Extron electronic CrossPoint 84 manual MatrixSoftware,cont’d, Matrix Switcher+ Control Program

MatrixSoftware,cont’d

Two software programs accompany the CrossPoint Series switchers:

•The Extron Matrix Switchers Control Program (Extron part number 29-015- 01), which communicates with the switcher via the RS-232/RS-422 port, provides an easy way for you to set up ties and sets of ties.

If your CrossPoint Series switcher was previously set up for RS-232, and your computer comm port uses RS-422, you must change the switcher cabling to match the computer interface. See appendix B for details.

•The Extron Button-Label Generator, which allows you to design and print labels for the CrossPoint front panel buttons.

Both programs are compatible with Windows 95/98, Windows NT, Windows ME, and Windows 2000. Updates to these programs can be downloaded from the Extron Web site (http://www.extron.com).

This chapter describes both programs.

Matrix Switcher+ Control Program

Installing the software

The program is contained on a set of 3.5-inch diskettes, and you should load and run the program from the hard drive.

To install the program from the floppy disks to the hard drive, run SETUP.EXE from the floppy disk and follow the instructions that appear on the screen. The program occupies approximately 3 MB (megabyte) of hard-drive space.

By default, the Windows installation creates a C:\MTRX50 directory, and it places two icons (Matrix Switcher+ Control Program and Matrix Switcher+ Help) into a group or folder named “Extron Electronics”.

The program was designed to control most Extron matrix switchers, but its operation is limited to the features and configuration of your CrossPoint Series switcher.

Using the software

Overview

This section is an overview of the Extron Matrix Switcher+ Control Program. The help function contains additional information. See Using the help system for details.

1.To run the Matrix Switcher+ Control Program, double-click on the Matrix Switcher+ Control Program icon (shown at left) in the Extron Electronics group or folder.

2. Click on the comm port that is connected to the RS-232/RS-422 port of the switcher. To set up the software without attaching the switcher to the computer, see Using emulation mode on page 5-4.

The Extron Matrix Switcher+ Control Program window (figure 5-1 and figure 5-2) displays the current configuration of the attached matrix.

3.To set up audio in follow mode (audio and video have the same tie configuration), select the Follow box at the bottom of the window. To set up audio in breakaway mode (audio and video have different tie configurations), deselect the Follow box.

5-2 CrossPoint Matrix Switchers • Matrix Software