ASI Tool
Available free to download this tool, will assist with setting put devices that use the ASI protocol.
Installation
The tool does not require any installation, it consists of 2 files, ASI.exe and asi.dll which should both be in the same directory, to run simply double click on ASI.exe.
To use the tool a connection must first be made:
- Connect the ASI device to a COM port or to a BV101 (MAX232 or similar device)
- Select the correct port by altering the text next to the connect button
- If the device is connected via a BV101 or similar then leave the invert checkbox unchecked. If it is connected directly to a PC COM port then clock on the check box.
- Press connect an all being well a connection should be made.
The tool is designed to set one device at a time and so an error will be generated if more than 1 device is found.
New Address
Set a new address simply by changing the address in the edit box and pressing the apply button. NOTE that only lower case 'a' through 'z' can be used for addresses, no checks are made so it is up to you.
Send
You can send a string of text to the device using any of the three boxes, for example to clear an LCD screen you would place 'ac1' (assuming the device address is 'a') in any of the three boxes and then press the send button next to the box. Three boxes have been provided so that three commands or data can be sent without having to retype the information in the box. Starting and stopping a motor would be a good example.
Macro
A macro is stored in EEPROM at address 0xb0. The get button will only work for devices version 1c and above, it will get the current macro from the device. To set a new macro a special character ';' is used to represent a CR which would normally be needed after each command. The write button with write the information to EEPROM and the Test button allows you to test it.
Checking the 'Run at start up' box and pressing write will make the macro run when the device is reset. As an example; a display is required to start up with 'MyDisplay' on the first line and 'xxx' on the second line. The macro would look like this:
ac1;aD100;adMyDisplay;acc0;adxxx;#00
In the above there are 5 commands all separated by a semicolon ';'. The first command clears the screen, the second command is a delay which is required after clearing the screen. Command 3 write 'MyDisplay', command 4 puts the cursor to the begging of line 2 and command 5 writes 'xxx' to it. Macros should be finished with #00. Any non printable character can be sent if it is prefixed with # first.