Maple Systems STEPware-100 - Manual (Page 52)

Each state of the function key can be configured to send a predefined message to the OIT
screen. This allows a different message to be displayed depending upon the action of the
key, (i.e. momentary, push on/off, etc.). For each function key, the OIT programmer has
the option of selecting Message#1-30 for the ON state (Key ON Message) and
Message#31-60 for the OFF state (Key OFF Message). When using this feature, the
ASCII string configured to be sent to the host is not sent to the OIT display. Instead, the
predefined message is sent.
This feature is also useful for function keys that are configured as momentary with the
Repeat Key feature enabled. Normally, if the Repeat Key feature is enabled, then
pressing and holding down the momentary function key will cause the ASCII String to be
sent to the host and the display (if local echo is enabled) at the repeat key rate. If the OIT
programmer wants something to be displayed on the OIT screen when this function key is
pressed, but he doesn’t want the text string to be repeated every time another ASCII
String is sent to the host, then he simply programs the repeat key to display a predefined
message. This message will only be displayed once, when the key is first pressed.
Note that when the OIT is operating in NETWORK mode, the function keys cannot use
this feature. Also, the predefined message option is only available in BLOCK mode if
the Send Immediately feature is enabled.
Send Message to Host Only
If a function key is configured with this option enabled, then when the OIT is operating
in Interactive mode, the ASCII string that is sent to the host is not displayed on the OIT
screen even though the local echo feature is enabled. This allows a function key to send a
command to the host without causing any other action to occur on the OIT.
Note that this feature is not available when the OIT is operating in BLOCK or
NETWORK modes.
Send Message Immediately
If the OIT is in BLOCK or NETWORK modes, all ASCII string data sent to the host
from function keys are normally stored into the Keyboard Input Buffer. This allows the
OIT operator to view and edit the ASCII string data on the OIT screen before it is sent to
the host. The data is not sent to the host until the ENTER key is pressed on the OIT.
If this feature is enabled for a function key, then the ASCII string data is sent directly to
the host when the function key is used. The ENTER key is not required. This allows the
OIT to operate in BLOCK or NETWORK mode for data entry without sacrificing
immediate commands that are sent from function keys.
Function Keys as Push-on/Push-off Switches
When a push-on/push-off function key is pressed, the Key ON Message is sent to the host
controller. When pressed again, the Key OFF Message is sent. If you want the
push-on/push-off function key to send the same ASCII string every time it is pressed, you
need to configure the Key OFF Message to be the same as the Key ON Message.
Configuring a Push-on/Push-off Function Key
1. In STEPware-100, press F5 to open the Function Key Editor dialog box.
Using the OIT's Function Keys 49
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