Appendix B

Hardware Setup

 

 

 

DIGITIZER:

Digitizer Instructions(updated 6/99)

I would recommend starting from scratch everytime the digitizers at Pack Forest are reconnected. There are just too many things that tend to be tweeked during the course of a year. Start by configuring one computer the way you like it and then copy it over to the rest of the computers on your network. Luke Rogers was the contact on the "dump" during Spring of '99. Once the computers have all been setup begin the following sequence of events:

Verifing Port Configurations

1. Check/Set BIOS setting
A. Restart Computer
B. Hit DEL when prompted (during memory check)
C. PCI/PnP: Set all IRQs to PCI/PnP
D. Peripheral: Verify serial port, COM2 is set to same address as in Control Panel-Ports
a. ex: 2f8h ß typical setting, try this first
2. Check/Set Control Panel
A. Click on the Start Button, Select Settings, Select Control Panel
B. Select Ports
C. Select/Add COM2
D. Configure COM2 Settings
a. baud rate: 19200
b. data bits: 7
c. parity: odd
d. stop bits: 1
e. flow control: hardware
E. Configure COM2 Advanced Settings
a. Verify that the Base I/O Port Address matches the BIOS setting (ex: 2f8)
b. Set the IRQ to 3
3. Check/Set Dip Switches
A. 9000 Digitizers
a. switches located in rear of external boxes
b. settings
B. 9100 Digitizers
      1. switches located internally on circuit board. This board is located on the upper left corner of the digitizer.
      2. settings
SEE TABLE IN #4 CONNECTING THE COMPUTERS TO THE DIGITIZERS FOR SWITCH SETTINGS
 
4. Connecting the computers to the digitizers
Cables and other stuff that is needed
Digitizers
Boxes
Switch Settings
Large (#2) Calcomp 900
Large (#2) Calcomp 9000
Arc/Info
PLANS
1 = UUUUUDUU / 2 = UDDDDDUD / 3 = DDUDUUDD
1 = UUUUUDDU / 2 = UDDDDUDU / 3 = UDUDDUDD
Medium (#3) Calcomp 9000
Medium (#3) Calcomp 9000
Arc/Info
PLANS
This box is non working (broken)
1 = UUUUUDDU / 2 = UDDDUDDU / 3 = UDUDDUDD
IBM (#4) Calcomp 9100
Arc/Info
Switches are internal so no need to switch
Note: on the back of the box, switch 2 is different depending on the size of the digitizing tablet. The configuration shown above already takes this into account. If the switches on the back of the box are as they appear above, then the configuration will work.
 
For both Large and Medium digitizers:
Cable connections: Cable 1 - must go from box port A (J7) to computer com2 Make sure the cord contains a cross over.
Cable 2 - must go from the digitizer tablet to the port on the back of the box that reads J2 tablet.
Puck - connects to the back of the digitizer and obviously sits on top of the tablet
For the IBM digitizer
Cable connections: Cable 1 - must go from the internal box on the digitzer to the back of the back of the digitizer.
Cable 2 - must go from the back of the digitizer tablet to the back of the computer port marked com2. Make sure this cord contains a cross over.
Puck - connects to the back of the digitizer and obviously sits on top of the tablet
 
5. Verify Cable Connections
A. 25 pin male port on the computer is COM2. Use this for digitizer connections
B. Cable connection between COM2 and digitizer needs to be crossed
a. Defintions:
i. Digitizer Pin# = Pin# on the end of the 25 pin cable connected to the digitizer
ii. Computer Pin# = Pin# on the end of the 25 pin cable connected to the computer
b. Digitizer pin2 needs to be connected to Computer pin3, Digitizer pin3 to Computer pin2, Digitizer pin7 to Computer pin7
c. This can be accomplished by using a crossed cable and a straight gender changer (GC), or a straight cable and a crossed GC.
d. Use the voltmeter to determine which cables/GC are crossed and which are straight.
i. turn volt meter to "CONT"
ii. touch red probe to the male side and the black probe to the female side
iii. if the diplay changes from OL and/or beeps you have found the ends of one wire.
iv. anytime you test a female plug you will need either an alligator clip or bent paperclip.
v. Diagram of the a crossed connection below. Notice that only one of the two, cable or GC, can be crossed not both. If both are crossed you have a "straight" connection.
Computer Cables + GC Digitizer
Pin 2 <__________________ __________________________à Pin 2
\/
Pin 3 <__________________/\__________________________ à Pin 3
Pin 7 <---------------------------------------------------------------------à Pin 7
 
6. Testing Digitizers and Ports
Arc Info Digitizers
A. Open Arc/Info
B. At the Arc prompt type
a. "digitizer 9000 com2" or "digitizer 9100 com2"
b. "digtest 9000 com2" or "digtest 9100 com2"
C. Follow prompts, if the port and digitizer are set up correctly, all buttons will work and the test will run smoothly.
D. On the CalComp 9000 Machines, anytime you restart arc (bailout, totally new) hit the reset button the tablet

 

PLANS digitizers
    1. Open plans by going through the following steps.
      1. Open windows explorer
      2. Open the icon WINNT
      3. Open the folder the system 32
      4. Go to the command icon (once opened this should be a dos prompt)
      5. Type in the followning sequence as shown below and also in the picture
        1. cd.. (enter)
        2. cd.. (enter)
        3. cd plans (enter)
        4. Plans (enter)

      1. Now the plans box should be opened as shown in the picture

    1. Now we must configure plans by doing the following steps.
      1. Choose setup from PLANS main menu,
      2. select Digitizing Tablet
        select CalComp9000 -- Terrasoft Compatible
        select Hex 61, Dec 97
        select whatever COM PORT you are using
        select 9600 Baud
        select No Parity
        select 8 Data Bits
        select 1 Stop Bit
        select No to AutoCAD compatibility
    1. Now exit the setup options and go into the data collection option. Click on register map.
    2. If you can move the puck and the coordinates change then everything is correct and ready to go.

Troubleshooting

The three digitizers at Pack Forest are very temperamental. It is not unlikely that the digitizers will suddenly stop working. There are many reasons that this might occur. Since the digitizer switch settings (see below) are different for ARC/INFO and PLANS, it is a common problem to keep track of who used the digitizer last and what program they used. This is by far the most common digitizer problem you will have but not the only one. Sometimes the memory is not configured right in DOS, or one of the boxes may need to be reset, etc. The following steps will hopefully help you set up the digitizer properly and troubleshoot any problems that pop up.
These suggestions may help you find a digitizer problem:
1. First check to make sure the switch settings are set for the proper program you are trying to run.
2. Next check all the cables to make sure they are all connected.
3. Run CONDIG from the ARC prompt to make sure the digitizer is set to the right port, etc.
4. Start the DIGTEST command from the ARC prompt.
5. Press the reset button on the digitizer.
6. Retry step 4.
7. If there is no response, check the power switch, jumper switches, and cables again and then the switch settings again.
8. Go into windows and use the "terminal" program. This can be HYPERTERMINAL, TERMINAL, Kermit, or any other program that can read signals from the COM port.
9. Press the Reset button on the digitizer.
10. Reboot the computer.

 

Switch settings: For the Calcomp 9100

The switch settings on the Calcom 9100 arc not the easiest to reach, therefore it is often a good plan to designate this Digitizer as either a PLANS or a ARC/INFO digitizer. The access to the switch settings is (facing the back of the computer) located on the right side. First you need to remove all cables and the power source from the back. Next take the screws out of the frame corner and remove the plastic frame. This next step is very important!! Pull off the cable you see from the electronic board and slowly remove the board. The switches are on the far end of the board.

 

Plans:

 

 1

 2

 3

 4

 5

 6

 7

 8

 SW1

 C

 C

 C

C 

 O

 C

C 

 O

 SW2

 C

 C

 O

 O

 C

 O

 C

O

 SB1

 O

 O

 O

 O

 C

 C

O 

O 

 

Arc/Info:

 

 1

 2

3 

 4

 5

 6

 7

 8

 SW1

C

C

C

C

O

C

C

O

SW2

O

C

C

O

C

O

C

C

SW3

C

O

O

C

C

C

X

X


Dip Switch Settings: Calcom 9000

The dip switches are located in back of the digitizer box. The last four switches of SW2 tell the digitizer what size table you are using. PLANS and Arc/Info use entirely different switch settings. Use the following diagram to set the switches properly

Digitizer Setup: ARC/INFO

At the ARC prompt type "con-dig calc9000 9600 n 8 1" to setup the digitizer. Substitute "calc9100" if you are using the Calcomp 9100. You can then run DIGTEST to test the configuration. The main problem you might have is that the COM port is set wrong.

 

Cables

Cable specs:

For a 25 to 25 pin cable, configure wires as follows:

 From Digitizer(male)

 To Computer(female)

 2

3

 3

2

7

7

 

For a 25 to 9 pin cable, configure wires as follows:

 From Digitizer(male)

To Computer(female) 

2

2

3

3

7

5



Configuring the CalComp 9100 DrawingBoard III Digitizer

 

The CalComp 9100 DrawingBoard III is a new digitizer that is smaller and easier to move than the other digitizers down at Pack Forest. It is great to take to the hotel at the field location of the spring field studies class. The digitizer includes a wireless mouse. Be sure to check that the batteries are working because the digitizer will not work if the wireless mouse is not responding. Also make sure that the computer port on the computer you will be hooking the digitizer up to is working. Many headaches could have been avoided by checking two simple things.

For Arc/Info:

1. Turn on the power by clicking the power switch on the lower left-hand corner of the digitizer.
2. Using the wireless mouse, move the cross hairs over the "config exit" button. The configuration light should turn on.
3. Click on the Bank A 1-18 button. Move the mouse over each of the 18 buttons. If the button is off (0) the power light will not light up. However, if the button is on (1) the power light will light up. Configure Arc/Info with the following key settings:

Bank A
0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1

Bank B
0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

4. Once all the key settings have been properly entered, click on the "save default" button. This will save the key settings and when the digitizer is turned on, it will automatically default to those settings.
5. Everything has now been configured for Arc/Info. Click on the "config exit" button to exit the configuration mode.

 

For PLANS:

1. Turn on the power by clicking the power switch on the lower left-hand corner of the digitizer.
2. Using the wireless mouse, move the cross hairs over the "config exit" button. The configuration light should turn on.
3. Click on the Bank A 1-18 button. Move the mouse over each of the 18 buttons. If the button is off (0) the power light will not light up. However, if the button is on (1) the power light will light up. Configure PLANS with the following key settings:

Bank A
0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0

Bank B
0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

4. Once all the key settings have been properly entered, click on the "save 2" button. This will save the key settings under the 2 button. When the digitizer is turned on again the "restore 2" button must be clicked to activate the settings for PLANS.
5. Everything has now been configured for PLANS. Click on the "config exit" button to exit the configuration mode.

Plotters:

As of Spring 1997, we are using the HP DesignJet 755c. This plotter is set up to work networked or directly connected to a computer by either the parallel or serial ports. It works fastest if connected to the Network. You may also allow a computer to share its plotter and/or printer to other computers if you have problems getting to plotter to work networked. More on this in the Networking section.

If the plotter just doesn't want to act correctly you can:

&middot; Look in the manual
&middot; Contact the CFR Computer Administrator
&middot; Check HP Website at http://www.hp.com and check their FAQ's page
&middot; Call HP directly (check FAQ page first)

If you need the drivers for the plotter:

&middot; Contact the CFR Computer Administrator
&middot; Go to http://www.hp.com:80/cposupport/indexes/pwin_dos.html

 

Printers:

The printers area fairly self explanatory. As with the plotter, you can set them up to work networked or directly connected to the LPT printer port and then share them