Using Netlinx Studio; Working With Your Project; Setting Up The Master - AMX AXT-CA10 Instruction Manual

Using NetLinx Studio

Once you have created and saved a Design XPress project, typically you will then open the project
file in NetLinx Studio to download the program data and user interface files to the NetLinx system.
For more information on how to operate NetLinx Studio see the NetLinx Studio
Tutorial on the training page of the AMX web site at www.amx.com, and consult the
on-line help file and NetLinx Studio Instruction Manual (also available via
www.amx.com).
Do not be alarmed if the Lighting Scene labels in the KPD file do not match the ones you assigned
in Design XPress (House Lighting Scenes dialog). The scene labels will appear on the keypads
once you download them to the Master and reboot it.

Working With Your Project

Upon completion of the Design XPress application the next step is to use NetLinx Studio to open
the created project file. From this point on, this document will assume the installer has a good
understanding of NetLinx Studio (it can be a difficult installation if the installer is a first time
Design XPress user and a first time NetLinx Studio user).
To open the project file, use the Open Project option on the File menu and traverse to the path
where your project file resides. Once the project is open, expand all branches of the Navigator view
to see the files that have been created in the project.
There is only one file under the Source Code branch: Main.axs. This is the main file and contains
most of the system configuration information entered into the application/wizard. Other NetLinx
software files are under the Include branch of the tree. There are a lot of include files because the
software is broken up by function. For example, Lights_Dms.axi contains all software for
controlling lights via the DMS keypad. Lights_Tp.axi contains the software for controlling lights
via the touch panels. All of the touch panel and DMS keypad files are located under the User
Interface branch . The text files and report file are located under the Other branch.
To compile your project, open up the main source file and then select the Build System option
under the Build menu. Any time changes are made, the software has to be compiled.

Setting Up the Master

Some files will need to be transferred to the master outside of NetLinx Studio, using FTP (file
transfer protocol). To accomplish this, communication cannot take place over a serial cable using
the program port on the master. Instead, it must be done via Ethernet. Therefore it is always
recommended that downloads and all communication between NetLinx Studio and the master be
done via Ethernet. Using Ethernet will also make downloads quicker.
When the NetLinx master ships, it is configured for serial communication at 38,400 baud. To
configure the NetLinx master to use Ethernet communication requires a serial connection. Make
sure the correct serial port is selected and the baud rate is correct on the Master Comm Settings
page under the Tools menu. Once a connection is made, select the NetLinx Diagnostics option on
the Tools menu. Click on the Networking tab and then the Get IP Info button.
By default, the master ships with the option set to wait for a server to assign it an IP address via
DHCP. If there is no DHCP server on the network it will greatly increase startup time while the
master waits for an address to be assigned. Therefore, it is recommended that the IP address be set
to a static address. To do this, select Specify IP Address and enter the IP address you want to
Design XPress Programmer's Guide
Using the Design XPress Project Wizard
57