Software Configuration and
User Administration
(Translation)
Version: 1 / February 2009 Doku-Nr.: PD-0018
© Copyright 2009
Q-DAS GmbH & Co. KG Eisleber Str. 2 D - 69469 Weinheim Tel.: ++49/6201/3941-0 Fax: ++49/6201/3941-24 E-Mail: [email protected] Internet: http://www.q-das.de Hotline: Tel.: ++49/6201/3941-14 Fax: ++49/6201/3941-714 E-Mail: [email protected]
Preface
Q-DAS would like to thank all of our customers for their continued trust and support in our products and services. We wish you success working with Q-DAS QM-Tools.
Note:
Q-DAS would be pleased to send you a copy of our training syllabus. Up-to-date information and the upcoming training-schedule are available on our homepage www.q-das.com. Furthermore, Q-DAS can custom design on-site training programs.
For self-education, our statistical reference books are recommended.
Legal Rights and Warranty
All rights to the documentation and the rights to the qs-STAT® software belong to Q-DAS GmbH & CO KG. The information contained in this document or the program help text is subject to change at any time with-out notification. Q-DAS GmbH & CO KG undertakes no obligation with this document.
Legal purchase of the software licenses and the manuals allows for use of the programs in conformity with the number of licenses. Copies may only be used for the purpose of securing data (working copy). Whoever transfers this software to data carriers of any other medium for the pur-poses other than his or her own use is liable to criminal prosecution.
Limitation of Warranty
No warranty for the correctness of the contents of this manual is as-sumed. Any statements in this document or in the online help of the pro-gram may be modified without further notice. Despite every effort, errors can never be completely eliminated; therefore we are grateful for notifica-tion of such errors.
Table of Contents
Preface... 3
Legal Rights and Warranty ... 3
Limitation of Warranty ... 3
Table of Contents... 5
1 Software Configuration... 7
1.1 Creating and administering of users ... 7
1.1.1 User group rights... 8
1.1.2 Adding a new user group... 9
1.1.3 Adding a new User to a user group ... 10
1.1.4 Changing existing User Data ... 11
1.1.5 Delete User or User Groups ... 11
1.1.6 Move existing Users to a different user group... 11
1.1.7 Special Login-Settings... 12
1.2 Program Start Settings ... 14
1.3 Generic Program Settings... 17
1.3.1 Printer Setup ... 17 1.3.2 Create a PDF File... 18 1.3.3 Databases ... 19 1.3.3.1 Q-DAS Database ... 19 1.3.3.2 Central Database ... 25 1.3.3.3 Monitoring Database ... 26 1.3.3.4 Compress Database ... 26 1.3.3.5 Database Options ... 27 1.3.4 Formatting output ... 38 1.3.5 Archive system ... 39 1.3.6 Database synchronization ... 40
1.3.7 System configuration intern ... 41
1.3.8 E-Mail Configuration ... 44
1.3.9 Selecting the company logo... 45
1.3.10 Additional Settings... 46
1.3.10.1 Surface Settings... 46
1.3.10.2 General Settings ... 49
1.4 Module Dependent Settings... 52
1.4.1 Menu bar ... 52
1.4.3 Selection of the Evaluation Strategy to be used ... 55
1.4.4 Required input fields... 55
1.4.5 Measured quantity definition... 56
1.4.6 Catalogs ... 57
1.4.7 Save Options... 58
1.4.8 External Files... 59
1.4.9 Other Settings ... 60
1.5 Graphic settings... 60
2 Additional Configuration Options ... 63
2.1 Import / Export of settings ... 63
2.1.1 Export of configuration settings ... 63
2.1.2 Import of configuration settings... 63
2.1.3 Catalog transfer... 64
2.2 Q-DAS Direct... 64
3 Settings for Users and User Groups... 65
3.1 In General... 65
3.1.1 Exceptions... 67
3.2 Reset User- / User group settings... 67
3.2.1 Reset user settings... 68
3.2.2 Reset user group settings... 68
3.3 Configuration of the Configuration ... 69
1 Software Configuration
After the software has been installed successfully, we recommend per-forming company specific adjustments.
These settings can be divided into “general software settings”, “module dependant settings”, “user dependant settings” and “work station / data set dependant settings”.
Remark: In order to make sure that all required user rights and menu functions are available, you have to be logged in into the software as Configurations-User.
1.1 Creating and administering of users
The “User” window can be called up with the “Options – System Settings - User” menu function.
The left half of the window shows a summary of already existing users and user groups.
1.1.1 User group rights
If a specific user group is selected and highlighted, the assigned user rights are displayed in the right half of the window. User rights for the us-ers of the highlighted user group can now be adjusted if required. A cer-tain user right is assigned to all users of a group by checking the check box for the respective option.
The following user rights are available for selection:
• Record measurement values: The user group is allowed to
enter new measurement values in the Values Mask
• Change measurement values: The user group is allowed to
change or delete already existing measurement values.
• Input Test plan: The user group is allowed to create new
Test Plans. This means the user is allowed create new data sets with the header information of a data set as the parts information and characteristics information.
• Edit Test plan: The user group is allowed to make changes to
already existing Test Plans (parts and characteristics information).
• DB Selection in user groups: The user group can create
database selections and allocate those to certain user groups.
• Edit Catalogs: The user group is allowed to edit catalog
en-tries, which includes changing existing enen-tries, adding new entries as well as creating and editing sub-catalogs.
• Saving to database: The user group has the right to save to
the database.
• Delete part from database: The user group is allowed to
delete whole parts from the database.
• Modify evaluation method: The user group is allowed to
create new or change existing evaluation strategies.
• System configuration: The user group is allowed to
config-ure the system.
• Method Selection: If this is checked, the users of this group
are allowed to switch the evaluation strategy.
• Selection in graphic: The user group is allowed to use the
Select function (take certain data points out of the evaluation).
• Eliminate outliers: The user group is allowed to exclude
values from the evaluation that have been identified as outliers.
• Change distribution: The user group is allowed to change
the distribution model that was chosen by the program according the settings in the evaluation strategy.
• Modify analysis QCC: The users of this group are allowed
re-calculate the default Analysis QCC with different parameters than those setup in the evaluation strategy.
• Modify SPC QCC: The user group has the right to re-calculate
the SPC QCC using different parameters than those setup in the evaluation strategy.
• Change output field: The users of this group have the rights
to add new or change the existing default output points, for exam-ple in the Form sheet 3.
• Database Administration: The user group is allowed to do
configurations of the database and database structure.
• Show signature: The users are allowed to open and view
exist-ing signatures.
• Create signature: The users of this group are allowed to
cre-ate new report signatures.
• Allow operator input in data recording: If this option
is deactivated, the login name of users of this group is automati-cally recorded as Operator name as additional data. Please also see chapter 1.4.6 for the catalog settings for this option.
• User administration: The users of this group are allowed to
open the “User” dialog window and modify the user settings.
1.1.2 Adding a new user group
The selection displayed on the right can be accessed with a right mouse-click on the on the item “User”.
A new user group can e created by selecting the “New group” option. After the group is created, you are automatically prompted to enter a new name for the user group and it is possible to assign the user rights to new group right away (also see chapter 1.2).
If you want to use the Windows-Login also as login for the Q-DAS soft-ware, a new user group has to be created with the “Create group Win-dows registration” function of the right mouse-button. This user group can also be given a name (default: Windows-Login) and user rights can be assigned.
The options “Reset specific settings for all users” and “Reset settings of all groups” are described in chapter 2.2 of this manual.
The “Logout all users” function allows to logout all users from qs-STAT that are logged in at the time. This is only applicable if the “Protocol user login” option is selected in the user administration window (also see chapter 1.2). If this option is selected, a green check mark in the user list indicates that the user is currently logged in. By logging the user out, the user name will be available again in the user registration window upon program start.
1.1.3 Adding a new User to a user group
The context menu as shown on the right can be displayed with a right mouse-click on a specific user group. Select the “New user” function to create a new user as part of the
se-lected user group. Information about the new user is prompted automati-cally on the right side of the window as shown below.
Enter the User name in the respective field. This entry will then be shown in the user registration window. A password should be as-signed as well.
Enter additional informa-tion about the user here. The information will be shown in the reports.
Check this box if the new user should be the default user. The program auto-matically user the default user upon program start, if the user registration prompt is turned off.
It is recommended to fill out the displayed field with the respective infor-mation about the user. The entries for area, department, work shop and cost center can be selected from a pull-down menu. The available en-tries in the pull-down menu can be edited and added to with the but-ton.
Remark: User information that has been entered in can be displayed on the report headers which makes it easy to identify who created the report.
The “Reset specific settings of the all users in the group” and “Reset group settings” are described in chapter 2.2 of this manual.
A whole user group can be deleted with the “Delete user group” func-tion of the right mouse-click. This opfunc-tion is only available if the user group does not contain any users anymore.
1.1.4 Changing existing User Data
User data can be changed or added to any time by selecting the respec-tive user in the user list and entering the information on the right side of the window.
1.1.5 Delete User or User Groups
By doing a right mouse-click on the respective user or user group, the “Delete user” or “Delete user group” functions will be offered for selec-tion. The “Delete User group function” is only available if the user group does not contain any user anymore.
1.1.6 Move existing Users to a different user group
Existing users can be moved to another user group with by “drag & drop”. This applies especially when the Windows-Login is used for qs-STAT. Users can easily be moved from the “Windows-Login” group into a different user group with more user rights by “Dragging and dropping”.
1.1.7 Special Login-Settings
If you are logged in as a user from the System Administrator group and the “Protocol user login” option as descried in chapter 1.2 is activated, you can make the following additional login settings with the
button:
• min. password length
Set a requirement for a minimum number of characters for the password
• max. password validity in days
Set a maximum number of days the passwords are valid for. As soon as the number of days is exceeded, the users are prompted to change their passwords.
• min. number of special characters in password
In order to ensure that secure passwords are chosen, you can set a requirement for a minimum number of special characters that have to be used when the password is entered. Special signs are all signs but a-z, A-Z and 0-9.
• min. number of numeric characters in password
Here, you can set a requirement for a minimum number of nu-meric signs (0-9) that have to be contained in the password.
• min. repeatability rate of password
Set the number of cycles after which an old password may be used again.
Example:
Assumption: A repeatability rate of “1” has been set.
The current password is “January”
After the number of days configured for password validity is exceeded, the user is prompted to enter a new password.
As the min. repeatability rate for the password is set to 1, en-tering “January” as new password will not be accepted. A dif-ferent password (e.g. “February”) has to be entered.
After the password validity is expired again, “February” will now not be accepted as new password. “January”, for exam-ple, could be used again and would be accepted now.
• Block user after ... days without login
The user will not be able to start the software if the number of days set in here has elapsed since this user had last been logged into the software. This user account has to be released again by another user with the respective user rights first.
• Protocol changes in user rights
With this option, you can activate a protocol of changes of user rights. The protocol created can be reviewed on the “Rights were changed” tab.
• Protocol user move to other groups
This option activates a protocol of when a user is moved to a dif-ferent user group. The protocol can be reviewed with the “User was moved” tab.
• Change password at 1st login
If this option is active, every new user has to change the pass-words during the first program start.
With the other tabs in this window as “password history”, “User was moved” and “Rights were changed”, you can review the protocol listings of the respective option if the associated option has been activated.
1.2 Program Start Settings
You can configure the way the program behaves during starting it with the “Options / System settings / User” menu function. In the lower third of the “User” window, the following options are available for selection.
1. always display at start of program
If this option is activated, the user registration is displayed during program start and it is mandatory to select a user here before the program starts.
2. with password
If this option is activated in addition to option “1”, the user is also prompted to enter a password for the user selected in the registra-tion window upon program start. If the user is changed with the “Options / System settings / User login” function after program start, it is always required to enter a password, independent of this option.
3. Login without userlist
If this option is activated in addition to option “1”, the user cannot select the user name from a pull-down menu, but has to type in the desired user name via key board.
4. Password inquiry for external programs
If this option is checked, any external access to the Q-DAS soft-ware (for example by a third-party softsoft-ware via COM client) will re-quire entering a password for the respective user as well when the connection is established.
5. Accept login for active user
If it should not be allowed that a third party system logs in with the settings of a user that is already in use, this option should be deac-tivated. This also prevents the eventuality of a deleting of current files or settings.
6. Module selection at login
If this option is activated in addition to option “1”, the available software modules are offered for selection in the registration win-dow during program start as well.
7. User is allowed to change his data
If this option is checked, every user can change his own data (name, password etc.).
8. Protocol user login
If this option is checked, it is not possible for a user to login multiple times from different stations. This means that as soon as the user is logged in once, the user name will not be offered in the user reg-istration pull-down menu anymore. This option should be checked in order to avoid an overwriting of settings by mistake.
9. Use Windows registration
This option can only be activated after a “Windows-Login” user group has been created. If this option is activated the Windows login will also be used as login into the Q-DAS software. New user accounts are automatically created in the “Windows-Login” group for users who login the first time.
10. Cancelled after wrong password entry
The window shown on the right opens up automatically after this option is activated.
With the “Number of login errors allowed” option you can set the maximum allowed number of wrong entries (for example during the password entry). The user will be locked in the configurations data-base after the maximum number is exceeded. Locked users can be unlocked again by the Configurations-User (also see Remark). If you activate the “Send E-mail after login error” option, you have to enter an e-mail address in the “E-mail recipient after login error” box and select when a respective e-mail should be sent out. In
ad-dition, the e-mail server, e-mail user ID and e-mail address for the e-mail sender have to be entered in with the “E-mail configura-tion” button.
Remark: If a user is protocolled as logged in due to a program crash or an uncontrolled closing of the software, the Configurations-User can unlock this user again in the “User” window by highlighting the user and the “Logout highlighted user” function available with the right mouse-click. Option 11 offers a possibility to turn on an automatized user logoff.
11. Sign off user automatically
If this option is activated, the software checks during the user login whether the user has been logged in longer than the configured time period already. If required, the user will be logged off auto-matically.
When the option is activated, a prompt for the max. login time pe-riod opens up.
Remark: This option has no effect on users that are locked due to special login settings such as wrong password entry (also see chapter 1.1.7).
1.3 Generic Program Settings
1.3.1 Printer Setup
The software defaults to the Windows default printer unless a different printer has been selected as Q-DAS default printer with the “File – Printer Setup” menu function.
In addition to that, you can set defaults for the printout with the “” menu function. The Options / System settings / Printer settings for the print-out are independent of the selected printer.
If the “color” option is selected, all color information is output for a color printer. If you are using a black and white laser printer, it is recom-mended to use the “black on white” option instead to suppress the color information output as grey scales.
If the additional “white background for printout (in color)” option is se-lected, all graphics will be printed without the background color.
A temporary buffering of the print job on the computer can be turned on by selecting one if the interims format options as “Clipboard format
Bit-map” or “Clipboard format Metafile”. Buffering on the computer helps if not all information is printed especially when working with older printers that only have a small printer memory.
1.3.2 Create a PDF File
Click on the file menu and select Print report to PDF file to display a selection of available reports. Choose a report. The
Save as dialog box
opens. The predefined standard path for PDF output is proposed as storage position. The file name is generated by means of the additional data information using the configuration above. To create the PDF file ac-cording to the respective settings, click on Save in the Save as dialog box. If you did not select a PostScript-capable printer driver, the software cre-ates the PDF file using an internal driver.
1.3.3 Databases
The configuration- and selection options described in this chapter are only available if you have purchased the respective options and / or modules.
Database settings can be made with the “Options / System settings / Da-tabases” menu function. The “DaDa-tabases” window itself offers the follow-ing selection options:
• Q-DAS Database
• central DB configuration • Compress database • Monitoring DB • Options
If you do not make any specific setting in this dialog, the software will automatically connect to the installed example database (MS Access). The “Compress Database” button is only displayed if the currently se-lected connection under Q-DAS Database points to a MS Access Data-base or if the default example dataData-bases are used.
1.3.3.1 Q-DAS Database
You can define a database connection different than the default by se-lecting the “Choose connection” button. The new database has to be conforming to the Q-DAS Database structure. After clicking on the “Choose connection” button, the “Select Data Link File” dialog opens up. If there is no connection file available for selection yet, please enter your desired description as the “File name” and click on the “Open” button. A new *.udl file with the file name as entered will be created.
Remark: The actual database file (for example QDAS32.MDB) may not be selected in this window.
The “Data Link Properties" window opens up and the "Provider" tab is selected.
Connection to an Access-Database
After a *.udl file has been created as described in chapter 1.3.3.1, the ”Data Link Properties“ window opens up, which allows you to define the database-specific adjustments.
The "Microsoft Jet 4.0 OLE DB Provider" needs to be selected for the connection to a MS Access database. By clicking on the “Next” button, you will move to the “Connection” tab. In here, please click on the
Icon. The "Select Access Database” window opens up. Now you can browse for and select an existing Access database, and click on “Open”. A Q-DAS example database with the file-name “QDAS32.MDB” can be found in the “Database”-folder of the qs-STAT installation direc-tory.
Back in the "Data Link Properties" window you can now double-check your settings by clicking on the button.
After the “Test Connection” has been performed successfully, you can close both the "Data Link Properties" and the "Database" windows with the “OK“-buttons.
Connection to an Oracle-Database
After a *.udl file has been created as described in chapter 1.3.3.1, the ”Data Link Properties“ window opens up, which allows you to define the database-specific adjustments.
Preconditions for connecting to an Oracle-Database are that an installed Oracle-Client with a configured, local “Net Service Name“ (Oracle 8.xx and 9.xx) or “Database Alias” (Oracle 7.xx) are able to connect to the appropriate database server.
Oracle 8.xx/9.xx: “Net Configuration Assistant" for the configuration of a "local Net Service Name"
Oracle 7.xx: “SQL Net Easy Configuration" for the configura-tion of a "Database Alias“
The “Microsoft OLE DB Provider for Oracle" has to be selected for the connection to an Oracle-Database. A possible existing “Oracle / Provider for OLEDB" should not be used. Then, please click on the “Next”-button to get to the “Connection” tab.
Please enter the “Local Net Service Name“ or the ”Database Alias“ name of the Oracle-client as “server name“. As “User name”, please enter the Oracle-database user and enter the password. In addition, the “Allow saving password” check-box needs to be activated.
You can now automatically check your settings using the button.
After the “Test Connection” has been performed successfully, you can close both the ”Data Link Properties“ and the ”Database“ windows with the “OK“-buttons.
Connection to a MS-SQL-Database
After a *.udl file has been created as described in chapter 1.3.3.1, the ”Data Link Properties“ window opens up, which allows you to define the database-specific adjustments.
The “Microsoft OLE DB Provider for SQL Server“ has to be selected for the connection to a MS-SQL-Database. Then, please click on the “Next”-button to get to the “Connection” tab.
You can now automatically check your settings using the button.
After the “Test Connection” has been performed successfully, you can close both the ”Data Link Properties“ and the ”Database“ windows with the “OK“-buttons.
1.3.3.2 Central Database
In order to establish a connection to the central database, please pro-ceed as described in chapter 1.3.3.1.
Setting up a connection with the “central DB configuration” button is only required for the Q-DAS database synchronization option, for example. This means if you work with a local Q-DAS Database (for example MS Access) which should periodically be synchronized with a second central database.
Name of the DB Server Both settings are pos-sible here!
User name and pass-word of the MS-SQL DB-User
Select the Q-DAS-DB Allow saving the pass-word to the *.udl file
The connection configured under “central DB configuration” is also used by the Database Upload and the Reporting System.
1.3.3.3 Monitoring Database
If you are using the Q-DAS Monitoring software for process visualization, you can use the procedure as described in chapter using the 1.3.3.1 to connect to a different database. This setting applies to the “Q-DAS Moni-toring” software only. Additional information about this topic can be found in the “Q-DAS Monitoring” manual.
1.3.3.4 Compress Database
The “Compress database” button is only displayed if your Q-DAS Data-base connection points to a MS Access dataData-base. The MS Access data-base can be compacted with this button. Repairing the datadata-base is not possible with this button.
1.3.3.5 Database Options
The “Options” button opens up a new window with the same name. In this window, user specific as well as database specific setting can be made. This manual only describes the configuration option for the data-base administration. User related settings for reading from the datadata-base are described in the “Q-DAS Database” manual as the settings can also be displayed and adjusted in the “Read from database” dialog.
• Reduce database fields
With this function it is possible to reduce the number of columns in your parts and characteristics table to only the used scope in order to improve the database performance.
Please note that it is not possible to store information in the deacti-vated columns. If a data set contains information for these col-umns, an error message appears when saving the data.
As the maximum number of possible columns has been reached in the table containing characteristics data (“Merkmal”), a second characteristics table called “Merkma_zus” had to be introduced. If the columns in this additional table are to be used, this table has to be activated with the “Use additional characteristics table” option.
• Additional Data
The additional data fields for “Text” and “Process Parameter” are not activated in the database by default. In order to be able to save information in these fields to the database, the respective field has to be activated and the required field length or maximum number of entries has to be set.
Use GUID
By activating the “Use GUID” option, an additional, unique number for identification purposes will be saved for each part, characteristic and measured value (in the database as well as file-based). This option has to be turned on if multiple local databases should be synchronized with the central database.
Remark: After initial creation of the GUID, this option cannot be turned off anymore.
Use Events in WERTEVAR
If a lot of events are going to be recorded, it recommended to turn this option on to improve the database performance. If a local da-tabase should be synchronized with a central dada-tabase, this option has to be set in both databases. After this option has been checked, the “Synchronize events” button becomes active if events are already recorded with the measured values in the database. In this case, an event synchronization has to be carried a one time in order to copy the existing events into the WERTEVAR table.
Protocol alteration date in TRANSMIT_WERTEVAR
It is possible to record any changes of the measured values with the change date by turning on this option. This information can then be retrieved with the measured values amendment history in the Values Mask.
Protocol alterating user in TRANSMIT_WERTEVAR
If this option has been activated, the user who changed the data is also recorded. This information can also be retrieved with the measured values amendment history in the Values Mask.
• Indices
In order to expedite the display of parts matching the filter criteria for frequently performed queries, you can activate an index for the respective fields in the left column.
In order to expedite database queries after frequently used selec-tion criteria, you activate an addiselec-tional index for the respective fields in the right column of this window.
With the options in the left side of the window, an index on just the respective database column will be created. With the options on
the right side of the window, an index on the parts, characteristic and the field itself will be created.
Remark: If too many indices are set, writing to the database can become very slow.
If you are connected to an Oracle database, the “Tablespace” pull-down menu appears. With this, you can determine in which table-space the indices should be saved.
• Maintenance
You can save information about the number of parts, number of characteristics per part and number of measurement values per part in a text file with the “Create information for parts and char-acteristics structure” button.
If you click on the “Deleting part not in use” button, a list of parts in the database that do not contain any measured values is cre-ated. You can then select the empty parts from the list and delete them.
The “Timeout for SQL commands” option, you can define how long it may take until a response from the database is received. Under circumstances, this time period has to be enlarged for ex-tensive queries or for deleting of parts with a lot of characteristics and / or measurement values (especially if you work with a MS-SQL database).
If you are connected to an Oracle database, the two “Create data-base information” and “Optimize table statistics (ANALYZE TABLE... )” buttons are displayed in addition.
Information about the database can be saved in a text file with the “Create database information” in a file.
With the “Optimize table statistics (ANALYZE TABLE... )” button, the ANALYZE TABLE command is executed. This should, how-ever, be done by the database administrator on a routinely bases. Remark: Depending on the database size, this command can
take quite some time to process.
• SQL commands
In this window, you can enter any SQL command that should be executed after the database connection is established. Multiple commands have to be separated by a semi-colon.
• Database type
The “Use database as server for test planning” may only be turned on for the central database.
If the “Data amendment log” option is activated, all data changes are protocolled in the database together with the dataset. Activating this option automatically also activated the “Use GUID” option un-der “Additional data”.
The selected fields under “Part key” and “Characteristics key” will be used as parts- and characteristics identifier for the database synchronization. This means that these fields should be carefully selected according to what would uniquely identify a part with its al-ready existing characteristics.
• Stored procedure
The existing stored procedures are displayed in this dialog if you are connected to a MS-SQL or an Oracle database. It is also pos-sible to execute the selected procedure from this window.
• Copy text and config. database
If you are working with a MS-SQL or an Oracle database, you can also copy the configurations or text database into it.
Copying the text database into a central database should only be done in unavoidable exceptional cases as this can lead to a large
performance loss. If the text database has to be copied never the less, please proceed according to the description for copying the configurations database.
For copying the configurations database into a different database (for example Oracle) please select the *.udl file that connects to your desired target database with the “UDL” button. Then start the copy process with the “Create database” button. This copies the complete database structure as well as the records that are already in the local database.
Remark: Please contact Q-DAS before copying the text or configurations database to avoid problems.
• Output point
In this dialog you can add additional output points for the Longterm Analysis Module with the “Select output” button.
All required points are already contained in the default selection so that enhancing the number of output points should only be neces-sary in exceptional cases.
A respective option for reading from the database will be provided if the “Enable period comparison” check box is activated.
• Database comparison
To update the database, select a source database (the currently used Q-DAS® database) and a target database (the new data-base). Click on the Comparison button to display a list of differ-ences between both databases. Then, you can create an update script for the source database and store it in the target database.
• Template
Check the Fields of the new test plan editable in the copy dialog
box to edit the displayed fields when copying an existing test plan. If this option is disabled, a change status is to be created automati-cally to keep parts apart in the Read from database window. Check the Automatically count up change status box to save the subse-quent, configurable entry in the Part amendment status field
(K1004) automatically when copying a test plan. The entry must not exceed 20 characters.
• Archiving periods
A listing of already created archives can be reviewed in the “Archiv-ing periods” dialog.
It is also possible to create new data archives as described in the following.
1. Click into the next empty cell in the “Archival period” column. 2. After clicking onto the icon, the “Create database archive”
window opens up in which you can determine the archiving set-tings in detail.
Depending on the settings in this window, all parts that contain at least one characteristic with a measured value from the selected archiving period will be added to the archive. You can also chose whether the respective parts should be archived in individual files with the “archive to files” option, or whether the data archive should be created in a database with the “archive to database” option.
Remark: If you selected the “archive to database” option, please skip steps 3 and 4.
3. If the “archive to files” option has been selected, step 5 and higher do not apply. You now have two options to chose from for starting the archive procedure: with the “Archive” button, the re-spective parts will be copied from your life production database into the archive files, with the “Source out” button, the data will be moved into the archive files and then not be available in your production database any longer.
Remark: When arching into files, only fields that are supported in the file format can be saved.
4. The “Save parts to files” window opens up after the archiving process has been started.
This window shows a listing of all parts that meet the archiving period criteria. In this window, you can now adjust the target di-rectory for the files and, if required, remove single parts from the archive by removing the “X” at the beginning of a line.
Data archiving into files can now be performed with the “Save” button.
5. If the “archive to database” option had been selected, a new name for the to be created archive database can now be en-tered with the “MDB” button. If you are connected to a SQL or Oracle database as you Q-DAS database, the “UDL” button is active as well. You can select a *.udl file with this button. The selected *.udl file has to be pointed to a separate database for archiving which may not be identical with the production data-base.
6. The required database structure can be created with the “Create database” button after the target database has been selected. 7. After the database structure has been created, you can now
copy the to be archived data into the database with the “Archive” button, or move the respective data from the production data-base into the archive datadata-base with the “Source out” button. Data that has been archived (sourced out) already can be played back from the archive into the production database by selecting the desired archive from the list with the icon and then clicking onto the now active “Retrieve” button.
1.3.4 Formatting output
The “Formatting output” window can be called up with the “Options / Sys-tem settings / Formatting output” menu function. The following options are available:
• Formatting general
The number of decimals that was selected under “number of sig-nificant places” is used for the output of decimal places for all cal-culated values that are based on other calculation results (for ex-ample the average of averages).
• Formatting averages
The selected “additional number of decimal places” will be added to the number of decimal places that is setup in the characteristics mask for any output display of averages.
• Formatting quantile limits
The desired number of decimal places for quantile limits that is setup in the characteristics mask will be enhanced by the “addi-tional number of decimal places” selected here.
• Formatting percentages
With this option you can select the desired number of decimal places for any result output in % or ppm.
1.3.5 Archive system
With the “Archive system” function you can chose a third-party applica-tion that should be opened when a signature is created. If the “Use ID as parameter” option is checked, the ID of the current signature is used as parameter.
If the selected third-party system should also be opened up for follow-up signatures (e.g. approval) the “Call archival system also for next signa-ture” option has to be checked. In this case, it is also possible to use an additional parameter.
If the signed data shall be saved in the QML format instead of the DFQ format, the “Save signed data in QML” option has to be checked.
1.3.6 Database synchronization
If you want to synchronize the data in you Q-DAS database with a cen-tral database, you have the option to configure the synchronization pro-cedure with the “Options / System settings / Configuration database syn-chronization” menu function.
Remark: It is important to exactly specify the dataflow within one work shop as there are many different installation and configuration options.
You can set a time frame within which the database synchronization should take place with the “Start time” and “End time” options. For “Inter-val” and “Repeat point in time”, you can select “never”, “minutes”, “hours” and “days” from the pull-down menus. The “Interval” setting determines how often a database synchronization should take place, the “Repeat point in time” option is only relevant if the “Start without asking option” is not activated. In this case, an aborted synchronization is repeated after the time set under “Repeat point in time”. If you work with a MS Access database as Q-DAS Database, you automatically compact it periodically (selection options are “hours” or “days”). The “Max. no. of values in DB” option determines how many values per characteristic should be kept in the Q-DAS database as history after the synchronization. The size of the
protocol file that is created in the “TEMP” folder of the Q-DAS installation directory can be limited with the “Max. size log file in KB” option.
If the “Start without asking” option is activated, the database synchroni-zation is started directly at the start time.
Please also see the chapter 1.3.3.5 for the configuration described under “Database type”.
1.3.7 System configuration intern
The “Options / System settings / System configuration intern” menu func-tion opens up the “System configurafunc-tion” window which offers the follow-ing configuration options.
Memory configuration
The default settings available in this window should not be changed at all. Modifications should only be made after prior consultation with Q-DAS.
File input/output
The configuration options available here should also not be changed without prior consultation with Q-DAS.
System information
The current system information is displayed here. It is not possible to make changes in this window.
Program
Use the Allow multiple start / Do not allow multiple start radio buttons to determine whether the software may be started at a workstation several times in parallel or not. If you have already started the software and you start it again, a warning message appears when the Show warning message radio button is activated. If you select Switch to running program, the software cannot be started several times in parallel. In this case, the software switches to the running program if you start it again. Check the Application cannot be minimized box and users cannot minimize the program surface. If the Application cannot be closed
checkbox is active, the software cannot be closed. Check the System menu is not displayed box to hide the Windows icons for minimizing, maximizing and closing windows .
Emergency Plan
If you work with a central, networked database, check the Activate con-tingency plan for automatic saving box and select a local directory under
Backup Directory. In case of a network failure, the loaded data is filed in this directory. You can also select In case of emergency, send an Email
to: and enter an e-mail address. In case of an emergency, a message containing the loaded data is generated and sent as soon as possible. If you have not set an e-mail configuration yet, click on the E-Mail configu-ration button.
Call Parameter
Here you can set the call parameter “UX“ that might be required under certain conditions when an external system transfers files in the Q-DAS® ACII Transfer Format. For further information, contact Q-DAS® Incorpo-rated.
1.3.8 E-Mail Configuration
To send e-mails using the Q-DAS® Software, it is important to enter the required system information. Please contact your e-mail administrator to obtain the required information.
Set the e-mail parameters under Options – System settings – E-Mail configuration.
E-mail host = IP address or computer name of your e-mail server
E-mail port = the port, the server uses to send e-mails (usually 25)
E-mail user ID = the user name, you need to sign on to your e-mail ac-count on the server. The user name is also used as sender.
E-mail sender = the e-mail address of the user account specified above. This e-mail address is visible to your recipients.
Password = password of the e-mail account.
1.3.9 Selecting the company logo
The “Directories” window can be opened with the “Options / System set-tings / Paths” menu function. You can browse for and select a picture file that should be used as a logo on all reports in the “displays” group.
1.3.10 Additional Settings
The “Setups” window can be opened up with the “Options / System set-tings / General” menu function.
1.3.10.1 Surface Settings
In the Surface tab, you can adjust the surface settings described below.
• Save configuration automatically
Check the Save configuration automatically box to save the set-tings, you adjusted in the configurations windows, directly as de-fault settings. Click on OK to save settings. If this option is not ac-tive, new configuration settings are not saved as default settings. After a program restart, the settings are reset.
• Icon bar visible
Check the Icon bar visible box to display the icons in the program surface. You can determine the displayed icons individually using the button behind the entry .
• Status line
Disable the Status line checkbox to hide the default status line dis-played at the bottom of the program surface. If you enable this op-tion, use the button to define which information you want to dis-play in the status line.
Note: This setting is saved specific to the module.
• Exit program without inquiry
Select this option to exit the program without being prompted to save the data. In order to avoid data loss, do not enable this checkbox.
• Main window color
Select this option to display the program surface with a colored background. Use the button to select the background color.
• White background for screen graphics
Enable this checkbox to display all graphic windows in the program surface with a white background.
• White background for printout (in color)
If you have selected a background color for screen graphics and you want to obtain a high quality printout in grayscales, enable this option. Now, graphics are printed with a white background.
• White background for reports (screen)
Check the White background for reports (screen) box to display re-ports in the report preview with a white background.
• Output all measurement values for value related report fields
Select this option to create a single report page for every meas-urement value in terms of report sections containing value fields (measurement values and additional data). It is not advisable to enable this option by default because this setting is valid for all re-ports. The Form and Mask Designer Manual explains how to use this function for single reports without using this option.
• Number of records in file history
Enter how many data sets corresponding to the invoked files you want to display in the file history.
• Show remark in graphic
Click on the button and the dialog box displayed on the right opens. Define how and when remarks will be displayed and when they will disappear again.
• Lists
Select Scroll list forward or Scroll list backwards to reverse the functions of the buttons . These buttons can be used in different lists, such as the parts or characteristics list.
1.3.10.2 General Settings
In the General Settings tab, you can adjust the following surface settings.
• Reference to part
Check the Reference to part box and only the summary graphic of the current part is displayed. If you disable this option, the sum-mary graphics display the active characteristics of all loaded parts.
• Do not reset zoom in graphics
Enable this checkbox to keep the adjusted zoom level of the graph-ics (e.g. the value chart) when switching to another characteristic. If this option is disabled, the zoom level is reset when switching to another characteristic. The graphic displays all loaded measure-ment values again.
• Always show characteristics list
Select this option to display the parts / characteristics list (summary of the parts and characteristics of the corresponding test plan) when loading new data.
• Draw directly after evaluation
Use this option to change the graphic display during the evaluation process. If you enable this option, the displayed characteristic is updated immediately.
• Draw directly after characteristic switch
If you check this box, the program always draws the graphic of the characteristic that was just evaluated. After opening a dataset or af-ter evaluating data, the program always displays the last evaluated characteristic. During the evaluation process, it always shows the graphic of the characteristic that is currently being evaluated.
• Deactivate characteristics without measurement values
Enable this checkbox to deactivate characteristics without meas-urement values before the evaluation. They are not visualized on the program surface.
• Lock new test plan automatically
Select this option to lock test plans during the evaluation. As long as a test plan is locked, no corresponding measurement values can be recorded. After the evaluation, the test plan developer has to right-click in the parts mask or in the Read from database window. Then right-click again on the respective part. Select Release test plan to release the test plan for the data recording manually. If you release a test plan using the parts mask, save the changes before closing the window.
• Protocol additional data on loading (for summary display)
Enable this checkbox to create a list of the additional data stored in the dataset when loading data. Select DB info fields – Global data-base information (9000-9299) – Output fields and choose one of the 92xx fields to recall the individual additional data fields and to display them, for example, in a report.
• Maximum number of records
Check this box to define how many different records per additional data field are displayed in the list. If there is more additional data in the dataset than you have defined, the maximum number of re-cords is entered in the list, but the surplus rere-cords cannot be trans-ferred to the list.
• Characteristics class specific additional texts
Click on this button to save standard texts for every characteristics class. These additional texts for each characteristic are stored in the K2902 field. They can be displayed, for example, in reports.
• Grouping of positional tolerances compatible to V3.xx
Enable this checkbox to work with the structure of the “old” 16-bit version in terms of positional tolerances. Please note that any new positional tolerance functionality of the 32-bit version cannot be used anymore.
• Takeover of group characteristic
If you want to transfer additional data from a group characteristic (e.g. x position) to the calculated superordinate characteristic (e.g. position), check the Takeover of group characteristic box and se-lect the respective characteristic. The additional data (e.g. inspec-tor, machine number or batch number) is transferred to the respec-tive calculated characteristic and saved there.
• Dialog after program start
In most cases, users take the same actions whenever they start the program. Select this option to choose one of the available actions and click on OK. Every time you start the program now, it will exe-cute the selected action automatically.
• Display dialog at change of modules
If you also check this box, the selected action is also executed when changing modules.
1.4 Module Dependent Settings
1.4.1 Menu bar
You can adjust the functions available from the menus for each user group and module with the “Options / System settings / Menu bar” func-tion.
The following options are available in the “configure Menu bar” dialog:
All available menus and menu items for the currently selected module are displayed in the “configure Menu bar” window. All items with a blue check mark will later be available foe selection. All items without a check mark will not be displayed in the program user interface.
You can activate all menu items with the “All on” button, or deactivate all items with the “All off” button. By clicking on a menu item, you can change the status for an individual item (activated / deactivated).
With the "Open current menu" button, you can change the menu display to the future user interface display already in the “configure Menu bar window”. By clicking on the “ ” button, the menu bar configuration mode will be displayed again.
After the menu configuration is complete, it can be saved with the “Save” button for the selected user group. The menu bar setup is module spe-cific.
1.4.2 Default Directories
To configure module-related directories, select Options – System set-tings – Paths. The Directories window opens. It is displayed below.
Click on one of the buttons to open the respective dialog box contain-ing a selection of standard files.
To define standard directories, select the respective directory on the left of the Directories window. Use drag and drop functionalities to enter the directory in the respective field on the right of the Directories window. The Directories window offers you the following selection options:
• Read / write data
Here you can determine directory paths in the corresponding qs-STAT module. These paths are used by default when reading or saving files.
• Reports
Under Reports, you define the directory where the available standard reports are stored.
If you have entered a report in the Standard data entry field, the report can be printed out easily without any further report query.
Click on the icon or, in the “procella My.SPC“ module, click on the Print measurement button. Under Cover sheet, you can determine a cover sheet for signatures.
To print reports in the PDF format, enter under PDF output the target directory used by default for data storage.
• Print current window
Select report files containing wild cards for parts or characteris-tics graphics. These files are accessed directly when you print screen graphics by clicking on the icon .
• Images
Under Images, enter the directory path where the graphics are stored. The Q-DAS® software will access this path.
The graphic you select under Logo is inserted into the provided standard reports as corporate logo.
• Q-DAS Monitoring graphic file
Select the directory where the configuration file (Graphi-cObj.xml) for the display/visualization in the Q-DAS® Monitoring is stored.
• Icon bar
Enter the file name and the paths of the icon bar (quick start bar). If you do not want to use an icon bar, do not enter any de-finition file.
• Input mask
Select the file name – and the path – of the input mask (defini-tion file for the structure of the parts / characteristics / value mask) for the corresponding module.
• SAP
Enter the path for the SAP Export Directory.
• Q-DAS scripts
If you want to work with scripts, select a directory where scripts have been stored.
1.4.3 Selection of the Evaluation Strategy to be used
The “Options / Configuration of Evaluation” menu function opens up a window with the same name. You can switch from the “view mode” into the “edit mode” by clicking onto the “Change” button and selecting a user with the respective user rights (e.g. ”Configurations-User”) in the “Regis-tration” window. In the “edit mode”, you can create new evaluation strategies, or define one of the existing strategies as default strategy. In order to define an existing strategy as default, please select the desired strategy from the pull-down menu and check the “standard” check box in the lower right corner of the window. Then please confirm your settings with the “Save” button and close the window with the “OK” button. From now on, the selected evaluation strategy will be used by default for all data that is loaded in this module.
1.4.4 Required input fields
To highlight single input fields in the parts / characteristics mask in order to point out that the boxes must be filled in, click on the Options menu and select System settings – Configuration target entry fields. Select the respective fields of the parts /characteristics mask. Use the button to add fields to the list and click on this button to de-lete selected fields from the list. In order to check your selection for com-pleteness, the following options are available.
To configure the background color and the typeface of the fields, open one of the data entry masks (e.g. the parts mask). Click on the Special
button and then on the Mask display button ( and ). The Mask display dialog box displayed below opens.
Adjust the respective settings under Target input fields.
Note: If you have changed the color display and you want to work with it, disable the Use standard display checkbox for the cor-responding field.
1.4.5 Measured quantity definition
The “Options / System settings / Definition of the used measurement quantity” function allows to determine which measured quantities should be displayed in the “Measured quantity” selection field in the Characteris-tics Mask, and in which sequence (e.g. sorted alphabetically).
The left half of the “Definition of the used measurement quantities” win-dow displayed the “currently valid selection” of measured quantities that are actually displayed in the respective Characteristics Mask pull-down menu. The right half of the window displays all still additionally available fields. If no additional fields are displayed on the right, all available measured quantities have already been added to the “currently valid se-lection”. The button allows transferring all items form one list to the other, the does the same for a single, highlighted item. The ar-row buttons left to the “currently valid selection” list allow for changing
the display sequence of the single items. An additional option is to sort the selected items alphabetically with the “Sorting on/off” button.
Remark: Files with characteristics that contain a measured quantity that is not part of the defined selection, will display the “not in current list” remark in the Characteristics Mask for the respec-tive characteristic instead.
1.4.6 Catalogs
The “Options / System settings / Catalogs” menu function opens the “Catalogs configuration” window as displayed in the following.
You can administrate catalogs as a file or saved them in the database. The “Catalog data from database” option is only available if you have purchased the database option.
Company specific catalog contents can be added and entries custom-ized.
• Catalog data from file
If you want to work with catalog data from a file, please select the respective option and then browse and open the desired *.DFD file with the “Select file” button. If multiple computers should be connected to the same catalog information, the cata-log definition file has to be stored in a central directory in order to be able to establish a common access to the catalog.
The catalogs can be modified with the “Edit” button. The “Edit catalogs” window opens up and the respective catalog to be ed-ited can be selected from the pull-down menu. If applicable, al-ready existing catalog entries are displayed in the lower portion
of the window. These entries can now be modified or new en-tries can be edited. To save the catalog modifications, close the window with the “OK” button.
• Catalog data from database
Please select this option in order to work with catalog data from the database that is selected under “Q-DAS database connec-tion”. After this option is turned on, you can customize the cata-log information as described above under “Catacata-log data from file”.
• Catalog data from data set
Catalog information from the currently loaded data set will be used, if this option is activated. This assumes that catalog infor-mation has been saved to the data set (please also see chapter 1.4.7). If the loaded data set does not contain catalog informa-tion, catalog entries will not be displayed.
• Replace operator and employee catalog by user list
If this option is activated, the operator names in the operator and employee catalog will be replaced by the user names available in the user list.
1.4.7 Save Options
Select Options – System settings – Save options and the Save options
window opens. The following configurations are available.
• Always save calculated distribution with dataset
Check this box to save the current distribution model with the dataset.
• Always save classification with dataset
Select this option to save the classification with the dataset.
• Save SPC QCC to the dataset
Enable this checkbox to save current information of the SPC-QRK to the dataset.
• Save catalog data to file
Activate this option to save all information of the selected cata-log to files that do not contain catacata-log data yet. Please note that the file size might increase significantly. If the catalog informa-tion is saved to a file, you cannot delete it using the funcinforma-tions in the program surface.
• Save trend compensation in dataset
If you have executed trend compensation, you can enable this checkbox to save it in the dataset.
• Save deselected values
Attribute values can be deselected due to tests on runaways or manual selections within the value chart of individual values. De-fine which attribute values are to be
marked. You can select one of the op-tions displayed on the right.
1.4.8 External Files
Select Options – System settings – External files and the External files
dialog box opens. Check the Retrieve file on exit box to run the selected file or script when you exit the software.
In the “procella My.SPC” module, you can also run a file / script by re-quest. Using the following selection, you name the buttons in “procella My.SPC“ (file name or the text ”Execute script“).
If you want to use the name of the loaded file in a BATCH file again, check the Transfer currently open file to script box to adopt the file name
of the open *.DFQ or *.DFD file. It is also possible to transfer the field content of a K field at the parts level.
1.4.9 Other Settings
The “Settings” window can be opened up with the “Options / System set-tings / General” menu function. The “Icon bar visible” option can be used to determine whether icons should be displayed in the program window. If the icon bar option is activated, the button can be used to configure which individual icons should be displayed. The “Status bar”
option allows to display or to hide the status bar in the Q-DAS Software window. The appearance of the status bar can be determined in detail with the button. All other options in this dialog ar
