Request.ini

SUMMARY

The "Request.ini" file contains information used by the Request.exe program.

DESCRIPTION

The "Request.ini" file is a text file in ASCII-Format. It may be created or modified by an appropriate text editor.
The Ini-File must be completely filled in for the actual case in use. Incomplete or incorrect entries may lead to errors or deficiencies in the results.

The local Ini-File of the computer differs depending on the run mode.

Run Modes
In RAS-Mode the local Ini-File contains only the section [COMMUNICATION], but with additional entries labeled (RAS).
If REQUEST does not run in RAS-Mode all 3 sections are needed in the local Ini-File.

Sections in the Request.ini file:

At least for the section [Events] respectively [MpData] there must be all entries available; on the Host in RAS-Mode – local if not in RAS-Mode. It is advisable to have all entries in both sections and activate the wanted one by the optional entry ‘DoIt’.

Section [COMMUNICATION]

Entry Type Description / Example Default
Application string
Defines whether the program opens a window when starting or is displayed as an icon in the task bar only.
Possible entries:
  • Window
  • Icon
Example 
Application=Window
Icon
Port string
Possible entries:
  • Any serial, parallel interface available (typically: COM1, COM2 or LPT1)
  • ACI (direct connection to the ACI, must be set for RAS-Mode)
Example 
Port=ACI
DoFile string
Name (inclusive the extension ‘.do’) and, where required, the path to the project file to be read.
In RAS-Mode that entry contains the name of the Host-Drive, path and name of the project file (*.do) to be read.
Example 
DoFile=\\D at OS\Request\Test.do
IRQ integer
The interrupt the interface is controlled by –
Possible entries:
  • Any available interrupt (typically: 3 or 4)
Example 
IRQ=3
Data string
Configuration parameters for the serial interface (always 3 characters).
Note:
The definitions must match with the entries on the remote computers.
Character Meaning Possible Entries
1 Number of data bits 7
8 (typically)
2 Type of paraty check E (even)
O (odd)
N (no, typically)
3 Number of stop bits 1 (typically)
2
Example 
Data=8N1
BaudRate integer
Defines the baud rate for the serial interface.
Note:
The definitions must match with the entry on the remote computers.
Possible entries:
  • 9600
  • 14400
  • 19200
  • 28800
  • 38400
  • 57600
  • 115200
Example 
BaudRate=19200
ReceiveBufferSize integer
Block size in kByte

Possible entries:
  • Free definable
  • No Entry (Default value of 1 kByte is used)
Example 
ReceiveBufferSize=2
1
Ras integer
(RAS) Setting the RAS-Mode when loading the Ini-File via the "OPEN-INI-FILE" –Button.

Possible entries:
  • 1 (RAS-Mode on)
  • 0 (RAS-Mode off)
  • -1 (RAS-Mode via command line Parameter, ignore Ini-File entry)
WARNING
An active Ini-File entry might overwrite the parameters set by the command line.
Example 
Ras=1
PointToPoint string
(RAS) Defines the interface for the data transfer between the PCs. Any serial or parallel interface may be used.

Possible entries:
Example 
PointToPoint=COM1_TO_OS
IniFilePath string
(RAS) Definition of the remote Ini-File from which the entries in sections [Events] and [MpData] should be read.
The entries contain the drive name on the Host, the path and the name of the Ini-File, including the extension ‘.ini’.
Example 
IniFilePath=\\D on OS\Request\Test.ini

Section [EVENTS]

Entry Type Description / Example Default
DoIt integer
Requesting event data

Possible entries:
  • 0 (no request)
  • 1 (Request with synchronizing the Event-Log when starting.)
  • 2 (Request without synchronizing the Event-Log.)
Note:
Definition 1 should only be used if a complete Event-Log is really needed; since an Event-Log easily contains several thousand entries a complete synchronization will increase the workload of the PCs on program start accordingly.
Example 
DoIt=1
FileName string
Name (including path, excluding extension) of the file the event data are written to.
Without defining a path, the file is written to the same folder the program ‘Request.exe’ is located in.
WARNING
If the defined path is invalid the file is not written.
Example 
FileName=C:\Ev_Data\Alarms
NoOfRecords string
Defines the number of records after that a new file is started. The new file gets the same name and the extension number is increased by 1. (<File name>.001, <File name>.002 etc.)

Possible entries:
  • Values between 1 and 20000
Example 
NoOfRecords=500
DataType string
Data format the file is written in, see also transmitting data: Formats of Data

Possible entries:
  • BIN (Binary)
  • ASCII (delimited ASCII
  • SDF (System Data)
Example 
DataType=SDF
Delimiter integer
A maximal 3 digits long decimal value out of the ASCII-Table as a delimiter in a event file.
Note:
Only valid if defined in Data Type ASCII.


Example of a typically setup:
  • 22 (-)
  • 32 (blank)
  • 44 (,)
  • 59 (;)
  • 92 (\)
Example 
Delimiter=44
SendEOL string
Definition for End of Record
Note:
Only valid if as data type ASCII or SDF is defined.


Possible entries:
  • 1 (End record with CR/LF)
  • 0 (Do not end record with CR/LF, there is only a EOF-Identifier. )
Example 
SendEOL=1
Col string
<Keyword 1>, <Format 1>;.......; <Keyword n>,<Format n> Defines which fields should be transmitted with which parameters.
  • Keyword: Identifier out of the Archive-Data-List
  • Format: Combination of format type and length
Format Meaning
Cnn String with nnn characters
In Integer number, n = 1, 2, or 4 Bytes
Fn Floating point number, n = 4 or 8 Bytes
Note:
For Data Type ASCII or SDF 'C' is the only valid format.
Example 
Col=Arch_Type, C2; Arch_ObjectNo, C5; Arch_PrvStatus, C5;

Section [MpData]

Entry Type Description / Example Default
DoIt integer
Requesting data of Measuring Points

Possible entries:
  • 0 (Do not request data)
  • 1 (Request data)
Example 
DoIt=1
FileName string
Name (including path and extension) of the file the requested data should be written to.
Without defining a path, the file is written to the same folder the program ‘Request.exe’ is located in.
WARNING
If the defined path is invalid the file is not written.
Example 
FileName=C:\Mp_Data\MPDAT.TXT
DataType string
Data format the file is written in, see also transmitting data: Formats of Data

Possible entries:
  • BIN (Binary)
  • ASCII (delimited ASCII
  • SDF (System Data)
Example 
DataType=SDF
Delimiter integer
A maximal 3 digits long decimal value out of the ASCII-Table as a delimiter in a event file.
Note:
Only valid if defined in Data Type ASCII.


Example of a typically setup:
  • 22 (-)
  • 32 (blank)
  • 44 (,)
  • 59 (;)
  • 92 (\)
Example 
Delimiter=44
SendEOL string
Definition for End of Record
Note:
Only valid if as data type ASCII or SDF is defined.


Possible entries:
  • 1 (End record with CR/LF)
  • 0 (Do not end record with CR/LF, there is only a EOF-Identifier. )
Example 
SendEOL=1
StartHour - StartMin - IntervalHour - IntervalSec integer
Start and interval times for cyclic data transmission from the Measuring Points.
Note:
All defined times refer to times on the Clients (PCs)!
  • The highest definable interval is 24 hours.
  • The definition of 0 seconds and hours causes a single data request.
  • For an defined interval time > 1 second the first transmission is carried out at the time defined in ‘StartHour’ and ‘StartMin’, all further than at the interval times defined.
Example 
StartHour=12
StartMin=00
IntervalHour=04
IntervalSec=20
Col string
<Keyword 1>, <Format 1>;.......; <Keyword n>,<Format n> Defines which fields should be transmitted with which parameters.
  • Keyword: Identifier out of the Keyword-List
  • Format: Combination of format type and length
Format Meaning
Cnn String with nnn Characters
In Integer number, n = 1, 2, oder 4 Bytes
Fn Floating point number, n = 4 oder 8 Bytes
Example 
Col=PointId, C9; Description, C30; Value, C9;
OBJECTS integer
Number of objects resp. data records to be transferred.
The value aids the user but is not of any relevance for the program
Example 
OBJECTS=30
OBJ.nnnn integer
List of the PointIds for the data records to be transferred.
  • Any line starts with the string "OBJ." and a following line number.
  • The first line gets the line number 0000
  • To keep the list readable there shouldn’t be more than 10 PointIDs per line.
  • Any line ends with a CR/LF.
Note:
It is possible to transfer several thousands Measuring Points, but think about the resources needed on the OS and the time consumed by the transaction.
Example 
OBJ.0000=011004,011006,011007,012006,013004,013006,013007,014004,
OBJ.0001=014006,014007,021004,022005,031014,031015,031008,031009,
OBJ.0002=041003,041004,041102,