Subject: From: Date:

Serial-byte Jerry Swords Fri, 18 Feb 2000 01:08:40 -0500

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I'm trying to interface a serial printer output on my alarm system to
ECS.  Using COMIO in DOS, I have been able to read the output of this
port, and it appears quite easy to understand (ie: "02/17/00 10:33pm
Opening User 1").  My problem is getting this information from the
serial port to ECS.  Once I can isolate which user is trying to disarm
the alarm system, ECS can determine whether to unlock the deadbolts.

I have read what ECS help says about serial-byte type, but do not
understand how to retrieve the information sent by the alarm system.
Will ECS understand what is being sent by the alarm system as the common
words that COMIO displayed, or can I expect a bunch of numbers?  How do
I put this information into a state holder, so that I can check it
against a list of expected serial inputs?  I know these are newbie
questions, but I've never worked with the serial-byte type before, and
don't know just what I'm attempting to do, here.  A nudge in the right
direction would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Jerry

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