Medialon MxMs' Help 
  
Name : Pro-Bel Matrix Switcher
Version : 1.0.4
Available for : Manager V5 (All versions), Showmaster (ST & Pro)
Limitation In :
Device Brand : Pro-Bel
Positrack Compatible : No
Resources type : Serial
 
Compatible hardware interfaces - available resource modules (MRC) :
 

 

> Overview | > Installation (MXM) | > Creation (Device) | > Commands (List Of) | > Variables (List Of) | > Support


Overview :


The PROBEL MxM provide an easy way to control one or several ProBel matrix switchers, from your PC's RS 232 Com port. Regular RS 232 cable can be used (DB9 female on PC to DB9 Male on the matrix).

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Installation (MXM) :

No special installation required.

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Creation (Device) :



COM Port: choose the PC communication that will control the ProBel matrix

Matrix ID: choose the internal matrix ID to control

Level Number: choose the number of level to control, this value depends on the matrix hardware configuration (for example to control a matrix with 2 analog video levels and 2 audio levels, you will have to choose 4 as the level number in the device setup box)

Destination Number: choose the number of destinations (outputs) to control

Source Number: choose the number of sources (inputs) to control

Memories Backup File Name: select a file name that will be used to store and recall several matrix configs.

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Commands (List Of) :

Crosspoint Connect:

      Description : send a commutation command to the matrix, the specified source is connected to the specified destination in the specified level
      Parameters :
      Level : [Type : Integer] : level index value, from 1 to 8, 0 means all levels
      Source : [Type : Integer] : source value, from 1 to 128
      Destination : [Type : Integer] : destination value, from 1 to 128
      Usage : this crosspoint connection is automatically saved in the "default" memory
Get Crosspoint :
      Description : call this function to retrieve the currently connected source on the specified desination, in the specified level
      Parameters :
      Level : [Type : Integer] : level index value, from 1 to 8
      Source : [Type : Integer] [out]: source value, from 1 to 128
      Destination : [Type : Integer] : destination value, from 1 to 128
      Usage : this function retreives the crosspoint connections from the "default" memory, no request is asked to the matrix. Thus the return value for source might not represent the actual value from the matrix. You should call the QueryMatrixConfig to retreive (and automatically save to the default memory) the entire actual matrix crosspoint configuration. After that operation, it will be safe to call the GetCrosspoint function, the source value will contain the actual source connected to the given destination.
Store Memory:
      Description : stores in the given memory name the current matrix configuration
      Parameters :
      Name : [Type : String] : memory name
      Usage : this function stores the current "default" matrix config in the specified memory name. In order to store in a memory the actual matrix configuration, first call QueryMatrixConfig and then call StoreMemory with a memory name. This memory will contain the exact matrix configuration just before the QueryMatrixConfig command was called. This prevent storing wrong crosspoint connections in a memory, due to external crosspoint connections generated by a ProBel control panel for example. If the memory allready does exist in the MemoryList variable, it is replaced by the new one.
Load Memory:
      Description : load a given memory configuration into the matrix
      Parameters :
      Name : [Type : String] : memory name
      Usage : this function downloads to the matrix an entire configuration that was previously saved with StoreMemory. The MatrixStatus goes to the "Busy" state during the download process, and returns to "Idle" when it is finished.
Delete Memory:
      Description : delete a given memory
      Parameters :
      Name : [Type : String] : memory name
      Usage : this function delete a specified memory from the MemoryList variable. If the memory name does not match any memory in the MemoryList variable, the function does nothing.
Query Matrix Config:
      Description : start an upload process to retreive the entire and actual matrix configuration
      Parameters : None
      Usage : this function does make the MatrixStatus variable to change form "Idle" to "Busy", the variable returns to "Idle" when upload process does finish. The entire uploaded configuration is automatically saved in the "default" memory, but you are free to save it in another memory by calling StoreMemory.
Destination Label Control :
      Description : allows to assign a text label to a destination
      Parameters :
      Level : [Type : Integer]: level index value, from 1 to 8, 0 means all levels
      Command : [Type : Enum] : type of command to execute, "SetLabel" or "GetLabel"
      Destination : [Type : Integer] : destination value, from 1 to 128
      Label : [Type : String] [in or out] : string that contains the label
      Usage : if the command parameter is set to "SetLabel", the specified string in the label parameter will be used for the specified destination label. If the command parameter is set to "GetLabel", the specified string in the label parameter will contain the previously configured label from the specified destination. The destination label assignment is very usefull to give more explicit name to the destinations, like "Plasma screen", "Monitor 1", etc.
Source Label Control :
      Description : allows to assign a text label to a source
      Parameters :
      Level : [Type : Integer]: level index value, from 1 to 8, 0 means all levels
      Command : [Type : Enum] : type of command to execute, "SetLabel" or "GetLabel"
      Source : [Type : Integer] : sourcevalue, from 1 to 128
      Label : [Type : String] [in or out] : string that contains the label
      Usage : if the command parameter is set to "SetLabel", the specified string in the label parameter will be used for the specified source label. If the command parameter is set to "GetLabel", the specified string in the label parameter will contain the previously configured label from the specified source. The source label assignment is very usefull to give more explicit name to the sources, like "VHS", "Live", etc.

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Variables (List Of) :

MatrixStatus :

      Type : Enum
      Description : current status of the matrix
      Available Values :
        "Idle" : no communication between the PC and the matrix, this is the default state
        "Busy" : there is communication between the PC and the matrix, due uploading or downloading processes (by calling LoadMemory, or QueryMatrixConfig)

MemoryList:
      Type : String
      Description : list variable that contains all memories saved by calling StoreMemory
      Usage : you can create a Manager list object to monitor that variable in order for the user to choose and recall a memory very easily

CurrentMemory:
      Type : String
      Description : contains the current loaded memory
      Usage : the crosspoint connection commands sent are only stored in the "default" memory, not in the CurrentMemory. To do so, you just have to call StoreMemory and pass the CurrentMemory as argument to the function.
ConfigUpdateEvent:
      Type : Integer, values from 0 to 1
      Description : this variable changes when a crosspoint connection is issued
      Usage : this variable works as an event. It set to 1 by the mxm when a crosspoint connection is issued either by the Crosspoint Connect command of the mxm or by an external ProBel control panel. This varible is set bakc to 0 when callin the Get Crosspoint command. For example you can create a task automatically started when the ConfigUpdateEvent is set to 1. This task that will call the QueryMatrixConfig command in order to retreive the new matrix configuration, issued by and external ProBel control panel.

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Support (Difference with previous versions) :

V 1.0.1:

  • Added: Support for Showmaster.

V 1.0.2:

  • Fixed: Showmaster Editor project user data folder was not selected by default.

V 1.0.3:

  • Modified: serial port is now opened when the device activity is enabled (i.e. when the project switches to Debug or Run mode).
  • Fixed: under Showmaster memory file is not read if $CURRENTPROJECT_USERDATA macro is used
  • Fixed: crash when the size of a memory name exceed 1K
  • Fixed: crash when the size of the list of memory names exceed 4K

V 1.0.4:

  • Added: Support for Showmaster Pro.

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