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FAQ - Legacy Software

Your Princeton Applied Research DOS-based software (M270, M398, M352, etc) will run in a Windows® 95/98/00/NT/XP operating system, it simply runs out of a DOS shell.  The only real issue is proper GPIB setup; making sure that you no longer have a GPIB.COM device driver in your CONFIG.SYS file if you're running the latest Windows® GPIB card and driver (see the other FAQs in the software section for GPIB setup and configuration).

It should, but there may be a problem in starting the program.  If so, then follow these steps:
  • Search the hard drive for the program egg_bus.exe; it should be in the C:\\Windows\System folder.
  • Create a shortcut for this program on your Windows desktop.
  • Execute this program before launching the 352 software.
Also, PowerCORR® is available for Windows® 2000 and XP.

You can export your data from one of the Princeton Applied Research DOS software packages (M270, M352, etc) in a few different ways.  First, you can save your data files in ASCII format (as opposed to binary format; this is changed in the Defaults > Files section) and use the cut/paste function in a text editor (Word, NotePad, etc) to paste the desired data into your spreadsheet (i.e. Excel).  You can also use the cut/paste feature in the Princeton Applied Research DOS software to save the X-Y data as a text file, then open it with a spreadsheet program.  When pasting text files into a program like Excel, you may have to use the "Text to Columns" feature in the Data menu to select the delimiter for your data set.

To export data from 352 SoftCorr to Excel, perform the following:
  • With the file (.dat extension) open, and Data Graph selected, choose Edit > Copy Data.  Copying data with the Data Table selected copies the raw data as collected from the system (remember, the 352 software reverses the polarity of the current before graphing it so that it will agree with the convention used by corrosion engineers/scientists).
  • Open up the Excel file, select columns for pasting and select Edit > Paste.
At this point the data is text and needs to be converted to two separate columns:
  • Select Data > Text to Columns..., and convert the data to two separate columns by choosing Delimited > Space > Finish.
Notice that the X values (current) are the actual exponent values for the current.  If this is not suitable, you can convert the graph style to E vs. I in 352 before copying data.  Choose View > Style > E vs. I to change this format.  After changing the format the current will be displayed in whole numbers.

The following procedure worked in getting the M270 (or 352 and 398) to print graphs and reports from Windows® NT to a network printer:
  • Start > Settings > Printers
  • Right-click on the Network Printer
  • Click on Properties
  • Click on the Ports tab
  • Browse down to the checked (active) network printer and write down the full name (//server/printer_sharename)">\\<server>\<printer_sharename>)
  • Go back to the Desktop
  • Go to Start > Programs > Command Prompt (MS-DOS prompt)
  • Execute the following command using all caps:  C:\>NET USE LPT1:\\<SERVER>\<PRINTER_SHARENAME>
  • If successful, you should type C:\>NET USE LPT1: again and see that the local name = LPT1 and remote name = //server/printer_sharename\\server\<printer_sharename>
Essentially, this redirects the LPT1 port to the network printer when in the DOS shell environment.