HELP-GENERAL INFO and MAIN MENU 			H_PROG	V 1.2

This is the Level 1 help text for the Hitachi F-2000 control program,
imaginatively called H_PROG.EXE. 

USING THE HELP READER: pressing the Page up key pages up, pressing the
Page down key pages down. The arrow , home and end keys do just what
you would expect them to. The escape key [ESC] returns you to the 
program. 

BASIC INFO:

This is a very simple program. Basically you can only start a 
measurement, stop it, save the data in MS EXCEL compatible CSV format 
and draw a crude graph of the ratio values. It cannot SET any 
parameters, due to the primitive nature of the Hitachi command set.

Currently you can measure either a single ratio dye (using the CALCIUM
protocol) or a single wavelength dye. The program cannot do wavelength 
scans, although it is possible to program it in and I may do it at a 
later stage. 

MACHINE COMMUNICATION PARAMETERS:

The Hitachi should be set to 4800 baud, no parity, 8 data bits one stop
bit for optimum efficiency, you can choose other parameters though.

MENUS:
The program is basically menu driven, with four work menus and a setup
menu. The menu items can be chosen by pressing the menu number or the 
associated hot key (the highlighted letter). You can also use the space 
bar or arrow key to move to the appropriate item and press enter.

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Menu 1, Main Menu: 

This starts (or stops) remote control of the Hitachi F-2000, then sends
you to either the measurement menu, the parameter menu or the single 
wavelength menu. There is also the abilty to display saved files 
as a graph of the ratios and the option to change communication 
parameters.

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Menu 2, Measurement menu:

Most of the menu  items are self explanatory, the program assumes you 
are only measuring one ratio reagent, be it FURA, SBFI or BCECF.

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Menu 3, Parameter menu:

Allows you to change the parameters for Ratio measurement

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Menu 4, Single Wavelength Dye:

Measures intensity changes over time for a single wavelength dye 
(eg. FLUO3, Sodium Green, bisoxynol).  The setup is basically 
similar to the ratio measurements 

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WHAT THE PROGRAM DOESN'T DO. 

There is no printing facility as I assume you will transfer the CSV files 
to EXCEL, QATTROPRO or something similar for post processing. These have 
better graphing algorithms than I could ever write. 

I have also not written a ratio to calcium section for the same reason 
(also peak detection problems). I have written a suite of EXCEL files 
(which should be LOTUS and QUATTROPRO compatible) to do just that. They 
should be included with this program 

There is no autofluorescence correction, as this is quite tricky to do at
the moment (again, you can fix it up in a spreadsheet).  


KNOWN PROBLEMS. The subroutine that checks that a file already exists
may not work properly on all BIOSes. If it says a file known to exist
is not there, I can provide a version for the variant BIOS. 

The algorithm that does the online graphing (as opposed to the
graphing of saved data) doesn't purge old data, so that you get bits of 
graph carrying over. I have tried unsuccessfully to fix this. The Graphs 
are VERY crude and ugly, but they were only designed to give a rough idea 
of what is happening.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS:

The data saving routine needs to be speeded up and better help files added.
I will eventually add a sub program to calculate [Ca2+]i from a nominated 
calibration file. I will also add autofluorescence handling. Even further 
in the future I will add spectral scans. However, as is it should 
do most of what you want. 

TECHNICAL GUFF:

This program was written and compiled using MICROSOFT QUICKBASIC 4.5 (no,
not the pretend version you get with DOS 5.0 and up). It should run on any
IBM compatible XT/AT/386/486 running DOS 3.1 or higher. I have used it on
XT's, 386 and 486 machines without it blowing up. There are no fancy colours,
graphical routines or even mouse calls so that even the scummiest XT can 
run it (I actually use an XT!).

This program is copyright to Ian Musgrave (1995) except for those portions
that are copyright to Christy Gemmell (altquick) and Harold Thomson (qb4bas)
(mainly file input routines).  

This program is freeware and you are encouraged to give copies to people
who can use it. This program must not be sold, hired or used in any way 
for profit. Standard disclaimers apply. 

At a later stage I will provide source code for those who wish to try to
beef up the system. I have not as yet put it in because (A) it is very
spagettied (B) it is completely unannotated. This is a part time project
so this will take a while. Meanwhile enjoy.   

Please send all feed back, queries etc to
Ian Musgrave Ph.D.
Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research
PO Box 5152, Clayton 3168
Victoria, Australia.
email Ian.Musgrave@med.monash.edu.au
phone +61 3 550 4286 fax +61 3 550 6125
