Wesley BC-620-4CA - Manual (Page 88)

84 Curtis 1234/36/38 Manual,
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7 — VCL
VEHICLE CONTROL LANGUAGE (VCL)
Curtis 1234/36/38 AC induction controllers have a built-in programmable
logic controller with application-specific functions. VCL (Vehicle Control
Language) software provides a way to implement unique and complex vehicle
control functions.
VCL is a simple programming language that will feel very familiar to
anyone who has worked with BASIC, Pascal, or C. Working with VCL requires
the installation of the WinVCL program onto a PC. WinVCL will compile
VCL programs and flash download the software into the controller through
the computer’s serial port. The install process for WinVCL will also install two
important manuals on your PC—the VCL Programmer’s Guide and the VCL
Common Functions Manual. These two manuals, which are in PDF format,
include more detailed information about VCL than is included here.
This section of the manual summarizes VCL and also describes aspects
and functions of VCL that are specific to 1234/36/38 controllers. For a more
complete understanding of the functions and capabilities of VCL, see the the
WinVCL User’s Guide, VCL Programmer’s Guide, and VCL Common Func-
tions Manual.
Summary of VCL Basics
• VCL is not case-sensitive:
put_pwm(), Put_PWM(), and PUT_PWM() are identical.
• Spaces in variable names are not allowed in VCL; use underscores
in place of spaces.
Example: Forward_Offset is the VCL name for the 1311 parameter
Forward Offset.
• Functions are followed by parentheses; for example:
Reset_Controller() is a function
Reset_Voltage is a variable.
• Logical statements must be inside parentheses; examples:
IF (setpoint >50)
ELSE IF ((setpoint <20) & (temperature >100)).
• Comments are preceded by semicolons.