Configuration tab

You can specify this information:
Interface Type
The type of the device. Possible values:
  • serial
  • other
Baud Rate
The serial baud rate used by the device. The baud rate defines data transfer speed. Higher baud rate transfer data faster. The most common baud rates are 9600 or 115200. This field is displayed only if the Interface Type field is set to serial.
Data Bits
The number of data bits per byte. This field is displayed only if the Interface Type field is set to serial.
Parity
The parity-checking protocol used by the device for basic error checking. Possible values:
  • None
  • Odd
  • Even
  • Space
  • Mark
This field is displayed only if the Interface Type field is set to serial.
Stop Bits
The number of stop bits per byte, used to mark the end of each data byte. Possible values:
  • 1
  • 2
This field is displayed only if the Interface Type field is set to serial.
DTR Enable

If this check box is selected, Data Terminal Ready (DTR) is enabled during XON/XOFF software handshaking, RTS/CTS hardware handshaking, and modem communications.

Refer to the device documentation to determine whether RTS is required. In many cases, the correct configuration must be identified through trial and error when working with the specific device. This field is displayed only if the Interface Type field is set to serial.

Handshake
The flow-control protocol for the serial connection. Flow-control pauses the data transfer when the receiver cannot accept more data. Possible values:
  • None
  • XOnXOff
  • RequestToSend
  • RequestToSendXOnXOff
This field is displayed only if the Interface Type field is set to serial.
RTS Enable
If this check box is selected, the Request to Transmit (RTS) signal is enabled for use in Request to Send/Clear to Send (RTS/CTS) hardware handshaking. Refer to the device documentation to determine whether RTS is required. In many cases, the correct configuration must be identified through trial and error when working with the specific device. This field is displayed only if the Interface Type field is set to serial.
Signal Type
The method in which the incoming data is interpreted. Possible values:
  • Generic: The generic signal type automatically determines the measured value from the incoming data.
  • Formatted: If a device produces measurement data in a fixed format, the formatted signal type is used to extract relevant information from the data field.
The generic signal type is simpler to use in most cases.
Read Wait Time
The number of milliseconds to wait for a value. This field is only displayed only if the Signal Type field is set to Generic.
Channel Position In String
The character position of the channel indicator in the data field. Possible values:
  • First Character Position: The character position of the first character of the channel indicator.
  • Last Character Position: The character position of the last character of the channel indicator.
This field is displayed only if the Signal Type field is set to formatted.
Unit Position In String
The character positions of the measurement unit in the data field. Possible values:
  • First Character Position: The character position of the first character of the measurement units.
  • Last Character Position: The character position of the last character of the measurement units.
This field is displayed only if the Signal Type field is set to formatted.
Signal Length

The total number of characters if the data field, excluding end-of-line markers, such as Carriage Return (CR) or Line Feed (LF).

For example, the signal length of the data field, C10+0000.000↵. Here the ↵ symbol is a CR. There are 12 characters in the data field, excluding CR. Therefore, signal length is 12. This field is displayed only if the Signal Type field is set to formatted.

Data Position in String
The character positions of the measured value in the data field. Possible values:
  • First Character Position: The character position of the first character of the measured value.
  • Last Character Position: The character position of the last character of the measured value.
  • Sign Character Position (+ or -): The character position of the sign character (+ or -).
This section is displayed only if the Signal Type field is set to formatted.
Ignore Data Errors
If this check box is selected, the data error signals are ignored. This setting is not recommended for the GaugeLight data entry script. This field is displayed only if the Signal Type field is set to formatted.
Read Delimiter
The character or string that represents the end of a data field. This is a single character, such as Carriage Return (\r) or New Line (\n).
If this field is specified, the GaugeLight data reader waits until the delimiter displayed in the incoming data and processes the data up to the delimiter. The read delimiter can include escape sequences.
Data Initiation
The method in which the data transmission is initiated for the device. Possible values:
  • Auto Request: Data transmission occurs automatically when a specified command is sent.
  • Manual Send: The user initiates the data transmission.
  • Streamed Data: The device continuously sends a stream of data without requiring user interaction.
Command
The string of characters sent to the device for initialisation. Leave empty if the device does not need to be initiated. The initialise command can include escape sequences.
End of Command
The termination format added to the command string. Possible values:
  • None: termination character is not added.
  • cr: A carriage return character is added.
  • lf: A line feed character is added.
  • crlf: A carriage return and a line feed character is added.
Announcement
The string that the device sends in response to the initialise command. The initialise command can include escape sequences.
Command
The command used to define the string of characters, issued to the device to request data. The command can include escape sequences.
Command Is Compulsory
If this checkbox is selected, a command is sent before the device can receive data.
End of Command
The termination format added to the command string. Possible values:
  • None: termination character is not added.
  • cr: A carriage return character is added.
  • lf: A line feed character is added.
  • crlf: A carriage return and a line feed character is added.
Acknowledgement
The string that the device sends in response to the initialise command. The command can include escape sequences.
Request Function
The method used by the command requests data. Possible values:
  • Forces Data Send: The request triggers an immediate data response.
  • Enables Data Send: The request only enables sending; data must be sent manually.
Resend If No Data Within
The number of milliseconds to wait for response. If data is not received in the specified timeframe, the request command is resent. You can set this field to zero, to stop sending the request command.
Channel 1 Character
The specific character to specify channel 1. Additional channels are derived sequentially from this character.
Channel Position
The character position in the request command that represents the channel identifier. Position values are 1-based, so counting starts at 1.