User Guide

Programming
9
NXI NetLinx Integrated Controller
Programming
This section describes the Send_Commands, Send_Strings, and Channel commands you can use to
program the NXI. The examples in this section require a declaration in the DEFINE_DEVICE
section of your program to work correctly. Refer to the NetLinx Programming Language instruction
manual for specifics about declarations and DEFINE_DEVICE information.
Using the ID Button
The ID Button on the rear panel of the NXI (FIG. 1 on page 1) is used in conjunction with the
NetLinx Studio software program to allow you to assign new Device and System numbers for the
NXI.
1. Using NetLinx Studio, place the system in Identity (ID) Mode. ID Mode means the entire
system is put on hold while it waits for an event from any NetLinx device in the named system
(for example, pushing the ID button on the NXI). The device that generates the first event is the
identified device.
2. Press the ID Mode button to generate an event from the NXI and assign new device and system
numbers in NetLinx Studio.
Device:Port:System (D:P:S)
A device is any hardware component that can be connected to an AXlink or ICSNet bus. Each
device must be assigned a unique number to locate that device on the bus. The NetLinx
programming language allows numbers in the range 0-32,767. Device 0 refers to the local master;
numbers greater than 32,767 are reserved.
NetLinx requires a Device:Port:System (D:P:S) specification. This D:P:S triplet can be expressed
as a series of constants, variables separated by colons, or a DEV structure. For example:
STRUCTURE DEV
{
INTEGER Number // Device number
INTEGER Port // Port on device
INTEGER System // System the device belongs to
}
The D:P:S notation is used to explicitly represent a device number, port and system. For example,
128:1:0 represents the first port on device 128 on this system. If the system and Port specifications
are omitted, (e.g. 128), system 0 (indicating this system) and port 1 (the first port) is assumed.
Here's the syntax:
NUMBER:PORT:SYSTEM
where:
NUMBER: 16-bit integer represents the device number
PORT: 16-bit integer represents the port number (in the range 1 through the number of
ports on the Controller or device)
SYSTEM: 16-bit integer represents the system number (0 = this system)