Log file question...

[murphy625]

I pulled this line out of my log file..

Can someone tell me what the red number is ????

_THEN IF \81=0 THEN [PutSte1]44

All my macros have numbers like that next to them in the log file. It doesnt correspond to anything I can find but I'm sure there is a purpose to it..

Can someone tell me what that number means???

Thanks
Murphy

[camsoft]

Murphy

The value after the macro shown in the logfile is a memory pointer for diagnostic purposes.

We have a approach that you haven't thought of yet that is straight forward using files that you can run like others would run a G code program. The files can contain logic commands just like Macros and M codes do but they do not have size limitations.

Keep in mind that you can use several approaches to increase the amount of logic you can run.

(1) You can call a macro to increase the amount of lines you have that contain logic and that macro can call another macro and so on. This is called nesting macros. Therefore you have almost unlimited number of tasks that can be preformed from a short program.

(2) Macros are public so writing it once means that it can be called from other logic files over and over but it only takes up one small segment of memory.

(3) You can also add many logic commands together on the same line with a colon. Think of a colon as a carriage return. Up to 255 commands per line. Useful when processing dozens of commands after one IF THEN line if true. The exception is if a line begins with a colon then it's a line label to GOTO not a carriage return.


Please contact us for the logic file solution and provide the ladies in the front office with your company name and address.

Tech Support
CamSoft Corp.
(951) 674-8100
support@camsoftcorp.com
www.cnccontrols.com

[murphy625]

We have a approach that you haven't thought of yet that is straight forward using files that you can run like others would run a G code program. The files can contain logic commands just like Macros and M codes do but they do not have size limitations.

And what approach would this be?? I tried calling you guys but cant get by the receptionist..

How about just telling me what your talking about? Are you suggesting I use the DMC files to run logic in?

(1) You can call a macro to increase the amount of lines you have that contain logic and that macro can call another macro and so on. This is called nesting macros. Therefore you have almost unlimited number of tasks that can be preformed from a short program.

UNLIMITED ?????????????? hahahaha.. You mean unlimited until your macro.fil has 100 macros in it OR 100 lines in a single macro?? Because that's the limit I hit...

I've been nesting macros from the 1st day I started writing the code.. Calling one macro from another was easy to figure out.
Here is a point camsoft needs to clear up for newbies..
Macros can be called from anywhere. (other macros, Mcodes, etc.)
Mcodes can only be called by pressing a button on the GUI.
Mcodes can call macros but a macro can not call an Mcode.
The camsoft manual should discribe this better than it does. Thank GOD for this forum!!!

(3) You can also add many logic commands together on the same line with a colon. Think of a colon as a carriage return. Up to 255 commands per line. Useful when processing dozens of commands after one IF THEN line if true. The exception is if a line begins with a colon then it's a line label to GOTO not a carriage return.
I do not agree with this statement.. It is "misleading". I understand you can call an IF THEN statement but after that, you are limited to code that falls under the return of that IF THEN statement. There is no "OR" available which means the colon is only good if your doing something as a result of the original IF THEN. You have to use up another line of code if your doing an OR and when your limited to only 100 lines, it goes fast.

Am I mistaken here? Im just a newbie with the camsoft but I've done hundreds of thousands of lines of code in VB so I have some knowledge.

I would very much like to hear more about your idea on how to get by the 100 line or 100 macro limitations???

Murphy

[camsoft]

Murphy,

The receptionist asked you write to support@cnccontrols.com because we had prepared some instructions for you. We also needed to find out who you were and what product/version you have.

We were trying to be nice to you, but you're making that very hard to do.

We do have a solution but need to know more about what you are doing. It does not make sense. The solution does involve logic files of unlimited size. Not DMC files. Your package also appears to be out of date, from what you say. The records we have do not show this limit. However, currently today there is far more space. By upgrading this would increase the file sizes, but that shouldn't be necessary if the programs were written properly. The space you have for logic is really much larger than it appears and others have done some very impressive and large projects using the Graphical Operator Interface version.

We agree it is best to clear up what you have wrote before some one gets confused.

(1) The Graphical Operator Interface (GOI) version is our non-CNC entry level package.

(2) The M codes you are referring to are not the same as M codes in CNC Lite, Plus or the Professional versions.

(3) Each Macro can hold in memory over 1 megabyte of logic and there are 199 un-reserved macros.

(4) In the GOI there are user definable 199 M codes and each can hold over 1 megabyte in memory

(5) There are at least 10 other logic files all containing logic to run like many individual PLC's

(6) Macros only need to be written once and can be called by other logic files but only using one copy of the macro.

(7) Macros can be nested by one calling another and with proper planning can be very compact.

(8) In the GOI logic files and be run containing unlimited logic commands, like CNC people run G code programs or jobs.

(9) If you prefer VB or C++ you can write in this language and access the controller motion and I/O through functions calls.

It's up to you how you want to proceed from here. If you make it any harder you will burn your bridges with the others here. We have some questions about your application write to us directly at support@cnccontrols.com

Tech Support
CamSoft Corp.
(951) 674-8100
support@camsoftcorp.com
www.cnccontrols.com

[murphy625]

Mr Camsoft Relax !!!
Perhaps I created a mis-leading statement by saying yours was mis-leading. Believe me when I say I was only talking from a Grammatical or Instructional point of view. (the way the sentence was wrote was mis-leading to me) ..
THIS WAS NOT AN ATTACK ON YOUR COMPANY OR PERSON.

As we both know, programming anything is a very exacting science. One syntax mistake and nothing works. To bad english isn't so exacting eh?

I believe there is a solution to my problem within your software. I just have to find it by experimenting and asking questions. The fact that many specifics of the GOI software are not available without asking or writing an email makes finding solutions a little bit more challenging.

There is one thing I am not very happy with..
Your statement about the receptionist and "burning bridges" being in the same post could possibly lead others who are reading this to think I was in some way less than professional or in any way rude when talking to you or your receptionist. I think you, I,and the receptionist would all agree I was not. Why would you post such a comment like that?

Also, I did not know you "needed" to know who I was before helping me.. This forum is open to the public and like most other things on the internet, it is free and anonymous. (Big thanks to Paul Gentile) Had I known, I would have gladly identified myself to you in a private message. I still don't who you are! (although I have an idea)

I will add one more thing.
The tech support people and receptionist(s) I have talked to at Camsoft have been nothing but polite and helpful. The company procedures and policies they follow are another issue. (I guess every corporation has unique theories on customer service)

Now, Thanks for your help.. Can we please get back to the teckno-babble so I can fix my problem??

I have sent you an email.

Murphy

[murphy625]

We do have a solution but need to know more about what you are doing. It does not make sense. The solution does involve logic files of unlimited size. Not DMC files. .
I am working on some time of written explanation for you.

Your package also appears to be out of date, from what you say. The records we have do not show this limit. However, currently today there is far more space. By upgrading this would increase the file sizes, but that shouldn't be necessary if the programs were written properly. The space you have for logic is really much larger than it appears and others have done some very impressive and large projects using the Graphical Operator Interface version.
Perhaps after I get this thing working, I will upgrade everything from my software to my support. But it must get working to minimum standards before I have the budget for that.
I am glad you stated the size of the logic files for me. This is good news.. Now I just have to find out how to access that.

Now that you know who I am You can see exactly what version I have right? Please tell me what the story is on the Macro limits because I got a very ENGLISH type message box that I exceeded the maximum number of macros and the program shut down before it started.

Thanks,
Murphy

[camsoft]

Murphy,

We did receive your e-mail and we'll go over it before we meet with our boss later today. The version you have uses an old set of motion card drivers and we have to decide how best to update you.

It is important for you and others to know that we here in the tech dept and the receptionist are instructed to ask you who are so that we can provide proper support. We have thousands of customers dating back to the early 80's and what software they're using, how old it , what version it is and if they have a installer/dealer already helping them matters in what advice we give. The features and functions vary widely so our jobs are based providing specific advice proper for each situation.

We have some questions to ask you before we update you and we also can address some recent questions you posted. The version you will be getting will also increase the macro space in memory as stated in the post above and the advice we have to offer regarding running logic files like job files will give you unlimited application size with out large macros files or writing from scratch in VB, unless you wanted to.

Tech Support
CamSoft Corp.
(951) 674-8100
support@camsoftcorp.com
www.cnccontrols.com

[murphy625]

Originally Posted by camsoft Murphy, We did receive your e-mail and we'll go over it before we meet with our boss later today. The version you have uses an old set of motion card drivers and we have to decide how best to update you.

Great! I await your instructions!

Originally Posted by camsoft It is important for you and others to know that we here in the tech dept and the receptionist are instructed to ask you who are so that we can provide proper support. We have thousands of customers dating back to the early 80's and what software they're using, how old it , what version it is and if they have a installer/dealer already helping them matters in what advice we give. The features and functions vary widely so our jobs are based providing specific advice proper for each situation..

Well now that I know what's up, I understand why.

Originally Posted by camsoft We have some questions to ask you before we update you and we also can address some recent questions you posted. The version you will be getting will also increase the macro space in memory as stated in the post above and the advice we have to offer regarding running logic files like job files will give you unlimited application size with out large macros files or writing from scratch in VB, unless you wanted to..

I checked my email and found no messages (questions) from you. I will keep checking it every 1/2 hour or so.
Most of the questions I have posted to this forum have already been answered via other users responses, or extensive experimentation on my own. I still have a few but they have been moved to a low priority until I solve my size restrictions. I still find the fact that I am limited to less than 100 lines or 150 lines (depending on the file) to be slightly disturbing and I can not stop from wondering why? Was this a goof in the underlying program code or was it purposely restricted? I guess it doesnt matter so long as I can get this restriction removed.

My curiosity is peaking! Send me the solution you keep talking about!

1 more issue I wanted to touch on.
It is my opinion (and only my opinion) that the manual that comes with the camsoft software is not all that descriptive. (the first and only other programming language I have to compare to is Visual Baisic as used within Micorsoft programs) But for each command that is available, the book(s) usually have 10 or 20 examples of that command being used in various situations. The Camsoft manual usually contains just 1 example, sometimes 2. Would you folks be ok with it if I post what I learn about these commands here in the forum?
An example would be the LISTSETUP and related variances. Your book barely even touches on this command or its features. It was out of boredom and fustration that I started playing with it and discovered how usefull it can be. There are positives, pitfalls and variances of the coding within the command that allow it to do things your book makes absolutly no mention of. (Dont get me wrong, I DO UNDERSTAND the difficulty level of writing instruction manuals) My point being that maybe if I post these things in this forum, other users may benifit from it.

Seeing as how this is your forum, I thought I'd pass this by you first.

Thanks for the support!
Murphy

[camsoft]

Murphy,

You should have e-mail waiting for you with our questions and solution we mentioned.

Let us know if you need us to resent this.

Yes, you should post TIPS and other clever routines you feel others would use.

As long as it's correct.

There are different manuals and different features for each package. The best thing to do is specify in the post, "This is for the Graphical Operator Interface non-CNC version number.

The latest CNC Professional system comes with 4 printed manuals, each with 400+ pages, plus a electronic look up called Search for Solutions that goes beyond the printed manuals, totaling 135 megabytes of text, charts and images not counting movies.

Tech Support
CamSoft Corp.
(951) 674-8100
support@camsoftcorp.com
www.cnccontrols.com

[murphy625]

I Got your email!!!

THANK YOU!!!

I am going over your instructions.. It may take me awhile to figure out the "how" of your solution but I think I see where your going!!

Murphy