Appendix B - Output Formats; Column-Based Format; Amlx Format - AML Oceanographic AML-6 RT User Manual

6 Appendix B - Output Formats

AML-6 series instruments support two monitoring formats: a column-based format whereby all
transmitted data is organized into vertical columns, and a proprietary self-describing format
referred to as AMLx.
The commands to adjust monitor formats are described in 5.2 Monitor commands.

6.1 Column-Based Format

The factory default of an AML-6 instrument is column-based formatting, typically using a comma
delimiter (the delimiter is configurable). This format is preferred for applications where human
readability of the raw data is required as it is easy to quickly parse and interpret the scrolling
columns of measurements.
The disadvantage of this format is that the user must have knowledge of the meta-data to
correctly interpret the readings. The relevant meta-data is obtained by issue the following
command:
>DIS SENSORS
[MeasurementMetadata]
Columns=Date,Time,Cond,TempCT,Pressure,SV,Depth
Units=yyyy-mm-dd,hh:mm:ss.ss,mS/cm,C,dbar,m/s,m
>MONITOR
>2020-05-27,18:59:26.03,5.122,24.044,10.09,1459.111,10.07
...
It is assumed the sensor meta-data is uniformly applicable to every line. that the number of
columns, order of columns, and units of each measurement never change. This assumption
makes the format extremely inflexible. Users are strongly discouraged from creating drivers
that rely on this output format.

6.2 AMLx Format

The AMLx format is a proprietary self-describing string that does not rely on assumed static
meta-data for interpretation. Each sentence contains sufficient information to contextualize the
measurement data provided.
The general format of AMLx is:
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