VisiPC Software Manual Part 1 – Visilynx 3 Configurator
INS00231 Issue 4 Page 19 of 88
The ‘Mode’ selector selects whether the VisiPC program is acting as a Master, Slave or both.
For most purposes, ‘Master’ Mode should be selected. The ‘Port’ and the ‘Baud’ rate are
selected independently for both the Master and the Slave ports, as required. The ‘Master
Port’ or the ‘Slave Port’ selection box is greyed out if the selected mode does not use it.
There are up to 4 serial communication ports (COM1 to COM4) available on most PCs. All
four ports are listed, whether or not they are fitted. Baud is the rate of data transfer between
the PC and Visilynx 3, sometimes known as the port speed. Both the Master and Slave Port
Baud rates are set to 38400 baud on the first start-up of the program after installation. Other
port parameters are fixed (8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity).
Pressing the
Apply
button applies the selected values to the ports.
The Comm Port Setup dialog box won't close when the
Apply
button is pressed if the port
configuration is invalid; i.e. one or both ports cannot be initialised. If only one port is
available, select a mode that uses only one port and select the unused port. If no ports are
available, the dialog box can still be closed by clicking the cross in the top right corner of the
dialog box. This will close the dialog box although the settings are invalid. All
communication functionality will be disabled.
3.5.3 Slave Responses… Command
Shortcut keys:
Alt-OR
The ‘Slave Responses’ option is only available if either ‘Slave’ or ‘Master & Slave’ Mode field
has been selected in Comms Port Setup (see above).
Selecting
Slave Responses…
brings up the ‘Set Slave Responses’ dialog.
Figure 21 Set Slave Responses Dialog Box
The values entered are used in the replies from the Slave mode, when the Master asks for
information.
Note: This mode is not normally used, and can be ignored. More details for use can be
found in the manual for VisiPC Visilynx 3 Tester & Simulator (INS00237).
3.5.4 Show Activity Log Command
Shortcut keys:
Alt-OA
Selecting ‘Show Activity Log’ shows a separate window in which a summary of the Master
messages sent and received is recorded.
