Introduction
Is it possible to automate data collection by having WinSPC be set to prompt a device.

Procedure

1. Set up the Device as you normally would.
2. Set up a Collection Plan step to use the device.
3. With that Collection Plan step selected, click the "Timed Data Collections" tab.




4. On this tab, check the "Use Timed Data Collection" checkbox.
   
   
5. If you want the Device prompted at defined intervals, such as every 30 minutes, under "Prompt Type", select "Prompt every" and then in the space provided specify the number of hours, minutes and seconds of the interval. The format to use for this information is HH:MM:SS. As an example, for an interval of 30 minutes, you would enter 00:30:00. Similarly, for an interval of 7 hours, 45 minutes and 5 seconds, you would enter 07:45:05.
   
   
   
   
6. If you want the Device prompted at explicit times--6:00 in the morning or 11:30 at night, for instance:

a. Under "Prompt Type", select "Prompt at explicit times".



b. Click the "Add" button.



c. In the "Time Selection" prompt that appears, specify a time using the HH:MM:SS format--for example, 06:00:00 AM or 11:30:00 PM--and click the "OK" button.



d. Repeat b and c for additional explicit times as desired.

7. Check the "Automatically prompt device" checkbox.
   
   


8. Click "OK" to close the setup dialog box. From this point forward, whenever the Collection Plan is loaded into the Data Collection window, the automatic Device prompting you specified using this procedure will be executed.