Target +/- The Target Value accuracy as a Plus/Minus value.
• Target Value - The Input value for the expected extreme reading.
While the Group options are hidden on the Calibration Points tab, as can be seen in the figure below, there are no Calibration Points or Input Signals for this test as there would be on a standard Test Point Group Record. Because of this, the “Calculate” and “Restore Defaults” buttons serve no function while working with this Test Type.
On this tab, the user must specify the Output Resolution value and Weight Change Tolerance Percentage, which will be used on the Calibration screen in the next section.
Section 3
3.1 Entering Calibration Records
Once the Extreme Values Test Type has been attached to a Test Point Group on an item’s Master Record, a new calibration record can be created for that item on the Calibration screen.
On the Test Results tab (Figure below), the Additional Test Type Inputs should now be entered as per the calibration. The Expected Weight Change is multiplied to the Weight Change Tol% in order to calculate the High Limit/ Low Limit offset, which is rounded to the number of significant figures specified by the Output Resolution value.
After entering calibration information into the fields under Additional Test Type Inputs, pressing the “Calculate Test Type Outputs” button will populate or change the values for the fields under Test Type Outputs, as shown in the figure below. The “Modify/Protect Specs” and “Recalculate” buttons serve no functional purpose while using the Extreme Values Test Type Package.
The Test Type Outputs box provides the user with the calculated results of the calibration. Here, the user is given visual prompts as to whether the As Found and As Left Results Passed or Failed according to the Low Limit, High Limit, and Left: Actual Change grids. If “No” is selected in the As Left Performed grid in the Additional Test Type Inputs box, the As Left Result grid is marked “Same as As Found”.
The exact specifications for this test point group can be viewed by pressing the “Show Group Details” button, opening the Test Point Group Details window (Figure Below). The fields on this window are modifiable only on the items Master Record.
3.2 Passed/Failed Records
Because this test type does not require Calibration Points, the Pass/Fail result is based on the As Found and As Left Result grids as they appear on the screen. If either is marked as “Failed”, the user will be alerted of the failure if attempting to save the record as “Passed” (See the figure below), similar to when the Calibration Specifications are left out of tolerance in a standard calibration.
3.3 Reports
A Calibration Report can be printed for your entered calibration which displays all calibration details for the Flow Rate test. See Section 31 of the ProCalV5 User Manual for further details on Reports.