Test Communications
When selected this will bring up a small window in the middle of your screen. Using this screen one can quickly test individual channels to verify they are working. Another use of this screen is to identify which devices are plugged into each channel. This information can be used to label each of your channels back on the main grid screen.
Address
This field allows you to select which control box (serial/parallel versions) or digital control board (CR version) you wish to communicate with. Valid values are 1-106 for the serial version, 1-3 for the parallel version, and is dependant upon how many cards you have installed in the machine in the CR version.
Port selection (CR version only)
Depending upon which board you select, this drop down field's options will change. For example, if you which to communicate with digital board 2 and it has 48 I/O lines, you will be presented with FIRSTPORTA, FIRSTPORTB, FIRSTPORTC, SECONDPORTA, SECONDPORTB, and SECONDPORTC as options.
Value slider
This allows one to adjust the value sent to the selected control box (serial/parallel versions) or digital port (CR version). It's valid value range is 0 (all off) to 255 (all on).
Value checkboxes
There are 8 checkboxes and each represents one of the 8 channels on either the selected control box (serial/parallel versions) or digital port (CR version). When you select a checkbox, the channel associated with that checkbox turns on. When you deselect a checkbox, the channel associated with that checkbox turns off. Also note that the value slider adjusts to the decimal value represented by the 8 checkboxes.
Send values checkbox (serial version only)
If this checkbox is selected, instead of Dasher sending normal data out the communications port, a nicely formatted version of the data, including labels, will be sent instead. This option is to be used in case it is suspected that no data is going out the serial port. Simply connect the serial port to a second computer's serial port, open a terminal program on the second computer, set the program up to communicate at 19200,N,8,1, and then try and send data. If successful you should see a nicely formatted message telling you the destination control box's address as well as what value is being sent out.
All on/All off buttons (serial/parallel versions only)
If the All ON button is depressed, all of the channels on all attached control boxes will turn on. Be warned! This can present quite a load to your electrical system depending on how many devices you are turning on.
If the All OFF button is selected then all of the channels on all attached control boxes will turn off, regardless of their current state.
Exit
Selecting this closes the Test Communications window and returns you to the main Dasher screen. If you have the serial or parallel version, a global OFF command is also sent out.