Manual

Using ACL Variables 10-1
10 Using ACL Variables
What Are Variables?
The Automove System maintains 128 user-accessible storage locations for numeric values;
these are called variables. Each location is referred to by an identifying number; the i.d.
number can be in the range 0 through 127. Each variable can contain a value in the range
-32768.0000 through 32767.9999.
Note: If you have Release 3.48 or above, you may have 384 variables.
The value of a variable can be used as a parameter to any ACL command which expects a
numeric parameter, by using the "@" ("at") sign, followed by the variable i.d. For example:
MA 100, @12;
moves the carriage to the X coordinate 100 and the Y coordinate given by the contents of
variable 12.
If the number following the "@" is outside the range 0 through 127 an error is logged.
How To Set Variables
The value of a variable can be set in several different ways. The VS ("Variable Set")
command can directly assign a value; for example:
VS 13, 321; VS 14, @21;
assigns the value 321 to variable 13 and assigns the contents of variable 21 to variable 14.
A VS without a value in it (e.g. VS 13; ) waits for the value to be supplied via the RS-232C
port. This might be useful, for example, in a system where the Automove's RS-232C port is
used to control some sort of measuring instrument. The Automove could send commands to
the instrument via the OU ("Output Literal String") command and store the resulting
measurement data in variables for further processing.
Another use for VS with no value is to prompt the operator of a system. In this system the
Automove's RS-232C port would be connected to an ASCII terminal or a computer running
a terminal emulation program. The Automove could prompt the operator to insert a
workpiece, adjust the Origin, and then enter the number of operations to be performed.
Another way of assigning a value is via the VC ("Variable Capture") command. The syntax
is:
VC <varid>