Netlinx Programming Overview; Defining The Superset - AMX NETLINX PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE Manual

NetLinx Programming Overview

The NetLinx control system was designed to upgrade the processor bus and improve the power of the
Axcess programming language. Originally named Axcess2, the NetLinx was designed to be a superset of
the Axcess programming language. The relationship between the new language (NetLinx) and Axcess is
very similar to the relationship between C++ and C.
Just as C++ brought a whole new level of power to C programming, NetLinx offers a variety of new tools
and commands to dynamically increase the speed and power of present and future applications.
Use the NetLinx Studio software program to create, compile, and transfer Axcess/
NetLinx code.

Defining the Superset

NetLinx contains all of the elements of Axcess. Largely, you can use the same code from Axcess
systems in NetLinx systems. Some exceptions include variable names conflicting with new NetLinx
keywords; however, Axcess keywords are valid in NetLinx.
You cannot compile NetLinx code on an Axcess compiler, or download NetLinx code to an Axcess
control system. To upgrade an existing Axcess control system to NetLinx you must upgrade the Axcess
Master to a NetLinx Master. You can still use the existing Axcess equipment as long as you can disable
the existing Axcess Central Controller.
The exceptions are the Axcent, the Axcent
Master Port Expander. None of these integrated controllers allow you to disable the
Central Controller. Both Axcess Card Frame Systems and Axcent
to either remove or disable the Axcess Central Controller. If you are using an
3
Axcent / Axcent
You can connect the Axcent
Then you can compile and download the existing Axcess code.
Several Axcess control limitations have been fixed in NetLinx.
Axcess is linear in its process. At run time, Axcess runs the
is loaded or restarted. Axcess then makes a pass through mainline code, polls the bus for activity, checks
the wait and pulse stacks, and repeats the process again. The length of mainline and the activity on the
bus affect runtime speeds. The mainline process is considered a single thread.
NetLinx runs on multiple threads; mainline and event handlers run on parallel threads. Event handlers
are defined within NetLinx and operate like mini-mainlines. They contain far less code and run faster
than mainline. If an event occurs, and an event handler has been defined for that event, NetLinx bypasses
mainline and runs the event handler.
NetLinx Programming Language Reference Guide
3
Pro, you can disable the Master with the OpenAxcess program.
3
/ Axcent
NetLinx expands the types of data and variables from Axcess.
NetLinx provides multiple processes and event threads beyond the Mainline in Axcess.
NetLinx offers more options in distributed processing. NetLinx expands and strengthens
Master-to-Master communications and expands the traditional AXlink bus to include ICSNet
and Ethernet Network communications.
2
, the AXB-EM232, and the AXB-MPE+
3
3
Pro to a NetLinx Master Module via AXlink.
DEFINE_START
NetLinx Programming Overview
systems allow you
code once when the system
3