TI Connect Cable and Software

How-to Videos

Note: This information is dated (updated: May 29, 2009 ). This page describes how to use the TI Connect USB cable with a TI-73, 83, or 84 calculator (and others). Texas Instruments frequently comes out with new products.

Hardware Needed

TI-73, 83, or 84 Plus calculator and the TI Connect USB cable (which is silver).

Steps for Downloading Software from TI (click here ►►)

1. Don't plug in the USB cable yet.
2. Go to http://education.ti.com/educationportal/sites/US/productDetail/us_ti_connect.html to download the TI Connect Software. You will save a .exe file to your computer's hard drive. Then run the .exe file to install the TI Connect Software. This is a program that will run on your computer. Reboot. (The home site at TI is http://education.ti.com/educationportal/sites/US/homePage/index.html.)
3. After your computer reboots, plug in the USB (silver) Cable and hook it to your TI-83 Plus. Your computer should be able to find the correct driver (cross your fingers for good measure).
4. Turn on your TI-83 Plus (and get something interesting on the screen). Run TI Connect software and try a screen capture. This should work and is a nice test to see if the cable is working (more details below).
5. Reward yourself with a cold drink.

Steps for Getting a Screen Capture from the TI-83 to Your Computer (click here ►►)

1. Connect the USB cable to the computer and to your calculator. Get the calculator screen to what you want to capture.
2. Run TI Connect software. Click TI Screen Capture.
3. There are many nice options, including adding a border, copy to clipboard, launch in Paint, and save the picture to your hard drive (HD) as a .jpg or .bmp.
4. Once you've copied or saved to your HD, you can go over to another piece of software (e.g., PowerPoint, Word, Netscape Composer) and paste or insert your screen shot.

How to Transfer Data from the TI Calculator to the Compute (click here ►►)

This is useful when you collect data using one of the probes (for example, the temperature probe) and would like the data in the computer so it can be put into Excell, Word, PowerPoint, Etc.. The data is typically stored in the lists, L₁, L₂, etc.

1. Connect the USB cable to the computer and to your calculator. (We assume the data is already in the lists.)
2. Run TI Connect software.
3. Click (run) the TI Data Editor.
4. Click (run) the TI Device Explorer. (The "device" is the calculator.) This program allows you to "explore" (look at) the contents of the calculator--such as the variables, data lists, programs, etc.
   1. Click the little plus sign next to List.
   2. Double-click L₁. This will send L₁ to the TI Data Editor.
5. In TI Data Editor, click the top of the L₁ list (this highlights the list). Edit|Copy (or use control-C).
6. Swith over to Excell (or any software), Edit|Paste (or use control-V).

Steps for Typing Up a Calculator Program on the Computer (which you plan to Send it to the Calculator) (click here ►►)

You may be wondering why you'd want to do that. Well, it is easier to type up the program using your computer because you have the computer keyboard and mouse, etc.

0. You'll need to install the TI Graph Link software (this is an "older program that has been, for the most part, replaced by the TI-Connect software). The TI-Graph Link software is still needed as a Program Editor. (The TI-Graph Link software is on a TI Resource CD and is available online by following this link http://education.ti.com/educationportal/appsdelivery/download/download_select_product.jsp?cid=us&displaymode=F&contentpaneid=7. Note that the TI-Graph Link software is machine-specific. For example, the TI-83 software is different from the TI-86 software.)
1. Run TI Graph Link software. Type in the program and save it (to your harddrive). Note the suffix of the filename will be something like .8XP. (You will not trasfer the file to the calculator using TI Graph Link software.)
2. Plug your TI-Connect (silver) cable into the computer and calculator.
3. Run TI Connect software. Click TI DeviceExplorer.
4. Open Windows Explorer. Navigate to the .8XP file.
5. Drag and drop your file from your harddrive (from Windows Explorer) to the TI DeviceExplorer window (you can drop it anywhere, the software will know to put the program where it belongs in the calculator).

Steps for Downloading a Program from the Internet

1. Find the program you want on the Internet.
2. Download to your hard drive. Note the filename and location.
3. If it is a .8xp then proceed to "Steps for Sending a Program from the Computer to the Calculator." If it is a .zip file, then unzip it so you can see the .8xp files and then proceed.

Steps for Downloading an APP from the Internet (click here ►►)

1. Find the APP (application) you want on the Internet.
2. Download to your hard drive. Note the filename and location. It should have a suffix of .8xu.
3. If it is a .8xu then proceed to "Steps for Sending a Program or APP from the Computer to the Calculator." If it is a .zip file, then unzip it so you can see the .8xu files and then proceed.

Steps for Sending a Program or APP from the Computer to the Calculator

1. Connect the USB cable to the computer and to your calculator.
2. Run the TI Connect software. Click Home at the top. Click TI DeviceExplorer.
3. Open Windows Explorer (or "My Computer"). Drag and drop your file from your HD to the TI DeviceExplorer window (you can drop it anywhere, the software will know to put the program where it belongs in the calculator).
4. (You can use the TI DeviceExplorer to view the program list in your calculator.)
5. On your TI-83 calculator: To run the program use PRGM-EXEC. To use an APP use APPS.

How to Enter Data (Lists or Matrices) via the Computer and Put it into the TI-83 (click here ►►)

1. Connect the USB cable to the computer and to your calculator.
2. Run TI Connect software. Click TI DataEditor.
3. Enter the information - it's pretty self-explanatory if you've gotten this far. (The data can be saved to the HD, but this is not required.)
4. Click (send file) and the data is transferred to the calculator.

The Difference Between APPs and Programs

Generally, programs are for smaller tasks (like solving a quadratic equation), but can be used for more sophisticated things. APPs are "applications" and are more comprehensive (such as running the CBL/CBR or a dynamic geometry package).

Programs are editable on your calculator. I don't believe you can change the APPs.

APPs can be thought of as an upgrade for your calculator. Texas Instruments may write and distribute these. I think you have to have a "Plus" calculator to run an APP (someone correct me if I'm wrong). The "Plus" means the calculator is upgradable.

More Information

More information can be found at TI Graphics Calculator Tips, or education.ti.com.

Using the (gray) TI Graph Link Cable (these are rare and outdated)

There are still a few of the "old" gray or black TI GraphLink cables around. These are not USB and are being phased out by TI, but are still quite functional--in fact, it can be argued they are easier to use (due to the fact they offer fewer features).

Hardware needed: TI Graph Link (gray) cable and a TI-83 Plus calculator. (This cable plugs into a port in the back of the computer. You may need one of the adapters provided.)
Software needed: TI Graph Link software for you calculator. Download (free) and install as described above.
Functionality: The TI Graph Link software on your computer works to get screen dumps and to upload and download programs to and from the calculator. Since you are using the TI Graph Link Cable, this program is used to create the program and also upload to the calculator (if using the TI Connect USB cable, you have to use TI DeviceExplorer to upload to the calculator.