Specifications

Crestron e-control Mail SW-MAIL
59 •• Appendices Installation & Reference Guide — Doc. 5798
Appendix A: Theory of Operation
This section describes the operation of the e-mailer signal block as it processes
signals from the control system. Signal names are shown as conjoined words with
initial caps set in bold type, such as SendNow. Refer to the “Signal Reference” on
page 68 for in-depth information on these signals.
Server Protocol
Run the Crestron Software Server application, swserver.exe, to license
(Server | License…) and configure (Server | Configure…) server operation.
Although the server application is now running, the server protocol must be
manually started (Server | Start) t o establish the communications link. Once
started, licensing and configuration options are off limits. To change a configuration
option, the server protocol must be halted (Server | Stop).
Signal Block Definition / Activation
Definition / activation of signal
blocks is performed in the Signal
Blocks tab of the Configuration
Options window — which can
only be accessed while the server
protocol is halted.
Signal Blocks (in general) are “defined” (created) in the “Configure options”
window, Signal Blocks tab. Once defined, they are saved in the Configuration
Settings file.
Signal Blocks are not “active” (listening for signals) unless activated in the list under
the Signal Blocks tab by checking the box next to the signal block name. The number
of active signal blocks of each type cannot exceed the respective limits of your
license. Should this happen, a warning appears on the Signal Blocks tab and the
server protocol does not start.
There is no theoretical limit to the total number of signal blocks which may be
defined in a given configuration. (A practical limit has yet to be determined.)
Signal Block Enable / Disable
Whereas most digital signals are
pulsed, the Enable signal is
unusual in that it is state-sensitive.
Once the signal block has been defined and activated, and the server protocol is
running, the signal block still has very limited functionality until it is enabled with
an assertion of the Enable signal by the control system. Most other signals require
the signal block to be enabled first; otherwise they produce an “Object not loaded”
error. Once enabled, system resources are loaded and the signal block to respond to
signals from the control system to send or receive e-mail.
De-asserting the Enable signal causes the signal block to unload those system
resources, making it dormant once again.
The following signals are exceptions to this rule. They can be processed without first
enabling the signal block:
• Enable (assert) of course
• All the e-mailbox’s Set____ signals
• The e-mailer’s Shortcut signals. When received by a disabled e-mailer, the
e-mailer is “auto-enabled” — but only for the duration of the signal.
Signal Block Error Reporting
All signal blocks have a Local error signals option to define a set of signals for the
purpose of reporting of errors “locally.” Otherwise, errors are reported “globally” to
the control system through the optional signal block that can be associated with a