Alcorn Mcbride Pro Series User manual

Pro Series
Show
Controllers
Alcorn McBride
January 16, 2012
User’s Guide

Table of Contents Page 2
Document Revision 1.6
January 16, 2012
Copyright 1996-2012 Alcorn McBride, Inc. All rights reserved.
Every effort has been made to assure the accuracy of the information contained in this manual, and the
reliability of the Alcorn McBride Pro Series show control hardware and software. Errors can sometimes go
undetected, however. If you find one, please bring it to our attention so that we can correct it for others.
Alcorn McBride welcomes comments and suggestions on the content and layout of its documentation.
Applications described herein are for illustrative purposes only. Alcorn McBride Inc. assumes no
responsibility or liability for the use of these products, and makes no representation or warranty that the use
of these products for specific applications will be suitable without further testing or modification. Alcorn
McBride products are not intended for use in applications where a malfunction can reasonably be expected
to result in personal injury. Customers using or selling Alcorn McBride products for use in such
applications do so at their own risk, and agree to fully indemnify Alcorn McBride for any damages
resulting from such improper use or sale.
Alcorn McBride Inc. reserves the right to make changes to these products, without notice, in order to
improve their design or performance.
V16Pro™ V4Pro™ are trademarks of Alcorn McBride Inc., all rights reserved.
Hardware Design: Jim Carstensen, Scott Harkless, and Joy Burke
Firmware Design: Joy Burke, Scott Harkless and Adam Rosenberg
Software Design: Steve Alcorn, Joy Burke, and Adam Rosenberg
Documentation: John Conley, Joy Burke, Adam Rosenberg, and Steve Alcorn
Mechanical Design: Martin Chaney
Alcorn McBride Inc.
3300 S. Hiawassee, Bldg. 105
Orlando, Florida 32835
TEL: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
http://www.alcorn.com
[email protected]

Table of Contents Page 3
Table of Contents
Table of Contents .....................................................................................................................................3
Welcome..................................................................................................................................................9
What are the Pro Series show controllers? ............................................................................................9
Compatibility.......................................................................................................................................9
What’s New.......................................................................................................................................10
Hardware ......................................................................................................................................10
Software........................................................................................................................................10
Important Information........................................................................................................................11
WinScript Live Tutorial..........................................................................................................................13
Opening WinScript Live and Creating a Script ...................................................................................13
Configuring the Script........................................................................................................................14
Working with Resources – Clicking and Drag & Drop........................................................................15
Naming Resources .............................................................................................................................16
Buttons..........................................................................................................................................16
Variables.......................................................................................................................................17
Devices .........................................................................................................................................18
Writing The Script .............................................................................................................................20
Sequences .....................................................................................................................................20
Events...........................................................................................................................................21
Event Wizard .......................................................................................................................22
Edit the Default Sequence..............................................................................................................23
Edit the MainShow Sequence ........................................................................................................25
Error Check and Download ................................................................................................................33
Connecting Equipment.......................................................................................................................33
USB Connection............................................................................................................................33
WinScript Live Resources ......................................................................................................................35
Sequences ..........................................................................................................................................35
Sequence Columns ........................................................................................................................35
Sequence Clock.............................................................................................................................36
Events................................................................................................................................................37
Event Columns..............................................................................................................................37
Variables ...........................................................................................................................................38
User Variables...............................................................................................................................38
Device Variables ...........................................................................................................................38
Devices..............................................................................................................................................39
Inputs ................................................................................................................................................42
IO64 Slave Inputs..........................................................................................................................42
Modbus TCP Slave Inputs .............................................................................................................43
Outputs..............................................................................................................................................45
IO64 Slave Outputs .......................................................................................................................45
Modbus TCP Slave Outputs...........................................................................................................46
Buttons ..............................................................................................................................................49
Triggers.............................................................................................................................................49
Trigger Types................................................................................................................................50
Trigger Cause................................................................................................................................50
WinScript Live Timecode (SMPTE/EBU)...............................................................................................51
Display the Timecode Configuration Dialog.......................................................................................51
Internal Timecode Settings.................................................................................................................52
Lock to External Video Sync .........................................................................................................52
External (SMPTE/EBU) Timecode Settings........................................................................................52
General Settings ............................................................................................................................52

Table of Contents Page 4
Read Settings ................................................................................................................................53
Generate Settings...........................................................................................................................53
WinScript Live "Live Mode" ..................................................................................................................55
Sequence Status .................................................................................................................................55
Event Status.......................................................................................................................................55
Highlighted Events........................................................................................................................55
Current Time.................................................................................................................................55
Watches.............................................................................................................................................56
Adding Watches............................................................................................................................56
Viewing/Changing Value...............................................................................................................56
Forces ...........................................................................................................................................56
Live Log ............................................................................................................................................57
Live Display ......................................................................................................................................57
Show Controller External Control...........................................................................................................58
"ShowTouch" and "Touch" Software..................................................................................................58
Ami-Terminal Control........................................................................................................................58
Webpage Control ...............................................................................................................................59
iPhone Control...................................................................................................................................59
1: Setup TCP Server on Show Controller .......................................................................................59
2: Add Incoming Message Triggers................................................................................................60
3: Control with iPhone App ...........................................................................................................62
Terminal Control................................................................................................................................62
1: Setup TCP Server on Show Controller .......................................................................................62
2: Add Incoming Message Triggers................................................................................................63
3: Control with Putty or TCP Client...............................................................................................65
WinScript Live Command Reference......................................................................................................67
Discrete Events..................................................................................................................................67
On.................................................................................................................................................67
Off ................................................................................................................................................67
Toggle...........................................................................................................................................67
Blink.............................................................................................................................................68
Pulse .............................................................................................................................................68
Out Port ........................................................................................................................................69
In Port...........................................................................................................................................69
Logical Events...................................................................................................................................70
On.................................................................................................................................................70
Off ................................................................................................................................................70
Toggle...........................................................................................................................................70
Add...............................................................................................................................................71
Subtract.........................................................................................................................................71
Divide...........................................................................................................................................71
Multiply........................................................................................................................................71
BitAnd ..........................................................................................................................................72
BitOr.............................................................................................................................................72
Mod ..............................................................................................................................................72
Concat...........................................................................................................................................72
Format ..........................................................................................................................................72
Set Variable = ...............................................................................................................................73
Save Variable................................................................................................................................74
Restore Variable............................................................................................................................74
Program Control Events.....................................................................................................................75
Start ..............................................................................................................................................76
Pause.............................................................................................................................................76
Stop Loop .....................................................................................................................................76
Reset .............................................................................................................................................76
Goto..............................................................................................................................................76

Table of Contents Page 5
If On, If Off...................................................................................................................................77
If =, If not =, If >, If >=, If <, If <= ................................................................................................78
End If............................................................................................................................................79
Else...............................................................................................................................................79
Nop...............................................................................................................................................80
Display Events...................................................................................................................................81
Display..........................................................................................................................................81
Store Display.................................................................................................................................82
Recover Display............................................................................................................................82
Timecode (LTC, SMPTE, EBU) and Internal Time Events .................................................................83
Delay ............................................................................................................................................83
Timecode Set ................................................................................................................................83
Timecode Pause ............................................................................................................................83
Timecode Start..............................................................................................................................84
Timecode Stop ..............................................................................................................................84
Timecode Stop Loop .....................................................................................................................84
Get Seq Time ................................................................................................................................84
Arm ..............................................................................................................................................84
Disarm ..........................................................................................................................................85
Network Events .................................................................................................................................85
Send Mail......................................................................................................................................85
Number Generation............................................................................................................................85
Get Random ..................................................................................................................................85
Device Control Events .......................................................................................................................86
Message Out .................................................................................................................................86
Specifications V16Pro ............................................................................................................................87
LTC Ports..........................................................................................................................................88
Serial Ports ........................................................................................................................................88
RS-232/422/485 Ports....................................................................................................................88
Ethernet Ports ....................................................................................................................................89
Ethernet Cables .............................................................................................................................89
Programmer Ports ..............................................................................................................................91
RS-232C .......................................................................................................................................91
USB ..............................................................................................................................................91
Ethernet Ports A and B ..................................................................................................................91
Show Control Ports............................................................................................................................92
Ports 1-16: RS-232 or RS-422/485.................................................................................................92
MIDI Ports....................................................................................................................................92
Ethernet Ports A and B ..................................................................................................................92
Display..............................................................................................................................................93
Menu Wheel ......................................................................................................................................94
Menu Map.....................................................................................................................................94
Function Description .....................................................................................................................96
System Sub-menu..........................................................................................................................96
System .................................................................................................................................96
Real-Time Clock ..................................................................................................................97
LTC/SMPTE........................................................................................................................98
Network ...............................................................................................................................98
Password..............................................................................................................................98
Script Configuration.............................................................................................................98
Digital Inputs.....................................................................................................................................99
Input Connector.............................................................................................................................99
Voltage Inputs vs. Contact Closures.............................................................................................100
Input Configuration .....................................................................................................................101
Input Wiring................................................................................................................................102
Connecting a Voltage Input.....................................................................................................102

Table of Contents Page 6
Connecting a Contact Closure......................................................................................................103
Using Front Panel Buttons...........................................................................................................104
Digital Outputs ................................................................................................................................105
Configuring Outputs....................................................................................................................105
Output Connector ........................................................................................................................105
Wiring Outputs............................................................................................................................107
Non-inductive load .................................................................................................................107
Inductive loads........................................................................................................................108
Video Sync Input ............................................................................................................................. 109
SMPTE Reader/Generator................................................................................................................109
Power Supply...................................................................................................................................109
Rear DIP Switches ........................................................................................................................... 110
Firmware .........................................................................................................................................111
Show Memory .................................................................................................................................111
Specifications V4Pro ............................................................................................................................113
Serial Ports ......................................................................................................................................114
RS-232/422/485 Ports..................................................................................................................114
Ethernet Ports ..................................................................................................................................114
Ethernet Cables ...........................................................................................................................115
Programmer Ports ............................................................................................................................116
RS-232C ..................................................................................................................................... 116
USB ............................................................................................................................................116
Ethernet Ports A and B ................................................................................................................116
Show Control Ports..........................................................................................................................117
Ports 1-4: RS-232 or RS-422/485.................................................................................................117
MIDI Ports..................................................................................................................................117
Ethernet Ports A and B ................................................................................................................117
Display............................................................................................................................................118
Menu Wheel ....................................................................................................................................119
Menu Map...................................................................................................................................119
Function Description ...................................................................................................................121
System Sub-menu........................................................................................................................121
System ...............................................................................................................................121
Real-Time Clock ................................................................................................................122
Network .............................................................................................................................123
Password............................................................................................................................123
Script Configuration...........................................................................................................123
Digital Inputs...................................................................................................................................124
Input Connector...........................................................................................................................124
Voltage Inputs vs. Contact Closures.............................................................................................125
Input Configuration .....................................................................................................................126
Input Wiring................................................................................................................................127
Connecting a Voltage Input.....................................................................................................127
Connecting a Contact Closure......................................................................................................128
Using Front Panel Buttons...........................................................................................................129
Digital Outputs ................................................................................................................................130
Configuring Outputs....................................................................................................................130
Output Connector ........................................................................................................................131
Wiring Outputs............................................................................................................................132
Non-inductive load .................................................................................................................132
Inductive loads........................................................................................................................133
Video Sync Input ............................................................................................................................. 134
Power Supply...................................................................................................................................134
Rear DIP Switches ........................................................................................................................... 134
Firmware .........................................................................................................................................136
Show Memory .................................................................................................................................136

Table of Contents Page 7
Ethernet Step by Step............................................................................................................................137
Hardware.........................................................................................................................................137
Network Equipment.....................................................................................................................138
Hubs ...........................................................................................................................................138
Switches......................................................................................................................................138
Routers........................................................................................................................................138
Addresses and Routing.....................................................................................................................139
IP Addressing..............................................................................................................................139
Subnet Mask ...............................................................................................................................139
Gateway......................................................................................................................................139
Connecting the Hardware.................................................................................................................139
Network A (Point-to-Point) .........................................................................................................140
Network B (Multipoint Connections) ...........................................................................................140
PC Configuration .............................................................................................................................141
Show Controller Configuration.........................................................................................................143
Device Identification........................................................................................................................143
Network A ID .............................................................................................................................143
Network B IDs ............................................................................................................................144
Setting Device IP Addresses.............................................................................................................145
Try It Out.........................................................................................................................................146
Scheduler (Web-based).........................................................................................................................147
Getting Started.................................................................................................................................147
Creating a New Schedule File ..........................................................................................................147
Editing Schedule Entries ..................................................................................................................149
WEB Server Quick Start.......................................................................................................................153
Step 1: Connecting to the Web Server..........................................................................................153
Step 2: Configuration...................................................................................................................154
Step 3: Customer Web Page.........................................................................................................154
Step 4: Understanding home.php..................................................................................................155
Hypertext Transfer Protocol .............................................................................................................156
File Names and Types......................................................................................................................156
Show Controller Web-Script ............................................................................................................ 157
Web-Script Blocks ......................................................................................................................157
If Statements ...............................................................................................................................157
Variables.....................................................................................................................................158
Functions ....................................................................................................................................160
Function Params.................................................................................................................163
Web Server Configuration ...........................................................................................................164
Serial and Ethernet Control...................................................................................................................165
Command set...................................................................................................................................165
?V Get Firmware Version ......................................................................................................165
?S Get SMPTE Firmware Version .........................................................................................165
ES Enable SMPTE.................................................................................................................166
DS Disable SMPTE ...........................................................................................................166
PS Pause SMPTE (Next Loop Point)......................................................................................166
IS Pause SMPTE (Immediately) .......................................................................................167
CT Get/Set SMPTE Time.......................................................................................................167
ID Get/Set Unit ID ................................................................................................................167
IP Get/Set IP address........................................................................................................168
SM Get/Set Subnet Mask number .......................................................................................168
GW Get/Set Gateway IP Address ........................................................................................168
DA Get/Set Date ................................................................................................................169
TI Get/Set Time................................................................................................................169
US Get/Set User Name...........................................................................................................170
PW Get/Set Password.........................................................................................................170
SD Get/Set DST Enable .........................................................................................................170

Table of Contents Page 8
DT Get/Set DST Type........................................................................................................171
TZ Get/Set Time Zone ...........................................................................................................171
DI Display Text.....................................................................................................................171
LO Get/Set Longitude Coordinates.....................................................................................172
LA Get/Set Latitude Coordinates........................................................................................172
VA Get/Set a Variable........................................................................................................172
VT Toggle a Boolean Variable...........................................................................................173
RJ Reset Sequence.................................................................................................................173
PA Pause a Sequence .............................................................................................................173
SL Stop a Looping Sequence..................................................................................................173
PL Run a Sequence................................................................................................................174
SQ Get Sequence Status .........................................................................................................174
OU Output Control.............................................................................................................174
SS Send Message................................................................................................................... 175
XX Reboot.........................................................................................................................175
NI Get/Set NTP IP Address ...................................................................................................175
NE Enable/Disable the NTP Function.................................................................................176
NJ Get/Set the Ethernet Port for NTP.....................................................................................176
TS Time Stamp......................................................................................................................176
SF Get/Set Active Script file..................................................................................................177
DH Enable/Disable the DHCP Function..............................................................................177
SJ Get/Set the Ethernet Port for SMTP ..................................................................................177
SA Get/Set the SMTP Address ...............................................................................................178
SP Get/Set the SMTP Port .....................................................................................................178
SU Get/Set the SMTP User Login Name.................................................................................179
SW Get/Set the SMTP Password.........................................................................................179
FR Get/Set the SMTP From Name .........................................................................................179
MA Send E-Mail.................................................................................................................180
HJ Get/Set the HTTP Ethernet Port........................................................................................180
HP Get/Set the HTTP WEB Page ...........................................................................................181
LV Live Mode ...................................................................................................................181
EX Execute a command.....................................................................................................182
Creating Your Own Product File...........................................................................................................183
Protocol File Storage........................................................................................................................183
Getting Started.................................................................................................................................183
Product Section................................................................................................................................183
Hardware Section.............................................................................................................................184
Protocol Section...............................................................................................................................184
Commands Section ..........................................................................................................................185
Command Parameters..................................................................................................................186
Parameter Rules ..........................................................................................................................186
Optional Parameters (Init Values) ................................................................................................187
Operations on Parameters ............................................................................................................187
Outgoing Message.......................................................................................................................190
Hex Characters .......................................................................................................................191
Inserting Parameters/Operations..............................................................................................191
Escape Characters and Quotes.................................................................................................191
Incoming Message (Response To Command)...............................................................................191
Printf style ..............................................................................................................................192
Regular Expression Style ........................................................................................................192
Incoming Message (Unsolicited Command).................................................................................193
Incoming Message Variable Storage............................................................................................193
Error Variable..................................................................................................................................194
TCP Status Variable.........................................................................................................................195
Setup Messages (TCP Only)............................................................................................................195
Troubleshooting Tips............................................................................................................................199

Welcome Page 9
WinScriptLive .................................................................................................................................199
Welcome
What are the Pro Series show controllers?
The Pro Series show controllers are the latest version of our original, most powerful, show controllers.
They are ideally suited for the control of theme park attractions, museum displays, retail spaces, casino
installations, games shows, or almost any automated venue. They provide more serial ports than any of our
other controllers, and offers almost unlimited memory capacity. Other important features include self-
healing outputs, software configurable inputs, dual Ethernet ports, MIDI, USB, video sync, and a built-in
SMPTE generator and reader. In short, they have just about every control interface you’d ever need, all in
one easy to use box.
Compatibility
One of our goals in designing the Pro Series show controllers (aside from trying to amaze you with all of its
features!) was to make then a drop-in hardware replacement for the earlier V Plus series. So if you’re
already familiar with the V Plus family (or are replacing one in an existing installation), you’ll be pleased
to find that you already know a lot about the Pro Series show controllers. Although you’ll need to spend a
little time upgrading your current scripts to take advantage of the more advanced WinScript Live!
Programming environment, your hardware should be good to go.
If you are using ports 1 – 4 of the V16 Plus in RS422 mode of operation, please take note of the following
changes. The buffers used in the Pro Series show controllers use a technology that provides both single
ended (RS232) and differential ended (RS422/485) connections to be used without changing circuit
components.
The TXD+ and TXD- signals needed to be reversed when using the Pro Series show controllers. Pin 3 is
now TXD- and pin 9 is TXD+ in RS422/485 mode only. RS232 operations remain unchanged.

Welcome Page 10
What’s New
Hardware
All 16 serial ports (except the programmer port) are software configurable to
RS-232 or RS422/485, Baud rates up to 115.2 Kbaud
Front Panel switched are not connected to back panel inputs by default and can
be under software control.
Two Ethernet ports – Port A/B can be used as for control, programming and
monitoring or for local networks used it the control of the your show.
USB programmer port for programming and control
Front panel Look – The input, output and serial port activity LED’s are bigger
and better positioned. The operational status of the Pro Series show controllers
can be viewed at a greater distance.
New Status LED’s – Timecode Activity and Video Sync
Menu Wheel for quick stand-a-lone system setup
Vacuum Florescent Display with 8 lines by 40 characters available for use in
show scripts.
Video Sync will accept Composite sync or Black burst.
Software
Show scripts and control parameters are stored in the Compact Flash card.
Changing a show requires only a flash card change.
SMPTE reader/generator
Support for unsolicited incoming messages.
Real-Time Clock
Edit Scripts while running in “Live Mode”
New variable types
Many New Operator types
Wide range of Ethernet protocols
Real time Scheduler