How to configure IO Card in DigaSystem?

Question: How can I configure the support for IO cards in DigaSystem ?

Answer:
The following applications support IO-cards:
- Edit-Station
- EasyTrack
- Multitrack
- RecorderOCX (for DBM, NewsScheduler, NewsSchedulerX, CartWallManager)
- MultiCoder
- NewsPlayer1
- NewsPlayer2
- NewsPlayer4
- NewsPlayerX
- NewsPresenter
- CartPlayer4
- DigaROC

Here is a guide to installation and configuration.

1. WHICH FILES ARE NEEDED ?

- PCLComSrv.exe (PCL COM Server)
- PclDrv.dll (PCL API for the DigaSystem applications)
- Specific IO card DLL (see below)

These DLLs are needed for the different IO cards:
PclAdv725.dll (DLL for Advantech PCL-725 ISA card - 8 Bit)
PclAdv1760.dll (DLL for Advantech PCI-1760 PCI card - 8 Bit)
PclPiso725.dll (DLL for ICP DAS PISO-725 PCI card - 8 Bit)
PclIcpP8R8.dll (DLL for ICP DAS P8R8 (PCI-725) PCI card - 8 Bit)
PclIcpP16R16.dll (DLL for ICP DAS P16R16 PCI card - 16 Bit)
PclDvd725.dll (DLL for ISA cards similar to Advantech PCL-725 with DAVID device driver - 8 Bit)
PclSimulation.dll (DLL that implements an IO card simulation for testing without physical IO card)

2. INSTALLATION
Copy all DLLs and PclComServer.exe to \Winnt\System32
Doubleclick PclComServer.exe
Setup your configuration (see below)
Click OK to save your settings and register the server

3. CONFIGURATION OF PCLCOMSERVER

Number of cards in the system:
How many IO cards are in the PC?, multiple cards must be identical models.

Type of card:
Choose the type of board(s) you have installed.

Selected Card:
The settings displayed belong to this card.

Pulse length in ms:
If you choose pulsed mode for at least one bit, this value determines the pulse length of the pulse.

Output:
Active High:
A logical 1 leads to a physical 1 (closed contact).
Active Low:
A logical 1 leads to a physical 0 (open contact).

Input:
Active High:
A physical 1 (closed contact/current) leads to a logical 1.
Active Low:
A physical 1 (closed contact/current) leads to a logical 0.

Output Mode:
Static:
The output resides in the last state until a new write.
Pulsed:
The output is pulsed for some time (see above) _|-|_

The next setting is only valid for a pulsed bit:

Output Reset:
Set Only:
Writing 0 or 1 always leads to a pulse.
0 resets:
Writing a 1 leads to a pulse, writing a 0 resets the output bit

Tip:
Use the tool PCLTestEx.exe to check the functionality of the IO card installation and configuration. If it works, proceed with step 4.

4. CONFIGURATION FOR DIGASYSTEM-APPLICATIONS

Edit-Station
Main parameter "Fader_Active=TRUE" and "Number=0" (first IO card) in section "Edigas\IOCard"

EasyTrack / Multitrack / RecorderOCX
Use the parameters "RelaisCardCommand*" in section "EasyTrack\Settings", "Multitrack\Settings" and "PlayRec" for specific configuration of actions and bit values, and the parameter "RelaisCardNumber=0" (first IO card).

MultiCoder
All settings for input/output bits are done inside the program - menu "Edit\Setup\IO card"

NewsPlayer1 and NewsPlayer4
Main parameter "Activate=TRUE" in News.ini or News4.ini, section "IOCARD".

NewsPlayer2, NewsPlayerX and NewsPresenter
Main parameter "IOCard=TRUE" in section "NewsPlayer2\IOCard" or "NewsPlayerX\IOCard".

CartPlayer4
All settings for input/output bits are done inside the program - menu "Settings\Parameter\IO card"

DigaROC
All settings are done inside "mixer.ini". For configuration please refer to the BCS-manual.

Tip:
You can test the IO card settings without physical IO card, if you use the PCLsimulation.dll. Because this DLL can not be chosen inside the PCLComServer.exe, you have to change the parameter "PclComDll" inside Windows Registry "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\David\PclComServer"

ICPDAS P16R16 Installation on Windows 2000

The P16R16.dll version installed in the System32 directory during the card installation MUST be replaced by an older version to work correctly with Windows 2000. The version must be from March 1998. Attached to this post.

Paul Weiland
Director - Projects and Customer Services, North America