Maple Systems STEPware-100 - Manual (Page 51)

• ENTER key - this action allows the function key to behave as an ENTER key, enabling the
OIT operator to send a line terminator to the host and perform other actions when the OIT
is in Block or Network mode. This action is only available on OIT models that do not have
a predefined ENTER key, (such as the OIT3100 and OIT4100 Series). The ENTER key
will behave differently according to the operating mode used. Refer to Chapter 3:
Operating Modes for more information.
• CLEAR key - this action allows the function key to behave as a CLEAR key, enabling the
OIT operator to send a line terminator to the host and perform other actions when the OIT
is in Block or Network mode. This action is only available on OIT models that do not have
a predefined ENTER key, (such as the OIT3100 and OIT4100 Series). The ENTER key
will behave differently according to the operating mode used. Refer to Chapter 3:
Operating Modes for more information.
Function Key ASCII Strings
Two ASCII text strings can be created and assigned to each function key. Two strings
provide the function key with the ability to simulate a momentary or on/off switch or
provide two selections when the function key is configured as a shifted function key.
Each string can contain up to 40 ASCII characters including control characters. The two
ASCII strings are referred to as the Key ON (Unshifted) Message and the Key OFF
(Shifted) Message. These strings are sent to the host according to what action the
function key is configured as (see above). These strings are also sent to the OIT display
if the following conditions are met:
• Interactive Mode:
1. Local Echo option is enabled
2. Send Message to Host Only option is disabled
3. Display Message option is not used
• Block or Network Mode:
1. Block Echo is enabled
2. Display Message option is not used
Displaying Predefined Messages using Function Keys
The predefined messages that are created on the main screen of the STEPware-100
configuration software are stored in the OIT and can be displayed on the OIT screen
either through a control command call from the host computer (refer to Appendix A:
Control Commands) or by configuring the function keys to display the message.
Although the OIT can store up to 500 messages, each function key is limited to
displaying Messages #1-60.
The feature allows the OIT operator to send an ASCII string to the host while displaying
one of the predefined messages on the OIT that may describe the action just taken. This
feature is particularly useful when the ASCII string sent to the host is a command that is
not displayable on the OIT screen (because it contains mostly control characters that
cannot be represented on the OIT screen). For instance, a command is sent from one of
the function keys to stop a motor: ESC 1E S 0 CR . Instead of displaying the command
sent to the host, (which doesn’t mean anything to the OIT operator), a message is
displayed on the OIT screen which says, “Motor has been stopped!”. This helps
provide the OIT operator with confirmation that the key he has pressed has performed an
action.
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