Using The Tricoder As A Time Clock - Worth Data TriCoder t53 User Manual

Appendix U

Using the TriCoder as a Time Clock

Time clock applications are a popular use for the Tricoder. The most common
ways to use the TriCoder as a time clock utilize either Buffered Terminal Mode
or Data Collection Mode.
In either case, you will want to display the time on the screen of the TriCoder.
This is done while creating a program by specifying "DIS" (for DISplay date
and time) in the DATA ID field of a:
• T (Time Stamp)
• Y (Date Stamp)
• S (Date and Time Stamp) or
• D (Data)
programming "Statement Entry Type". The time and/or date is displayed above
the next Data prompt.
If you have a power failure...
If you are plugged into wall power and there is a power failure, the
TriCoder batteries do not take over until you press the ON/OFF key. If you
are running in Buffered Terminal Mode and this happens, once you go to
battery power the TriCoder will display the opening message and go right
back to where it was when the power was interrupted.
Setting the time on the TriCoders
To use the time clock function efficiently, you will want the host to be able
to set the time on the attached TriCoders. Setting all of the TriCoders from
the host ensures that they are all set the same. The TriCoder uses the
following protocol to set the time:
The host sends ID+SOH
1.
The TriCoder responds with ID+<CR>
2.
3. The host sends ID+mmddyyhhmmss + 2 chksum bytes + <CR>
4. If the TriCoder computed checksums match the received
checksums, then the TriCoder responds with ID+ACK. If the
checksums don't match, then the TriCoder responds with ID+NAK
5. If the host gets a NAK, then start the whole sequence over
again by going back to step 1.
See the TriCoder Utilities diskette for a program called TIMESET for an
example of a program written to set the time on multiple TriCoders. A
BASIC program as well as an executable program is included.
U-1