WiFi File Browser Help

Overview

The WiFi File Browser lets you view and manage the contents of an AnodeMeter's SD card remotely, without connecting it to a PC by USB. Every action here — listing a folder, reading a file, deleting, renaming, uploading — is sent as a queued command that the meter only sees, and acts on, the next time it polls its site gateway while in WiFi Files mode. There's no live/instant connection to the meter, so results appear a short time after you queue them, not immediately.

The meter must be set to WiFi Files mode from its LCD menu and connected to the same site gateway the portal is talking to.

Site Gateway

Set the gateway's URL under Site Gateway at the top of the page and click Save — this is the same shared gateway setting used by the Configuration and Update Packages pages, stored per browser. Test connection confirms the gateway is reachable and reports its service, version, and database availability.

Meters and the Command Queue

The Meters panel lists every meter currently announced to the gateway in WiFi Files mode, showing its name/ID and when it was last seen. Select one to open its Command Queue, which shows the meter's app version, how many commands are still pending, and the status of the last result.

• Queue root listing requests a fresh top-level directory listing — use this first when you select a meter.
• The Path field plus List lists a specific subfolder (e.g. Logs), and Read chunk reads a specific file (e.g. Config\FactoryDefaults.csv).

Queuing a command doesn't wait for a reply — the meter must poll the gateway from WiFi file mode before a result comes back and the display updates.

Cached File Tree

Listings and file reads build up into a Cached File Tree for the selected meter, which stays populated between commands so you can browse what's already been retrieved. Click a folder's arrow to expand it, or a file to select it — the Selected Item panel then shows its path, size, and last-modified time, along with the actions available for it (see below).

You can also drag a file from your computer and drop it directly onto a folder row (to copy it into that folder) or onto a file row (to overwrite that file) — this queues the same upload as the Copy to meter button.

File and Folder Actions

Copy from meter

Downloads the selected file to your computer, in chunks with CRC-32 verification on each chunk. Available for files, not folders.

Open in Config

Only enabled for SmelterConfiguration.xml. Loads it directly into the Anode Meter Configuration editor.

Open in Factory Defaults

Only enabled for FactoryDefaults.csv. Loads it directly into the Factory Defaults editor — Save there then writes the result straight back to this same meter over WiFi, instead of to a local file.

Delete / Rename

Only enabled within the meter's Updates folder, as a safety guard against accidentally removing or renaming files elsewhere on the card. Rename needs a target path entered first.

Copy to meter

Uploads a file from your computer to the selected location, in chunks with CRC-32 verification. Available anywhere in the tree. If the upload is interrupted, retry it — the transfer resumes as a new queued upload.

Create folder

Creates a new folder at the path you enter (e.g. Updates\NewFolder).

Troubleshooting

"No meters have announced WiFi file mode."

No meter is currently checked in with this gateway in WiFi Files mode. Confirm the meter's LCD shows it's in WiFi Files mode and connected, and that you've got the right site gateway selected above.

Gateway test fails, or shows the database/read/write as unavailable

The gateway itself is reachable but reporting a problem — check the gateway's own status/logs on the plant PC, the same as for a Configuration page connection issue.

A download or upload reports a CRC check failure

The message names the offset where it happened — the chunk was corrupted in transit. Just retry the transfer; occasional WiFi corruption is expected and retried transfers normally succeed.

Nothing happens after queuing a command

Commands only resolve when the meter polls the gateway from WiFi file mode — this can take a few seconds. If it never resolves, check the meter is still in WiFi Files mode and still shows as recently seen in the Meters list.