Pelco C1554M-A (4/05) CONTROLLING A SERIAL OUTPUT DEVICE

C1554M-A (4/05) 81
CONTROLLING A SERIAL OUTPUT DEVICE
The serial output driver allows you to send ASCII commands to an external serial device, such as a camera. For example, you could send ASCII
commands to report alarms to an access control system, start a VCR in play mode, or control a camera.
You can control a serial output device by sending ASCII commands to the device using one of the following methods:
•Custom button: Click a custom button in the device’s Device Control dialog box.
•Script: Run a script.
•Text tab: Type an ASCII string on the Text tab of the desired device’s Device Control dialog box, and then press Send.
Your administrator should instruct you in the particular device-control commands that are available for each serial output device and the method
for sending them.
To control a particular serial output device, you must belong to, and be logged in under, a user group that grants you the necessary privileges. Your
system administrator should instruct you in what privileges you have.
NOTE: To access a serial output device, the Serial Output driver must be running. Device icons appear as a hollow outline when the device driver
is not running. If you try to open the Device Control dialog box when the driver is not running, you will get a connection error. Notify your system
administrator if the driver is not running.
OPENING A SERIAL OUTPUT DEVICE’S DEVICE CONTROL DIALOG BOX
The custom buttons and Text tab methods of sending commands are available through the device’s Device Control dialog box. To access the Device
Control dialog box, you must belong to, and log in under, a user group that allows you to access the Device Control dialog box.
Open the Device Control dialog box for a serial output device using one of the following methods:
•Double-click the device icon on a map.
•Double-click the device in the Device List.
•Right-click the device in the Device List and then click Show Control Dialog from the pop-up menu.
Figure 83. Serial Output Device Icon
Using the Text Tab
Figure 84. Device Control Dialog Box - Text Tab
The Text tab method of sending ASCII commands allows you to type any device-control command and then send it. Unlike the custom buttons and
scripts methods, you can send a command without the system administrator having to predefine it.
To control a serial output device using the Text tab, complete the following steps:
1. Open the Device Control dialog box for the serial output device you want to control.
2. Type the device-control command. Your system administrator should instruct you in what commands are available for each serial output
device. Refer to ASCII Command Special Characters for instructions on incorporating unprintable characters and quotation marks into a
command.
3. Click Send. The command is sent to the device.