MODCOMP Console Replacement (#2)

Quick Links:

Command Quick Reference

Command Dialogs

Advanced Features

INI File Entries

mcr2 is an interactive program designed to resemble the console command interface used on the previous (MODCOMP-based) plant computer system.

The sample program window above shows mcr2 restarting after an earlier session left the pattern as the regular expression 'C310'. Below the program version and copyright notice, mcr2 displays the match results of the current pattern. Finally, at the bottom of the window is the command edit (input) line, with some text typed into it (but not yet entered). The standard editing keys are available on the command line, with these exceptions:

• Ctrl+ArrowKey is used to scroll the log window up, down, left and right. This means that there is no key defined for jumping right or left one word at a time (that is normally Ctrl+Right/Left).
• The Up/Down arrow keys (without Ctrl pressed) are used to recall previous commands. From the initial position (a new, blank command line) pressing up will go backwards through the last 50 commands, starting at the most recently entered command. The down arrow will go forwards, starting at the oldest remembered command. Once recalled, a previous command may be edited and/or re-submitted for execution.

Command Quick Reference

In addition to graphical dialog boxes, mcr2 accepts user input through a single line command field, located at the bottom of the main window. mcr2 will read and attempt to execute commands when the ENTER (carriage return) key is pressed. Some commands only echo the command when they succeed, others may produce large amounts of output. All commands should produce one or more error/warning messages when they fail.

Command	Parameters	Description
help	none	Display a short, on screen command list. This is intended as a quick reminder -- NOT a replacement for reading the manual.
?
dir
exit!	none	Exit mcr2 immediately. No prompt is displayed.
exit	none	Exit mcr2 after confirmation via prompt message box.
about	none	Display program version and build information, or when '/G' is appended to the command, show the standard 'About' dialog box.
version
shmre	none	Show most recent command entries
clmre	none	Clear most recent command entries.
clear	none	Clear the log window (and the scrollback buffer)
print	none	Prints the most recently printable command from the scrollback buffer, using the external program. The report content is written to a file named "MCR2 Report" and the external program is run to print that file.
func	none or key name	These command synonyms display all of the current function definition descriptions in a table. If a specific key is named as a parameter, then that key's description and the actual definition is displayed.
funkey
gui	command	Open the dialog panel for the given command. If the command does not have a graphical component, then this command will display an error message explaining that fact.
time	none	Show the current time (useful for entering time tags in the shift logs).
note	any text	Enter a note into the shift log (and display it onscreen).
live	none	Show the live data panel.
pgtest	dlg	Start/Stop PG Test
assay	dlg (only)	Display the "Assay Slope/Intercepts" dialog
,CHGLMN	dlg	Change Limits by modified point name
.CHGSMN	dlg	Change Status by modified point name
.CHGASS		Change Analog Status and Parameters
.CHGDS		Change Digital Status and Parameters
.UPON	dlg	Start data acquisition
.UPOFF	dlg	Stop data acquisition
.UPHALT
.LOADON	dlg	Reboot unit and start data acquisition
.SNDUDB
.UPLOAD	dlg	Reboot unit and stop data acquisition
.USTLOD
.IPLODT
.XSTLOD
.SNDBON
.DISP	dlg	Display point data
.DSPPRS	dlg	Display pressure data
.PLIDIV
.DSPTMP	dlg	Display temperature data
.DSPVIB	dlg	Display vibration data
.STATUS	dlg	Display unit status
.BIASHS		Display/reset bias history
.SETDAT	dlg	Set/Change DATUM values
.CHGDAT
.BIAS31	dlg	Set BIAS values for the associated building
.BIAS33
.BIAS35
.BIAS37
.DSPLMN	dlg	Display point limits
.DSPSMN	dlg	Display point status
.SLPINT		Set slope/intercepts
.DSPLOG	dlg	Display historical report for the points in a LOG file (i.e. a PICS Group File)
.LIST	dlg	List point data (similar to DISP, except PICS data points may also be included)

NOTE:  Items with 'dlg' have a graphical dialog available to help build a command.

LIVE Data Window

mcr2 is capable of displaying an automatically updated version of the report from DSPPRS, DSPTMP or DSPVIB in a separate window. The live data window has a menu that supports navigation as well as supporting the following keys (only when the window has the keyboard focus, of course).

Command Dialogs

mcr2's GUI menu offers a selection of dialogs designed to assist in the construction of commands. At this time, the following command dialogs are implemented:  DISP, DSPLMN, DSPPRS, DSPSMN, DSPTMP, DSPVIB, DSPLOG, CHGLMN, CHGSMN, STATUS, and a multi-command dialog for LOADON, PGTEST, UPLOAD, UPOFF and UPON. The program also has a prototype dialog for the MDBIAS/SETDAT and ASSAY SLOPE/INT functions to show the customer what is possible for that function.