adccommunitymod (AutomationDirect) asked a question.
Created Date: July 23,2007
Created By: Werecow
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Application: Using a DL-06 to read sixteen 4-20mA vibration transmitters, display readings on the DL-06 LCD, automatically selecting and displaying next channel every 2 seconds. What I'd like to do is display, for example, "MTR1 IB Vibr. " on line K1, then the process variable value plus " in/sec " engineering units on line K2. On the surface, that may seem to be an easy task..BUT..the "/ " appears to be a restricted character, and can't be entered in the string for the LCD message (a bug in DirectSOFT5 software?). "Why is this so important? " y 'all might ask. Well..by company edict, all velocity vibration measurements MUST read "in/sec ", not "IPS ". I don't make the rules. http://forum1.automationdirect.com/board/confused.gif So the bottom line is: How do I write the variable value plus " in/sec " on ONE line of the LCD? Any suggestions that get my butt out of this sling would be greatly appreciated. http://forum1.automationdirect.com/board/smile.gif Regards, -Brian p.s. The LCD manual seems to take a lot of space (21 pages) explaining mostly self-evident front panel key functions, and far too little space (9 pages) on applications and examples. Maybe something to improve in future revisions?
Created Date: July 23,2007
Created by: marksji
Been a long time since I 've worked with the 06 LCD, but you might be able to write all of your text the way you 're planning and substitute some other character for the / and then in the next rung go back and place the ascii value for "/ " in the correct vmem where the alternate character was placed. I know that works for the DV-1000, but I just don't remember for the 06 LCD...
Created Date: July 23,2007
Created by: Werecow
marksji: Thanks very much for your reply.
The problem with that approach is that it can't be done on the LCD box message line.
I'm embedding the Vmem value (vibration level) to display, but from what I know so far (in my several seconds of intense self-training http://forum1.automationdirect.com/board/smile.gif ), a Vmem _ASCII_ value can't be embedded in the message line.
Or are you thinking that I can write BOTH the BCD vibration value and ASCII "in/sec " to consecutive Vmem locations, then read Vmem to the LCD? Hmm. I'll play tomorrow and see what I can break http://forum1.automationdirect.com/board/smile.gif
Created Date: July 23,2007
Created by: franji1
Something's messed up. First, I think the slash key is being interpreted as a "toggle " command - (like inverting a contact). I also got very strange behavior.
Regardless, this will (should?) work:
"in$2Fsec "
using the hex escape sequence $2F will be converted to the forward slash character (ASCII value 2F hex or 47 decimal).
Created Date: July 23,2007
Created by: marksji
Thanks franji! I knew I'd done this type of thing with the 06 LCD, but I the way the DV-1000 works is so deeply ingrained that I couldn't remember how I'd done it...
Werecow, franji's solution should work for you.
Created Date: July 24,2007
Created by: Werecow
Thanks, franji1. I believe you 're correct in that the forward slash is being interpreted incorrectly by DirectSOFT as a toggle where there's nothing _to_ toggle. Sounds like something to either fix in a future rev of the software, or at the very least, document this and any other characters that may be "reserved ".
Anyway..I'll try your suggestion first thing in the morning and report here with the results.
Thanks again,
Brian
Created Date: July 24,2007
Created by: Werecow
franji1: Thanks a lot! That did the trick! This forum is a great resource for PLC newbies like me. I'm sure I'll be back to ask a lot more stupid questions.. http://forum1.automationdirect.com/board/smile.gif
Regards,
Brian
Created Date: July 24,2007
Created by: franji1
Trust me, this was NOT a stupid question - this is a real bug. http://forum1.automationdirect.com/board/redface.gif
Thanks for reporting it (hopefully it will be an easy fix!)
Created Date: July 23,2007
Created by: Werecow
Application: Using a DL-06 to read sixteen 4-20mA vibration transmitters, display readings on the DL-06 LCD, automatically selecting and displaying next channel every 2 seconds. What I'd like to do is display, for example, "MTR1 IB Vibr. " on line K1, then the process variable value plus " in/sec " engineering units on line K2.
On the surface, that may seem to be an easy task..BUT..the "/ " appears to be a restricted character, and can't be entered in the string for the LCD message (a bug in DirectSOFT5 software?).
"Why is this so important? " y 'all might ask. Well..by company edict, all velocity vibration measurements MUST read "in/sec ", not "IPS ".
I don't make the rules. http://forum1.automationdirect.com/board/confused.gif
So the bottom line is: How do I write the variable value plus " in/sec " on ONE line of the LCD?
Any suggestions that get my butt out of this sling would be greatly appreciated. http://forum1.automationdirect.com/board/smile.gif
Regards,
-Brian
p.s. The LCD manual seems to take a lot of space (21 pages) explaining mostly self-evident front panel key functions, and far too little space (9 pages) on applications and examples. Maybe something to improve in future revisions?