Partner Support Information

▸ Technical Support Services

Partner™ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

The Partner FAQ provides you with an easy way to automatically get answers to your specific questions, online, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you do not find the answer to your question, you can submit your question and a reply will be sent to you.

Browse the Partner FAQs

Operating System and Controller Compatibility

The latest version of Partner (9.0a) works with the following controllers, operating systems, and Microsoft^® Office Professional versions: Controllers:

• I-Series
• 3300
• 5500
• 5800 (Windows^® XP only)
• 5900
• 59-R5
• 59-R6
• 59-R7
• 59-R8
• 8800 (Windows XP only)
• Mark III
• Eurotherm 2416

Operating Systems:

• Windows XP (32-bit Professional Edition only; service pack 3 required)
• Windows 7 (Professional Edition only, both 32-bit [x86] and 64-bit [x64] 

Note: DO NOT install or re-install versions of Partner prior to "7.1e Install Version 2" on Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or later. Running the Partner installation may cause the PC to operate extremely slowly. This problem is not fixed by a reboot and affected systems may require a system restore or reformat of the hard drive.

Microsoft Office Professional versions:

• 2003
• 2007
• 2010 (both 32-bit [x86] and 64-bit [x64])

Please contact software support for compatibility information for older versions of Partner.

Partner Software Verification Letter

Is your company currently undergoing an ISO audit? This letter certifies that upgrading to a newer version of Partner does not affect transducer readings or calculation results.

Download the Verification Letter

What's New in the Latest Releases

Version 9.1a (March 2012)

• NEW: Partner is compatible with the 64-bit [x64] version of the Microsoft® Windows® operating system (Professional Edition only).
• NEW: Partner is compatible with the 59-R5 and 59-R6 controllers.
• NEW: (5900/59 Series only) Partner can verify that the correct transducer is plugged in by reading a serial number from a chip in the transducer connector.
• NEW: Partner can (under the right set of conditions) configure events to be checked in the 5900 controller for faster response times.
• NEW: GenTest now includes a Start Test action. This allows tests to be started with a digital input.
• CHANGE: The User Control Panel is now called the Productivity Panel.

Version 9.0b (November 2011)

• FIX: Added the "Subtract tooling height" option for EMSY systems using a 5900-based controller.

Version 9.0a (July 2011)

• NEW: Partner is compatible with the 5900 and 59 Series controller platforms. Major new features supported by Partner include:
  • Live displays on the new user control panel
  • Up to eight controllable expansion channels (for a total of 13 transducer channels)
  • 1 kHz data acquisition
  • For single-acting actuated systems such as the DX, HDX, and HVL models:
    • Return to Start now generally controls smoother and at a faster rate.
    • An option has been added to cause the piston to automatically lift off the bottom of the cylinder.
• NEW: Improvements have been made to support the ISO 6892-1:2009 standard:
  • Six new templates (replacing the older EN 10002 templates) are now available.
  • (ISRS/3300/5500/5900/59 Series only) Transition times may be specified to provide for smooth acceleration when switching rates.
• NEW: (ISRS/3300/5500/5900/59 Series only) The Create Initial Configuration feature has been added to expedite making the initial hardware configuration settings.
• NEW: An option has been added to the EUL Yield calculation to allow offsetting from X=0 instead of from the modulus X intercept.
• CHANGE: Adobe^® Flash^® Player is once again distributed on the Partner CD.
• CHANGE: Partner no longer supports Microsoft Office 2000.
• CHANGE: Partner no longer supports Microsoft Office XP.
• CHANGE: When used with the Microsoft Windows XP operating system, Partner now requires Service Pack 3.

Version 8.5a (December 2009)

• NEW: Partner is compatible with the Microsoft Windows 7 operating system (32-bit Professional Edition only). Note however that Partner is not compatible with Windows 7 for systems using a 5800 or 8800 controller.
• NEW: Partner is compatible with Microsoft Office 2010 (32-bit Professional Edition only).
• CHANGE: Partner is no longer supported on the Windows Vista^™ operating system.
• CHANGE: The Chart Generator is no longer supported.
• CHANGE: Adobe Flash Player and Adobe Reader are no longer distributed with Partner.
• CHANGE: Partner no longer requires Digiserv.
• CHANGE: Partner no longer works with the DigiLink card. An Ethernet Frame Interface (EFI) is required in order to upgrade systems with a DigiLink card in the PC to Partner 8.5a or later.

Version 8.4d (December 2009)

• FIX: (ISRS/3300/5500 only) Fixed an intermittent extreme slowdown in firmware downloading.

Version 8.4c (October 2009)

• CHANGE: (ISRS/3300/5500 only) Updated frame files.

Version 8.4b (February 2009)

• NEW: (ISRS/3300/5500 only) Partner supports the M500 automatic extensometer.
• CHANGE: Partner no longer supports the Mats II controller.

Version 8.4a (October 2008)

• NEW: (5800/8800 only) Added an option to use a digital input bit to limit the manual adjust rate.
• NEW: Added "Distance / Force" units.
• CHANGE: (ISRS/3300/5500 only) Partner disables the frame if the motor temperature is too high.
• CHANGE: Partner is no longer supported on the Microsoft Windows 2000 operating system.
• CHANGE: Partner no longer supports Microsoft Office 97.

Version 8.3a (June 2008)

• NEW: New options have been added to the Calc Complete Event (GenTest) to allow the event to fire if the calculation result is too high, good, or too low.
• FIX: Fixed a problem in which the graph did not appear on printouts on computers using Internet Explorer 6.
• FIX: Corrected a problem in which the Excel Report Generator would fail when specifying a second Y axis.

Version 8.2a (March 2008)

NEW: Partner supports Instron's new Ethernet Frame Interface for communication with the ISRS, 3300, and 5500 controllers.
• NEW: Partner is supported on the Windows Vista™ operating system (32-bit Business Edition only). Please see the notes about using Partner with Windows Vista in the Reference Help.

Version 8.1a (February 2008)

• NEW: A Display as Tolerance Bar Graph option has been added to the Test Results display setup.
• NEW: (5800/8800 only) A data point file may be used to specify a control waveform (Sample Data Playback).
• NEW: (5800/8800 only) The balance point may be set for digital transducers.
• CHANGE: (5500 only): New firmware included with this version of Partner may not run on some older 5500 controllers. If you receive an error message stating that your testing machine requires a memory upgrade please contact Instron technical support. A memory upgrade is required; ask for part number OP565-47.
• CHANGE: Version 8.1.108 of Instron Console is included on the Partner CD.
• CHANGE: (ISRS/3300/5500 only) Position is not zeroed when the software is started.

Versopm 8.0c (October 2007)

• NEW: Partner supports Microsoft Office 2007 Professional.

Version 8.0a (February 2007)

• NEW: Partner printouts have been greatly enhanced.
  • Users may now select from multiple print layouts.
  • There is a Print Preview feature.
  • A printout can be automatically generated after each test.
  • Partner can automatically archive a printout for each test.
• NEW: Extra options, including the ability to specify an Excel template file, have been added to the Excel Report Generator.
• NEW: Expressions may be used to specify defined points for a calculation domain.
• NEW: The Standard Level 1 Calculation library includes a new Line Intersection calculation.
• NEW: Calculation lines may have their color, style, and width changed. They may also be hidden.
• NEW: The Spring Rate calculation can now show a calculation line.
• NEW: Graphs may be exported as JPG files.
• NEW: Partner supports the Instron 8800 controller.
• NEW: Multiple improvements have been made to GenTest:
  • Partner supports cyclic waveforms on the 5800 and 8800 controllers.
  • The option to automatically adjust rate polarity so as to move toward and through a specified level is now available for Mats II and Apex controllers.
  • The user interface has been enhanced.
• NEW: Additional safety limit actions have been added for the 5800 and 8800 controllers.
• NEW: Partner works with sensitivity-calibration transducers (5800 and 8800 controllers).
• NEW: Partner supports the Instron 5800 controller.
• NEW: Partner works with EMSY spring testing systems.
• NEW: Partner supports the ASMD (Automatic Specimen Measuring Device).
• NEW: 3300 and 5500 transducers may be excluded when a Zero All is done.
• NEW: There is now an option to remain off-line after editing certain procedure parameters.
• NEW: The Test Flow dialog may be resized.
• NEW: Partner supports gain multipliers when used with 3300 and 5500 controllers.
• NEW: Extra options have been added to the Digital Input Event (Gentest).
• CHANGE: When automatically identifying a transducer Partner now uses information from the transducer connector to determine if the transducer measures load or strain.
• CHANGE: The XY Graph setup pages have been simplified.
• CHANGE: Unit abbreviations are now used consistently throughout the Partner user interface.
• CHANGE: The maximum data acquisition rate (when using a 5800 or 8800 controller) is now 5 kHz.
• CHANGE: For the 3300 and 5500 controllers the "hardware and software zero" option has been replaced by an option to only hardware zero.
• CHANGE: The Test Point calculation now lets users enable a result for each measurement.
• CHANGE: Users are allowed to save the procedure from a retrieved result.
• FIX: (3300/5500 only) Transducer ID checking is enforced for 0-0 code transducers.

Version 7.3a (August 2006)

• NEW: Partner supports the Instron 8800 controller.
• NEW: Multiple improvements have been made to GenTest:
  • Partner supports cyclic waveforms on the 5800 and 8800 controllers.
  • The option to automatically adjust rate polarity so as to move toward and through a specified level is now available for Mats II and Apex controllers.
  • The user interface has been enhanced.
• NEW: Additional safety limit actions have been added for the 5800 and 8800 controllers.
• NEW: Partner works with sensitivity-calibration transducers (5800 and 8800 controllers).
• CHANGE: The maximum data acquisition rate (when using a 5800 or 8800 controller) is now 5 kHz.

Version 7.2a (June 2006)

• NEW: Partner supports the Instron 5800 controller.
• NEW: Partner works with EMSY spring testing systems.
• NEW: Partner supports the ASMD (Automatic Specimen Measuring Device).
• NEW: 3300 and 5500 transducers may be excluded when a Zero All is done.
• NEW: There is now an option to remain off-line after editing certain procedure parameters.
• NEW: The Test Flow dialog may be resized.
• CHANGE: For the 3300 and 5500 controllers the "hardware and software zero" option has been replaced by an option to only hardware zero.
• CHANGE: The Test Point calculation now lets users enable a result for each measurement.
• CHANGE: Users are allowed to save the procedure from a retrieved result.

Version 7.1f (March 2006)

• NEW: Partner supports Microsoft Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2.
• NEW: Partner supports gain multipliers when used with 3300 and 5500 controllers.
• NEW: Extra options have been added to the Digital Input Event (Gentest).

Are you interested in upgrading to the latest version of Partner? Contact us

On-Line Diagnostic Support

Occasionally, Instron's support technicians will use LiveMeeting to troubleshoot a software problem in real time. If you're directed to a Instron LiveMeeting a support technician will provide you with the meeting name and log-in.

Interested in a Support Agreement?

Instron Support Agreements ensure that you continue to receive support after your warranty expires. Find out more about Instron's Support Agreements.

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