The PC300 Control/Interface Software package allows a user to control a GP300-series graphic printer/chart recorder from an IBM-PC or compatible. The package is available in three versions:

• PC300-1 consists of the PC300 Operator Interface program, and the LIB300 Interface Library
• PC300-2 consists of PC300-1 plus the source code for the LIB300 Interface Library.
• PC300-3 comprises the LIB300 Interface Library and its source code.

PC300 OPERATOR INTERFACE:

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.

LIB300 INTERFACE LIBRARY

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.

SOURCE CODE

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.

Minimum Requirements:

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