COMxL RS232C@TCPIP Help



Product Description

COMxL RS232C@TCPIP (short name: COMxL), a helpful Excel Add-ins, make
your instrument / RS232-device direct link with your Excel Report. Using COMxL,
you can easily access / control your instrument / device in Excel
1)to download its DATA to your worksheet ,
2)to operate/control it by sending Text-Commands through its RS232 /
RS232C / COM port at local PC or remote PC over LAN via TCPIP
(need work together with tcpipRSPoint, a RS232-TCPIP converter)

Using COMxL, you can connect more than one  instruments to your
Excel Report at the same time and capture the DATA you want from
input-string by using a filter. There are many kind of filters for
user to choice to capture DATA based on the different format of
input-string.  It also supports timer sampling DATA with date&time stamp.

Major features and key points
1) Direct link RS232 device to anywhere in your worksheet.
2) Easy-setup and simple-operate
3) Flexible and smart filter for capturing DATA you want.
4) Support sending text/ascii command
(any character based-on Asii-code [Chr###])
     and commands file, let you easily control/operate your RS232 device.
5) Support TCP/IP, let you even access your RS232 device over LAN  easily
6) Timer sampling DATA is available
7) DATA moving direction can be selected (left-to-right or top-down)
   with Looping optional.
8) Date&Time stamping is available.
9) Support linking multi RS232 devices or instruments to worksheets at
   the sometime via different RS232 port or TCPIP server&client.

Back top



     Some things New in latest version (3.00.000)           

New features and enhancements in Version 3.00:
1) support TCPIP port, as client, linking with a TCPIP server
   (tcpipRSPoint). now you can remote access/control your RS232
   device/instrument over LAN.
2) more filters for capturing different kinds of DATA
   * (S=:,L=ToEnd)
=> from next":" to the end of the line
   * (Range[4-ToEnd]
) => from 4 to the end of the line
   * (... +TrmSP) =>Trim all space characters from both right and left side
   * (... +KeyWrds##) => Use Key-Words and Ban-Words (in KeyWrds##.txt file) of capture DATA 

     Note: ## = 01 ~ 99
3) looping option lets you more easy update your Data@Chart
4) timer sampling method improved:   
   a) new method with more accuracy sampling time :
      EMD(#m,#d,S/E/N)
      every few minutes(#m) to collect few DATA (#d, one set)
      from instrument with/without date&time
      (S =>at start, E =>at End, N => None).
   b)support send CmmdsFile,  CmmdsFile=aaa.txt, there are few commands in aaa.txt file
5) more easy to access help file

Back top



Installation

A) Install COMxL RS232C program
For New user:
    1)   Unzip comxl30f.zip to a temporary director(C:\cmxltmp)
    2)   Run "Setup.exe" from the directory
For updating user(If VB6 runtime files already installed):
   1) Create a directory such as "C:\COMXL" and simply
   2) Unzip comxl300.zip (extract all files) to the directory


B). Add-Ons COMxL RS232C in your Excel
    1) Run MS Excel
    2) From its menu: Tools => Add-ins => Browse. Find and select "COMxL.xla"
       from the sub directory of COMxL RS232C, click button "OK", then
       tick it, then click button "OK".
    3) In your Excel's menu, you will find "COMxL" => "COMxL RS232C"

Note: COMxL RS232C need VB6 run-time files (OCX) to run it. If you PC does not
  
     have them, please download and install its full  package
       Download place 1:  SimTel.net (comxl30f.zip)
       Download place 2:  http://www.lye-tech.com 
 

Back top



System setup

About Communication parameter

Parameters include Three parts:
1)Device Name and RS232C port's settings (like, Com2:9600,N,8,1!XOnXoff!)
  or TCP/IP settings (like, tcpip@Qa-pc02-117:1001!)
2)In-coming string data format
3)Terminating-Character and seperating-Character

Example: [LYE01]Com2:9600,N,8,1!XOnXoff!(S=+/-,L=9)Tm0=CRLF,Tm1=Chr009

Part-one(necessary):
[LYE01] - LYE01 is instrument/device name
Com2:9600,N,8,1!XonXoff!  => RS232C port's settings

Part-two(necessary):
(S=+/-,L=9) => Data start with "+" or "-" and its length is 9 characters

Note: Other format in part two:
. (Range[4 - 12]) =>  the Data is characters of from 4 to 12 in the in-coming string
. (all) => the whole in-coming string as the DATA
. (S=01A,L=Auto)
"S=01A" => the prefix of Data is "01A"
"L=Auto" => Data-length will be auto-detected by COMxL
. (Range[4 - Auto]) =>End of Data (start at 4) will be auto-detected by COMxL
. (S=:,L=ToEnd)  => from next":" to the end of the line
. (Range[4-ToEnd]) => from 4 to the end of the line
. (... +TrmSP) => Trim all space characters from both right and left side
. (... +KeyWrds##) =>Use Key-Words and Ban-Words (in KeyWrds##.txt file) to capture DATA
     Note: ## = 01 ~ 99

Part-three(Optional):
Tm0=CRLF,Tm1=Chr009
. "Tm0=CRLF" means the input-string terminated by "CRLF"
. "Tm1=Chr009" means the seperating-character is Chr009 (Table Character)
Note: The terminating-character must only be "CR" or "CRLF".
The seperating-character may be any ASCII Character
For example, For CSV format: "Tm1=," or "Tm1=Chr044"

Follow above rule, you can create your own communication parameters based-on your
instrument user manual

Back top



Operation

1). Open your Excel File and highlight the range you want Data to fill in
2). Run "COMxL RS232C" from Excel's menu: COMxL => COMxL RS232C
3). Connect RS232C port by click button "Connect (F1)" in COMxL's Operation Panel
4). Input Data to your Excel File from instrument or download Data by sending a
    command to instrument

Note: Before you connect RS232C port (Step 3), you maybe need set tools' communication
      parameters at first time or when you want to change the settings, you also can
      select the moving direction of Data in your Excel sheet.

Back top



Support

Homepage: http://www.lye-tech.com  
Author  : G. Ye
Email   : gyesoft@yahoo.com

OnlineHelp  : COMxLHelp.html
 

 Back top



F.A.Q

Q1. What is requirement of  input-string format of instrument  for this software?
A:  1)The string's last character must be a CR (carriage  return) or CRLF(carriage  return + line feed) ,
      2) One of both following has to be known in the string,
           * The real  DATA's starting characters (S) and its length (L), For Example,  (S=01A, L=9)
           * The real DATA's location , for example (Range[4 - 12])
     3) If you want whole string  as your DATA, just set to "(all)"  

Q2. How to set the Download Command for "Load Data (F5)"?
A:  Download Command is the instrument's command (Characters) that can be sent from PC via RS232 port
      to download instrument reading. For example, the command string in box is "A +CR +LF",
     that means the command is Charater "A" + "carriage return(CR)" + "linefeed(LF)".

Q3. How to use Date/Time Stamping with instrument's DATA?
A:  To use Date/Time Stamping, You have to select more than one column/row for your range to fill-in the DATA,
      if the moving direction is "left-to-right", the Date/Time stamping will auto-fill-in at last column in your selected
     range, if "top down" direction, will auto-fill-in at last row.

    Example: Three (3) data consider as one set of data (one row), every set of data need a date/time-stamp (at end of the row)
    Step:
        1) Select a range with 4 columns(3+1=4) and maybe 5 rows (5 sets data) in Excel worksheet
        2) Run COMxL from Excel menu
        3) Set moving direction to "left-to-right", Enable Date/Time Stamp in "CommSettings"
        4) Connect instrument by click "Connect" button

Q4. How to set the settings for timer sampling instrument's DATA?
A:  Method1: The settings is [s!n], "s" means interval in second between samplings, "n" means number of the DATA
      you want to collecte to your excel worksheet. For example, every 5 second you want to get one DATA
      from instrument, total DATA are 20,  the settings should be [5!20].
 
   
      Method2: The settings is [EMD(
#m,#d,S/E/N)],
 
    every few minutes(#m) to collect few DATA (#d, one set includs #d number of data)
      from instrument with/without date&time
      (S =>at start, E =>at End, N => None).
      For example, every 2 minute you need to collection 3 data from instrument and
     put Data&Time at begining of the 3 data,  the settings should be [EMD(2,3,S)]     

     Note: For long time collection data, Date@Time stamping will be more accuracy (within 1 second) by Method2.

Q5. Why count "the DDE linking problem"  and how to solve?
A:  1) VB6 runtime files (OCX files) not enough  
     Please download full package of COMxL from http://www.lye-tech.com , and used it to install it
     2) Excel not installed properly.  
     Sometime maybe you can normaly use Excel, but can not use "DDE" technology linking with COMxL RS232.
     It may be because some Excel's files were missing or damaging. Re-install Excel is one of way you can try to do.
     3) OS (Win95/98/NT/2000) not installed properly or Hardware environmnet (Mother-board) not stable.
     Re-install your OS is one of way you may try to do. Or install COMxL in other-PC to test it

Q6. Why count "Foreign application won't perform DDE method or operation" and how to solve ?
A:  Because COMxL can not understand some key-words in some Non-English language (such as,German, French and Spanish)
     When you count above Error message, please use COMxL in English environment (OS: Win95/98/NT/2000 and Excel)

     COMxL working in Japanese and Chinese evironment (OS and Excel)  is OK.

Back top



Order & Registration

(Note: Please see our web site: http://www.lye-tech.com  for detail and latest information)
 

COMxL RS232C@TCPIP Registration
Registration fee US $: 59

System-1
======================================================
At ShareIt!
If you would like to register COMxL RS232C at ShareIt! , you can enter the
registration online on the Internet at
http://shareit1.element5.com/programs.html?productid=131222.
Alternatively, you can go to http://www.shareit.com and enter the
program number there: 131222.
If you do not have access to the Internet, you can register via phone,
fax or postal mail. Please print out
the following form, and fax or mail it to:

ShareIt!
element 5 AG / ShareIt!
 Vogelsanger Strasse 78
 50823 Koeln
 Germany

Phone:  +49-221-2407279
Fax:    +49-221-2407278
E-Mail:     register@shareit.com

US and Canadian customers may also order by calling 1-800-903-4152.
(Orders only please! We cannot provide any technical information about
the program.)

US check and cash orders can be sent to our US office at:

ShareIt! Inc.
PO Box 844
Greensburg, PA 15601-0844
USA

Tel. 724-850-8186
Fax. 724-850-8187
 

Registration form for COMxL RS232C@TCPIP

Program No.: 131222

Last name: ___________________________________

First name: ____________________________________

Company: ____________________________________

Street and #: ______________________________________

City, State, postal code: ________________________________

Country: _______________________________________

Phone: _____________________________________

Fax: ________________________________________

E-Mail: ______________________________________

*** Please do not forget to include your e-mail address. ***
*** We will use e-mail to communicate with you. ***

How would like to receive the registration key/full version?

e-mail - fax - postal mail

How would you like to pay the registration fee:

credit card - wire transfer - EuroCheque - cash

Credit card information (if applicable)

Credit card: Visa - Eurocard/Mastercard - American Express - Diners
Club

Card holder: ________________________________

Card No.: ___________________________________ Expiration Date: ________
 

Date / Signature: ___________________________
 

System-2
======================================================
At RegNow!
If you would like to register COMxL RS232C@TCPIP at RegNow! , you can enter the
registration online on the Internet at
https://www.regnow.com/softsell/nph-softsell.cgi?item=3336-1
 

System-3
======================================================
At RegNet
If you would like to register COMxL RS232C@TCPIP at RegNet , you can enter the
registration online on the Internet at
https://secure.reg.net/product.asp?ID=6539
 

Back top



Warranty

LIMITED WARRANTY

The evaluation ("shareware") version of the COMxL RS232C@TCPIP is provided
for evaluation only, on an "as is" basis.  The registered version is
provided with a 30-day money-back guarantee, provided all materials are
returned, and -- in the case of the editor -- no products have been
distributed with included COMxL files.  This Excel Add-Ons is
intended for use by MS Excel's user, who want to import Data through
RS232C port from instrument directly.   Users are advised to do so.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, LYE SOFTLAB
DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES RELATING TO THIS SOFTWARE, WHETHER EXPRESSED
OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  NEITHER LYE SOFTLAB
SOFTWARE NOR ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE CREATION,
PRODUCTION, OR DELIVERY OF THIS SOFTWARE SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY
INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE
OR INABILITY TO USE SUCH SOFTWARE, EVEN IF GYE SOFTLAB HAS
BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES OR CLAIMS.  IN NO EVENT
SHALL GYE SOFTLAB'S LIABILITY FOR ANY DAMAGES EVER EXCEED THE
PRICE PAID FOR THE LICENSE TO USE THE SOFTWARE, REGARDLESS OF THE FORM
OF THE CLAIM.  THE PERSON USING THE SOFTWARE BEARS ALL RISK AS TO THE
QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE.

Back top



License for Use and Distribution

LICENSE TERMS APPLICABLE TO ALL USE OR DISTRIBUTION

The COMxL and all associated software and documentation are
copyrighted products of LYE SoftLab and are protected by
United States copyright law and also by international treaty provisions.

All rights not expressly granted here are reserved to LYE SoftLab.
The use or distribution of these products is expressly
prohibited, except as authorized by the terms of this agreement.

You may not use, copy, rent, lease, sell, modify, decompile,
disassemble, otherwise reverse engineer, or transfer the licensed
program except as provided in this agreement.

U.S. Government Restricted Rights:  Use, duplication, or disclosure
by the U.S. Government of the computer software and documentation in
this package shall be subject to restrictions as set forth in
subdivision (b)(3)(ii) of the Rights in Technical Data and Computer
Software clause at 252.227-7013 (DFARS 52.227-7013).  Manufacturer is
LyeSoftLab, BLK212, Bukit Batok Street 21, #08-251, Singapore 650212.
 

LICENSE TERMS APPLICABLE TO TRIAL USE OF EVALUATION VERSION

LyeSoftLab grants you a limited license to use this software
for evaluation purposes for a period (not to exceed 60 uses).

During this evaluation period, you may make full use of the COMxL .

If you continue using this software after the evaluation period
(60-uses),  you MUST make the prescribed registration payment (US$59) to
LYE SoftLab through the World Wide Web - your credit card information
is sent directly to the credit card processor in a SECURE manner.
 

LICENSE TERMS APPLICABLE TO USE OF REGISTERED VERSION

The software and the disks on which it is contained are licensed on
a non-exclusive basis to you, the purchaser, for your own use.  You
are not obtaining title to the software or any copyright rights.
 

You may use the licensed software on a single personal computer system,
and make as many copies as needed for backup and archival purposes.
If you need to use these products on more than one computer, please
contact us concerning site licenses.

LIMITED DISTRIBUTION LICENSE

Permission is granted to individuals charging no fees, and to BBSes,
User Groups, Mail-Order Disk Vendors, CD-ROM publishers, and BBS
File-Distribution Networks regardless of fees, to distribute the
COMxL, provided they convey a complete and unaltered copy of
the shareware version of this product, and provided they claim no
ownership of these products.

Permission to distribute these products is not transferable, assignable,
saleable, or franchisable.  Each vendor wishing to distribute these
products must independently satisfy the terms of this limited
distribution license.

LYE SoftLab may revoke any permissions granted here, by  
notifying you in writing.

Back top