Questions on using InkMon 4

[alexandereci]

Okay I'm totally confused.

Here's a copy of my Log file. Please help me understand all those numbers.

2162688 11-20-2008
3735552 11-20-2008
1835008 11-20-2008
58458112 11-20-2008
29425664 11-20-2008
1703936 11-20-2008
1703936 11-20-2008
180 11-21-2008
180 11-21-2008
180 11-21-2008
180 11-21-2008
78118912 11-21-2008
1179648 11-21-2008
2699244 11-21-2008
62980096 11-21-2008
60424192 11-21-2008
3202464 11-21-2008
172 11-21-2008
180 11-21-2008
4784128 11-21-2008
4941176 11-21-2008
100663296 11-21-2008
Black Cartridge Changed 11-23-2008
Megenta Cartridge Changed 11-23-2008
Cyan Cartridge Changed 11-23-2008
Yellow Cartridge Changed 11-23-2008
172 11-23-2008
180 11-23-2008
180 11-23-2008
180 11-23-2008
180 11-23-2008
180 11-24-2008
59703296 11-24-2008
65142784 11-24-2008
180 11-26-2008
180 11-26-2008
180 11-26-2008
42336256 11-26-2008
14286848 11-26-2008
180 11-27-2008
180 11-27-2008
87328 11-27-2008
524288 11-27-2008
3735552 11-27-2008
11-27-2008
1769472 11-27-2008
589824 11-27-2008
3735552 11-27-2008

 

[stratman]

1) When you setup Inkmon, the Log.txt file records when a new cartridge is inserted after you "Reset" the counter for that cartridge - eg Black Cartridge Changed 11-23-2008. Your Log file shows that C,Y,M,K (Cyan,Yellow,Magenta,Black) were all "Reset" ("changed") on 11/23/08. I am supposing that this means you placed a filled cartridge for each of those colors into the printer and reset InkMon on that date.

2) Ignore or delete all the data prior to the change of the cartridges as it has no bearing on the data you will collect for each of these cartridges when you figure out each one's "Mg/Ml".

3) When each of these cartridges becomes "empty", meaning empty enough that you want to refill them, remove that cartridge, refill it, and note how many ml's of ink it took to refill it. It is important to refill to the approximate same level each time for the data to be more meaningful.

4) Re-insert the newly refilled cartridge and "reset" that cartridge in InkMon so that InkMon now knows the cartridge is refilled. Make sure "Capacity" in InkMon reflects the total amount of ink in ml's in the cartridge. Canon OEM CLI-8 has 13 ml and the PGI-5 has 26 ml.

5) The Log.txt file will now have a second entry for that cartridge being changed. An example would be:

Black Cartridge Changed 11-23-2008
172 11-23-2008
180 11-23-2008
180 11-23-2008
180 11-23-2008
180 11-23-2008
180 11-24-2008
59703296 11-24-2008
65142784 11-24-2008
180 11-26-2008
180 11-26-2008
180 11-26-2008
42336256 11-26-2008
14286848 11-26-2008
180 11-27-2008
180 11-27-2008
87328 11-27-2008
524288 11-27-2008
3735552 11-27-2008
Black Cartridge Changed 11-28-2008

Note that there are now 2 "change" entries for the black cartridge and many entries inbetween with numbers in the first column - the bytes of data for each printjob - and a second column of dates - the dates of each printjob. The column of Bytes is what you want to add up for that cartridge and use to figure out "Mg/Ml". This is when I would use Excel to import the Log.txt file and summate the column of Bytes for one cartridge, convert that value to Megabytes, then divide that by the number of Ml's used to refill the cartridge to give the "Mg/Ml" value to plug into InkMon.

6) Repeat for each cartridge when it is refilled.

7) Read Stratman's Spin.txt at http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/inkmon/files/ to guide you in using InkMon.

8) Ask your questions in that forum as there are many people, including the developer of the software, to help you there.

 

[alexandereci]

1. Yes, I refill my carts in a "batch" meaning when I refill one, I refill them all. I don't usually wait for the ink in the chamber to be used up, if it is low (1/4 or lower), I usually refill.

2. Gotcha.

3. Yes, I take note of how much mL I inject in each cartridge.

4. I set mine at 12 for color and 22 for black. Super-conservative, I know, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

5. Follow you so far.

6. Okay...

7. Read that....

8. Will do!

But for now, let me see if I get you right.

A. The Log.txt file does NOT keep track of how much MB was used to print each color, it just keeps track of how much MB each print job has spat out. I thought it would keep track of how many MB was sent to BLK, how many MB was sent to Cyan, how many MB was sent to Magenta, how many MB was sent to Yellow.... apparently this is not the case.

B. When I refilled my carts on 11-23, I injected 7cc blk, 3cc C, 3.2cc M, 3cc Y. Can I therefore total all MBs before 11-23 and calculate my MB/ml for ALL my carts? Or do I have to do this individually for each cart?

For example, in my text file above, totalling all entries before the reset gives me 418,019,124. That's 418,019 kilobytes, or 418.019 megabytes (math check please!). Mb/Ml would then be 418.019/7 = 59.71 for black, 418.019/3 = 139.339 for cyan and yellow, 418.019/3.2 = 130.63 for magenta. Is this correct?

 

[stratman]

A. The Log.txt file does NOT keep track of how much MB was used to print each color, it just keeps track of how much MB each print job has spat out. I thought it would keep track of how many MB was sent to BLK, how many MB was sent to Cyan, how many MB was sent to Magenta, how many MB was sent to Yellow.... apparently this is not the case.

BYTES! Re-read #5 of my post. You are correct that InkMon only records the Bytes for each print job plus the date.

B. When I refilled my carts on 11-23, I injected 7cc blk, 3cc C, 3.2cc M, 3cc Y. Can I therefore total all MBs before 11-23 and calculate my MB/ml for ALL my carts? Or do I have to do this individually for each cart?

The first time you use InkMon you press the "Reset" Button to mark the cartridge as full in InkMon and InkMon writes to the Log.txt file that that specific cartridge was changed on that specific date. Of course this only is true IF you started using InkMon with a filled cartridge, not a partially filled cartridge. Now, print until you feel it is time to refill that same specific cartridge, refill that same specific cartridge, put it back into the printer, and reset Inkmon for that same specific cartridge. InkMon writes that that same specific cartridge was changed plus the date of that Reset. You now have TWO changed cartridge entries in Log.txt file for that same specific cartridge. Add up the number of bytes inbetween the two changed entries for that specific cartridge ONLY. See #5 of my previous post again.

For example, in my text file above, totalling all entries before the reset gives me 418,019,124. That's 418,019 kilobytes, or 418.019 megabytes (math check please!). Mb/Ml would then be 418.019/7 = 59.71 for black, 418.019/3 = 139.339 for cyan and yellow, 418.019/3.2 = 130.63 for magenta. Is this correct?

To simplify, only use the Bytes for a specific cartridge entered in Log.txt file between consecutive cartridge changes. In #5 of my previous post, there are two "Black Cartridge Changed" entries and a number of bytes recorded inbetween. Only use these bytes to figure out Mg/Ml in InkMon. Do not use anything before or after those two consecutive "cartridge changed" entries.

Using your figure of 418,019,124 BYTES, and I did not check if this is the correct number or not, this converts to 398.6541 MEGABYTES. Now you can divide that by the number of milliliters refilled for that specific cartridge to give the Mg/Ml value for InkMon.

Re-read my previous post again and the link to Stratman's Spin at the InkMon Forum as well. Also, the Messages section in the forum will answer your questions, though you will need to sort through 500+ messages to get there!

 

[alexandereci]

Yes, bytes. Sorry about that. Also got your point about using the values between "Cart changed" messages.

One specific question:
Do I have to do this ONE CARTRIDGE AT A TIME (like your example above), or can I use the resultant BYTES to calculate for all carts, provided I refill them all at the same time?

The reason I ask is because apparently InkMon does not differentiate between bytes sent to black, cyan, magenta, or yellow. It just tracks the bytes sent for each print job.

Sifting through messages isn't really my strong point, so my many thanks to you for your patience with me in this matter

 

[alexandereci]

Black Cartridge Changed  11-23-2008
Megenta Cartridge Changed  11-23-2008
172               11-23-2008
180               11-23-2008
180               11-23-2008
180               11-23-2008
180               11-23-2008
180               11-24-2008
59703296          11-24-2008
65142784          11-24-2008
180               11-26-2008
180               11-26-2008
180               11-26-2008
42336256          11-26-2008
14286848          11-26-2008
180               11-27-2008
180               11-27-2008
87328             11-27-2008
524288            11-27-2008
3735552           11-27-2008
Black Cartridge Changed  11-27-2008
Megenta Cartridge Changed  11-27-2008

For example, if I change the black and magenta cartridge on 11/23, and change them again on 11/27, will those bytes in between be good enough to calculate usage for BOTH black and magenta?

Or should calculations be done individually per cart?

 

[stratman]

Yes and yes.

Since both Black and Magenta were filled on 11/23 and then refilled on 11/27 at the same time, ie the same number of Bytes have been recorded for the two cartridges between refills, then you use the same number of Bytes added up between "Cartridge Changed" dates. Barring rare exceptions, since the milliliters of ink used will differ for each cartridge depending on what you print, you will have to calculate the Mg/Ml for each cartridge individually.

The idea is to only use the total number of bytes printed between fillings of the cartridge. If you refill all your cartridges at the same time, no matter how empty or filled, then you would use the same number of summed up bytes for all the cartridges.

I think you would further your precision of dialing in a better Mg/Ml value if you use up the ink in the cartridge more than less per refilling. In this way, your ink usage will be a bit more reflective of your average usage pattern in InkMon. Also, you make more work for yourself if you are refilling after only a couple of milliliters ink used.

 

[alexandereci]

I see. So I can refill ALL carts at the same time, mark them as refilled in InkMon (so that it will show in the text file), use the printer, refill ALL carts again at a later date, and use the same number of BYTES (but different values for ml based on how much I actually injected to top up the cart) to calculate for mb/ml value. Is that correct?

I think you would further your precision of dialing in a better Mg/Ml value if you use up the ink in the cartridge more than less per refilling. In this way, your ink usage will be a bit more reflective of your average usage pattern in InkMon. Also, you make more work for yourself if you are refilling after only a couple of milliliters ink used.

Can you explain further? The actual "work" of refilling is not much of a bother, since I only have to do it once or twice (or even not at all!) per print job.

 

[stratman]

It was only a suggestion. Your method of when to refill is not wrong, per se, just more effort. Continue as you see fit.

 

[alexandereci]

Sorry, I thought that was HOW things were done, I did not know that my way was also acceptable, I thought I was doing it wrong. Also got confused with all the bytes and you referring to "specific cartridge in question" and thought that InkMon tracked bytes sent to individual cartridge.