Downloading and Installing LabChart Extensions (for Macintosh)

LabChart extensions let you add specific functionality to LabChart. They can be easily added and turned on or off, allowing you to customize LabChart to suit your own requirements.

• LabChart Extensions provide additional software functionality including visualisation, analysis, measurement and data storage.
• Chart 5 Extensions provide additional data formatting, filtering, visualisation, measurement and calculation features for the Chart program. Extensions for Chart 5 are available to download from the software updates pages of this web site.
• Chart 4 Extensions are available to download from the software updates pages of this web site. Some extensions are also installed in the 'Unused Extensions' folder when Chart 4 is installed. They are not used by Chart, however, until they are put in the 'Extensions' folder. When you launch Chart 4 it automatically loads any extensions that are in the Chart4 'Extensions' folder.

Extension Compatibility

LabChart extensions for Macintosh do not work with LabChart for Windows. Likewise, you cannot use LabChart extensions for Windows with LabChart for Macintosh. Chart 5 extensions require Chart v5.x, Chart 4 extensions require Chart v4.x.

Downloading Extensions

1. To download an extension, click the appropriate link.
2. In the File Download dialog select the option ‘save the program to disk’.
3. Choose a location on you computer to save the download to, such as your desktop.

Installing Extensions

1. The extension will download as a compressed file with a “.sit” file extension.
2. You need to expand this file before you put it in the LabChart ‘Extensions’ folder. For information on expanding “.sit” files, see the expanding StuffIt files support note.
3. Put the expanded extension file into your 'Extensions' folder. By default, the ‘Extensions’ folder is located at Applications:LabChart. For Chart 4 the default location is ADInstruments:Chart4.

Note: Some recently released extensions are now available as Installers.

1. The extension will download as an Installer.
2. Double-click the extension Installer icon.
3. Read the information in the Installer window, and choose the location of the version of LabChart with which you would like to use the extension.
4. Click the Install button to begin installation, and follow the instructions.

Newly installed extensions will be loaded the next time you launch LabChart. When LabChart is running any extensions in the LabChart ‘Extensions’ folder can be enabled using the Extensions Manager dialog box. To do this, select 'About LabChart' from the Apple menu and then select the 'LabChart extensions' button (the middle one).

Removing or Updating Extension Functionality in LabChart

Ensure that you exit LabChart before removing extensions. To remove an extension, take it out of the 'Extensions' folder. You may want to store unused extensions in the LabChart 'Extensions (unused) ' folder for future use.

To update an extension copy the new version into the LabChart 'Extensions' folder and replace the old version. You should never have two versions of an extension in the LabChart 'Extensions' folder at the same time. Sometimes it may be necessary to delete an old extension, for example if the extension has had a name change.

Troubleshooting

If you are having problems downloading or installing extensions there are several things you can do:

1. Check that you have a reliable Internet connection. If you can not get a reliable connection, or download times are so long that the connection is timing out, contact your local IT or computer technician. If you are still unable to download the files you require, ask your local ADInstruments distributor about getting a disk or CD of the software you need.
2. Check that you have remembered to expand your software using StuffIt Expander (v5.1.2 or later). If the file has not been expanded, it will have a '.sit' file extension. If you get a message saying that the file is corrupt, then it is possible that your version of StuffIt Expander is too old. If you try a newer version and you still get an error message, then contact the webmaster.
3. Check that the extension you want to use is compatible with the version of LabChart you are running. Also try using the latest version of LabChart. It may be that your version is too old to support the extension that you want to use.
4. Check that the extension has not been not been removed from the 'Extensions' folder.

For more information about LabChart extensions, or ADInstruments software in general, please contact your local ADInstruments representative.

If you are still having problems, send us a technical assistance request detailing your query.