Rainfrog Inc.

Month: February 2013

  • What is Data Logging?

    What is Data Logging?

    Freedom from Manual Data Entry

    Roastmaster gives you the freedom to create any number of Curves in a roast. Reading curves store temperatures, while Control curves store machine settings, such as air flow, gas pressure or heat. Curves are graphed in both the Roast Console and the Roast Analyzer.

    Without the Data Logging option and hardware, you must enter values manually during a roast by selecting the appropriate curve, then tapping the digital readout to enter a value. The value you enter will be recorded in the curve at the appropriate time in the roast.

    Hands-free Roasting

    The Data Logging option removes the burden of manual data entry for temperature Reading curves. With the appropriate hardware, you simply create Probe definitions in Roastmaster that link to physical thermocouples inserted in your roaster.

    Once these probes are defined, you simply link them to your Reading curves in a roast. When a Reading curve is bound to a Probe, the roasting console and analyzer will report the probe’s exact temperature in real time, and automatically record temperatures in the curve throughout the duration of the roast.

    In order to use data logging, you will need the following:

    • A roaster that can be safely modified to accept a thermocouple
    • One of the supported probe hardware configurations (see Supported Probes)
    • The Roastmaster Data Logging option

    Creating Reading Curves in a Roast

    1. In a new roast, tap the curve button near the roast gauge, and choose “Create New Curve”
    2. Set the curve type to “Reading”
    3. Tap the “Bind To” field, and choose the appropriate probe
    4. Tap save

    Back in the roast console, tap the graph to select the appropriate curve. Roastmaster will display its real-time temperature as it changes. Once the roast has begun, Roastmaster will store this temperature data to your curve for the duration of the roast.

    If you’re using multiple probes, you can tap the graph to toggle the selected curve to monitor different probe temperatures at different times in the roast, or launch the Roast Analyzer and enable the Roast HUD and Labels features to monitor the temps of all curves simultaneously.

    When the roast is complete, you can tap the actions button in the roast console toolbar, and choose “Create Profile from this Roast”. The curves you enable in “Reference Curves” will be saved with the new profile for targeting curves. The curves you enable in “Data Curves” will become curve templates that will spawn new, blank curves in each roast that uses this profile–already bound to your probe, and ready for logging new data.

  • Protect Your Data With Database Backups

    Protect Your Data With Database Backups

    Whether you’re a home roaster with a passion for the best possible coffee, or a professional shop roaster who’s livelihood depends on it, protecting your data should be high on your priority list. It certainly is on ours, and Roastmaster provides several ways to help ensure you never have to face a situation where data is lost.

    Where Does My Data Live?

    Every App in iOS is a self-contained entity living in its own personal, and protected space call a Sandbox. All of Roastmaster’s files, including its Databases, exported documents (such as Profiles, Programs, Curves, etc.), label definition files, etc. all reside in Roastmaster’s own private sandbox. Nothing can touch these files – they are secure and protected.

    As secure and simple as this paradigm is, it’s equally simple to unwittingly delete them all, forever. Here we must put our first warning…

    If you delete Roastmaster from an iOS device, all of your databases will be permanently deleted with it. The only way to get this data back is from an externally stored backup copy.

    So, How Do I Protect Against Data Loss?

    For the sake of defining whether or not a backup strategy is actually a good one, we’ll say there are two ways to store backup database files:

    Good: In an external location (your desktop Mac or PC, iCloud, Dropbox, etc.)

    Not so good: Within Roastmaster itself as a backup copy

    External Backups

    This is best way to totally protect your Roastmaster data.

    An externally stored backup copy ensures you will never be without at least a recent version of your Roastmaster database. An external backup file can be created in one of three ways.

    Roastmaster’s built-in import and export features.

    Roastmaster provides the built-in ability to easily export and import database files (.sqlite files).

    To Export the Live Database:

    1. On the home screen, open the drum door and tap “Actions”
    2. Tap “Export Current Database”
    3. Choose one of the three locations to export to:
      1. Dropbox
      2. Email
      3. Roastmaster’s Documents folder. The file can later be copied to your Mac or PC via iTunes file sharing.

    To Export a Database Other Than the Live Database

    1. On the database details screen (accessed in Utilities->Databases) tap the action button in the upper left corner of the screen
    2. Choose “Export…”
    3. Choose one of the three locations to export to:
      1. Dropbox
      2. Email
      3. Roastmaster’s Documents folder. The file can later be copied to your Mac or PC via iTunes file sharing.

    To Import a Roastmaster database:

    1. Tap on an .sqlite file in another area of iOS – this can be anywhere you might encounter a Roastmaster database – web forum, email attachment, web link, etc. For example, to import a Roastmaster database from the Dropbox App, simple navigate to the file in the Dropbox app and tap it. The details screen will appear. Tap the action button and choose “Open in Roastmaster”
    2. Roastmaster’s import screen will appear.
    3. Approve the import, deciding whether to rename or replace if a database already exists with the same name.

    iCloud backups when charging and linked to WiFi

    When iCloud is properly configured on an iOS device, all of Roastmaster’s data will be backed up to iCloud, whenever the device is charging and linked to a WiFi network. To verify that Roastmaster is being backed up with your regular iCloud backups:

    1. On your Home Screen, tap Settings
    2. Tap iCloud
    3. Tap Storage & Backup
    4. Tap Manage Storage
    5. Select the device you want to manage
    6. Verify that Roastmaster is in this list, and turned on

     iTunes backups when tethered to a Mac or PC

    iTunes can create backups of your iOS device, and app data, in one of two ways:

    • Via a sync operation if iCloud backups are not enabled on the device (otherwise, a backup is not made during a sync)
    • Via a manual backup operation, performed by right-clicking on the device in iTunes, and selecting “Back Up”, or selecting “Back Up Now” in the “Summary” tab.

    Internal Backups

    Convenient, but not a long-term backup solution.

    Roastmaster provides the ability to create local backup copies by selecting “Backup…” in the database details screen.
    A local backup file of a database is simply a copy of the database file, filed in a different directory within Roastmaster’s sandbox on the iOS device. It does NOT provide any type of external protection from device failure, accidental deletion, etc.

    This may, at first glance, seem like a useless feature. It is definitely true – this feature has no use in a GOOD permanent backup strategy. So, why does it exist? Well, a few reasons.

    1. It provides an easy way to make a quick backup if you are about to make sweeping changes in the database, and want a quick safeguard before implementing them.
    2. It facilitates Roastmaster’s automatic database upgrade functions. Whenever you download an update from the App Store, Roastmaster upgrades your databases, and automatically creates a backup copy in the unlikely event anything goes wrong.
    3. For folks who roast a lot (and I mean thousands and thousands of roasts) it provides a quick and easy way to make a copy of a database, restore it and start from scratch – eliminating old data that is of no use, but still retaining the important stuff, like the bean library, profiles, programs, etc.

    This feature does have its uses, however it should not be considered as part of a comprehensive plan to protect against accidental data loss.

  • Using Behmor 1600 Curves

    Using Behmor 1600 Curves

    Roastmaster provides the ability to create curves that match those on the Behmor® 1600 roaster. Behmor curves are display in the roasting graph just like standard curves, can be copied and pasted to profiles and programs, and can be time-shifted using the same algorithms the Behmor 1600 uses when performing time-shifts on the roaster’s console.

    The 1600 is unique in the way that it handles its internal roasting curves. They are calculated on-the-fly, based on 3 things:

    1. The Profile (the shape of the curve)
    2. The Program (the length of the roast calculated as a factor of the weight setting)
    3. The Weight setting (higher weight settings yield greater Program times).

    The 1600 allows some degree of customization based on the time shifts you apply to a curve. Time shifts you enter before a roast starts adjust every leg of the calculated heat curve evenly, adjusting each leg in proportion to fit the new time. Time shifts you apply after the roast begins affect only the final leg of the roast.

    How do I use them?

    You can create Behmor curves on the fly the same way you create regular curves in a roast as needed, or you can have them created automatically in roasts by turning the “Auto Behmor Curves” preference on in the preference settings. Then, whenever you choose an appropriate Profile, Program and Custom “Weight” Setting that is named in a way Roastmaster can identify, it will create the necessary curve automatically.

    Manual Behmor Curves

    The only thing you need to do is make sure the roaster entity in Roastmaster that represents your 1600 contains the string “Behmor” in the manufacturing field. Once you tag a roaster in a roast that meets this criterion, the “Create Behmor Curve…” option will be displayed when you tap the dark blue curve button on the roasting console.

    Automatic Behmor Curves

    Starting in Roastmaster iOS 7, you can simply select “Behmor 1600” in the add roaster setup assistant that appears when adding a new Roaster. Roastmaster will automatically create a Behmor roaster pre-configured for automatic Behmor curves, as well as enable the “Auto Behmor Curves” preference setting.

    First, verify that the “Auto Behmor Curves” preference setting in the Utilities section is turned on. Then, whenever you roast, you’ll need to choose the appropriately named Roaster for your roast, followed by one of its Profile, Program and Custom Weight Settings. These three entities are defined in the Roaster definition screen, and must all be present and chosen in a roast to trigger the creation of an automatic Behmor curve.

    To get started using automatic Behmor curves…

    1. Navigate to the Roaster section of the Utilities screen. Create a new roaster, and set the “Manufacturer” field to “Behmor”, and the model field to “1600″
    2. Within that roaster, create 5 Profiles, called “P1″, “P2″, “P3″, “P4″ and “P5″
    3. Create 4 Programs, called “A”, “B”, “C”, and “D”
    4. Create a Custom Setting Type called “Weight”, and within that Custom Setting Type, create 3 Custom Settings named “.25″ (or “1/4″), “.5″ (or “1/2″) or “1″.
    5. Save the Roaster, and you’re ready to roast.

    Or, simply import this Roaster definition on an iOS device to import directly into Roastmaster.

    In a new roast, simply choose that Roaster, and then the appropriate Profile, Program and Custom “Weight” Setting that correspond to the settings you will use on the Behmor itself. Roastmaster will reward you by automatically creating the necessary Behmor 1600 curve.

    Note: for any of the string patterns listed, the name must either match that string, or begin with that string followed by a space – e.g. a Profile titled either P1″ or “P1 Behmor Profile” would both be considered a positive match.

    How do they work?

    Once you’ve created a 1600 curve, and saved it to the current roast, selecting that curve in the graph will turn the new graph scale buttons (the “+” and “-” buttons) into time shift buttons. Tapping these buttons will apply the same logic to the curve that the Behmor 1600 applies to its internal curves, with respect to whether or not the roast is currently in progress. So, for every time shift you enter on the appliance, apply the same time shift to the selected Behmor 1600 curve in Roastmaster.

    If you need to look up the Behmor 1600 information contained in a 1600 curve, just go to the details screen of that curve. Swipe to the notes section – it will report the settings used to create the curve, as well as any time shifts you’ve applied to it – both before, and during, the roast.

    A few words about the design of Behmor 1600 curves in Roastmaster.

    Behmor curves are “opt-in”. Many 1600 users I’ve spoken with don’t care to track curves. They are quite happy roasting with the default settings, and not experimenting with time shifts. That, coupled with the fact that it is but one of the many roasters that folks are using, led me to design them to function modularly – the same way all other curves in Roastmaster work. In other words, a Behmor curve has no relationship to the details of the roast that contains it. The curve doesn’t care if you’ve tagged P1 in the roast – all it cares about is the setting you entered when you created the curve itself.

    Why? Well, Roastmaster is complex enough already, and at the end of the day simpler is better. If a Behmor 1600 curve were intrinsically linked with the profile/program data of the current roast, then (aside from making the interface more confusing) it would not be a viable curve outside of the context of a roast. Having a modular design gives you the freedom inherent in all curves, and will afford you the option to create custom Profiles for the 1600, based on curves you’ve tried and had success with.

    For instance, while testing the Behmor curves functionality, I happened upon a curve combination of P4/D that turns Central American beans into wonderful SO espresso! Go figure – surprised me too. The combination of the long roast time, and P4 heat ramp is a real winner.

    In future roasts where I want to target this same P4/D curve, I can record the Behmor details the standard way, and rely on the graph selector strip to find similar roasts for me, using the profile, program and curve buttons. In this scenario, the Behmor curves of previous roasts would be visible in the graph behind any current curves. I could create a new Behmor curve for each roast, and time shift to match the curves from the past roast(s) shown in the graph.

    I could, alternatively, copy and paste that P4/D curve into a new profile called “Central SO” that will sit along with the standard P1 – 5 default profiles, and tag only “Central SO” in the roast, ignoring the weight and program settings if I choose. In this scenario, every new roast with “Central SO” would automatically inherit that curve, and I could just look up the profile, program and time shift data in the curves detail screen, and set the Behmor console accordingly, ignoring all of the other custom Behmor settings. This would make roasting a bit quicker for often-used settings, as I wouldn’t have to do anything except tag the “Central SO” profile.

    I’ve learned a lot about this wonderful little (big) roaster while coding and testing 1600 curves. I hope it sheds a lot of light and helps you hone in on some winning combinations like it did for me.

  • Using Label Templates

    Using Label Templates

    You can customize label templates for use with Roastmaster, allowing you to create definitions for custom sheet and label sizes and layout configurations.

    The Custom Label Starter Kit

    The Custom Label Starer Kit contains 8 XML templates, labeled 1 through 8, each designed for a label sheet containing between 1 and 8 labels, as well as a PDF describing how to edit the values.

    You can edit these files in any standard text editor, just make sure the resulting saved file has an”.xml” extension. If you need more than 8 labels per sheet, simply copy and paste a new  block for each extra label on the sheet.

    To customize the label, replace each instance of “MyValue” with whatever value is applicable. You can refer to the PDF “Roastmaster XML Label Structure.pdf” for a description of what each value means, as well as a graphical sample template to give you an overall picture of how these should correlate to a real-world label sheet.

    Note: all measurements should be entered in Imperial inches.

    When you’re finished creating your custom template, you can import it directly into Roastmaster from anywhere on your iOS device – the two easiest ways are to upload it to your DropBox account, or email it to yourself. Navigate to the file on your iOS device, tap the icon and choose “Open in Roastmaster”. Roastmaster will present its import screen. Once imported, the new label description file will be available for immediate use.

    Download the Custom Label Starer Kit