Entering Messages for the MDC Hardware Box

On the main DNC-Max Server screen click Setup / Configure Server.

Opening server configuration.

Click Events/Messages on the left side tree menu and check the option Enable events/messages.

Then click the Add button to the right of the messages list box to add the CYCLESTART message.

Adding the CYCLESTART message.

Set the following fields:

• Message Type to Operator message.
• Trigger to blank.
• Message Tag to be CYCLESTART.
• Log Text to Cycle Start.
• Extract Value to Ignore.
• Check the Only use with DPRNT messages option.

Click the Add button again and enter the CYCLESTOP message as below:

Adding the CYCLESTOP message.

This has now added the two messages generated when the machine starts or stops. We do need two messages as the machine is either running (CYCLESTART) or stopped (CYCLESTOP).

Next we add the message for PARTCOMPLETE as below:

Adding the PARTCOMPLETE message.

Now let us explain what the individual fields mean:

• Reserved program name would be used if we wanted to generate a message by punching a program (e.g. 7990) from the machine so in this case it is blank.

• Trigger is any text string that is sent down the RS-232 line to generate the message (from a barcode or DPRNT). These three messages are generated by the MDC box directly (line status change) so there is no text and no trigger.

• Message tag is the most important part - this is the name of the message itself and must be unique. This MUST be in UPPER case.

• Log Text is the text that appears in the MDC-Max event log (not the port log) and is just a comment.

• Add to port log adds the actual message (e.g. CYCLESTART) to the log for this machine (this is useful for debug but you will probably want to turn this off once the system is running correctly).

• Only use with DPRNT messages must be ticked for this type of message as this makes sure this message will not be triggered by a program transfer.

Ignore the other fields for now - we will use them later, just make sure they are set as above.

You now have the 3 basic messages setup and you skip to next chapter if you want to get on with installing the MDC box in the machine.