Minelab XChange 2

Setup

To successfully install XChange 2, your computer must have one of the following operating systems installed: Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8.

To utilize all features of the application, you also need the following:

• A Minelab CTX 3030 or GPZ 7000 detector
• A USB cable to connect your detector
• An active minelab.com account
• Internet connection

To install the XChange 2 application, insert the XChange 2 installation CD into your computer and follow the on-screen instructions.

If you do not have the installation CD, you can download the XChange 2 application from www.minelab.com.

XChange 2 Terms and Conditions

The Terms and Conditions of use will be displayed when you first install the XChange 2 application. You must read and accept the Terms and Conditions of use to proceed with the installation.

Setting User Preferences

When you install the XChange 2 application, you are required to set your User Preferences.

Enter your choices for 'Time', 'Location', 'Length Units', and 'Weight Units'. Use the 'SAVE' button to save your preferences.

You can make changes to your XChange 2 User Preferences in the 'Settings' tab.

The preferences dialog typically includes:

• Time Format: 24 Hour
• Location Format: DD.DDDDDD
• Length Units: Meter / Centimeter
• Weight Units: Troy Ounce
• Checkbox for "Show startup tips"

XChange 2 Overview

The following section provides an overview of the XChange 2 application and its basic usage.

The application interface includes:

• Menu Bar: File, Edit, View, Tools, Help.
• Toolbar: Contains various icons for quick access, including language selection, search, user profile, and settings.
• Left Pane: Displays Collections (Detector, All, File, Recycle Bin, GeoHunt), User Collections, and Item Box.
• Main Area: Typically shows a map view (requires login for full functionality) or login prompts.
• Login Section: Fields for Username, Password, a 'Login' button, and links for 'Create Account' and 'Forgot Password'.
• Right Pane: Shows Settings Panel, Language Panel, and Version Number.

Detector Items

Detector items are components that can be copied to or from the detector. Detector settings include:

• Universal Settings
• User Modes (CTX 3030 only)
• WayPoint
• FindPoint
• GeoHunt items.

Note that objects created for one detector model (except WayPoints) cannot be transferred to another model.

These items are explained in detail in the following sections of the XChange 2 User Manual.

Collections

Collections form the foundation of the XChange 2 application. All items copied from the detector should reside in a collection. In essence, the detector itself can be considered a collection. This way, items to be copied to or from the detector are copied using the method of transferring items from one collection to another.

Collections are groups of items, similar to folders on your computer, but the key difference is that collections cannot contain other collections. Items can be moved from one collection to another to be organized into appropriate categories.

Created collections should be named and assigned an icon for usability.

Collection Controls

Collection controls manage the actions required for using and managing collections.

The interface typically shows:

• Collections: A list of collections, e.g., "COLLECTIONS", "SAMPLES (13)".

User Collections

To transfer items into the application, you must create a User Collection. Once a collection is created, you can move items from all collections into the User Collection. You can create as many collections as you need.

Example images show "SAMPLES" and "COLLECTION 1".

System Collections

System collections are special collections that provide specialized functions for the application.

Detector

When your detector is connected to your computer, the 'Detector' Collection appears next to the detector icon, displaying the detector's name. Click the 'Detector' Collection to view the detector's contents.

All

The 'All' collection displays all items from all User Collections. This collection is useful when you don't know the location of the items you are searching for. The use of search and sort functions is explained in later sections of this user manual.

File

'File' is a collection where items can be copied and exported for backup or sharing purposes. Additionally, a previously saved 'File' can be opened, items viewed, and copied to other collections. In other words, it provides an export/import feature. 'File' is a special Minelab format that can only be read and written by the XChange 2 application.

Recycle Bin

'Recycle Bin' stores items deleted from user collections. This provides a recovery method until the 'Recycle Bin' is emptied. All items dragged to the 'Recycle Bin' from the detector or transfer are automatically deleted and therefore cannot be recovered. The 'Recycle Bin' can be cleared using the 'Empty Recycle Bin' icon in the list summary pane.

GeoHunt

A 'GeoHunt' item includes items created during a GeoHunt and the detector's active 'Mod' setting. It records the active detector 'Mod' and the detector's location track during the GeoHunt. It also saves all 'WayPoint' and 'FindPoint' items created.

The 'GeoHunt' system collection is used to display all GeoHunt-related items in one place, as these can be moved to other user collections. It doesn't change item locations in user collections, but creates a temporary system collection. GeoHunt items are displayed when 'Show GeoHunt' is selected in the item summary.

Item List

The Item List displays a summary of each item in the selected collection. This summary can be retrieved from all collections, including System Collections.

Item Summary

The Item Summary contains information about an item. The following shows an item summary for GeoHunt:

Select/Deselect Items

To select or deselect an item, simply left-click its item summary. Multiple items can be selected by clicking each item summary individually. When an item is selected, its summary background color changes.

You can also select all items by clicking the 'ALL' button at the top of the item list.

When an item selection is deselected, the background color will return to white. You can remove all selections by clicking the 'NONE' button at the top of the item list.

Move/Copy/Delete Items

Items can be moved or copied within the application by selecting and dragging them. To delete an item, select it and drag it to the recycle bin.

Which operation (move or copy) is applied to an item is determined by the source and destination of the drag operation. The following table shows this relationship:

¹ Assumes two detectors are connected.

Edit Items

To edit an item, click the edit icon on the right side of the summary box. When the item dialog box appears, make the necessary changes and click 'Save'.

List Summary

Sort Items

Items can be sorted according to the following:

• Date
• Name
• Type
• Latitude
• Distance from center

After selecting the sort order, click the button next to the dropdown menu if you want to arrange the sort in ascending or descending order.

Filter Items (Search Bar)

By entering text into the filter bar, you can filter the list to display only items whose name or description contains specific text; the application will automatically remove all items that do not contain the entered text.

Filter Items Advanced

You can also click the magnifying glass icon next to the filter search bar to filter items by type, synchronization status, or date range. There is also an option to show only map items (WayPoint, FindPoint, and GeoHunt items).

Limit the list to only this item type by selecting the item type.

'New points' shows selected Detector or File collections and allows you to see only items that have not yet been copied to the application.

Additionally, you can click the date selection option to choose the dates you wish to include.

Select 'Detector Type' to view objects from a specific detector.

All advanced filter settings are cleared when the advanced filter is closed.

Using the XChange 2 Application

Login

The application can be used without logging in, but pairing features will not be available in this case. If you have a minelab.com account, you must use your existing Username and Password to log in to the XChange 2 application. If you do not have a minelab.com account, use the provided link to create an account or follow the account creation instructions by visiting http://www.minelab.com/.

Enter your minelab.com username and password into the XChange 2 application and click the 'Login' button.

After successfully logging into the XChange 2 application, pairing features become available, and operations are performed on a satellite map screen. An example of a satellite map screen is shown below.

Connect Your Detector

Connect your Minelab detector to your computer using the provided USB cable. The XChange 2 application will automatically recognize your detector when it is connected.

When your detector is successfully connected, a detector icon will appear in the 'Special Collections' section of the XChange 2 application. You can view the contents of your detector by clicking this icon.

Collections

Create Collection

To create a collection, click the '+' icon located next to the collections in the collection controls. The following screen will be displayed:

Enter a name, select an image for the collection, and then click the 'SAVE' button. The newly created Collection will be displayed in the User Collections section.

Edit Collection

To edit a collection, select the collection and click the edit collection button located next to the collection name in the list summary. Change the collection details and click the 'Save' option.

GeoHunt

Create GeoHunt

GeoHunts are created on the detector and cannot be created by the application. You can learn how to create a GeoHunt by referring to the detector's User Manual provided on CD.

Edit GeoHunt Item

1. Click the edit button in the GeoHunt item summary or the map icon and the edit link in the information box.
2. Change the details you wish to edit. If necessary, add an item to the GeoHunt and click the 'SAVE' option.

Your screen may vary depending on the detector model used to acquire the data.

WayPoint

Create WayPoint

WayPoint items can be created by clicking the ' ' icon next to the collection name in the Collection Controls section, or by dragging the WayPoint icon onto the map.

If you have not selected a user collection, you will be prompted to select a user collection for the WayPoint. Select the collection to which the WayPoint will be added and click the 'OK' option.

The WayPoint edit dialog will appear, allowing the user to enter WayPoint details.

Edit WayPoint Item

Click the edit button in the WayPoint item summary or the map icon and the edit link in the information box.

FindPoint

FindPoint items are created on the detector and cannot be created by the application. For details on creating a FindPoint, please refer to the detector's user manual.

Edit FindPoint Item

1. FindPoint items can be created using the edit button in the FindPoint summary or by clicking the icon on the map.
2. Edit the details you wish to change. The editing screen allows you to add an image. Use the 'SAVE' button to store the changes you have made.

Your screen may vary depending on the detector model used to acquire the data.

Detector Settings

Edit Detector Settings

1. To edit the Universal Settings, click the edit button in the Universal Settings item summary.
2. Edit the items you wish to modify and click the 'SAVE' option.

The screenshots show settings for CTX 3030 and GPZ 7000 detectors.

User Mode (CTX 3030 only)

Create User Mode

Click the [Mod icon] next to the mode in the Collection Controls section. The User Mode editor will open, and you will need to enter a name to save the mode.

Edit User Mode

Each User Mode contains two Discrimination Patterns and Tone ID Maps.

Discrimination Patterns

Select the discrimination pattern you wish to edit. Use the controls on the left to make selections for mask or fill, and brush size. Drag the mouse over the pattern area and draw the required pattern.

Tone ID Profile

Select the Tone ID Profile tab to view the current Tone ID Profile. Note that the Tone ID Profile overlays the active Discrimination Pattern. Select the required Profile Type from the dropdown list and drag the row to the desired position. The tone pitch can be adjusted by selecting a segment and using the slider. A visual indication of the tone pitch is shown with a gray level in the active area.

Software Update

XChange 2 has a built-in software update feature. When connected to the internet, XChange 2 checks for any software updates for the detector or WM 12 modules connected to the computer. A check is also performed for the XChange 2 application itself.

When an update is found, the application will notify the user about the update:

• Important Update: If there is an important update, the application will display the following notification: [Info icon] 'An important application update is available for download.' Click 'OK'.
• Non-important Update: If there is a non-important update, a download link will be displayed, and no notification will be given. The download link will be at the top of the screen.

[Warning icon] Update Available. Click the notification to install the update and select the item to be updated.