ohmSTAR Console
The ohmSTAR and ohmSTAR+ from a plain terminal window, for any lab PC,
old or new. Nothing to install: it runs from this folder, even from a USB stick.

RUNS ON
  Windows 7 SP1, 8, 8.1, 10 and 11, 32- or 64-bit: double-click "ohmSTAR Console.bat".
  Mac or Linux: double-click "ohmstar-console.command" (or run it in a terminal).
    That needs Python 3.8 or newer, which most Macs and Linux PCs already have.

  The box needs its USB driver (FTDI). Windows 10 and 11 install it on their own.
  On Windows 7, if the box doesn't show up, install the FTDI VCP driver.

FIRST TIME
  1. Plug in the box and switch it on. Close the ohmSTAR Companion app if it's open:
     only one program can use the box at a time.
  2. Start the console. It finds the box by itself. If there are several, or none,
     it asks: pick one, type a port name (COM4), or choose a demo box.
  3. Press the number or letter shown. B or Esc goes back. A blank answer keeps the
     [default] shown in brackets.

WHAT IT DOES
  1  Set a resistance      type 4700, 4.7k, 10k or 1.5M; shown in big LCD digits
  2  Set a temperature     on any of 128 sensors: RTDs, thermistors, strain gauges, pots
  3  Step through values   a list (100 1k 10k) or a range (100 to 1k step 100),
                           timed or one key press at a time, as many times through as you like
  4  Tables on the box     all nine slots at once; open one to see it as a chart,
                           list its points, save it to a file, or replace it
  5  Make a table          from a library sensor, over the range and at the step you choose,
                           in C or F; send it to a slot or save it
  6  Load a table file     old table files work as they are; drag the file into the window
  7  Look up a sensor      its details and curve

  Every table sent is read back from the box and checked point by point.
  Slot 0 is the box's calibration. The console never reads or writes it.

TABLE FILES (the manual's format)
  line 1   the name, up to 20 characters, shown on the box
  line 2   decimal places, 0 to 5, and optionally units=C
  then     one point per line: the value, a space or comma, and the ohms (2 to 256 points)

  Example:
    Pt100 0-100C
    2 units=C
    0 100
    50 119.4
    100 138.51

OPTIONS
  --demo        a pretend ohmSTAR+ (--demo ohmSTAR for the other model)
  --port COM4   use this port
  --no-splash   skip the opening animation (any key skips it too)
  --plain       no colour and no animation, for unusual consoles
  On Windows, add them after the .bat in a command prompt:
    "ohmSTAR Console.bat" --port COM4

IF SOMETHING'S WRONG
  "No box found"          check the USB cable and power; close the Companion app.
  Box stops answering     the console says so and goes back to Connect.
  Odd characters          run with --plain.

LabMetric. Questions: mmasano@gmail.com
