SPECIFICATION & OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS for the 606, 607, 608 and 700 Modular Generating Set Control

Systems
Software version 2

PART 4 Link 600 PC Software

Ref 98041463 Issue 1.2 24 November 1998 (V204) Deep Sea Electronics plc reserve the right to change this specification at any time and without notice. All rights reserved.

Model 606 Link 600 Software

Contents
Introduction Computer requirements Installation Configuring Operation DDE operation Modem data cable Modem power cable Model 606 to PC null modem cable Model 606 to PC fibre optic link

Introduction
The Link600 Remote control software runs on a computer with the Microsoft windows operating system version 3.1 and above, its purpose is to communicate with a DSE model 600 series controller through the RS232 serial ports. The serial link can be a direct cable connection or through a modem at each end. When using a modem the Model 606 can answer telephone calls and will dial out itself when a fault condition arises. The link software can be left in a state to always answer calls, or dial out, or be continually monitoring a direct connection. The link software can also interrogate the internal data log of the Model 600 series controller. Throughout this document the Model 606 controller is refereed to but the program is equally capable of communicating with model 606, 607 and 608 controllers. The communications protocol used by the 600 series controllers is described in a separate document, Part 5 of the specifications and instructions series available separately from DSE.

Computer requirements.
The link software is designed to run on an IBM PC compatible computer running Microsoft Windows operating system. Recommended minimum PC system: Operating System Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows NT Processor 486 25Mhz Ram 8 Mb Monitor 14 inch SVGA (800x600 resolution) Fixed disk 10 Mb free (80Mb minimum) Disk drive 3 for software installation Mouse needed for windows Communications An RS232 comms port is needed to attach the Model 606. Most modern computer systems easily meet this requirement.

Installation
The software is supplied on two 3 inch floppy disks, to install it run the setup.exe program on the disk1. i.e. from file manager choose file:run a:setup.exe. The install program defaults to copying the files into the directory c:\progra~1\link600 there is an opportunity to change this for another drive and directory if needed. The files will be copied, a program manager group will be created with icons for the link program etc. During the installation process a dialog box appears prompting for the comm port to be used to communicate with the Model 606. When the link600 program is run it appears as a window with a mimic of the front panel display of the Model 606 with its editor buttons. To access other features of the program there is a menu bar at the top of the main window. For example to make a connection to a Model 606 directly connected to the PCs serial port use the CommsLink menu and select the Direct option, this will open the comm port and start communications to the Model

606. If an error message appears the comm port is in use already or not available, for example trying to use the mouses comm port. Enter the commslink:port menu item to select the comms port to use for the connection to the model606 controller (com1 is the default). When the OK button is clicked then the selected values are saved and they become the program defaults . Selecting Cancel will not make any changes. The other comms settings are correct set at their default values and should not be changed if using a direct link. The default comm port settings are:

Port Baud rate Data bits Stop bits Parity Handshake Configuring

Com1, (depends on computer) 9600 8 1 None RTS/CTS

The program configuration is held and a file link600.ini in the windows directory, this file is created by the link program. the configuration file holds details about the comm port used, the directory for the program data files, and the database directory etc. The alarm logging function saves its data in a file in the program directory (default is c:\progra~1\link600.log). When the program starts it loads the file for display in the alarms page and updates the file when new events occur.

Operation
The program appears initially as a single window showing a mimic of the front panel of the Model 606 controller with its edit buttons. There is a menu bar at the top to control other parts of the program allowing the operator to connect to a Model 606 controller and open up the other windows of the program.

CommsLink Menu
The program has to be set into an operating mode to suit the connection to the unit.

Port
This menu is used to set the communications settings for the comm port used to connect with the Model 606 controller. The standard settings are: baudrate 9600, Databits 8, Stopbits 1, Parity None, Handshake RTS/CTS. The comm port must be a free comm port with the 606 controller connected to it or the one with the modem to connect to the 606 controller.

Modem
The modem menu allows the user to set the connection details for the particular modem used. The defaults suit the modems supplied with the Model 606 controller. The number to dial should be entered into the edit box supplied. N.b. numbers previously entered in the number edit box are available to choose by opening the edit box with the small

arrow at the right of the edit box, these numbers are held in the program ini file, up to 10 numbers can be held. Unit ID: this edit box holds the ID parameter for communications and must match the unit ID number on the Model 606 controller itself. The default value of 1 is used by both the Model 606 controller and the Link600 software. Acceptable values are in the range 1 to 254. Other units can be queried by the poll units button in the logon page. The Poll units selector in this screen select which units will participate in the polling.

Direct mode
To make a direct connection to a model606 controller select the CommsLink:Direct menu item and the comms port will be opened and the data link will be made to the Model606 controller.. If unable to open the port then an error message will be displayed. When the port is opened and the RS232 handshake lines are available at the Model 606 the Telemetry led will light on the Model 606. When data is being successfully transferred between the units then the link led on the link window will flash on and off.

Modem answer mode

Select commslink:answer, the unit will always be ready to answer calls. The program will restore itself when a call is answered.

Modem dial mode

Selct commslink:dial options from the menu. The unit will attempt to dial for up to six times.

Communication status
The red and green indicators at the bottom of the main window show whats happening on the RS232 communications port and logon and alarm status. The meaning of each indicator is as follows: CTS DSE RI Red Red The comm port has a valid signal input and will be able to transmit. The comm port has a valid signal input, the unit or modem is connected.

Flashing Red, The attached modem is being phoned up by a remote station

CD Red This indicator shows red when data packets can flow it will always show red when a local (null modem) conection is made to 606 controller and will show red when a sucessfull modem link is made to a remote 606 controller TD RD Pkt Acc Flashing Red, Shows data is being sent by the Link600 program. Flashing Red shows data is being received by the Link600 program. Flashing Red shows valid packets are being received by the link600 program Red shows that a pasword has been accepted by the remote system

Per Red shows that the Persist flag is set and that if a modem connection then the remote system will try to re-dial on link failure

Diagnostics using the status indicators:

When the comms port is closed all indicators appear grey. If no valid device is attached to the comm port then the only the TD indicator will light red. If the CD indicator fails to light Red and the 606 has a direct connection there is a cable fault. If a modem connection the modems have not succeeded in synchronising to each other.

If the Pkt light does not flash Red then there could be a baud rate conflict or the UNIT ID setting in the Comms:Modem dialog box does not match that set in the 606 module (Telemetry: Slave ID)

606 Logon
The logon window is used to send a password to the Model 606 controller to gain access to it. There are three levels of access, Read, Write, and Configure. Used to view status of the controller, Operate the controller, and send configuration files to the controller. The default passwords are R for read access, W for write access, and C for config access. To enter a password click on the text edit box and type the password followed by return or a click on the Send button. After a short while a message is returned from the Model 6060 showing the kind of access gained by entering the password, i.e. None, Read, Write, or Config. The poll button is used in conjunction with the poll units selector in the modem window. It allows the user to seek a unit on the system with an alarm pending. Any of the eight units selected in the modem page will be polled to see if an alarm is pending turn (starting at the highest numbered unit) and the connection transferred to it if it finds one. When a connection is first established all units configured for polling will be queried in turn and control passed to the on with an alarm pending. Also in the Logon window is the station ID information returned from the controller, it consists of four lines of text, the Model type, the comms UNIT ID, the database name, and the revision level of the Model 606 controller. The default SLAVE ID is 1, the default Database name is SITE1. This information is updated when a new connection is made to the controller or when the Recv button is pressed in the Logon window. There are three levels of logon acceptable by the Model 606 controller. Read access for displaying information, Write access for operating the Model 606 controller i.e. starting and stopping the engine, and Configure access for uploading datafiles to the Model 606 controller. If an attempt is made to control the606 controller by the 606panel without there being an acceptable password having been sent to the Modell606 controller then an error message dialogue is displayed, select OK on this dialogue to restore the 606logon panel and enter the correct password. Pressing cancel only removes the error dialogue box. When a password has been entered and accepted by the Model 606 controller then it is possible to operate all the functions of the Model 606 by using the mimic panel. When the program is started it will resume with the connection settings and issue the password that were set at the point when the CommsLink:SaveSettings menu item was selected. This allows automatic re-connection whenever the program is started.

606 Panel
Open the panel window and see the Model606 controller status displayed on the front panel mimic. The 606 controller can be operated by clicking on the buttons with the mouse just as the real buttons on the Model 606. To operate the Model 606 controller the password must be entered in the 606logon menu. N.B. the double key presses used to set the defaults and activate the password menu are the small grey buttons between the buttons on the top line of the menu editing keys.

606 Instruments
Open the Instruments panel to see the state of the Model606 instrumentation. The instrument display is updated every 5 seconds when the comms link is active.

606 Alarms
Open the Alarms panel to see the state of the Model606 alarm system. When an alarm occurs the Alarm window is automatically opened. The mute button mutes the alarm on the Model 606 controller and resets the alarm persist flag on the Model 606 controller. The Hangup button mute the alarm and then close the comms link. The OK button only closes the Alarm window.

Saving Options
The state of the panels (i.e. their screen position and whether they are restored or iconised) can be saved by the Options:Save positions menu item of the 606mimic panel. When saved then the next time the program is run the panels will all be in the same positions as when saved. The program can be returned to its default configuration by deleting the file link600.ini in the windows directory.

Datalog Window
The Model 606 controller has a data logging module to record events and instrumentation values on the unit. This information can be transferred to the PC and saved as a series of database tables. The Datalogs window controls the transfer and allows the operator to view the database as tables of values and for the instrumentation as a series of graphs selected by the tabs along the bottom of the window. The display is selected as a table or as a graph by the menus at the top of the window, Plot for graphs and Data for Tables. To put a marker on the graph click with the mouse on the graph, a vertical red line will appear at the nearest point on the graph and the closest event will be displayed at the top of the graph under the menu. The arrows below the menu navigate through the evens database moving the red marker through the analogue graph display. If the view is now changed to table view the cursor will be at the position of the data in the table. If the table view is changed to the event table its cursor will be at the position of the nearest event to the entry in the analogue database selected. Similarly if an event is chosen by clicking on an event in the event table and the view then is changed to graph view then there will be a red vertical marker at the appropriate point in the graph.

To inspect an area of a graph in more detail it is possible to zoom in to an area of it by using the mouse. Hold the shift key down whilst dragging the mouse with the mouse left button pressed, the screen colours invert and a box is drawn arround the selected area. When the mouse button is released the graph will redraw with the selected area displayed in the whole graph diplay. To return the view to normal with all data displayed click the left mouse button with the shift key pressed.

Datalog menus:
Menus: File : Update: To receive datalog from 606 controller. A dialogue box opens with choices to control what data is transferred from the controller to the PC database. By default only data which hasnt already been transferred will be sent by the 606 controller. If the check box in either the Start or Finish boxes are un-checked then edit controls become visible to specify the start or finish period for the transferred data. The filter box controls weather only the events database is transferred or both the events and instrumentation values are transferred. The Records box controls the marking of the datalog when it is transferred to the PC. Normally once a record has been read by the PC once then it wil not be transferred again because it is marked as have being read. However if a second PC need to read the datalog then the re-read check box will need to be checked. If a test transfer is needed for diagnostic purposes then if the mark as read check box is un-checked then when a normal transfer is made later the complete new data will be available. These options remain set until the comms link is broken when they revert to the default values of transferring all unread events and data and marking them as read on the 606 controller, this way every time an update is requested only new unread data is transferred. If data is transferred twice to the PC database the duplicate values are simply discarded. BackgroundUpdate: Transfer whenever data is available: This option is switched on or off by selecting it on the menu, it is on when a tick appears next to the name in the menu. Any unread datalog records are transferred whenever the comms link is connected. This setting is saved between invocations of the program. RollingBuffer: Display the contents of the 606 controllers rolling buffer. This diagnotic function allows the rolling buffer on the 606 controller to be examined. The display is only updated slowly and builds up when one of the analogues is selected. N.b. only analogue channels which have a rolling buffer configured will show any contents. When a buffer to view is selected its size is shown next to the selection edit box. PrintSetup: Allows the user to select which printer to use for graph printing. Print:

Prints the current graph. Save: Allows a copy of the current database file to be saved onto disk. Erase: Deletes the current database file. Close: Shuts the datalogs window, background operations continue. Edit Menu: Copy: Saves the current graph onto the clipboard in WMF format for use by other applications. Plotting Menu: Graph: Data: These two toggle the main display of instrumentation between database table list and graphical plot. N.b. events are only shown as a table, instrument tables with less than three entries will not show as graphs. Config: This allows the operator to over ride the automatic scaling of the graphs, for every table a minimum and maximum Y value can be set. When the auto Y size button is unchecked the current minimum and maximum graph values are copied into the min and max edit boxes where they can be edited before being saved by clicking the save def button. If the Save Def button is clicked then the current settings for the current database table are saved in the ini file and will be used whenever that table is viewed. To return a table to automatic view select the auto Y size check box an click the save def button. The auto plotting button controls weather the graph is redrawn whenever new data is added to it, un-checking this box will freeze a graph for examination. The Offline Database path points to the tables to view when the program is not connected to a 606 controller, When connected this directory is obtained by appending the Telemetry-Database obtained from the controller to the datadir directory from the ini file.

Off-line Editor Window

When the link600 program starts it looks an loads a default data file, usually link600.dat. this file is made by transferring from a newly initialised 606 controller. A data file containing a configuration set from a previous session can be loaded into the program using the file:open menu and saved after editing with the file:save menu.

The off-line editor allows configuration sets to be edited, loaded and saved to disk, and transferred to and from the 606 controller. To gain access to the editor its password must be entered in the editor password screen. The default password set when the software is installed is C. Type the password into the Enter password edit box and press the return key or click the OK button. To change the password first type in the old password into the edit box

labelled Enter Password and then instead of clicking the OK button click on the Change button. The two other edit boxes will now be labelled with prompts for the new password to be typed in. Enter the new password into both of these boxes and click the save button. The new password is now saved and the editor is invoked. Clicking on the Cancel button returns control back to the main program window. The editor window appears a a set of tables selected by a tab selector at the bottom of the window, each tab gives access to a table of values resembling those found on the Model 606 units editor pages. The left hand column . One or more right hand columns are the editable data for that item. To edit an item first select the tab with the item in it, click the right hand column containing the data and type in the new value and press the return key. N.b. it is important to press return after editing any value.

Editor menu items:

File Menu: Open,Save,Info,Close operations on the datafiles are performed with this menu Open: opens up a new datafile for editing Save: saves a file to disk, for use after opening or transferring data Info: shows revision information about the current datafile: Close closes the off-line editor window Transfer Menu: Send, Receive Send: transfers the current datafile from memory in the link600 program to a 606 controller connected via the communications port. Receive: transfers a configuration set from a 606 controller module connected via a communication port. Print Menu: Print, Setup, Font. The print menu allows one or more pages of the configuration settings to be printed Font: allows the operator to choose a font for the printout Setup: allows the printer and options to be selected Print: select printer options and starts the printout. Security menu: operations needing live connection to Model 606 controller. Verify CS: perform checksum comparison on data in module and data in PC memory and report if data matches or not. Set Scheduler: transfer the scheduler settings from the scheduler page to the Model 606

Fix Derived Values: synchronise actual values from nominal values and percentage values Sync Clocks: Set the clock/calendar in the Model 606 controller to match the clock/calendar in the PC. Erase Datalog: erase and re-initialise the datalog in the Model 606 controller. Set Hours Run: transfer the hours run counter from the value in the runtime menu to the hours run counter on the 606 controller.

Communication status:
The red and green indicators at the bottom of the main window show whats happening on the RS232 communications port and logon and alarm status. The meaning of each indicator is as follows: CTS DSE RI Red Red The comm port has a valid signal input and will be able to transmit. The comm port has a valid signal input, the unit or modem is connected.

Flashing Red, The attached modem is being phoned up by a remote station

CD Red This indicator shows red when data packets can flow it will always show red when a local (null modem) conection is made to 606 controller and will show red when a sucessfull modem link is made to a remote 606 controller TD RD Pkt Acc Flashing Red, Shows data is being sent by the Link600 program. Flashing Red shows data is being received by the Link600 program. Flashing Red shows valid packets are being received by the link600 program Red shows that a pasword has been accepted by the remote system

Per Red shows that the Persist flag is set and that if a modem connection then the remote system will try to re-dial on link failure

Diagnostics using the status indicators:

When the comms port is closed all indicators appear grey. If no valid device is attached to the comm port then the only the TD indicator will light red. If the CD indicator fails to light Red and the 606 has a direct connection there is a cable fault. If a modem connection the modems have not succeeded in synchronising to each other. If the Pkt light does not flash Red then there could be a baud rate conflict or the UNIT ID setting in the Comms:Modem dialog box does not match that set in the 606 module (Telemetry: Slave ID)

Sound:
Alarm messages appearing in the alarm log are accompanied by a sound A ding occurs whenever a link checksum error or time-out occurs.

Troubleshooting:
To restore the window sizes and positions to their default values delete the entries form the [positions] sections of mimic606.ini in the windows directory. The entry datadir in the [system] section of the mimic606.ini is needed if the program is started in anything but its own directory

Files and directories used by Link600

Name directories: (System Root) (program name) (program directory) (database directory)

This is the base directory for windows window 3.1& windows 95usually c:\windows the filename of the link600 program usually link600.exe The directory the Link600 programs are installed into usually c:\progra~1\link600 The base directory where databases are kept usually c:\progra~1\link600, a further directory is created getting its name from the database name received from the 606 controller. I.e. SITE1 forming the path to the database tables c:\progra~1\link600\site1 the main program, installed into the program directory the help file for link600 Program settings file in (system root) directory This file is named after the program file name and are located in the (system root) directory, i.e. if the program is renamed to linkcopy.exe then the ini file would become linkcopy. the alarm log file from the alarm window the default data file with configuration settings These files are named after the program file name and are located in the program directory, i.e. if the program is renamed to linkcopy.exe then the log file would become linkcopy.dat. tables used by the datalogs. these are created in a directory below the main database directory.

program files: link600.exe link600.hlp link600.ini

link600.log link600.dat

database files:

events.db oilpres.db engtemp.db oiltemp.db battdc.db fuellev.db engrpm.db genfreq.db genvl1.db genvl2.db genvl3.db genal1.db genal2.db genal3.db earthcur.db revpower.db mnsvl1.db mnsvl2.db mnsvl3.db mnsfreq.db

events oil pressure engine temp oil temp battery DC fuel level engine speed gen freq gen volts L1 gen volts L2 gen volts L3 gen amps L1 gen amps L2 gen amps L3 earthcurrent reverse power mns volts L1 mns volts L2 mns volts L3 mains freq

The program Ini file.

The ini file is used to store information needed for the program to startup and to keep information about the program between invocations. It is held in the windows system dirctory, its name is derived from the program filename. I.e. if the program is renamed from link600.exe to linkcopy.exe then the copy of the program will look for the ini file linkcopy.ini in the windows system directory. The ini file is divided into sections, each corresponding to an area of the programs configuration. The sections are headed by a name in square brackets, e.g. [communications] inside each section there are lines of pairs of data sepeated by the equals character =, e.g. CommPort=3, here showing that the comm port is comm3. The ini file is created and maintained automatically by the program and should not usually need any alterations. It is autoamtically created by the installation process and maintained by the link600 program itself. One way to restore the program to default operation in all areas is to delete the ini file. INI file sections [System] datadir database backgroundupdate password

c:\progra~1\link600 c:\progra~1\link600\site1 1=do background datalog update j= encrypted and saved value of editor password

oemlogo oemname

Thes two entries are to allow customisation of the logo area of the main, panel and help:obout windows. OEM logo bitmap file to appear in panel etc. OEM copyright notice to appear in help:about menu The following items can appear in the system section to change the default refresh rates of various windows. display window refresh rate, default 2 instruments window refresh rate, default 2 status outputs refresh rate, default 5 datalog background refresh rate, default 5 rolling buffer window refresh rate, default 10 status window inputs refresh rate, default 10 instrument units refresh rate, default 10

tick_disp tick_inst tick_outputs tick_logmem tick_rolbufs tick_inputs tick_units

[Communications]

connection=1 StartOpen=1 CommPort=3 BaudRate=6 DataBits=4 StopBits=0 Parity=0 FlowControl=1

automatically connect start with commport open comm port to use baud rate to use 6=9600 baud databit to use 4=8 data bits stop bits 0=1 stop bit parity 0=none flow control 1=RTS/CTS

[Modem] H0=01653 694597 first telephone number H1, H2, H3 etc subsequent telephone numbers dial=Atdt dial prefix unitid=1 modbus device unit ID init=AT s0=0 &c1 &d3 &s0 e0 modem initialise string escape=+++ modem escape sequence hangup=ATH0S0=0 modem hangup string answer=ATS0=2 modem answer string [Positions] saved windows states and positions, 0=restored, 1=minimised, 3=minimised.

main=0 22 1158 238 428 similar entries may exist for all the windows, e.g. mimic, instruments, logon, alarms, status, editor, rolbufs, datalogs [Datalog] BattDC_auto=1 BattDC_min=10 BattDC_max=18 1=autoscale this graph =minimum Y value for autoscale =maximaum Y value for autoscale similar entries may exist for all graphic tables i.e. oilpres, engtemp, oiltemp, battdc, fuellev, engrpm, genfreq, genvl1, genvl2, genvl3, genal1, genal2, genal3, earthcur, revpower, mnsvl1, mnsvl2, mnsvl3, mnsfreq

DDE operation
DDE operation enables the transfer of information between windows programs, The link program is a DDE server and makes the instrumentation values gathered from the unit available as DDE items. The front panel controls of the unit can be operated by issuing DDE macro commands to the the controller. An example of the DDE usage is given in the demonstration excel spreadsheet link.xls provided with the link software.

DDE reference
Service. Topics Topic Item Topics Macros LINK600 System, Mimics, Instrument

System Contents list of all topics available i.e. System Mimics Instrument Stop Start Auto Man Start Test Mute Gen Mains Down Up Left Right PageUp PageDown Tick Lamptest Minimize Restore

Topic Mimics Item Contents MimicItems list of all items of the MimicItems topic. i.e. Display1 Display2 Display1 contents of the top line of the LCD module. Display2 contents of the bottom line of the LCD module. Audible status of audible alarm Warningstatus of warning

Electrical Shutdown Leds

status of electrical trip status of shutdown status of front panel LEDs. 24 character string. 0=off, 1=on Character positions of leds are: genavl 1 mainsavl 2 genonl 3 mainsonl 4 swstop 5 swmanual 6 swstart 7 swauto 8 swtest swmutealm remotecon remotesta systemlok mainsout safetyon faultwng faultelec faultsdn failtosta lowoilpre hicooltem uospeed uovoltage emergency 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Topic Item InstrumentItems gvl1 gvl2 gvl3 gil1 gil2 gil3 gkl1 gkl2 gkl3 gkl123 gfl1 gvl12 gvl23 gvl31 gec grp goc eop ect eot ees mvl1 mvl2 mvl3 mfl1 mvl12 mvl23 mvl31 abv

Instrument Contents list of all items of the Instrument topic.i.e. gv1 gv2 gv3 etc. generator L1-N voltage generator L2-N voltage generator L3-N voltage generator L1 current generator L2 current generator L3 current generator L1 kVA generator L2 kVA generator L3 kVA total kVA for L1 L2, and L3 generator L1 frequency generator L1-L2 voltage generator L2-L3 voltage generator L3-L1 voltage generator earth current generator reverse power generator over current engine oil pressure engine coolant temperature engine oil temperature engine speed RPM mains voltage L1-N mains voltage L2-N mains voltage L3-N mains frequency L1 mains voltage L1-L2 mains voltage L2-L3 mains voltage L3-L1 Plant battery voltage

afl tcal thr

Fuel level Calendar Hours run counter

DDE macro commands

Note. All DDE commands and Macro names are case sensitive DDE macros are used to simulate front panel button presses and have the same names: Logon (with password appended, i.e. LogonR etc) Stop Auto Man Start Test Mute Gen Mains The editing keys are also available as macros: Down Up Left Right Home Down Up Left Right PageDown PageUp Tick PageDown PageUp Tick Lamptest Lamptest Password (double key press on left and right) Two macros control the visible state of the program: Minimize Restore. Macros for remote control: RemoteStartOn RemoteStartOff RemoteLoadOn RemoteLoadOff VirtIp21On VirtIp21Off VirtIp22On VirtIp22Off

Examples of DDE use with Microsoft Office applications

Microsoft Excel DDE naming is unusual and uses different names for parts of a DDE conversation Service becomes Type The name of the DDE sever program i.e. LINK600 Topic becomes Sourcefile The group name for some DDE items Item remains Item The individual DDE item To use multiple link programs then each one will have to be renamed to a unique name and the DDE client program (Excel) modified to look for a different set of services (Types). LINK600 is the program name of the mimic panel program without the drive and path and without .exe extension. Mimics is the topic name for the dde conversation Display1 is the item name for the dde conversation Microsoft Access DDE cell contents =LINK600|Mimics!Display1

' ' Send Macro for Microsoft Access ' Public myvar Sub Send() Range("$b1").Value = InputBox("Type Command:", "LINK600", Range("$b1").Value) channelNumber = Application.DDEInitiate( app:="LINK600", topic:="System") Application.DDEExecute channelNumber, Range("$B1") Application.DDETerminate channelNumber End Sub For more information on DDE usage see the example program available from DSE.

Network DDE
DDE data items can be obtained across a microsoft network using the net dde standard. The names used for Service, Topic, and item need to match those available on the network. For example to view the display lines 1 & 2 on a computer named MERESIDE Service = \\MERESIDE\ndde$ Topic = Link600_Mimics Item = Display1, Item = Display2 NetDDE need to be setup up with DDE shares I have used the three names Link600_Instruments, Link600_Mimics, and Link600_System. Windows NT NetDDE should be setup with the program DDESHARE.EXE which is located in C:\WINNT35\SYSTEM32. Windows 95 has a quite different DDE-setup, than Windows 3.11 and Windows NT. Start REGEDIT.EXE and set it up like CHAT$ or any other DDE-share. Look at the Registry database dialogue to get some help. By default, NETDDE.EXE is not loaded on Windows 95, so you have to manually start NETDDE.EXE on your DDE-server, or put a connection in your startup-folder. For more information see the example program available from DSE.

Modem Cable
To connect a modem to a Model 606 controller a straight through 25 pin male to 9 pin female cable as supplied with the modem is used. The modem cable screen is connected to the D shell at both ends of the cable, extending the faraday cage to encompass the isolated modem. The cables supplied with the modems have been tested and found to be like this.

Modem power lead

The modem needs to be supplied with power, this is by use of the mains to DC power cube as supplied with the modem. Alternatively the 8 Volt DC output available on the back of the Model 606 can be used to supply the modem. Terminal 53, Terminal 54, Plug D8 Plug D9 8 Volt DC -ve (ground) 8 Volt DC +ve (modem supply)

If the power cube lead supplied with the modem is cut in half it can be used to connect the modem to the Model 606 power output. Black only wire -ve to terminal 53 Black with white +ve to terminal 54 outer connector to modem inner connector to modem

The power connector used for the Pace netlink gold v34 modem is available from Farnell components, part no:

224-911 DCPP3: PLUG, DC POWER 1.3MM PK 10 (order 1, get 10)

Model 606 to PC Null Modem cable

The null modem cable has the metal body connected to the cable screen at one end only because both the PC and the 606 controller have grounded chassis and an earth loop could be created with the two units linked with the cable screens. The cable screen end connected to the D shell will be marked with a coloured band (green). The grounded end should probably be connected to the 606 controller. 9-Pin Null Modem Cabling Computer serial port connector 3 2 7 8 6, 1 5 4 9 way socket to Model 606 2 3 8 7 4 5 6, 1 Signal Transmit Data Receive Data Request to Send Clear to Send Data Set Ready and Carrier Detect Signal Ground Data Terminal Ready

25-Pin Null Modem Cabling Computer serial port connector 2 3 4 5 6, 8 7 20 9 way socket to Model 606 2 3 8 7 4 5 6, 1 Signal Transmit Data Receive Data Request to Send Clear to Send Data Set Ready and Carrier Detect Signal Ground Data Terminal Ready

Off-the-shelf null modem cables may not be wired properly. Be sure to tell your dealer that your null modem cables must be wired as shown in the Table

Model 606 Fibre Optic Modem Link.

GARD DATA GD275 fibre optic modems can be used for isolated communications between the Link600 software and the 606 controller, these modems transmit the RS232 control and data signals along two fibres. The fibre modems need a DC supply which can be obtained from the 606 controller modem power supply terminals, or from a mains power cube at the PC end of the link.

If the PC has a 25 way serial connector then an adapter will be needed to convert the 9 way serial lead supplied with the fibre modem.

Fibre Optic Modem Connection Cable Signal Fibre modem Data Name 25 way Direction plug TD 2 < RD 3 > RTS 4 < CTS 5 > DSR 6 > SG 7 CD 8 > +VE 9 < DTR 20 <
The cable is a one to one link with the exception of: i) power is fed from the 606 pin 9 to Modem pin 9. ii) DSR and CD wires are crossed.

Signal Name TD RD RTS CTS CD SG DSR +VE DTR

Model 606 9 way socket 3 2 7 8 1 5 6 9 4

PC 25 way socket 2 3 4 5 8 7 6 9 20