Using a serial port on production computer for playing tasks

[Chq]

Hello,

 

i`d like to use a serial port on the production computer for playing tasks. In the manual i only found a part explaining to use a serial port on display computers.

 

Greetz Chris

[Jonas Dannert]

I'm sorry, but this is not possible, as of now.

 

May I ask why?

 

/jonas

[Thomas Leong]

It is possible (from the manual: Production Computer Protocol; page 253 old manual) -

run     [<string>]     Run timeline from current position, optional aux timeline name.

halt    [<string>]     Stop at the current position, with optional auxiliary timeline name

 

You must name the Aux Timeline name after the command 'run' or 'halt'.

You must also test. Syntax matters with serial commands.

And you will need a serial-to-TCP/IP converter installed in your Production PC since Watchout only listens to TCP/IP. I use either the freeware Virtual Serial Port Emulator (VSPE) from eterlogic.com or HW Virtual Serial Port from HW Group.

 

Thomas Leong

[Thomas Leong]

One gotcha I faced:

The Aux Timelines cannot have spaces in their names as in the auto assigned names. Example: Timeline 1 has to be renamed to Timeline1, Timeline 2 renamed to Timeline2, etc... in order for the serial command to work.

 

Thomas Leong

[Mike Fahl]

They can contain spaces if you enclose the name in double quotes when giving the command, e.g.:

 

    run "Timeline 1"

 

Mike

[Thomas Leong]

Thanks for the tip, Mike. Works as you said.

 

My problem was using Serialbuttons from audiovisualdevices.com.au. Just read its very brief 'help' file, and it says "ASCII cannot contain spaces" when using serialbuttons. My bad.

 

My other problem is that in order to provide the ability to address more Aux Timelines with a small set of serial buttons, I had one button with the 'run Timeline' command, and a set of numeric keys from 0-9, plus a final 'Take' button (containing the hex .13 or 0x0D final code) to end the command string. When keyed one after another, I could trigger any number of Aux Timelines with this small set of buttons. Example, I could key the 'run Timeline' button, then the numerics 5 and 3 buttons, then the 'Take' button, and Aux Timeline53 would play.

 

Thomas Leong