For the latest instructions, please visit our website: DataBank Handheld Datalogger | Turner Designs | United States
Our User manual can be found here: 998-2900.pdf (turnerdesigns.com)
Our Finn Chat bot will also be able to walk you through these steps if you need a more guided approach.
Should your DataBank experience connectivity issues with external devices over time, feel free to run through our diagnostics. To assist in diagnosing the root cause of these issues—whether it stems from the cable, the computer, or the instrument itself—we have developed a series of troubleshooting steps. These steps will help you pinpoint the specific area responsible for the connection problem.
Note: It's crucial to follow the steps in the specified order. Deviating from this procedure may prevent the connection from being established successfully.
Connect the DataBank to a PC with DataBank GUI Software using the provided interface cable, ensuring it is not connected to an external power source.
Areas to confirm before troubleshooting
Text version of Main DataBank troubleshooting pathway:
This step assumes that the download has completed and the file is now available on your computer. If the file is missing or if the download was canceled, please check your firewall and antivirus settings to ensure that our website is whitelisted and that the download is permitted.
Are you running a computer or a laptop?
Computer
Laptop
Laptops such as the Windows Surface Series or Apple Macbooks are not compatible with the C-SOFT Software. If you have another laptop, please try running the software on it.
Have you downloaded and installed the required DataBank software?
If yes, move on to next step.
If no, please refer to our Website Download Setup in a section below.
Are there any popup messages being displayed when attempting to run the DataBankGUI software?
Yes it says unable to find location of software.
Refer to our Software Downloads Setup section.
No I am unable to see any popup messages.
Are you able to see files located inside your computer? You can navigate to your local device storage found using this path: C:\Program Files (x86)\TurnerGUI
Refer to our Software Downloads Setup section.
Yes it says Msstdfmt.dll is missing
Refer to our Msstdfmt.dll section
When DataBankGUI software is ready to be used, check cable connection to the DataBank. Refer to our Device Manager Section.
Refer to our DataBankGUI Section.
If DataBank fails to initialize on DataBankGUI, please contact support.
After following our workflow map, here is the directory below for expanded instructions from where you need help the most on the DataBank.
Website Download Setup
This step assumes that our website is whitelisted and that the download is permitted. If the file is missing or if the download was canceled, please check your firewall and antivirus.
Information comes from our installation instructions from our DataBank User Manual and our VCP Driver Installation for RS23 to USB Communication Cables: S-0267.pdf (turnerdesigns.com)
Please go to (www.turnerdesigns.com)
Click on the products tab.
Then select DataBank and you will see a link in the Downloads section titled DataBank GUI Software.
Click on the link, you will be redirected to a page where you can download the DataBank GUI Software.
Install this software on your computer
Using a zip file opener open the contents of the compressed zip file.
Extract contents of the zip file out into a designated folder like your desktop.
Open the DataBank GUI315.CAB and extract contents into another folder.
Run the Setup.exe from the first folder extracted.
Run the software.
A new pop-up window will appear asking to allow this app to make changes to your device. Select Yes.
TurnerGUI Setup will appear covering the screen in blue. Select Ok after ensuring extraneous browsers are closed.
Select the computer icon when finished. It is not necessary to change the Directory of the program file. Select Continue when the next pop-up appears.
TurnerGUI will close after selecting OK.
Software Download Setup
This step assumes that the download has completed and the file is now available on your computer. If the file is missing or if the download was canceled, please check your firewall and antivirus settings to ensure that our website download is whitelisted and that the download is permitted.
To validate the software installation went to completion, press the Windows Icon, or spotlight icon, to enter the search bar. Type in TurnerGui.
Normally, this can associate the files just fine. However, on some computers a new pop-up window will normally indicate that the file is not found. Click Browse to reassociate the file location.
If you can navigate to your local device storage found using this path: C:\Program Files (x86)\TurnerGUI
Are you able to see files located inside?If unable to find the files: It is possible that your anti-virus software is deleting the files. Please contact your administrator or anti-virus software to whitelist the file from deletion.
If able to find the files, continue to next step.
Within the Program Files (x86), select DataBankGUI316.
For ease of access in the future, make a shortcut from that file to save onto your desktop or your taskbar. Shortcut will now be available to select from the Desktop.
Msstdfmt.dll problems
On some devices after a recent Software Update, like Windows, there may be some files that could be corrupted which are necessary to operating the DataBankGUI. An example of one that frequently causes error is Msstdfmt.dll. In these cases, check with your system administrator or IT helpdesk to reinstalling files necessary to your computer firmware operation. Once any .dll files are reinstalled, restart the computer and the DataBankGUI will operate as normal.
However, if you are the system administrator, you can use the contents in the DataBank315.CAB file to reassociate. We would recommend getting a fresh fix from Windows itself before using our .dll file in the DataBankGUI315 cabinet folder since this may not address the corruption caused by a windows update.
Device Manager Setup
Connection Requirements
NOTE: The DataBank’s Interface cable should not be connected to an external power source charger while connecting to the computer and DataBank GUI.
If you connect the DataBank to the cable and computer, you may get the message "DataBank not found." The computer may have assigned the USB to a COM Port greater than COM 8. The DataBank only searches ports 0-8. Please follow the instructions to reassign the USB.
If you are unable to get the driver to install on your computer or continue to have issues, please refer to this page for the most current VCP drivers from our VCP driver instructions: S-0267.pdf (turnerdesigns.com)
- http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm
You need to have a DataBank communication cable (PN 021-2903) to plug into the computer. Do not plug in power.
Computer user has administrative privileges enabled
Device Manager is enabled
Ports Settings are showing on the Device Manager
The COM port setting can be viewed in the computer’s Device Manager window.
Open up device manager and view ports
Plug in the DataBank communication cable and watch to see if the Device Manager window updates.
Inspect the cable. When unplugging and re-plugging the 021-2903 DataBank Communication Cable, a green and red light will flash momentarily. If light disappear afterwards, it is working. If it stays on, the cable is damaged.
A USB serial port should now be visible in the space where it was previously not there. In image example above, it is on COM 3
If the USB shows a value other than a number 1-8. Right click the USB serial port and select Properties.
Select the tab Port Settings then click advanced.
Click the drop-down menu for COM Port Number to change the number to between 1-6 and then press ok. DataBank can only connect to DataBankGUI and computer on COM Ports between 1 and 8.
If any steps are blocked for troubleshooting your Device Manager, you will need to have administrative privileges to enable this. Additionally, if you are unable to find the port settings on the Device Manager, you may need to download legacy software on your Device Manager. We recommend taking a look at this Microsoft forums: Ports and com not showing up in Device manager even after view show - Microsoft Community
DataBankGUI Setup
When the above requirements are met, plug DataBank to the cable and computer. Then begin the software and the GUI will search for the presence of a DataBank.
If the DataBank is not found, then the following message will appear:
This is usually indicated if the DataBank is not on, there is not enough battery in the DataBank or some error with the cable connection/Data Manager com port selection.
If you click Retry, the GUI will try to find the DataBank.
If you click Cancel, then the GUI software will shut down and you must re-start the GUI. If this occurs during a process, it will instead refresh the screen to display the Setup Options Tab and will prevent you from accessing other features until DataBank connection is reestablished.
Once communication is established, the main screen will display the DataBank’s information on the upper left corner and the “Talking with DataBank” prompt will disappear:
DataBankGUI will inform you if the DataBank is recognized when the screen refreshes to display the serial number of the instrument.
Ensure that you are doing one task at a time while utilizing the GUI or this error display message may appear. Attempting to switch tabs from, for example: Calibration to Setup, can cause this error to occur and interrupt the immediate process from finishing correctly.
If at any point during the DataBankGUI Setup, the instrument does not initialize, contact Turner Designs Support team for next steps on repairs or troubleshooting.