SEDACOM is a very easy, convenient and cost-saving data transfer software providing an ideal environment for visualizing the registered data on a computer and exporting the data in a format that simplifies any further post-analysis processes.

SEDACOM can be used with a wide range of devices from several lines of Panlab products.  Such as measuring motor activity, pain sensitivity, body temperature, memory, blood pressure & etc..  The name SEDACOM is a portmanteau of SErial DAta COMmunication. 

Features:

• An experiment header can be used for entering the general information about the experiment (project name, experimenter, challenge, starting date & time).
• New runtime panel and report presentation in a format using tabular structure, more appropriate (and time saving!) for the post-analysis process of the data.
• The table reports the information edited in the Edit Header panel and contains new editable fields for Subjects and Groups that can be edited before, during or after the experiment ends.
• The data can be saved in an experimental file and opened later for adding a new set of data.
• The data can also be exported directly to Excel, txt and htm formats for further data processing, statistics and presentation.
• Some SEDACOM compatible devices can be controlled by SEDACOM from your computer.
• New USB installation and license key (everything included on 1 USB Key).

Installation Overview:

• SEDACOM needs the following equipment:
  • A fully compatible computer with a least:
  • 2GHz Pentium® processor (Celeron processor not supported).
  • 2GB of RAM
  • HD 250GB (150MB of free hard disk space).
  • Graphics: 1024 x 768 pixels and 32-bit true color.
  • 1 free USB port for the protection key.
• Connection Interface:
  • For all equipment except for the touchscreen Rotarod, touchscreen Treadmill, and Incapacitance Test:
    • 1 free RS-232 serial port or 1 free USB port using the USB-serial adapter.
    • A USB-Serial adapter (not included with the software pack) can be used when an RS-232 serial port is not available. We strongly recommend the use of the Panlab USB-Serial Adapter.
  • For the touchscreen Rotarod, touchscreen Treadmill and Incapacitance Test:
    • 1 free USB port
  • Operating Systems Supported:
    • Microsoft® Windows® 10 32bits and 64bits
    • Microsoft® Windows® 8/8.1 32bits and 64bits
    • Microsoft® Windows® 7 32bits and 64bits
  • Microsoft Office Excel Installed in support of exporting data to Excel
  • Printer installed (recommended).

Installation Steps:

The steps to follow for the installation of the software associated drivers are different depending on the equipment used and Windows operating system. Here’s a summary of the steps to follow for each case.  For more information please download attached manual.

• All equipment (except the touchscreen Rotarod, touchscreen Treadmill and Incapacitance test):
  • Check that the control unit or the USB-adapter are NOT connected to the computer (VERY IMPORTANT)!
  • Install the USB-adapter (chapter 2.3 in the user manual)
  • Install the software (chapter 2.4 in the user manual)
• Touchscreen Rotarod and Touchscreen Treadmill:
  • Check that the control unit is NOT connected to the computer (VERY IMPORTANT)!
  • Install the software (see chapter 2.4 in the user manual)
  • Install the USB-serial driver (see chapter 2.5 in the user manual)
• Incapacitance Test:
  • The Incapacitance Test is delivered with a special USB-Serial cable which driver would be automatically installed by Windows when the cable is connected to the computer.

Installing the USB adapter:

This step is not needed for the touchscreen Rotarod, touchscreen Treadmill, and Incapacitance test devices.

A serial port is needed to connect your device to your computer, however most computers no longer come with serial ports. Due to this there is an adapter for converting a USB port to a serial port. A USB-Serial adapter will allow you to set 2 serial ports in your PC or laptop. We have not tested all commercially available USB-Serial adapters. The Panlab adapter includes an extension cable and minidisk with drivers.

In order to use this device please follow these steps:

The steps to follow for the installation of the software associated drivers are different depending on the equipment used and Windows operating system. Here’s a summary of the steps to follow for each case.  For more information please download attached manual.

• All equipment (except the touchscreen Rotarod, touchscreen Treadmill and Incapacitance test):
  • Check that the control unit or the USB-adapter are NOT connected to the computer (VERY IMPORTANT)!
  • Install the USB-adapter (chapter 2.3 in the user manual)
  • Install the software (chapter 2.4 in the user manual)
• Touchscreen Rotarod and Touchscreen Treadmill:
  • Check that the control unit is NOT connected to the computer (VERY IMPORTANT)!
  • Install the software (see chapter 2.4 in the user manual)
  • Install the USB-serial driver (see chapter 2.5 in the user manual)
• Incapacitance Test:
  • The Incapacitance Test is delivered with a special USB-Serial cable which driver would be automatically installed by Windows when the cable is connected to the computer.
• You need to have administrative privileges to install any new drivers on your Windows machine. To install the driver or update the configuration please log into your computer as an “Administrator” or ask your IT staff to install the USB to serial driver.
• The drivers should be installed prior to hardware installation. DO NOT CONNECT the USB to serial I/O Adapters to the USB port of your computer before you finish the driver installation.
• Insert the SEDACOM software USB flash key into a free USB port on your computer and access its content.
  • Execute the installation assistant (Panlab.exe). The following installation window will be shown. Press the [Install Drivers USB-RS232] option to start the software installation process.
• The USB COM install program will auto-detect the OS type and install the driver automatically. In some operating systems a dialog box may pop up asking for you to press enter at the end of the installation. Press ENTER.
• After the message “FTDI CDM Driver installation process completed” appears, press “ENTER” to complete the driver installation.
• Plug in the USB PRO Series Adapter to the USB port of your computer. Windows will finish installing the driver files.
• In the lower right corner of the screen the next message will be automatically shown:

• At the same time, two devices will appear into the [Device Manager] window. The ports provided by the new [USB FAST SERIAL ADAPTER] will be shown under [other devices] with a warning sign attached.

• Please wait while the wizard locates the drivers installed previously. This process may require some time depending on your PC.
• The process of correctly activating your devices is done one by one.

• Here is a correctly assigned port in the system

• When the wizard finishes it will ask you to press the FINISH button.

IMPORTANT:

Up to this point only one serial port was correctly installed.  The process must be repeated for the second port. Please wait will your PC or laptop finds another COM port. Once again you will see this message in the lower corner of the screen:

The adapter will be correctly installed when all the previous steps have been repeated. Finally you will see this message in the lower right corner:

At the same time the two serial ports will appear in the DEVICE MANAGER window.  Usually, the COM port numbers are assigned sequentially.

A yellow label with the text [PORT 1] is attached to the adapter device to identify the first port recognized by the computer system. That means that if the DEVICE MANAGER shows two ports (such as COM3/COM4 or higher numbers) then that label [PORT 1] corresponds to COM3 or the lower number of the newly created COM ports.

Installing the software

The SEDACOM software is delivered in a USB flash key which contains the application and its license of use. If you have Windows administrative privileges, please follow the steps below:

• Insert the SEDACOM software USB flash key into a free USB port of your computer, access its content and execute the installation assistant (Panlab.exe).
• The following installation window will be shown. Press the [Install SEDACOM v2.0.03] option to start the software’s installation process.

• An installation wizard will appear. Press the [NEXT] button to start the software’s installation.

• In the next window introduce the name of the user and the company in the correct field. After this, press [Next] button to continue.

• During the installation process the software is installed in a new folder called [Panlab\SEDACOM v2.0] created under the Programs Files folder. If desired the installation program allows you to choose another folder to locate the software. The location of the software is independent of the data folder, which is defined by the user using the corresponding options of the program.

• Press the [Next} button and finally press [Install]. The installation is complete when the Finish installation scree is shown. At this point press the Finish button to close the installation wizard.
• A new shortcut will appear on your desktop. Use it for executing the program later.

Installing the USB serial driver for the Touchscreen Rotarod and Touchscreen Treadmill

In order to properly install the USB serial driver of the touchscreen control unit for the Rotarod and touchscreen Treadmill, follow these steps.

The USB serial driver is preinstalled during the installation of the SEDACOM software. Plug the device to the PC using the USB cable and turn it on. Windows will recognize the device and finish the installation process.