Subject: From: Date:

Re: [ECS] ECS 4.2.009 & Serial-Byte Bill Walters Mon, 17 Jan 2000 10:40:24 -0600

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Mark,

Just a wording suggestion for your documentation for us 'dummies' in the
crowd...


In UPD.TXT you might say:

Previously, both SERIAL-BYTE and I/O-PORT-BYTE items were read automatically
by ECS at the start of each event pass.  Now they are read only when
explicitly referenced in the state column in an event., and that reference
must capture the value into either a NUMBER or CHARACTER type item.

and for ECS.HTM you might put something like:

Holds bytes received over a serial port, and also allows bytes to be
transmitted over the port:

To receive a byte, the SERIAL-BYTE item must be set to either a NUMBER or
CHARACTER type item within an event.  No character is read from the serial
buffer into ECS until this action takes place.  If there is no next byte in
the buffer, the value returned is 0 or NONE.

.........then the rest of your wording.


just a humble suggestion.

Thanks for all of your work.

Bill Walters



----- Original Message -----
From: Mark Gilmore <omnip@usit.net>
To: <ecs-list@netbloc.com>
Sent: Monday, January 17, 2000 7:51 AM
Subject: Re: [ECS] ECS 4.2.009 & Serial-Byte


> Bill,
> As now stated in the SERIAL-BYTE section,
> the SERIAL-BYTE is only read when referenced
> in the State column. So set a NUMBER or CHARACTER-A
> Item TO your SERIAL-BYTE Item. Then that Item will
> hold the byte read.
> --
> Mark Gilmore
> Omnipotence (ECS home automation software)
> http://www.usit.com/omnip
> 423-745-0026
>
>
> Bill Walters wrote:
> >
> > Mark,
> >
> > I don't understand how this change could cause a problem...  If the
value is
> > 'correct' at the start of each event pass, why would it not be 'correct'
> > when referenced (if not at the start of the event-pass)...  Anyway,
here's
> > the event in question (only down thru the offending line)
> >
> > |Event: Log Call   Called ?:No
> > |
> > | ; Edited 8/18/99
> > | ; ECS DOS "Local-Phone-Button" references deleted
> > | ; and changes made to reflect addition of Weeder telephone interface
> > | ; which intercepts touchtones and after 5 seconds of silence, sends
> > | ; them out in a string prefaced with "O" (Letter Oh, not zero), and
> > | ; terminated with C/R
> > |
> > | If Weeder Telephone IX Is  Disconnected
> > | Then Event-Exit  Set  True
> > |
> > | If Weeder Telephone IX Is Not  None
> > | Then Weeder T/C I  Set  Weeder Telephone IX
> > ..............rest of code ommitted..........
> >
> > The last line shown is the line the code "chokes" on...  BTW, Weeder
> > Telephone IX is defined as type "Telephone-Interface", which is a custom
> > type.  There each of the ASCII values for 0...9,#,*, CR, are defined.
> > Item Weeder T/C I is type State-Holder.
> >
> > There has not been a problem with this code since I put it into place.
> >
> > Bill
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Mark Gilmore <omnip@usit.net>
> > To: <ecs-list@netbloc.com>
> > Sent: Sunday, January 16, 2000 3:23 PM
> > Subject: Re: [ECS] ECS 4.2.009 & Serial-Byte
> >
> > > Hi Bill,
> > > Did you note this ?
> > > *  197) SERIAL-BYTE and I/O-PORT-BYTE Items are now read when
referenced
> > > (instead of at the start of each Event-Pass).
> > >
> > > This may require an Event logic change.
> > > I did not personally test it, but it apparently works
> > > (for at least ONE customer :-)). Let me know if not.
> > > --
> > > Mark Gilmore
> > > Omnipotence (ECS home automation software)
> > > http://www.usit.com/omnip
> > > 423-745-0026
> > >
>

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