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Why I Wrote The Program

Lets start with the icons along the top.

OK. Now its time to enter some data.

Dive 2, 3, 4 and 5

Entering Data On A Multi-Level Dive (in more detail)

Importing Data From A Dive Computer Database.

Where To Get It

Although All The Instructions Are In Metric The Program Does Work In Imperial

Why I Wrote The Program.

This is all about the program I wrote to import data from my dive computer and print the relative information on a dive log.

What's wrong with a pen or pencil I here you say, and I would say nothing.

The thing is a dive computer stores more information than bottom time and max depth, such as the Dive Profile.

This is what I wanted to record on my logs.

Also software that comes with Dive Computers don't work out Pressure Groups

Q. Why would I want to show the dive profile on my dive log?

A. Lets say I did a dive on my computer. I went to 23.8m for 16 minutes then reduced my depth to 16m for 5 minutes then reduced my depth 7m for 33 minutes.
If I used the tables to record this dive (Max Depth: 23.8m Dive Time: 54 minutes) it would have told me I had gone beyond the limits, I should have done a 15 minute safety stop and not dived again until the next day.
If I had planned it on the WHEEL then all would be OK. I would need no safety stop and would come out with a pressure group of "P".
As I did not know what the profile would be I could not plan the dive on the wheel I did the dive on the computer.
As logs are based on pressure groups, being able to import the dive profile from the computer enables me to translate it and work out my pressure group.

Example Profile

This shows depth over time

It does seem a long winded way to fill in a log, but the way I look at it is: If you are going to use a dive computer to dive with then use it to its FULL potential.

So lets have a look at what it prints.

I have highlighted what is filled in automatically in Yellow.

I guess it would have been easier to show what you have to type in manually.

If you don't have a dive computer you have to type more info in, but you can still use it to save some time. It sorts out the pressure groups.

Some of the automatic bits relies on dives being similar.

Lets start with the icons along the top.

1. This Button clears all data for all dives. Start a new log.

2. This Button saves the current log.

It will bring up the following window:

Logs are Saved by Date.

So all dives entered for this date will be saved.

The dive log allows for up to five dives per day.

3. This button opens a previously saved log.

It will bring up the following window:

Logs are Opened by Date.

You choose the dive to open from the drop-down selection box.

Some Info on the first dive of that day will be given.

Helps if you are looking for a particular dive and you have forgot the date.

4. This button enables you delete selected saved dive logs.

It will bring up the following window:

Logs are Deleted by Date.

You choose the dive log to delete from the drop-down selection box.

You may need to use this to delete the sample logs that come with the program.

5. This button is for printing the current log.

It will bring up the following window:

There are a few options when the print dialog opens.
you need to take care first time around before printing the log.

Once you get used to it you will find it quick and simple.

Paper Type

This option is for printing onto a Pre-printed Log.

It will print only the dive information.

Pre-Printed Log.

Plane Paper.

This option is for printing on to a blank sheet of paper.

It will print the log sheet as well as the dive information.

To

To

Print Alignment

The Print alignment button is so that you can adjust where the data is printed on a pre-printed Log.

It will bring up the following window:

You can adjust the figures to move the print by 0.25mm.

You will need to do the adjustment for both sides.

So that you don't mess up all your pre-printed dive logs.

When you do a test print it will only print very small corners of the TOP RIGHT box.

You will need to look close.

For best results make sure the paper is lined up correctly in your printer

6. This button is for setting your preferred settings.

It will bring up the following window:

Most of this is I hope is self explanatory.

Most of it is to save you time when filling in the dive log. It should come clear later.

There are two important parts that must be set before using the program though.

If you are going to import data from a dive computer database then the correct make should be selected. If you are using a Suunto then your log in name needs to be entered.

Decide whether you want it in metric or imperial and stick with it.

7. This button brings up this help file. Well it will when I get it finished.

8. This button should activate your e-mail program so you can send me an e-mail.

9. This is a Drop-down list of all your entered buddies.

Using this to select the buddy you where with will enter the buddies name in the comments section and there Registration number in the section at the bottom, also check the relevant qualification box.

10. This button opens the buddy editor.

It will bring up the following window:

The Buddy Editor is where you can keep basic information on you dive buddies saving you time when filling in your dive log.

It also gives you an option to print out a list of your buddies. a handy thing to have if you enter details like there Phone number.

You can sort by columns by clicking on the Colum headers.

OK. Now its time to enter some data.

The easiest way to explain the the program is to forget about using a dive computer to import data for the moment, I will explain how to do that later, lets do everything manually.

Dive 1

Basically it is just like the paper version of the log book, lots of boxes to tick or fill in.

You guest it that's what you do. If it is greyed out then the computer will do it.

Lets fill in the details on the left first.

Notice the button, click this before you start to fill in the details.
This button will fill in the Exposure Protection, Type, Computer and Weight you have entered in the Personal Settings.

Use the Buddy Selection drop-down box to select the buddy you dived with.
This will fill in the Verification section (I can never remember the certification number) and put the name of your buddy in the Comments box.

OK that's some of it done with a few clicks of the mouse, the rest will have to typed in for the moment.
Date, Dive Number, Temperature, Visibility, Dive Time To Date and any comments you want to add.

Now the details on the right.

As this Dive 1, the first dive of this day. Dive 1 Tab should be highlighted and we need to enter Time In.
Time is entered using the 24 hour clock.

Next enter the max Depth and Bottom Time.

On entering the max Depth and Bottom Time, you will notice that the Time Out, PG and the Safety Stop has been entered for you.

You will also notice that the Multi-Level button has now become active.

Lets suppose the dive was as follows:

Dive to 23.8m for 16 minutes then reduced the depth to 16m for 5 minutes then reduced the depth to 7m for 33 minutes.

Max Depth: 23.8m Bottom Time: 54 minutes

The No Decompression limit for 23.8m is 29 minutes.

PG shows + The dive has exceeded the no decompression limit by more than 5 minutes, so a mandatory stop of no less than 15 minutes is urged (air supply permitting). Upon surfacing the diver must remain out of water for at least 24 hours prior to making another dive.

This is the correct way to enter the Bottom Time with this program. Total Bottom Time must be entered at this point.

Max Depth and Total Bottom Time Must be entered before clicking on Multi-Level button

Clicking on the Multi-Livel button will change the view to the following:

You can now reduce the Bottom Time for the first part of the dive, enter the Depth and reduce the Bottom Time for the second part of the dive and enter the Depth for the last part of the dive.

If the PG shows RED then the value is beyond the dive limits.

All that's left to do now is enter the Cylinder Start and End Pressure.

Dive 2, 3, 4 and 5

There are a few changes to filling in the details on dives 2, 3, 4 and 5.

A few bits are greyed out that can not be changed. Date and Location.

Date is not changed as this programme is designed to log dives done on one particular day (Up to five dives per day).

Location is not changed.

The Log does not give much room to put a lot of information in the Location bit.
So for example;
If I was diving from a boat in The Red Sea and I dived a wreck on the first dive then dived a reef on the second.
The Location for both dives would be The Red Sea, but in the Comments I would put what or where I dived.

You no longer enter the Time In.

The SI (Serface Interval) is required.

Also the RNT, ABT and TBT is worked out for you.

Entering Data On A Multi-Level Dive (in more detail)

Before you can enter the Multi-Level bit of the program you must first enter the MAX Depth you went to and the TOTAL Bottom Time. You also need to enter the SI (surface Interval) if relevant.

In the above example you will notice the PG (Pressure Group) has gone off the chart.

At the moment it shows the same as the previous screen, so we need to alter the data to match the dive.

This should be done in order, deepest first.

Depth 1
This can not be altered. (This is the MAX depth entered earlier).
Bottom Time 1
This should be altered first. (In this example lets say we were at this depth for 5 minutes).
End PG 1 should now show L.

You will notice that the Bottom Time for the second part of the dive has automatically changed to 35 minutes.
(The PGs for the second and third part are still red because no Depth for them have been entered yet).

You will notice that the Bottom Time for the third part of the dive has automatically changed to 25 minutes.
(The PGs for the third part are is red because no Depth for the third dive has been entered yet).

Depth 3
You will notice that above the Depth input window it shows that this depth should be less than or equal to 12m.
Enter the second depth (In this example lets say the third Depth was 10m).

Importing Data From A Dive Computer Database.

You must use the software that came with your computer to download the data from you Dive Computer to the Database.

Depending on the make and model of dive computer many types of data can be imported from it.

My program does not down load the data directly from the dive computer but imports the data from the database created from the software that comes with the dive computer.

I have an Oceanic Pro Plus 2 dive computer and from it I can import the following:

At the moment it will only import from OCEANIC's Ocean Log, AERIS Computer Interface, SUUNTO's Dive manager, MARES Iris, Databases.

Before clicking on the import button the correct data base must be chosen in the Personal Settings.

Most of this is I hope is self explanatory.

Most of it is to save you time when filling in the dive log. It should come clear later.

There are two important parts that must be set before using the program though.

If you are going to import data from a dive computer database then the correct make should be selected. If you are using a Suunto then your log in name needs to be entered.

Decide whether you want it in metric or imperial and stick with it.

If you are going to use the import option to import data it is usually best to click the copy personal settings button first.
(This is a little deliberate bug with the Temperature data).

Clicking on the import button will bring up the following window

By the way DO NOT click in the DATA Base Password box or you will loose it

Once you have found the file and clicked OPEN you should end up with a list of the dives you have downloaded from your Dive Computer.

With the exception of Mares, Under the Locate File Button you will need to Chose a file.

All you need to do now is click on the relevant dive to import.

Clicking on OK imports the data in to the program.

If I had planned this dive with the WHEEL  my Pressure Group would have been a lot lower.

By moving the mouse cursor over the Dive Profile it tells me that I was at the MAX Depth for 18 minutes and after that I came up to less than 10m.

Knowing this I can change the dive log to Multi-Level (click radio button top right) and alter it accordingly.

My Pressure Group is actually only "K".

This was one of the main reasons for writing the program. Diving on a computer you can end up with a lot of Logs with C.A.D. (Computer Aided Dive) on them and no Pressure Groups filled in because MAX Depth and Bottom Time have gone beyond the limits of the TABLES.

Being able, using the Dive Profile to show that they are Multi-Level dives and using the data it gives to work out Pressure Groups, Gives piece of mind that I am still diving safely.

There is just one more thing You may have noticed CAD check box in the bottom right corner.

If you want your log to show that it was a Computer Aided Dive just check this before printing your log and it will print C.A.D. at the top right of the log.

Tissue Loading on the right does not print with Suunto Database's (I could only find the tissue loading at the start of a dive in the suunto database. It would be a bit pointless printing that).