Galil Using the DMC-13X8 Editor to Enter Programs, Ed #Begin, Application Programming

Chapter 7 Application Programming

Overview

The DMC-13X8 provides a powerful programming language that allows users to customize the controller for their particular application. Programs can be downloaded into the controller memory freeing the host computer for other tasks. However, the host computer can send commands to the controller at any time, even while a program is being executed. Only ASCII commands can be used for application programming.

In addition to standard motion commands, the DMC-13X8 provides commands that allow the controller to make its own decisions. These commands include conditional jumps, event triggers, and subroutines. For example, the command JP#LOOP, n<10 causes a jump to the label #LOOP if the variable n is less than 10.

For greater programming flexibility, the DMC-13X8 provides user-defined variables, arrays and arithmetic functions. For example, with a cut-to-length operation, the length can be specified as a variable in a program which the operator can change as necessary.

The following sections in this chapter discuss all aspects of creating applications programs. The program memory size is 80 characters x 1000 lines.

Using the DMC-13X8 Editor to Enter Programs

Application programs for the DMC-13X8 or DMC-13X8 may be created and edited either locally using the DMC-13X8 editor or remotely using another editor and then downloading the program into the controller.

The DMC-13X8 provides a line Editor for entering and modifying programs. The Edit mode is entered with the ED instruction. (Note: The ED command can only be given when the controller is in the non-edit mode, which is signified by a colon prompt).

In the Edit Mode, each program line is automatically numbered sequentially starting with 000. If no parameter follows the ED command, the editor prompter will default to the last line of the last program in memory. If desired, the user can edit a specific line number or label by specifying a line number or label following ED.

ED	Puts Editor at end of last program
:ED 5	Puts Editor at line 5
:ED #BEGIN	Puts Editor at label #BEGIN

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