Rocker Switch

A Rocker Switch is a Screen Object which will continuously transmit a command to a DAQ Module while the operator is holding down the top or bottom of the switch with the mouse during run-time. It can be configured to transmit a different command depending on which part (top or bottom) of the switch is being held down, and to increment or decrement the numerical field of the command string each time it is transmitted. This in effect can be used to scroll the value of a DAQ Module set-point on the fly such as the output voltage of an Analog Output Module, the speed of a Stepper Motor Driver, etc. It can also be used to scroll the value of a variable used elsewhere in ModCom.

Once a Rocker Switch is placed on the screen it can be selected by clicking on it with the left mouse button. To move the object, place the cursor over it, hold down the left mouse button and drag the object to the desired position. Resize handles are provided to allow adjustment of the overall size by dragging on them with the mouse in a similar fashion.

To set the properties of a Rocker Switch, right-click on the object or select "Properties" in the <Edit> menu while the Rocker Switch is selected. The following is a summery of the user defined attributes in the Properties dialog box.

Properties Dialog Box:

Title: Type in the text that will appear on the top of the Rocker Switch.

Size: Selects the font size used for the text characters in the Rocker Switch. Making changes to this attribute will also change the overall size of the Rocker Switch respectively.

Color: Selects the font color used for the characters in the title.

Start with this value: Check this box to set the numerical field of the transmitting command string to the value entered at the right. If the value is blank, the value of the last run session will be used. This value will increment or decrement as indicated in the Press Up and Press Down Functions each time it is transmitted. Note, if the Value Type is set to hexadecimal or binary and this box is checked, the most significant digits of the numerical field will be padded with zeros as its value is decremented. This is useful if the DAQ Module requires a fixed number of characters in its numerical field.

Get value from Module by sending this command: Check this box to read a value from a DAQ Module and use it for the numerical field of the transmitting command string. In the space at the right, type in the command string required to read the value from the DAQ Module. This value will increment or decrement as indicated in the "Press Up" and "Press Down" Functions each time it is transmitted. Note, if this box is checked and the command does not receive a response from the DAQ Module, the Rocker Switch will not function and the "Error" message will be sent to any Screen Object listed in the "Switch Monitoring:" section below.

No value used: Check this box if the transmitting command string does not include a numerical field. In this case, only those characters listed in the "Press Up" and "Press Down" Functions will be transmitted.

Value Type: Select the appropriate value type (decimal, hexadecimal or binary) which the numerical field is formatted in.

Response expected from Module: Check this box if a response is expected from the DAQ Module that is the target of the transmitting command string. In this case, ModCom will automatically wait for the response before transmitting the next Rocker Switch command. Uncheck this box if the DAQ Module will not be sending back a response because its ECHO has been turned off. Note, turning off the DAQ Module's ECHO and unchecking this box provides the fastest update rate.

Repeat Rate: Choose the repeat rate at which ModCom will retransmit the command string while the operator is holding down the top or bottom of the Rocker Switch.

Send the response to this Screen Object: To monitor or log the response from a DAQ Module which is the target of the transmitting command string, create a Screen Object such as a Data Window, Text Window, or Instrument Gauge and type in the object's ID label here. Note, "Response expected from Module" must be checked in order to use this feature.

Send current value to this Screen Object: To monitor or log the current value of the numerical field of the command string, create a Screen Object such as a Data Window, Text Window, or Instrument Gauge and type in the object's ID label here. Note, the data format of this value (Decimal, Binary, or Hexadecimal) is determined by the "Value Type" chosen in the "Initialization" section.

Increment Value: If selected, the value of the numerical field of the transmitting command string will be incremented each time the "Press Up" command is transmitted.

Decrement Value: If selected, the value of the numerical field of the transmitting command string will be decremented each time the "Press Up" command is transmitted.

Value Limit: When incrementing or decrementing the numerical field due to a "Press Up" operation, ModCom will not go beyond the value entered here.

Append value to these characters and transmit: Each time the operator clicks on or holds down the top of the Rocker Switch, these characters (representing the Header, Command Title, and Channel Number) followed by the current value will be transmitted. If wishing to use a Rocker Switch to adjust a variable used by some other object in ModCom instead of transmitting a command, leave this box blank and include the name of a Screen Object in the "Send current value to this Screen Object:" section. This Screen Object will be the variable used elsewhere.

Increment Value: If selected, the value of the numerical field of the transmitting command string will be incremented each time the "Press Down" command is transmitted.

Decrement Value: If selected, the value of the numerical field of the transmitting command string will be decremented each time the "Press Down" command is transmitted.

Value Limit: When incrementing or decrementing the numerical field due to a "Press Down" operation, ModCom will not go beyond the value entered here.

Append value to these characters and transmit: Each time the operator clicks on or holds down the bottom of the Rocker Switch, these characters (representing the Header, Command Title, and Channel Number) followed by the current value will be transmitted. If wishing to use a Rocker Switch to adjust a variable used by some other object in ModCom instead of transmitting a command, leave this box blank and include the name of a Screen Object in the "Send current value to this Screen Object:" section. This Screen Object will be the variable used elsewhere.

Rollover value when reaching limits: If selected, when the value reaches one of the limits, it will roll over to the opposite limit and continue its' incrementing or decrementing operation instead of stopping.