Using the GE/BNC LUBE™ BTS Data Importer

Introduction

GE/BNC LUBE™ allows you to import oil analysis data from Bently Tribology Services for storage, analysis and trending purposes. This application note is a guide to importing test data from the BTS laboratory into GE/BNC LUBE™.

Before you start...

Please make sure the following minimum requirements are satisfied:

An up-to-date workstation with:

• Microsoft® Windows® 2000 operating system
• Internet/Intranet access, including software appropriate for accessing the BTS data files via e-mail or the web (MS Outlook, MS Exchange, MS Internet Explorer, Netscape, FTP, or equivalent)
• GE/BNC LUBE™ software
• The BTS Importer for GE/BNC LUBE™

Getting the data from BTS

Bently Tribology Services formats your oil analysis data so that it may be imported into the GE/BNC LUBE™ software. BTS builds a special MS Access database file, which may contain one or more samples. This file will always have a name in the form of "filename.mdb". The lab then creates a zip file containing all the sample result file(s), and sends them to the customer via:

1. Directly to the end users e-mail address;
2. Posted to a password protected area of the www.bentlytribology.com website. Customers must contact Chuck Scarimontios of BTS at (978) 535-9990 ext. 21 to request a username and password to access these areas.

Importing Data

Importing data is very easy:

1. Open an existing database, or create a new database
2. Select "File/Import Laboratory Data" from the pull-down menu, or click the Import button on the toolbar. This will open the "Import Laboratory Data" dialog box.
3. Select "Bently Tribology Services (BTS) Lab" from the "Installed Laboratory Data Import Drivers" list control on the "Import Laboratory Data" dialog box.
4. Press the "Browse" button on the "Import Laboratory Data" dialog box, and navigate to the location of the UNZIPPED data file that you received from the lab.
5. After accepting the desired file from the Browse window, click on the "OK" button on the "Import Laboratory Data" dialog box.

Figure 1: Import Laboratory Data dialog box with BTS importer and database selected

A status bar will indicate the progress of the import. Since GE/BNC LUBE™ automatically generates new sample points and tests, and checks and updates exception and alarm status for each test during the import, importing a large file with many new sample points may take a few moments. After the import is complete, another dialog box will ask if you want to view the samples.

Figure 2: Data Import dialog box

If you select "Yes" a sample table view will be opened, and all unread samples will be available to view. If you select "No" the samples will still be available for viewing later.

Figure 3: Bently LUBE™ Equipment and Sample Table Views after importing

Where does the imported data go?

GE/BNC LUBE™ makes it easy to organize your data. New sample data is automatically appended to the samples for points that already exist in your database. Sample data for new points will be imported to an enterprise named "Imported Points" (see Figure 3, above). The new sample points can then be moved to the desired locations in your structure, using the "drag and drop" feature. An "Imported Points" enterprise is created for each imported database containing new sample points.

GE/BNC LUBE is a trademark of Bently Nevada Corporation.
Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.