GP300 Support Software

A variety of Software has been developed by RMS Instruments for support of the GP300 family of Graphic Printer/Chart Recorders:

The menu-driven PC300 operator interface program allows the user to control from a computer in REAL TIME, all of the GP300 configuration parameters via the parallel interface. Alphanumeric messages can be easily formulated and transmitted for printing in horizontal or vertical orientation with only a few keystrokes.

In the EDIT mode, printer/recorder configuration files can be produced with or without a GP300. The configuration can be saved on disk and/or downloaded to the GP300 as required. Commands to store configurations that have been downloaded into the GP300’s nonvolatile memory are provided.

Outstanding features include the ability to define working parameters in engineering units, convenient forms for entering programmable filter and grid parameters, and one for entering, editing and downloading custom programs for real-time math. Another utility is a graphic editor used to define up to eight programmable "sprites" for trace differentiation.

The LIB300 Interface Library has been designed primarily to simplify development of C programs for the control of printer/recorders in the GP300 family. It is a collection of functions that provide a C Language programmer with all the basic tools to quickly and easily create custom programs – the PC300 Operator Interface itself is an example of such programs.

The library was developed for MS-DOS systems and Microsoft C/C++ version 7.0. It can also be used with other C compilers including Microsoft Visual C++. It allows communications with the GP300 via either the parallel or serial interface, and can be configured to communicate by using interrupts and queues, or by polling the port. Example programs that show how to use the library are included with the package.

The LIB300 Interface Library was developed for use on MS-DOS systems. However, the source code for the library is available, thus allowing its porting over to other systems.

IBM - compatible computer with 386, VGA, 512 Kbytes of free DOS memory, and a standard (Centronics) parallel port. MS-DOS 5.0.

DISP300 complements the functions of traditional recording on chart paper, offering (a) an alternative means to monitor in real-time the same signals being recorded on paper, and (b) the primary monitoring device in applications where paper recording is only “on demand”.

FEATURES

Displays up to 16 traces at a time
Allows zooming on any given trace
Independent trace scrolling for each chart
Optional data logging to a disk file
May operate with chart 'on' or 'off'
Displays time stamp, time axis on each chart

Full control of size, position, label, span and zero position of charts
Assign recorder channels to traces in any order
Allows for keyboard or mouse control
Screen snapshot may be sent to a file or printer

DISP300 draws traces in different colors, with matching labels. Several charts, each with its own gain and zero point, may be displayed on one screen. Up to four screens can be defined in a single configuration.

In a typical application with the GP300 integrated as part of a data acquisition system, DISP300 allows for all the information sent to the GP300 to be available for real-time viewing on the computer's screen. A standard RS232 cable connects the output serial port in the GP300, to one of the COM ports in the PC. The configuration of DISP300 is fully programmable.

For example, in a geophysical data acquisition environment, one may define a configuration with a screen consisting of four charts (figure at right): (a) MAG traces, (b) fourth difference of MAG, (c) VLF, and (d) radio altimeter. The remaining three screens could be configured with additional information, or with a different arrangement of the same traces. The operator may readily switch screens with a couple of keystrokes, or using the mouse.

IBM-compatible computer with 386, VGA, 512 Kbytes of free DOS memory, and a serial port. MS-DOS 5.0.

Any Windows NT/2000/XP application (word processor, spreadsheet, engineering software, etc.) may direct its output to the GP300 by means of the standard print dialog box. A number of different page sizes are supported, including 8.5x11", 11x11", 11x17", A3, A4 and 11.84x19" which uses the full recording width of the GP300.

Used with this driver, the GP300 is not only a laser-quality printer of outstanding ruggedness and reliability, but it retains its full functionality as a chart recorder. One can readily switch between modes of operation, under control of either a single host, or two different hosts (one on the parallel port, and one on a serial port).

Rtg300 is a dynamic-link library (DLL) that greatly simplifies the task of writing Windows NT/2000/XP programs that communicate with an instrument in the GP300 family of printer/recorders. The entire binary-protocol command set is supported, with each command corresponding to a library subroutine that takes the proper number of arguments for the command, and checks that argument values are within acceptable ranges.

Bi-directional communications with the GP300 are handled through a serial port. Rtg300 uses the multi-thread capability of Windows NT/2000/XP to provide a separate thread that handles status information transmitted by the GP300. This minimizes one of the application programmer's tasks, and makes writing the application more straightforward.

Several example application programs are provided, including programs to plot (real-time) waveform data on a GP300, a simple operator interface to control some of the configuration parameters, and a utility to print graphics files on the GP300 using the grey scale mode of operation. These examples are not only very useful on their own, but offer also an excellent starting point for more complete applications.

Rtg300 has been developed with Microsoft Developer Studio (Visual Studio 6.0) and written in Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0. The library and associated application programs are distributed with Visual Studio 6.0 project and workspace files included.

CDW300 is an advanced Windows NT/2000/XP-based operator interface for control and setup of GP300-series graphic printer/chart recorders. It also provides real-time data monitoring and logging, as well as data playback facilities.

CDW300 maintains GP300 configurations as ordinary disk-based files. In real-time mode, changes made to the configuration are immediately transmitted to the GP300. The edit mode allows the configuration to be modified off-line, with or without a GP300 connected.

Configuration variables and functions are conveniently grouped in clear forms and tables. In addition to basic system and per-channel configuration, there are forms to define engineering units, background grids, digital filters, chart annotation, a form for entering, editing and downloading custom programs for real-time math, and a graphic editor used to design the programmable sprites for trace differentiation.

All variables are checked to ensure values entered fall within acceptable ranges. With a few mouse clicks, configurations can be readily transferred to the GP300 and/or stored in the unit's non-volatile memory.

Data transmitted by the GP300 can be monitored on-screen and simultaneously logged to disk in real-time. Graphs can be easily defined to plot a specific channel, and they may be configured, sized and positioned with great flexibility. Convenient controls are provided for on-line adjustment of scaling and offset.

The playback feature allows plotting of existing flight or other data from an ASCII text file. Plot features include a text editor for small files to be used as headers, footers, and scale indicators. Approach data (e.g., the altitude of an aircraft approaching the runway for a landing) are plotted as events on a time line, and a utility is also included to simulate this type of data.

CDW300 uses the Rtg300 Interface Library. This implements bi-directional communications with the GP300 using a serial port. Taking advantage of Windows NT/2000/XP multi-threading, Rtg300 efficiently handles status information transmitted by the GP300.