Programming Strings
17
AMX Lighting PROlink/AXlink Programming
There are three special presets in AMX Lighting controllers that have a fixed, non-programmable
function. Special preset #255 ramps a preset down; preset #254 ramps a preset up; and preset #253
allows dry closures to record presets. All special presets can be stored and recalled just like the
other 128 standard presets. The addition of preset ramping as a preset was most useful for dry
closures, giving them the ability to raise or lower lighting levels using simple switches.
Preset ramping can raise or lower all the levels in a preset in a proportional manner. Preset ramping
gives you the ability to raise all the levels to 100% or lower all the levels to 0. The preset will retain
its proportional levels after it has been raised or lowered to an extreme level (0 or 100). If a preset is
raised to all levels equal 100%, then it can be lowered back to its original state with all levels in
proportion to the others. If a preset has channel 1 at 75% and channel 2 at 90%, then ramping the
preset up 10% will put channel 1 at 85% and channel 2 at 100%; then ramping down 20% will put
channel 1 at 65% and channel 2 at 80%. All presets can be recovered after ramping the preset to an
extreme level. This is useful for incremental changes to an entire scene.
All presets and startup features are stored in a separate non-volatile memory chip. The memory
protect jumper on each control card will physically prevent the memory chip from being updated,
or accidentally erased. If the Memory Protection jumper is installed the AMX Lighting controller
will still react like it has changed or stored the new preset without actually doing so. This can be a
potential source of confusion. There is no digital command to determine if the jumper is in place or
not.
AXlink Programming Strings
Earlier lighting products communicated via RS232 that required them to use Send_Strings. More
recent lighting products began to use AXlink cable to communicate on an AXlink bus.
Send_Commands, channel and level information was also added to the programming language.
PROlink uses Send_Strings such as "
13, $0D, 'S
'" where decimal, hexadecimal, and ASCII
characters are used respectively. AXlink uses Send_Commands such as SEND_COMMAND LTS.
The relation between the two is that the current Axcess language used in AMX Lighting integrates
the two. For example:
SEND_COMMAND <device>, '<Send_String>'
As Axcess processes a string expression, it evaluates each member of the expression from left to
right, and the result is a complete string.
Levels
The best way to get levels from the AMX Lighting controller is to use the AXlink level feature built
in to each AMX Lighting controller. Use the DEFINE_CONNECT_LEVEL feature for touch panel
and wall panel bargraphs. The CREATE_LEVEL command feature can be used to display the 8-bit
AMX Lighting level or to use the level on other AXlink 8-bit level devices like the AXB-VOL3
box, a text window, or the AXB-DMX512 controller.
Active bargraphs on touch panels tend to raise or lower lights in uneven steps. The size of the active
bargraph does not lend itself to smooth dimming, especially at the top or bottom of the slider. The
preferred way would be to use Up and Down arrows or commands, and to put bargraphs in display
mode only.
Polling the AMX Lighting controller for levels is the least effective way to get and display levels;
this is not recommended.
Содержание ProLink PRO-DP8
Страница 1: ...instruction manual Lighting Control AMX Lighting PROlink AXlink Programming ...
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Страница 8: ...iv AMX Lighting PROlink AXlink Programming Table of Contents ...
Страница 14: ...Introduction 6 AMX Lighting PROlink AXlink Programming ...
Страница 22: ...Pre Installation Settings 14 AMX Lighting PROlink AXlink Programming ...
Страница 46: ...Appendix A PROlink vs AXlink Commands 38 AMX Lighting PROlink AXlink Programming ...
Страница 65: ...Appendix C Troubleshooting 57 AMX Lighting PROlonl AXlink Programming ...