ACOMTools 1.5 (revision 3) ========================== General notes for first time users ================================== This system is a new software that duplicates functionality of the former HamTools application and adds a lot of features and programming techniques. ACOMTools is a flexible, extendable environment that supports wide range of extensions and programming API. Most of the functionality is not built in but is supported by extensions. Revision notes: =============== ACOMTools main executable was updated - window positioning problem has been eliminated. Also "Frequency switching" extension has been extended and now supports notifiers writen in JScript or VBScript and a button is added to the extension UI - allows reloading of the notifier. REQUIREMENTS ============ ACOMTools requires Windows 98/NT4 or later with at least Internet Explorer 4.0 components installed. It will run on the most pre-Win98 Windows versions but it is not recommended tu run it on them. Notifier plugins supported through the "Frequency switching" extension are the same old DLL files known from the HamTools 1.0. They are written in VB and need VB runtimes. VB runtimes are packed with ACOMTools but there is a package without them - don't select it if you are not sure the msvbvm60.dll is not on your system. Notifier plug-ins are not critical components and the system will run without them but only manual mode will be available in the mentioned extension. INSTALLATION ============ Just start the ALPInstall.exe from the current directory. Installation automatically installs set of 6 extensions. First time configuration wizard will help you to select the extensions you need and configure the application to load them at startup. To configure and mange extensions use the Extensions applet - Menu "View", item "Extensions...". You can register additional extensions through the applet too. Please note applet only registers them without copying. Thus before registering an extension palce its files in a persistent directory. "Initial configuration wizard" helps with setting the minimal set of the required options when the program is started for the first time. Other extensions will be published at later time on the ACOM site: http://www.hfpower.com CONFIGURATION ============= General configuration options are accessible through the "View" menu item "General options ...". Extensions are configured trough the Extensions applet. Extension must be loaded in order to be configured. Some extensions do not have configurations. General options: Settings on the first pane are related to the antenna switch description. Specify names for the antenna positions and antennas there. Additionally you can mark the frequency segments applicable for a particular antenna. These settings are available for all the extensions and external programs (through automation interface). "Frequency switching" extension (from the preinstalled extensions) uses them in "Use descriptions" mode to select appropriate antenna for the segment. "Frequency switching" modes: - Current: Use currently selected antenna (from the pannel) - Stick to current: Same as previous but don't allow antenna changing from anywhere. Automatically returns to this antenna. - Last used: Leave the amplifier to switch to the last used antenna for the frequency segment. - Use descriptions: Select antenna over the descriptions mentioned above. Applicable antenna found is selected. You can change the frequency segment manually by clicking over the segment in the listbox in the extension GUI (in manual mode). COMMUNICATION WITH THE DEVICES ============================== Communication is based on the newObejcts USPC standard. USPC stnads by Unified Streaming Packet Communication. Therefore ACOMTools is not aware of the fact that you are using COM ports. There are helper fields in the configuration dialogs. They are generating settings for the COM prots. Selecting the desired COM port in these fields generates appropriate connection string. Altough that current version ships with only serial port USPC driver USPC is designed to hide the communication specifics from the application. In theory any communication can be arranged through USPC proxies and components. Thus in future additional features will be available - such as controlling the amplifier through the network/Internet, mixing resources of several computers and using them from a single running instance of the ACOMTools and so on. Thus please excuse us for the complex connection strings but as you understand they are used not only for the COM ports. Auxiliary switch extension runs through USPC too thus it is able to use USPC power too. WHAT'S PENDING ============== Developer documentation is not finished - it is a lot of work. Please contact Michael Elfial michael@newobjects.com if you are developing an extension and some problems are occured. AUTOMATION EXAMPLES =================== Directory "Automation Examples" contains two simple automation example scripts. It is not installed - use them from any location (after installing the application) ACOM International Inc.