Specifications

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Appendix A:
Controlling a MultiTasker System
This section provides a brief overview of how the MultiTasker is controlled by any device capable
of delivering ASCII characters through an RS-232 (or compatible) port, including PC computers
and touch-panel control devices. This is not a comprehensive set of programming commands, nor
is it a reference for programming a MultiTasker front panel with push buttons. Also, some of the
commands listed here will behave differently from card to card. For a comprehensive list of com-
mands for a particular card, see the ALTINEX website (http://www.altinex.com).
MultiTasker Control Software — available free from ALTINEX — is an excellent tool to control
MultiTasker units from a Windows
®
PC. See “Appendix B: MuktiTasker Control Software” for
more information on how that program is used.
In the following examples, all commands sent to the MultiTasker will appear in
THIS FONT; feed-
back information from the MultiTasker will look
LIKE THIS.
A typical command for the MultiTasker will consist of three parts: function, card ID, and unit ID.
For example,
[ON5C3U0] enables the number 5 input (when used with a switching card) or output
(of a distribution amplifier with output on-off control) on the card in slot
3 in MultiTasker unit 0.
The slot number that a card is plugged into is an intrinsic part of any command sent to a Multi-
Tasker system; once a control system has been programmed, the cards should not be moved into
different slots or MultiTasker enclosures, or else the system may need to be re-programmed. Note
the following rules when issuing commands to a MultiTasker unit:
1. Square brackets
[ ] are required to start and end most commands; others (not discussed
here) use curly brackets
{ }.
2. Use uppercase letters for all commands.
3. Commands must be executed without any spaces.
The following syntax is used to describe how commands are sent to a MultiTasker unit:
• Specific input (or output) numbers are identified with the lower-case letter m after
a command
• Specific cards are identified following the upper-case letter C with the lower-case
letter
n
• Groups of cards can be addressed simultaneously; specific groups are identified
following the upper-case letter G with the lower-case
k
• Specific MultiTasker enclosures (Units) are identified following the upper-case letter U
with the lower-case letter i (when more than one MultiTasker enclosure is used)
Example: the [
ON] command uses the syntax [ONmCnUi] or [ONmGkUi]
Note: when using only one enclosure in a MultiTasker configuration, the unit identifier (U0)
need not be included in a command.
Multiple Enclosure Setup
If your MultiTasker system will use more than one enclosure connected to the same control
port, you will need to set the “Unit ID” of each enclosure using the following procedure:
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