DATA_EVENT ONLINE: and DEV Arrays

TurnipTruck

Greetings,

I have a system with ten of the same serial devices connected to ten serial ports in a Netlinx based system. All of the devices are in a DEV array. Is there a way to do a DATA_EVENT ONLINE: for all ten devices in a single online event for the DEV? I need to SET_BAUD for all ten ports and I like my code short.

Thanks!

alexanbo

Something like this should work:

dvArray[] = {dv1,dv2,dv3}

DATA_EVENT[dvArray]:
{
  ONLINE:
  {
    SEND_COMMAND DATA.DEVICE,"'SET BAUD XXXXXXXX'"
  }
}

DHawthorne

If you make a device array, you can treat the array itself as a device, and any action taken on the array apply to every device in it. Likewise for events; any time an event occurs for any member of the array, an event for the array will occur as well. If you need to single out a specific member of the array in an event, you can use the GET_LAST function to do so.

Reese Jacobs

DATA_EVENT ONLINE: and DEV Arrays

Dave is absolutely correct with respect to GET_LAST() use in events with device arrays with one exception. Do not use GET_LAST() on DEV or DEVLEV arrays in a LEVEL_EVENT - it will not work correctly. You can use GET_LAST() on only the integer LEVEL in a LEVEL_EVENT but GET_LAST() does not work correctly on the DEV or combined DEVLEV components. This has been a problem for a long time and does not appear to be likely to be fixed anytime soon.

DHawthorne

Reese Jacobs wrote:

Dave is absolutely correct with respect to GET_LAST() use in events with device arrays with one exception. Do not use GET_LAST() on DEV or DEVLEV arrays in a LEVEL_EVENT - it will not work correctly. You can use GET_LAST() on only the integer LEVEL in a LEVEL_EVENT but GET_LAST() does not work correctly on the DEV or combined DEVLEV components. This has been a problem for a long time and does not appear to be likely to be fixed anytime soon.

This is true and I had entirely forgotten about it because I almost never use DEVLEV or DEVCHAN arrays for any reason anymore. I make two arrays for my event handlers, a DEV array for the devices, and an INTEGER array for the channels, levels, or variable text addresses. Then I make the event in the form of <event_type>_EVENT [dvDevArray, iIntArray], and break out the individual elements with GET_LAST. For simplicity I'll make a local or stack (preferred, but not always feasible) straight off the bat to index them with, as so:

BUTTON_EVENT [dvDevArray, iButnArray]
{
    PUSH :
    {
        STACK_VAR INTEGER iDevIdx
        STACK_VAR INTEGER iButnIdx

        iDevIdx = GET_LAST(dvDevArray)
        iButnIdx = GET_LAST(iButnArray)
    }
}

From there, all your individual device references will be dvDevArray[iDevIdx], and your button press channels iButnArray[iButnIdx] (though I usually leave my references relative, except for feeback, and just work with iButnIdx directly).

Reese Jacobs

DATA_EVENT ONLINE: and DEV Arrays

Dave,

I generally do the same thing - separate arrays for the DEVs and for the Channels, Levels, etc. Occasionally I will use a DEVCHAN or DEVLEV array but generally only for relays or contacts. The wierd thing about the LEVEL_EVENT bug is that it affects the DEV component of the event regardless of whether a DEV array is used in conjunction with explicit levels or an array of levels or a DEVLEV array is used instead. Avoiding the use of the DEVLEV does not solve the problem.

At first, when I experienced the problem, I was using a DEVLEV array and thought separating the devices and levels into their own arrays would solve the problem. The GET_LAST() on the level works fine but the GET_LAST() on the DEV or DEVLEV component will almost always yield the wrong device. I say almost since GET_LAST() will sometimes return a non-zero value but it will be the last DEV that triggered a Button, Channel, or Data event for that same DEV array. Before I tracked this down, a couple of programs had some very interesting results to say the least. Tech Note 486 has all of the details for anyone that is interested.

Reese

TurnipTruck

Does anyone know exactly why or when the GET_LAST bug occurs with respect to DEV arrays? Are there any Tech Notes on it?

In a program that I just finished, I have ten serial devices in a DEV array. I am using GET_LAST from their DEV array to determine which device a string came from and then place it in the correct message array location. It seems to work fine.

Thanks!

Reese Jacobs

DATA_EVENT ONLINE: and DEV Arrays

The GET_LAST() problem on DEV and DEVLEV arrays only occurs with LEVEL_EVENTs. See AMX Tech Note 486 for more information. Use of DEV or DEVCHAN arrays with other event types works fine.