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1992-11-16
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Cable Master User Documentation
This is the freeware version of the CableMaster Software. You are free to
make copies of this software so long as no modifications are made.
This software is **not** in the public domain and remains the exclusive
property of Houston Computer Services, Inc.; 3207 Ashfield Drive;
Houston TX 77082 USA; voice: (713)493-9900. fax: (713)558-1880.
The CableMaster hardware is available for purchase. An order form has been
included with this software. Contact Houston Computer Services for more
information.
Introduction
There are literally thousands of possible cables used to make connections
between terminals, PCs, printers, modems, and other types of serial
communication devices.
End users, systems integrators, and service technicians are frequently
called on to find the correct wiring configuration for cables between two
different devices. Often a similar cable may have already been configured
or an existing cable may already be in use.
The Cable Master system makes it easy to look inside a cable to see how it
is wired and to document which cable is supposed to do what.
The Package
The Cable Master package allows an IBM PC (or compatible including the
PS/2) to examine cables to determine the exact internal wiring of the
cable.
Attaching to the serial port of the PC, the hardware is a small black box
with cable-scanning circuitry that checks for continuity with each and
every pin on the cable to determine exactly how each pin is used.
The Cable Master software determines the wiring diagram for the cable.
The diagram is compared to a list of commonly encountered cables and
may be displayed on the screen of the PC or printed to the PC's printer.
The Cable Master package consists of two parts: the ID200H cable
-scanning hardware and the Cable Master software. The user supplies an
IBM PC, PS/2, or compatible and the DOS operating system.
The package installs in less than a minute without tools (and without
turning off the PC or opening its case). Simply attach the hardware to the
PC's serial port and load the Cable Master software from the diskette.
The Hardware
The ID200H hardware is a cable-scanning test instrument which operates
under the control of software on an IBM PC, PS/2, or compatible.
Specifically designed to scan and test cables, the hardware attaches to
the serial port of an IBM PC.
There are three connectors on the ID200H hardware. The host port
connector (at the end of the RS232 cable) connects to the serial port of
the PC. The hardware uses this connection to communicate with the PC and
the Cable Master software. This connection also provides power to the
Cable Master hardware.
The hardware uses five of the signals on the serial interface to operate.
These signals are:
TD 2 power to scanner
RTS 4 data to scanner
DSR 6 data from scanner
DTR 20 data to scanner
GROUND 7 signal ground
There are two 25-pin test connectors. (One of these connectors is labeled
A, the other is labeled B.) The hardware examines each pin on the test
connectors, looking for continuity (that is, a hard-wired connection) with
any of the other pins on either the A or B connectors.
The wiring of each cable is unique and is determined by the needs of the
communication devices which it connects. By checking for continuity, the
Cable Master hardware can quickly determine the complete wiring of the
cable (much like a technician might do using a break-out box or by Ohming
out the cable using a hand-held meter).
This pin-to-pin continuity information is used by the Cable Master
software to display the wiring diagram for the scanned cable.
The Software
The Cable Master hardware is controlled by software operating on the PC.
Most software fits into one of two categories: simple or sophisticated.
There are two different programs provided with the Cable Master
hardware. Cable Master 1 ("CM1") is simple. This program provides an
easy-to-use, one-screen interface to the Cable Master hardware. Cable
Master 2 ("CM2") is sophisticated. This program uses a mouse-oriented,
windowed user interface to provide a maximum of user capability.
The CM1 Software
The Cable Master 1 software is a program (called CM1.EXE) that operates
on an IBM PC (or compatible). This software has the following features:
. Easy-to-use, one-screen user interface
. Scan and identify any cable
. Compare to other cables stored in a disk file
. Each disk file may store up to 70 cable descriptions
. Compact software that easily fits on one floppy diskette
Installing the CM1 Software
The Cable Master 1 software does not have an installation procedure. The
software on the diskette is ready for immediate use. Users may find it
easier to copy the Cable Master software to a directory on a hard disk.
This may be done by using the DOS COPY command. For example, insert the
Cable Master diskette in drive A and do the following commands:
C:> MKDIR C:\CM1
C:> CD A:\CM1
C:> COPY A:*.* C:\CM1
There are two files on the Cable Master diskette used by CM1:
CM1.EXE The executable Cable Master 1 program.
CM1.HLP This help file.
The Command Line
To use the CM1 program, type the program name at the DOS command
prompt. For example:
C:> CM1
The Disk File
Selects the disk file used by the software. The disk file is used to match
the cables being tested to other (previously defined and tested) cables.
The default file is CM1.DAT in the current directory.
Examples:
C:> CM1 filename -or-
C:> CM1 a:\filename
where filename is any file available on any drive. If the file
does not exist, one will be created.
The Serial Port
Identifies the serial port parameter to which the cable scanning hardware
is attached. Ports from 1 to 4 may be used. The software will
automatically search all of the available ports, looking for the Cable
Master hardware. To re-do this search, press [altW]. To review all of the
available serial ports, press [altC].
Examples:
C:> CM1 /3 -or-
C:> CM1 filename /3 -or-
C:> CM1 /3 filename
The Display
The display of the CM1 program is divided into four main groups: the list
of cables, the wire list, the cable diagram and the message area. The
bottom line of the display shows some of the active keys. The top right
hand corner of the display shows the version level of the software.
The List Of Cables
The list of the cables stored in the disk file. Use the up and down arrow
keys the select a particular cable.
When selected, the name for the cable is highlighted and the wire list and
cable diagram are displayed. If the wire list or diagram is too large to be
displayed on the screen, use the left or right arrow keys to move the
cursor to that area of the screen, and the up and down arrows to display
the additional parts of the list or diagram.
The Wire List
Shows the wire list for the selected cable. Wire lists are of the format
Ax,Ay,Bx,By where A indicates the first or A side of the cable, B indicates
the second or B side of the cable and x and y are the pin numbers on that
particular side.
The Cable Diagram
Shows the diagram for the selected cable. Cable diagrams are of the
format x ----- y, where x indicates the pin number on the A side and y
indicates the pin number on the B side.
Scanning The Cable
Use the [F4] key to scan and identify a cable. Scanning a cable takes a snap
-shot of the cable currently mounted on the Cable Master hardware and
stores a copy of the wiring diagram into working memory within the PC.
The scanned cable is compared to the list of cables. If a match is found,
the cursor is positioned to the first cable in the list that matches the
scanned cable. If no match is found, a new cable (called ///new cable///)
is added to the end of the list of cables.
Use [Ins] to change the name of a cable.Use [Del] to delete a cable.
Saving The Data
Use the [F2] key to save data to the input disk file. No changes to the disk
file are made unless the [F2] key is pressed.
Printing The Cable Diagram
Use the [F3] key to print a description of the selected cable to the printer.
(If the printer does not support the IBM character set, use /A on the
command line or press [altA] once.)
Messages
The Cable Master 1 software will occasionally display messages during
its operation. This is a list of those messages, along with a brief
explanation of their meaning:
MATCH During SCAN, the scanned cable exactly matches
the indicated cable.
REVERSED During SCAN, the scanned cable exactly matches
the indicated cable, but End A and End B are
reversed. (The cable is mounted on the Cable
Master hardware backwards.)
NO MATCH During SCAN, the scanned cable does not exactly
match any cable in the list. A new cable (called
///new cable///) has been added to end of the list.
NO WIRES The Cable Master hardware detected a cable without
wires (probably, no cable is mounted).
NEW FILE The input disk file does not exist. If [F2] is used,
a new disk file will be created. (A default list of
cables has been used.)
ERROR DURING
WRITE The disk file could not be written (by [F2]). Correct
the problem and try again.
ERROR DURING
SCAN,
NO DEVICE The Cable Master hardware did not respond. Either the
hardware is not attached or the serial port is not
correctly identified. (Use /2 /3 or /4 on the command
line).
OUT OF MEMORY There is not enough available memory in this PC to
run the CM1 program. Delete some memory resident
programs, reboot the PC, or otherwise get more
application memory before restarting the CM1 program.
(CM1 needs less than 128k to run.)
FILE READ
ERROR The input disk file could not be read. Correct the
problem and try again.
The CM2 Software
The Cable Master 2 software is a program (called CM2.EXE) that operates
on an IBM PC (or compatible). This software has the following features:
. Windowed, mouse-oriented user interface
. Scan and identify any cable
. Compare to other cables stored in a data base
. Each data base stores an unlimited number of cable descriptions
Installing The CM2 Software
The Cable Master 2 software does not have an installation procedure. The
software on the diskette is ready for immediate use. Users may find it
easier to copy the Cable Master software to a directory on a hard disk.
This may be done by using the DOS COPY command. For example, insert the
Cable Master diskette in drive A and do the following commands:
C:> MKDIR C:\CM2
C:> CD A:\CM2
C:> COPY A:*.* C:\CM2
There are five files on the Cable Master diskette used by CM2:
CM2.EXE The executable Cable Master 2 program.
CM2.HLP The CM2 context-sensitive help file.
CM2.DAT The default CM2 data base of cables.
CM2.IX The index to the CM2.DAT file.
CM2.CFG The CM2 configuration file.
The Command Line
To use the CM2 program, type the program name at the DOS command
prompt. For example:
C:> CM2
The Display
The display of the CM2 program is windowed. The main menu (the Selector)
appears whenever a data base is opened.
The top line of the screen consists of pull-down menus. The bottom line of
the display shows some of the active keys.
The Selector
When a data base is opened, the Selector appears on the screen. Use the
Selector to scan cables using the Cable Master hardware, to display or
print cable descriptions, and to enter or to edit cable descriptions into the
Cable Master data base.
The Selector consists of a list of cables, a view selection box, an
information box, and a set of action buttons.
The List Of Cables
The list of the cables stored in the data base. Use the up and down arrow
keys the select a particular cable.
The View Selection Box
Use the selections in the view box to control which cables are displayed in
the list of cables.
The Information Box
This box shows the relationship of the selected cable to the scanned cable.
Scan A Cable
Use the SCAN BUTTON to scan and identify a cable. Scanning a cable takes
a snap-shot of the cable currently mounted on the Cable Master hardware
and stores a copy of the wiring diagram into working memory within the
PC.
The scanned cable is compared to the list of cables. If a match is found,
the cursor is positioned to the first cable in the list that matches the
scanned cable. If no match is found, a new cable (called *** unknown cable
***) is added to the list of cables.
Use the EDIT BUTTON to enter additional information about the scanned
cable, including a name and description.
Display A Cable Diagram
Use the DISPLAY BUTTON to view the cable diagram and wire list of the
selected cable. (The cable diagram and wire list are placed in a new
window.)
Cable diagrams are of the format x ----- y, where x indicates the pin
number on the A side and y indicates the pin number on the B side.
Wire lists are of the format Ax,Ay,Bx,By where A indicates the first or A
side of the cable, B indicates the second or B side of the cable and x and y
are the pin numbers on that particular side.
Printing A Cable Diagram
Use the PRINT BUTTON to print a description of the selected cable to the
printer. Either a PURCHASE ORDER or a CABLE DESCRIPTION may be printed.
Edit/Add/Copy/Delete
Use these buttons to modify the details of the cable description including
the connectors, wiring list and textual descriptions.
The Data Base
The data base is used to match the cables being tested to other
(previously defined and tested) cables. There may be many different data
bases stored on disk, but only one data base may be in use at any given
time.
A data base is stored as two DOS files, one with a DAT extension and one
with an IX extension. When a backup is made, a file with the extension OUT
is used. Use Open on the File menu to select a data base.
Saving The Data
The data base is continuously saved to disk whenever changes are made.
Occasionally, use the Backup command on the File menu to store a backup
copy of the changes made.
Setup
Use the Setup pull-down menu to select the serial port, to enter company
and vendor information, to identify adapters, to add or edit connectors,
and to select the printer.
Select the serial port to which the Cable Master hardware is attached.
Select the correct adapter whenever one is mounted on the Cable Master
hardware.
Messages
The Cable Master 2 software will occasionally display messages during
its operation. This is a list of those messages, along with a brief
explanation of their meaning:
NO WIRES The Cable Master hardware detected a cable without
wires (probably, no cable is mounted).
NO DEVICE The Cable Master hardware did not respond. Either the
hardware is not attached or the serial port is not
correctly identified.