OptiMelt Automated Melting Point System - Stanford Research ...

Appendix D OptiMelt Remote Programming 99• Select ‘Call->Disconnect’ from the Hyperterminal menu.• Select ‘File->Properties’ and click on the ‘Settings’ tab.• Click on ‘ASCII Setup’ and check the “Echo typed characters locally” and “Appendline feeds to incoming line ends” boxes.• Click ‘OK’ and ‘OK’ again to finish the ‘Properties’ dialog.• Select ‘File->Save’ to save your HyperTerminal configuration for later use.This HyperTerminal setup will allow you to try out the OptiMelt commands before youinclude them in your program. However, only one application can be connected to aCOM port at a time. If HyperTerminal is running, your program will fail to open theCOM port. Likewise, HyperTerminal will not be able to use the COM port if yourprogram is running.Using Multiple OptiMelts with Windows XPConnecting multiple OptiMelts to a single PC requires Windows XP. In this case, eachnew OptiMelt connected will be assigned the next available COM port number. Windowsdoes not keep track of which OptiMelt is attached to which COM port. If 2 OptiMelts areswitched, Windows won’t know. It is up to the user to keep track of the different unitsusing serial numbers or system names.Using Multiple USB Ports with Windows XPOnce an OptiMelt is attached to a specific USB port on a PC, the VCP driver assigns aCOM port number to that USB port. This assignment remains even after the OptiMelt isremoved from the USB port. As a consequence, plugging an OptiMelt into another USBport will result in a new COM port being assigned to the new USB port. An OptiMeltplugged into the original USB port will still use the original COM port.This allows an application to “know” that an OptiMelt is always going to appear asCOMn as long as the same USB port is used. Conversely, it is not a good idea to switchUSB ports since this will require the application to switch COM ports.Using Multiple USB Ports with Windows 2000 and 98Only a single OptiMelt may be attached to a Windows 2000/98 PC. The OptiMelt willappear as the next available COM port. Disconnecting the OptiMelt and connecting adifferent USB port will uninstall the original VCP driver and re-install it on the new USBport as the same COM port. Do not connect multiple OptiMelts since only one will berecognized.OptiMelt Automated Melting Point System