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232Analyzer Questions |
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1. |
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What is the 232Analyzer? |
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2. |
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Who can benefit
from this product? |
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3. |
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What applications
can this product be used for? |
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4. |
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Where can this
product be used? |
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5. |
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Is this product easy to
use? |
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6. |
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What are the features of
this product? |
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7. |
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What are the software
features? |
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8. |
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What are the differences
between free and the registered versions? |
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9. |
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What are the differences
between software and hardware analyzers? |
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10. |
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What are the differences
between 232Analyzer and HyperTerminal? |
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11. |
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What are the license
types? |
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12. |
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What are the supported OS
(Operating System)? |
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13. |
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Can this product
control/detect RS232 handshake lines? |
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14. |
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Can this product monitor
RS232 communications with direction indication? |
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15. |
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Can this product monitor
2-wire RS485 with direction indication? |
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16. |
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Can this product monitor
4-wire RS485/RS422 with direction indication? |
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17. |
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Can this product monitor
TTL with direction indication? |
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18. |
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What are the recommended
hardware accessories? |
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19. |
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Does the software
require physical delivery? |
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20. |
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How accurate are the
232Analyzer timestamps? |
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21. |
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What COM port hardware do
you recommend for best timestamp accuracy in monitoring mode? |
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22. |
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Open DB error #380? |
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1. |
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What is
the 232Analyzer? |
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The 232Analyzer
is an advanced professional serial port analyzer that allows programmers,
engineers, and others to control and monitor serial port activities (RS232 / RS485 / RS422
/ TTL).
It
is also an useful tool for troubleshooting your serial
converters or data networks. |
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2. |
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Who can benefit
from this product? |
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Anyone who is dealing with serial
communications, including:
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Technicians
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System integrators
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Programmers
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Software developers
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Hardware engineers
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Lab experts
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IT specialists
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Others
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3. |
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What applications
can this product be used for? |
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This product can
be used for:
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Troubleshooting serial converters or data
networks (e.g. loopback test)
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Serial hardware development
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Serial device driver development
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Serial protocol development, implementation, or
reverse-engineering
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Software testing
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Hardware testing
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COM port testing
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External serial device control and monitoring
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Others
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4. |
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Where can this
product be used? |
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This product can
be used in all sorts of serial communication
applications, including:
- Building automation
- Industrial/commercial control
and automation systems
- SCADA
- PLC
- A/V control
- Security systems
- Communication systems
- Other systems or devices that use serial communications
(RS-232/RS485/RS422/TTL)
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5. |
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Is this product
easy to use? |
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Yes, 232Analyzer is extremely easy to
use. Anyone who knows how to use HyperTerminal can operate the
software within seconds, without any programming knowledge. |
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6. |
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What are the
features of this product? |
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232Analyzer comes with two basic
features: control (debug) and monitor serial devices. The product supports data input and monitoring in Hexadecimal, Decimal, Octal, Binary and
ASCII formats. It also
allows you to change / monitor RS-232's line state: RTS, DTR, CTS,
DSR, DCD, and RI.
All data and signal flows are logged in the Communication Logging
Window, which can then be saved as .txt, .doc or .rtf files for further analysis.
232Analyzer not only allows you to control/monitor RS-232's
activities, but with the right type of converters (e.g. our
port-powered RS232 to RS485/RS422/TTL converters), you can also control/monitor other serial devices, such as RS485, RS422 and TTL. |
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7. |
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What are the
software features? |
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232Analyzer is a professional protocol analyzer software, it is
extremely easy to use yet comes with many advanced features, such
as:
- Two operating modes:
Debugging/simulating and monitoring (supports both half-duplex and
full-duplex monitoring)
- Timestamps for the data captured
in monitoring mode
- Send/receive data in all formats:
Hexadecimal, Decimal, Octal, Binary, and ASCII string
- Send/receive handshake signals:
RTS, DTR, CTS, DSR, DCD and RI
- COM 1 to 16
- Frequently Used Keys: 00h to 1Fh
(a total of 32 numbers)
- Programmable Buttons: Send command
strings, signals or data sequence with one single button (a total of
32 numbers)
- Programmable Auto-Response: Upon
receiving certain data or signals, you can program automatic output
data and/or signals (a total of 16 numbers)
- Programmable Macros: Send
sets of data/signals and response to different types of incoming
data/signals with timer and sequence (a total of 8 x 8 steps, and 8
x 8 sub-routines)
- Virtual LEDs: View the RS-232 line
state and control RTS and DTR, break communication if necessary
- Data logging: All communications
are logged and can be saved into .txt files for future analysis
- Checksum Calculator: AND, OR, XOR,
NOT, Reverse Bit Order, +, -, x, \, MOD, CRC-16 (for Modbus), etc.
- Notation Converter: Convert data
from one notation to another
- ASCII chart: All 256 ASCII codes
in different formats
- Device Profile: Settings for
different devices can be saved individually
- Flexible screen adjustment
- User preferences settings: Color
settings, Startup Actions, Exit Actions, etc.
- Customizable colors for
Background, TX, RX1 and RX2 (2nd COM port channel when using full-duplex monitoring)
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8. |
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What are the
differences between free and the registered versions? |
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Software Features |
FREE Version |
Registered Version |
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Timestamps (Monitoring Mode) |
No |
Yes |
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Available Data Formats |
Dec, Oct, Bin and
ASCII |
Hex, Dec, Oct, Bin and ASCII |
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Monitoring Mode |
No |
Yes |
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Programmable Buttons |
No |
Yes |
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Programmable Auto-Response |
No |
Yes |
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Programmable Macros |
No |
Yes |
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New/Save Device Profile |
No |
Yes |
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Open Device Profile |
Yes |
Yes |
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Open/Save Log File |
No |
Yes |
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User Notes |
Yes |
Yes |
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Checksum Calculator |
Yes |
Yes |
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Notation Converter |
Yes |
Yes |
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Options |
Yes |
Yes |
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9. |
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What are the
differences between software and hardware analyzers? |
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232Analyzer comes with more features
than most of the hardware analyzers on the market. It is extremely
easy to use and does not require any programming knowledge. Software
activation can be done within minutes, so there is no product
waiting time. Moreover, the software price is only a fraction of the
hardware analyzer's. However, please note that the timestamp
accuracy for hardware analyzers are generally better than software
analyzers'. |
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10. |
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What are the
differences between 232Analyzer and HyperTerminal? |
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232Analyzer is an advanced protocol
analyzer software,
it is extremely easy to use, yet comes
with many advanced features that are not available in HyperTerminal
or other analyzer tools. See software features... |
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11. |
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What are the license
types? |
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There are four license types:
- Limited License: FREE,
no time limitation.
- Single-Computer-License:
To be installed on a single computer.
- Company-Multi-License:
To be installed on up to five computers within the same
organization at the same physical location.
- Company-Site-License:
To be installed on any number of computers within the same
organization at the same physical location.
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12. |
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What are the
supported OS (Operating System)? |
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232Analyzer supports Windows 7, Vista,
XP, 2000 and 98. The product is a 32-bit application and it has been
tested and released for Windows 32-bit editions, however, our
customers are using it on Windows 7/Vista 64-bit with good success.
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13. |
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Can this product
control/detect RS232 handshake lines? |
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Yes, this product
allows you to
change/monitor the RS232's line state: RTS, DTR,
CTS, DSR, DCD, and RI. |
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14. |
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Can this product
monitor RS232 communications with direction indication? |
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Yes, two COM ports can be opened at
the same time, and with the full-duplex RS232 monitor/control cable
(CBL-Full-1A),
you can monitor RS232 communications with direction indication.
Learn more... |
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15. |
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Can this product
monitor 2-wire RS485 with direction indication? |
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Yes, by using two units of RS232/RS485 converters (e.g.
CVT-485-1
or
CVT-485_422-1) and a Full-Duplex monitor cable
(CBL-Full-1A), the 232Analyzer software can capture not only
the data flowing between the RS485 devices but also the data
direction. Connect 485+ and 485- of the serial devices to A and B of
the converter respectively. Switch to full-duplex monitoring mode in
the 232Analyzer
software.
Learn more... |
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16. |
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Can this product
monitor 4-wire RS485/RS422 with direction indication? |
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Yes, by using two units of RS232/RS422 converters (e.g.
CVT-485_422-1),
the software can capture not only the data flowing
between the RS422 devices but also the data direction. Connect TX+ and TX- of the serial devices to RX+ and RX- of
the converters for both sides of the connections. Switch to Full-Duplex monitoring mode in
the 232Analyzer
software.
Learn more... |
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17. |
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Can this product
monitor TTL with direction indication? |
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Yes, by using a Full-Duplex Monitor cable
(CBL-Full-1A) and two units of RS232/TTL converters (e.g.
TTL-232-1 or
TTL33-232-1),
the software can capture not only the data flowing
between the TTL devices but also the data direction.
Learn more... |
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18. |
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What are the
recommended hardware accessories? |
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Please refer to the table below for the
recommended hardware accessories:
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Direction Indication |
RS-232 |
RS-485 |
RS-422 |
TTL 5V |
TTL 3.3V |
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Yes |
1x
USB-232A-1
1x CBL-Full-1A |
1x
USB-232A-1
1x CBL-Full-1A
2x CVT-485-1
2x PWR-5_US-1
2x GCH-9_MM-1 |
1x
USB-232A-1
2x CVT-485_422-1 |
1x
USB-232A-1
1x CBL-Full-1A
2x TTL-232-1 |
1x
USB-232A-1
1x CBL-Full-1A
2x TTL33-232-1 |
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No |
1x
USB-232-1
1x CBL-Half-1 |
1x
USB-232-1
1x CVT-485-1 |
- |
- |
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More info on:
Serial port monitor (monitor RS232/RS485/RS422/TTL
communications)
Serial port terminal (control RS232/RS485/RS422/TTL devices) |
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19. |
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Does the software
require physical delivery? |
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This is not necessary, simply download
the free version from our website and install it on your target
computer. The software code (for company licenses) or software
activation instructions (for a single license) will be delivered by
email. |
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20. |
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How accurate are
the 232Analyzer timestamps? |
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232Analyzer
software is a Windows-based program,
and the actual timestamp accuracy
depends very much on your PC's hardware and software
characteristics, such as operating system, overall PC performance
and the serial hardware used.
To achieve the
best accuracy, we recommend the following:
1) Disable other programs or resource-consuming tasks, such as
anti-virus software or other windows programs, if possible.
2) If you are using the USB-RS232 converters, you may reduce the
"latency timer" to the minimum of 1ms. Please refer to the link
below for details:
http://www.commfront.com/USB-Serial-Adapters-Converters/USB-Serial-Adapter-Converter-Faq.htm#10 |
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21. |
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What COM port
hardware do you recommend for best timestamp accuracy in monitoring
mode? |
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For best timestamp accuracy, we would
recommend the on-board COM ports, a PCI or a PCMCIA serial port
card. USB-Serial converters are also usable, however, please note
that the USB devices introduce unspecified delays and latency times.
Please adjust the
latency timer to 1ms for best timestamp accuracy.
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22. |
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Open DB error
#380? |
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If you encounter the problem
of "Error 380", please uninstall the program, delete the
"CommFront" folder in "C:\Program
files", and then reinstall the application. |
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