How to Create a Chart from a BixCheck Log Using Microsoft Excel

Rev A

When running Monitor in BixCheck and creating a log file, jot down on paper the directory containing the log file. I
have created a directory call “BixCheck” under “My Documents.” You may choose any directory. You may look at
this file at anytime even while the stove is running and you are still logging. I do suggest not creating a log file
longer than 24 hours. If you do need to log longer than 24 hours, set the “Data Log Pct” at a number lower than
100%. This will lengthen the time in between readings and will give you a smaller log file.

In the following example, I will use a log file for a UUB created with BixCheck 6021 version 03.00.01.32. There is no
particular problem with this stove.

The first step is to open Excel.

From the File menu choose Open.
In the window that opens, change “Files of Type” to “All Files.”
The Log File will be a text file called “BixLog_(serial number)_(file number).txt ie. BixLog_2014_05.txt.
Next, navigate to the directory that contains the log file and choose the file you want to look at.

Select “Open.”
Check the “Delimited” file type.

Select “Next”.

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Select “Comma”.

Select “Next”.

Select “Finish”.

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The spreadsheet should look something like the figure below.

Using the “Split” function, isolate the first row.

Your screen should look similar to the figure below.

Select the columns you want to graph by clicking on the column letter. You will need to scroll to the right to see the
rest of the spreadsheet. To select non-adjacent columns hold the “Ctrl” key down while selecting the columns you
want. Your screen should look similar to the figure below.

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Now we will graph the information that we have selected. On the file menu select “Insert” and then “Chart”.

Step 1: Select the chart type as “Line” as highlighted and select “Next”.

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Step 2: Do nothing except select “Next”.

Step 3: Select “Legend”, “Show Legend” and “Bottom”. Select “Next”.

We are almost done. One more step to create the chart. After the chart has been created we can do a few little
things to the chart to make it easier to read.

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Step 4: Select “As new sheet:” and if you want you can rename the chart other than “Chart1”.

Step 5: Select finish and your chart will be created as a new sheet in the workbook. Your screen should look
something like the figure below.

Right click

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Now let’s make the chart a little easier to read. Right click anywhere on the chart and select “Format Plot Area”,
choose a color and select “OK”.

Continue selecting items (right clicking) and changing colors, lines and scales. The following items can be changed
or altered to you liking.

Format Plot Area

Format Gridlines
Format Data Series
Format Axis (X and Y)
Change to a Secondary Axis
Format Font
Format Numbers
And so on and so on……….

Experiment with the settings until you become familiar with the many changes that can be made to the charts. You
can make as many charts in the workbook as you like.

If you are going to be doing a lot of charting, get used to using the same color all the time for the same items. This
will help if you are comparing charts side by side.

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This is an example of what can be done with the chart. Yours may not look the same and that is OK.

70
LED "64"
Heat Level 61 - Ash dump Exhaust temperature
340 Possible Jam
During showing a decrease as if
Ramping running lean

320
60
Ramping to heat
level 2
300
4
3
21
280 50

Heat
260 Level 1

40
240
Heat
Level 3
220

30
200 Ash Drawer Open

Cool Down - State

Control 10
180

Starting Lean Recovery Heat Heat 20

Mode Level 2 Level 1
160
Igniters ON
3 LED's - Heat Level 3
140
10

120

100 0
1 151 301 451 601 751 901 1051 1201 1351 1501 1651 1801 1951 2101 2251 2401 2551 2701 2851 3001 3151 3301 3451 3601 3751 3901
Lean Recovery
Mode
Exh TC F State ctrl LED Current
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Once you have your chart looking like you want it, follow the steps on this page to make your style of chart the
default chart style.

1) Right click

2) Choose “Chart Type”

3) “Custom Types”

4) “User Defined”

5) “Set as default

When you want to graph data, select a column or columns and key “F11” on the keyboard and the graph will be
automatically made.
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