TConnector: DAQ Software Data Sheet

TConnector has a wide collection of implemented interfaces (COM, LPT, TCP, Bluetooth, File I/O, ...), which are all accessible through a unified API. The easy to handle TCP/IP support simplifies intranet applications considerably.

Platforms

  • ActiveX® Control (Microsoft® ActiveX compliant, ATL based)
  • Win32 API
  • Operating systems: Microsoft® Windows® 98 / ME / NT 3.51 / NT 4.0 / 2000 / XP / 2003 / Vista / Server 2008 / Windows 7
  • Not supported: Microsoft Windows 95

Supported Interfaces

Serial Port / RS232Serial Port (e. g. COM 1-4): reading and writing data
Parallel Port / CentronicsParallel Port (e.g. LPT 1-2): writing data
BluetoothBluetooth address (like 1B:F3:E1:10:01:21): reading and writing data; connection in client mode
TCP/IPTCP/IP (host address + port adjustable): reading and writing data; connection in client mode
File I/OFile read and write
NULLNULL Device

Communication Modes

  • Synchronous (read/write)
  • Asynchronous (OnData event for reading)
  • Software wedge (SendKeyStrokes property)

DAQ Software Object Properties

IOTypeInterface Type (None, NULL, FILE, COM, LPT, TCP, Bluetooth)
DeviceSpecifies the exact port to connect with; used with communication types File, COM, LPT
Baud, Data, Stop, ParityRS232 settings; used with communication type COM
XOn XOff, DTRDSR, RTSCTS,
DTRDefault, RTSDefault		Handshaking; used with communication type COM
Host / ServiceTCP/IP host/service (address & port); used with communication type TCP
NoOfBytesMaximum of bytes to receive before an OnData event will be fired.
TimeoutTimeout in milliseconds. After the timeout period an OnData event is fired even if less than NoOfBytes bytes were received. Valid if property Timout_Infinite isn't set.
Timeout_InfiniteTimeout infinite (true/false); determines if a timeout period is set by the value of Timeout_Infinite or there is no timeout (infinite)
PrefixDefines a string that is placed in front of all other data characters sent by the OnData event. It can contain arbitrary ASCII characters and predefined escape sequences.
PostfixDefines a string that is appended to a data package sent by the OnData event. It can contain arbitrary ASCII characters and predefined escape sequences.
UseDelimiterUse delimiter character (true/false), if true the OnData event will be fired immediately when receiving the delimiter.
DelimiterASCII code of the delimiter character; e. g. Linefeed = 10
IncludeDelimiterDelimiter character is part of the data or is to be removed.
SendKeyStrokesIf set, the incoming data is translated into corresponding keystrokes. These characters are simulated as if they are entered on the keyboard (software wedge mode).

DAQ Software Object Methods, Events

Open ()Opens a connection to the device specified by IOType & Device.
Close ()Closes connection.
Read (...)Reads data with maximum length of nBytes within the period defined by timeout.
GetNoOfBytesRead ()Returns the number of bytes received during the last Read method.
ClearBuffer ()Deletes all data from the input buffer.
Write (...)Writes data with length of nBytes within the period defined by Timeout.
StartListen ()Starts asynchronous mode: OnData events are fired when data is received by the specified interface (IOType & Device).
StopListen ()Stops asynchronous mode.
SetStates (...)Set status of interface status line(s).
AboutBox ()Displays about dialog.
EscapeZeroBytes (...)Represent Zero Bytes (binary value = 0x00) as "\0" in the input/output data stream. Avoids truncation of strings by Zero Bytes in COM wrappers (such as used by Visual Basic).
LicenseMe (...)Licensing by program code. After applying a valid license key the demo version is turned into a full version. The insertion of "Demo" into the data stream will be disabled.
Licensing ()Opens the license dialog for manual licensing. After entering a valid license key the demo version is turned into a full version.
OnData (...) Each time when data is received an OnData event is thrown (in asynchronous mode). The data read from the device is returned within the Data argument.
OnStatusChange (...) Each time when a status line changes its state, this event will be fired (in asynchronous mode). The changes are passed as array in the States argument.
OnClose () This event occurs when the server closes the connection (only available for IOType "TCP").
OnError () This event will be fired when an error occurs (only available during asynchronous mode).
TranslateErrorNo (...)Translates the error number given by the OnError event to the corresponding error text.
SetDebugLevel (...)Enables tracing of TConnector's internal activities into a log-file.
GetStates ()Returns an array of actually set states.
SetSingleState (...)Like SetStates(), but only to set a single state.
EmulateKeys (...)Translates an input string into virtual key strokes and puts them into the keyboard events message queue.
UseCodePage (...)Adjusts Codepage to be used for Unicode-MultiByte string conversion.

Special Features

  • In connection with TEC-IT's COM2TCP software you can build up a remote network for serial data acquisition with only a few steps.
  • Handling of incoming data is made easy by the asynchronous mode. An OnData event can be generated automatically when data is received by the specified interface. In addition to this event you can simulate key strokes of the incoming data (wedge mode).
  • Removal of delimiter characters adjustable (e. g. CR/LF).
  • Custom specific extensions and/or adaptation to custom needs available on request.