Netlinx Studio - Master Transfer Problem!

PG O'Neill

Hey guys.

I'm totally new to AMX and my boss is making me do my first (allbeit small) project without any training. As you might imagine, I'm totally pulling my hair out. I'm not a good enough programmer to teach myself Netlinx from a book (limited C++ experience at university) so i've been using Visual Architect to generate my code.

After a few weeks of headscratching, i've got my MVP-8400 connected to my NI-2100 master. However, when I push a button on the panel, it only flashes the yellow "input" light on the master. My commands arent getting to the port outs. No TX/RX lights flashing and I've used HyperTerminal to confirm this.

My programming was auto generated so it should be ok. But I see that the panel file (in tp4 format) is trying to send to the master when I download my program. This always fails. Could this be my problem? Should this be sending at all? Or should it be in a different format?

I've attached a screen dump of my transfers so you can see whats hapenning. To keep it simple I've just used a couple of devices here to avoid clutter.


I'd really appreciate any help or pointers at all you can give me guys. The forums and all your contributions have been about the only thing keeping me sane up to this point!

Many Thanks in Advance. PG.

VLCNCRZR

Easier said than done.

If your boss knows anything at all about control systems, he would allow you to learn the basics from either an AMX class or spending some quality time with a seasoned programmer.

The manufacturers make everything sound so easy, that almost anyone can put a system together, but the truth of the matter is that it takes a little bit (sometimes a lot) of training too.

For me, using VisualArchitect would make me homicidal. I am getting to my limit with companies developing their "shortcut software". Nothing works better than the basic programs (NetLinx Studio
and TPD4).

Your boss needs to gain a better understanding of what he/she is selling (hardware & programming).

I can see that you have been put into a bad position to get this work done.

Dont take this the wrong way, but I am glad that I am not your client that is paying for this.

DHawthorne

On first blush, it looks to me the panel isn't talking to the master. I never load panels with NS, I use TPD4 directly; connecting to the master with TPD4 will tell you if the panel is online, or just go into the protected setup. The panel must be talking to the master in either case for the panel files to load.

Jimweir192

Sounds like the device no of the panel is different to the device no in the code - hence the input light flashing. The MVP out of the box will be 10001, no idea what VA generates as the default... This would also cause the panel loading to fail

Although looking at your screen shot it looks like VA is using 10001 also, can you check in the MVP panel setup pages what device no you have?

jjames

I do see that you have TPD4 opened - do you happen to have the file you're trying to transfer open in TPD4? If you do, NS2 doesn't like that.

I know how difficult it is starting a project without any training, I've been there & done that. Not fun. But, once you get some training, you'll quickly start to put the pieces together. I remember throwing in ATOI and ITOA functions just because I saw them in another program.

Trying to program a system without any training is like being force to perform with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and playing an instrument you've never played before . . . AND YOU HAVE A SOLO!!

PG O'Neill

Me again.

Thanks for your responses everyone. Very much appreciated. Especially the moral support...I was starting to think that I was an idiot! To be honest, I'm glad I'm not the client thats paying for this either. I dont really understand what AMX are trying to do with Visual Architect. I've seen powerful GUI based control software. In comparrison, Visual Architect is about as useful as an ashtray on a motorcycle.

I checked the device number of the panel, it's 10013. I had already loaded the panel file using TP4. I only used NS to load the program to the master. I just thought the master had to have some form of the panel file installed as well.

Thanks again guys. I understand that the basic nature of my questions must be frustrating for you. Your reward, however, is the knowledge that my sanity is just a little bit safer!

yuri

PG O'Neill wrote: »

Thanks for your responses everyone. Very much appreciated. Especially the moral support...I was starting to think that I was an idiot! To be honest, I'm glad I'm not the client thats paying for this either. I dont really understand what AMX are trying to do with Visual Architect. I've seen powerful GUI based control software. In comparrison, Visual Architect is about as useful as an ashtray on a motorcycle.

I checked the device number of the panel, it's 10013. I had already loaded the panel file using TP4. I only used NS to load the program to the master. I just thought the master had to have some form of the panel file installed as well.

Thanks again guys. I understand that the basic nature of my questions must be frustrating for you. Your reward, however, is the knowledge that my sanity is just a little bit safer!

What i see in your screenshots is that it's trying to send the touchpanel file to device 10001, while your touchpanel is at 10013. Change the device number of your touchpanel to 10001 (protected setup, tap the number, then reboot)

jjames

Or, in code, change the touch panel declaration to 10013 (if that's what you really want), then be sure to either change the settings in the transfer window to go to 10013, or remove then add back the TP interface to the transfers.

Hope this helps.

PG O'Neill

Yup. That'd be the problem. Thanks again guys