Bronkhorst FlowDDE - Manual (Page 11)

BRONKHORST ®
4.1.2 Open communication
Once the communication settings are correctly configured, the communication to the instruments can be started and
instrument values can be used by client applications.
From the menu, click Communication >> Open communication or press F3. Now FlowDDE will try to make a
connection to the FLOW-BUS interface. Once a connection is established, FlowDDE will initialize the interface when
needed and scan the connected FLOW-BUS when present. When the FLOW-BUS configuration is different than the
previous configuration, FlowDDE shows a warning. To all connected instruments a channel number is assigned and for
each channel the applicable parameter DDE items are created. These parameter DDE items are to be used by client
applications.
After all DDE items are created, FlowDDE starts polling several parameters from all instruments periodically. The DDE
values of these parameters are updated after each poll, so clients don’t need to actively refresh these before using.
From now on, FlowDDE is ready for any client. FlowDDE can be minimized and acts as silently as a server until the
communication is closed.
4.1.3 Close communication
Communication to the instrument can be stopped by, from the menu, Communication >> Close communication or F4.
Polling is stopped, all DDE items are terminated and clients can no longer set or get parameter values.
4.2 C
ONFIGURATION
When communication is opened and FlowDDE has scanned the FLOW-BUS system, the FLOW-BUS configuration can
be viewed: FLOW-BUS >> Configuration or F5.
The following window is shown.
On the left hand side, all instruments connected to the FLOW-BUS are shown, ordered by their assigned channel. In
this example, two digital controllers (channel 1 and 2) and one RS232/FLOW-BUS interface with 4 real-time channels
(channel 3 to 6) are connected.
On the right hand side, the top frame is meant to add legacy modules to the FLOW-BUS. To add such a module,
connect the module to the FLOW-BUS, press Search and follow on-screen instructions.
Communication closes automatically when FlowDDE is closed.
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