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Using the Pattern Generator
ASCII File Commands
VECTorCommand VECTor <char_count>
<char_count> a ten character string starting with a ’#8’ and including the total file
size count.
The VECTor command is used after the end of the header/setup
commands to signal the start of the actual pattern generator data in an
ASCII file.
The VECTor command is used with a parameter that specifies the
exact byte count of the data block. This count must include all data
characters, all blank characters, and all line termination (DOS cr/lf or
UNIX cr) characters. The file character count is the sole criteria used
to determine when the bus file transfer is complete. If a disk file is
used, the character count has no meaning and can be any value or
deleted from the command string.
If the file character count does not match the actual data byte count of
the file, an error condition will occur. If the actual data count exceeds
the byte count passed in with the VECTor command, excess data will
be lost (and treated as remote control bus command(s)). If the actual
data count is less than the data count passed in with the VECTor
command, the bus transfer will appear to hang while the
1670G-series system waits for the ’remaining’ data. The controller
sending the file may, or may not, time-out and terminate the bus
transfer. Generally, recovery from this condition involves sending more
data until the data byte count is satisfied.
The file character count is contained in a string with a specific format.
The actual count is right justified in a ten-character string that starts
with a ’#8’ followed by eight digits. These ten characters are NOT part
of the file character count.
The following page shows an example of this.