Software Installation

First time installation

When BTField is installed for the first time, it will also install a SQL Server database. Therefore, the first msi installation file is much larger than any subsequent upgrade msi file.

1. After installing the msi file, run BTField.  You will receive a message saying that it’s preparing BTField for first time use.  This will take about 10-15 minutes.

2. Once that’s finished, run BTField again, and it will prompt you for the Control Computer location:

   

3. Click on the button that says, “Use this computer as the Control Computer”. If you are going to use the Simulator, make sure the “Use Simulator” checkbox is checked.  Leave it unchecked if you’re going to hook up to the actual sensors.

4. Click OK and it will prompt for your permission to do a few things in the background, and then it will exit.

5. Now you can run BTField.

Upgrades

An upgrade can only be run if the SQL Server database has already been installed by the first time installation.

1. Run the msi upgrade.

2. During the install it needs to upgrade the BTG service, which is always running in the background, so it will show this message indicating that some files are in use:

   

3. Click on the Continue button.  It will then ask you to restart your machine.

4. Click on the Yes button to restart.

   

Single Machine configuration

If you only have one BTField installation, your machine will always act as the Control Machine. The Control Machine hosts the database and controls the Start and Stop for all data acquisition. When you run BTField, click on the button that says, “Use this computer as the Control Computer”. If you are going to use the Simulator, make sure the “Use Simulator” checkbox is checked.  Leave it unchecked if you are going to hook up to the actual sensors.

Networked configuration

If you have two or more BTField installations on your network, you will likely want to select one as the Control Machine that runs the central database, then connect all other machines to it. The networked configuration is effective for both real-time data acquisition/processing, and post-processing.

1. When running BTField on the Control Computer, click on the button that says, “Use this computer as the Control Computer”. Leave the Control Computer Port on the default 8501.

2. When running BTField on one of the other machines (client machine), type in the Control Computer Name, and Control Computer IP. Leave the Control Computer Port on the default 8501.