Specifications
25
RS-232 BALANCE MESSAGE FORMATS
The balance will respond to a SEND command by transmitting a message in one of three formats depending on how the SEND
command was issued. The following discussion defines five types of SEND commands and the three message formats.
1. The first case typically applies to a balance with RS-232 connected to a printer and an external print switch. If the SEND
is initiated by activation of the hardware SEND line on the RS-232 I/O module and the display shows the current
weight, then the response will be a format B. If the display does not show the current weight (i.e., date, time, or a
register RCL), the hardware SEND is ignored.
2. This case typically applies to a balance with both a keyboard and an RS-232 interface to a printer. If the SEND is initiated
by a time or auto SEND and the display shows the current weight, then the response will be a format B. The date/time
stamp is included in format C if register 79 has been set to 1 prior to setting register 89 to the desired time interval. To
stop auto sending set register 89 to 0. If the date/time stamp is enabled and the display doesn't show the current weight,
the date/time stamp is still sent. Nothing is sent if the date/time stamp is disabled and the display doesn't show the
current weight.
3. This case typically applies only to a balance with both a keyboard and an RS-232 interface connected to a printer. There
are three possible contexts in which the SEND key on the keyboard may be used. If the display shows the current
weight, then a format B send is used. If the display shows the contents of a user register, then a format C is used.
Finally, there are two special cases which cause a series of format C sends to occur. There are RCL SEND XBAR and
RCL SEND TBAR.
4. This case typically applies to a balance with a keyboard and/or an RS-232 interface connected to a computer. There are
several RS-232 I/O commands containing the keyword RCL. These commands, issued by the computer, all cause a
single format C or a sequence of format C send to occur.
5. This case also typically applies to a balance with a keyboard and/or RS-232 interface connected to a computer. A SEND
command issued over the RS-232 I/O channel, by the computer, causes an unconditional format A send.
Format A: Balance in the normal weighing mode
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 CR
X X X X X X X - - - Y...... LF
X = a digit (0-9) or a decimal point or a space or a minus sign.
Y = an upper case alphabetic character (A-Z). The first character of the units or mode annunciator in the display, followed by
the rest of the characters of the annunciator.
If the display shows a minus sign, it is the first character in the balance message. In this case the least significant digit of the
displayed number is in position 8 followed by only two spaces instead of three. The 1st character of the units annunciator is still
in the 11th position.
Here are some examples. The notation used here is that CR means the carriage return or enter character; LF means the line
feed character; and _ indicates a single space character. Note that all space characters are shown explicitly.
Display shows 5.15 g
Message is _ _ _5.15_ _ _G CR LF
Display shows 211.05 dwt
Message is _211.05_ _ _DWT CR LF
Display shows -211.05 dwt
Message is -_211.05_ _DWT CR LR
Display shows .0035 A
Message is _ _.0035_ _ _A_SPEC. CR LF
Format A: Balance in a special weighing mode
Display shows 1250 PCS
Message is _ _1250_ _ _ _ _PCS CR LF
Note that, in these special weighing modes, the least significant digit of the numeric field is in the 6th (or 7th position if the
number is negative) and that the leftmost character of the annunciator is in the 12th position.
Display shows -100.00 CAL
Message is -100.00_ _ _ _CAL CR LF
Display shows sigma Tbar 0.00 g