Tech Tip No:
Group:
Issue Date:

09 - 017
00 - General
10 - 28 - 2009

ENGINE TECH TIPS
GRAPHING DIAGNOSTIC EXPLORER DATA MONITOR FILES (.txt files)
RELEVANT MODELS:
All 2005 - 2010 J05 and J08 Engines.

NOTE: Refer to Tech Tip No. 09-008 for
instructions explaining how to
create Data Monitor .txt files

PROCEDURE:
1. Open a new Excel Spreadsheet
a. Click the “Start” button at the bottom
left of the screen.
b. Click the “All Programs” button at the
lower left of the screen.
c. Click the “Microsoft Office” folder in
the menu.
d. Click the “Microsoft Office Excel
2003” option. (Name will differ based on
your version of Excel)

2. Open the .txt file using Excel
a. Click “Data”
b. Click “Import External Data”
c. Click “Import Data”

3. Locate and double click the correct .txt
file

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Tech Tip No:
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ENGINE TECH TIPS
4. Convert .txt file from text file to Excel file
using the Text Import Wizard – Step 1 of 3
Complete the following:
a. Select “Delimited”
b. “Start import at row:” Use the arrows
to set the number to 11
c. Click “Next”

5. Convert .txt file from text file to Excel file
using the Text Import Wizard – Step 2 of 3
Complete the following:
a. “Tab” box is checked
b. “Comma” box is checked
c. “Other” box is checked
d. Enter equal sign (=) into box at right
of “Other”
e. Click “Next”

6. Convert .txt file from text file to Excel file
using the Text Import Wizard – Step 3 of 3
Complete the following:
a. “General” button is selected
b. Click “Finish”

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Vendor Ref:

09 - 017
00 - General
10 - 28 - 2009

Tech Tip No:
Group:
Issue Date:

ENGINE TECH TIPS
7. Import Data pop-up window
Complete the following:
a. Select “Existing Worksheet”
b. Click “OK”

8. Save the data file to your computer
Tip: Use a very descriptive file name such
as “S50100_Data Monitor_092409.xls”

9. Remove PID data row 2
Complete the following:
a. Click and highlight row 2
b. Right click highlighted row 2 and
select “Delete”

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Vendor Ref:

09 - 017
00 - General
10 - 28 - 2009

Tech Tip No:
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ENGINE TECH TIPS
10. Select the desired data
Single click the column(s) you would like
to graph.
Tip: To select multiple columns, after
clicking on your first column choice hold
the Control {Ctrl} key and select all other
columns you would like to graph.

11. Click the Chart Wizard icon

12. Chart Wizard Step 1 of 4
Complete the following:
a. Select Chart type: Line
b. Select the first Chart sub-type (Top
left corner)
c. Click “Next”
Tip: Use the “Press and Hold to View
Sample” button to preview your graph. If
the data looks wrong, go back to Step 10
and confirm the correct data columns are
selected. Once confirmed continue to
Step 1 of the Chart Wizard again.
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Vendor Ref:

09 - 017
00 - General
10 - 28 - 2009

Tech Tip No:
Group:
Issue Date:

ENGINE TECH TIPS
13. Chart Wizard Step 2 of 4
Complete the following:
a. Select “Columns”
b. Click “Next”

14. Chart Wizard Step 3 of 4
Click “OK”

15. Chart Wizard Step 4 of 4
Complete the following:
a. Select “As object in:” The pull down
box will give you the option of placing
the graph onto any one of the sheets
(Sheet1, Sheet2, Sheet3, etc.) within
the spreadsheet.
b. Select Sheet1 to place your graph on
top of your data.
c. Click “Finish”

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Vendor Ref:

09 - 017
00 - General
10 - 28 - 2009

Tech Tip No:
Group:
Issue Date:

ENGINE TECH TIPS
16. Select the graph
Click in the open white spaces at the
corners to select the graph. The graph
has been selected once eight small
black squares appear. (One in each
corner and one on each side)

17. Resize the graph
Click and hold any one of the black
corner squares. Drag the square to
expand the size of the graph. This
will allow you to align the graph with
other graphs you make to diagnose
the problem.

18. Create multiple graphs from the
same .txt file
Create any number of graphs and
review them together to diagnose the
problem.

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Vendor Ref:

09 - 017
00 - General
10 - 28 - 2009