Remote Control

Professional (and trial) users can operate Daqarta via remote control, from a custom external application. This allows you to integrate Daqarta's data acquisition, analysis, and signal generation abilities into your own custom test system.

You might want to do this if your software needs to control specialized equipment or devices that Daqarta can't control on its own. Your software could, for example, set up your device for a test, then command Daqarta to provide a certain test signal. When the first test is over, your software can change the device settings for a second test, then command Daqarta to provide a different test signal. During each test, Daqarta can be commanded to collect (say) a spectrum average and save it to a file.

Each remote command is normally handled as an Instant Macro, which is given a default blank ID and a Name of '~~~~' (four tilde characters). It will be automatically overwritten without warning by the next remote or Instant Macro.

Alternatively, a special remote command can be used to name and define a new macro without running it. You do this by starting the command with ' &', followed immediately by the desired name, then begin the definition on the next line. For example:

 &MyMacro
 L.0.ToneFreq=1000

This defines a macro named MyMacro that sets the Left Stream 0 Tone Frequency to 1000 Hz. You may use as many lines in the definition as needed, up to a total of 3071 characters including the name. Comments (starting with a semicolon) may be included in the definition, but not on the name line.

Like an Instant Macro (or any other macro), a single remote command may include any number of internal macro commands, and may invoke other macros that you have previously named and defined, either manually or via the above remote method.

Note that remote macros, including remote definitions, do not cause a prompt to save them to a .MAC file when you exit Daqarta, as would manual macro changes. Your remote application can save them via a remote SaveMAC command. (You can also remotely load a previously-saved .MAC file via LoadMAC.)

To use the remote control features, your software needs to be able to send Windows messages to Daqarta, and receive responses back (confirmations or error codes). Daqarta includes two small utility programs called DqaDlg and DqaCmd to help with this. These can be found in the Documents\Daqarta\Utility folder, along with source code in assembly language.

• DqaDlg Dialog Remote Control Demonstration
• DqaCmd Command-Line Remote Control
• Custom Remote Control

See also Macro Overview