Crestron SW-VOTE User manual

CRESTRON
e-control™ Vote
(SW-VOTE)
version 1.5
© 1999, 2000 Crestron Electronics, Inc.

Crestron e-control Vote SW-VOTE
ii •• Table of Contents Installation & Reference Guide — DOC. 5822
Contents
How to Use This Manual 4
A Note on Printing This Document................................................................................................... 4
Quick Start ........................................................................................................................................ 4
A word on licensing .......................................................................................................................... 4
Quick Start Guide 1: Request-to-Speak (demo1) 6
Quick Start Guide 2: Voting (demo2) 7
Introduction 8
What is Crestron e-control™ Vote? .................................................................................................. 8
Leading Specifications ...................................................................................................................... 9
Requirements..................................................................................................................................... 9
What is the Crestron Software Server?............................................................................................ 10
System Terminology and Topology ................................................................................................ 11
Feature Summary ............................................................................................................................ 13
Installation....................................................................................................................................... 17
Licensing......................................................................................................................................... 17
Basic Server Setup 20
Communications Setup.................................................................................................................... 21
Test Communications...................................................................................................................... 24
Additional Server Side Setup .......................................................................................................... 24
Server Configuration In Depth 26
Specifying a Configuration File ...................................................................................................... 26
Creating a New Configuration File.................................................................................................. 26
Transporting a Configuration .......................................................................................................... 26
Password Access ............................................................................................................................. 27
COM Settings Configuration........................................................................................................... 28
Signal Block Configuration and Definition..................................................................................... 30
Software Server Windows and Menus ............................................................................................ 45
Database 52
Database Tables............................................................................................................................... 52
The Queries table............................................................................................................................. 54
Queue scroller tables....................................................................................................................... 55
Agenda scroller tables ..................................................................................................................... 55
Operations 57
Vote Console operations.................................................................................................................. 57
Request-to-Speak Console operations............................................................................................. 61
Demos 66
Demo 1: Voting............................................................................................................................... 66
Demo 2 Request-to-Speak............................................................................................................... 66
Appendix A: Theory of Operation 68
Server Protocol................................................................................................................................ 68
Signal Block Definition / Activation............................................................................................... 68
Signal Block Enable / Disable......................................................................................................... 68
Signal Block Error Reporting.......................................................................................................... 68
Appendix B: Intersystem Communications and Signal Space Considerations 70
System Connections........................................................................................................................ 70

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iii •• Table of Contents Installation & Reference Guide — DOC. 5822
Appendix C: Signal Reference 74
Definition of Terms......................................................................................................................... 74
String Proxies.................................................................................................................................. 74
Bit Patterns...................................................................................................................................... 74
Error Reporting ............................................................................................................................... 75
Signal Summary.............................................................................................................................. 75
Signal Reference.............................................................................................................................. 78
Appendix D: Error Conditions 132
Appendix E: System limitations 134
Serial Transmissions...................................................................................................................... 134
Signal Definitions.......................................................................................................................... 134
Appendix F: Standard Scrollers vs. Custom Scrollers 135

Crestron e-control Vote SW-VOTE
4•• How to Use This Manual Installation & Reference Guide — DOC. 5822
Crestron
e-control Vote
How to Use This Manual
A Note on Printing This Document
Adobe and Acrobat are
trademarks of Adobe Systems
Incorporated.
This Portable Document File (PDF) can be printed with AdobeAcrobatReader.
Printing from a Windows 95 platform, version 4.0 or later, is strongly recommended
because the figures print poorly with earlier versions. The latest version is freely
available from Adobe at http://www.adobe.com/acrobat/.
Quick Start
To see an “out-of-the-box” demonstration of Crestron e-control™ Vote as quickly as
possible, turn to one of the Quick Start Guides on the next page.
You will need:
•A PC running Windows 95/98/NT
•A Crestron CNMSX-PRO control system
•A touchpanel (LC-3000, CT-3000, CT-3500, or VT-3500); and
•A programming cable (CNSP-? or equivalent)
•A null-modem cable with hardware handshaking (CNSP-532)
Follow the instructions in the guide precisely in the order given and you should be up
and running in a matter of minutes.
NOTE: The demos included with this package are all compiled to two versions, a COM version for
use with an RS-232 serial connection, and a TCP version for use with an Ethernet connection (the
latter case requiring the CNX Gateway). The Quick Start Guides refer only to the COM versions of
these programs because setting up a serial connection is far simpler. We strongly recommend getting
at least one demo to work first using a serial connection. Once that works, try the TCP versions.
Instructions for setting up TCP/IP communications are provided below (see “Communications
Setup, Control System Side, TCP/IP,” page 22).
A word on licensing
This is a licensed software product. A license “key,” obtainable from Crestron, is
required to run it. However, built into the licensing mechanism is a 15-day free trial.

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5•• How to Use This Manual Installation & Reference Guide — DOC. 5822
You do not need to license the software to try the demos provided you are still within
the 15-day free trial period — which starts from the moment you install the product
on your computer.
NOTE: The trial period of all Crestron Software Server products (SW-EMAIL, SW-DBM,
SW-VOTE, etc.) all share the same trial period. That is, if you previously installed one of these
products on the same computer more than 15 days ago, your free trial period for all three products
has already expired, regardless of the fact that a new product has been installed. If this is the case,
you can still get a free trial by installing the new product onto a different computer which has not
previously had any of these products installed on it.

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6•• Quick Start Guide 1: Request-to-Speak (demo1) Installation & Reference Guide — DOC. 5822
Quick Start Guide 1: Request-to-Speak (demo1)
1Install this package on your PC
Presumably, since you are reading this PDF file, you have already done this.
2Connect a CNMSX-PRO (with touchpanel)
Connect a programming cable (CNSP or equivalent) from any COM port on your
PC to the COMPUTER port on the front or back of the CNMSX-PRO control
system. Connect a touchpanel to the control system set up for CRESNET ID 03.
3Upload all control system software
The demo files can be found in the
demos folder (also accessible
through the Start Menu shortcut
e-control Vote Demos)
Open the Crestron Viewport and establish communications with your control system.
If you have not already done so, use the FileTransfer | Send Touchpanel…
command to upload demovote.hex to the touchpanel at ID 03. Use the
FileTransfer | Send Program… command to upload the compiled SIMPL windows
file demo1COM.bin to the CNMSX-PRO. You may now close the Viewport.
4Connect the null modem cable
Make sure pins 4, 5, and 6
are not connected. Connect a CNSP-532 null-modem cable from COM1 on the PC to COM A on the
CNMSX-PRO. (The programming cable may now be removed.)
5Run the “server” application
The installer sets the server to
use config file
demovote.ini.
Select shortcut e-control Vote Server from the Crestron folder in the Windows Start
Menu. If the title bar of the window does not read “e-control Vote (SW-VOTE)
Demos,” use the File | Configuration file… command to navigate to the demos
folder and select the file demovote.ini.
6Start the “server protocol”
Give the command Server | Start Server w/Signal Analyzer. (The Signal Analyzer
is good for demos because it shows you the various signals going back and forth.)
7Start the demo
On the touchpanel, touch the Start Demo button. You will see a PLEASE WAIT
screen until the signal block becomes fully enabled.
8Enter a few requests
Touch a few 1and 2buttons from the seven “seats.”
9Recognize a seat!
Recognize a seat by touching a name in a queue. Recognize another seat by touching
another name; force a seat to yield by touching the Yield button.
10 Options
Back out by touching Load or Save; and then Main Menu; and then Shut Down.
Reconfigure the server by selecting different options in the Request button behavior
frame of the Request-to-Speak Console Signal Block Definition window. These
options add functionality to the seats’ request buttons. (Return to step 6.)

Crestron e-control Vote SW-VOTE
7•• Quick Start Guide 2: Voting (demo2) Installation & Reference Guide — DOC. 5822
Quick Start Guide 2: Voting (demo2)
1Install this package on your PC
Presumably, since you are reading this PDF file, you have already done this.
2Connect a CNMSX-PRO (with touchpanel)
Connect a programming cable (CNSP or equivalent) from any COM port on your
PC to the COMPUTER port on the front or back of the CNMSX-PRO control
system. Connect a touchpanel to the control system set up for CRESNET ID 03.
3Upload all control system software
The demo files can be found in the
demos folder (also accessible
through the Start Menu shortcut
e-control Vote Demos)
Open the Crestron Viewport and establish communications with your control system.
If you have not already done so, use the FileTransfer | Send Touchpanel…
command to upload demovote.hex to the touchpanel at ID 03. Use the
FileTransfer | Send Program… command to upload the compiled SIMPL windows
file demo2COM.bin to the CNMSX-PRO. You may now close the Viewport.
4Connect the null modem cable
Make sure pins 4, 5, and 6
are not connected. Connect a CNSP-532 null-modem cable from COM1 on the PC to COM A on the
CNMSX-PRO. (The programming cable may now be removed.)
5Run the “server” application
The installer sets the server to
use config file
demovote.ini.
Select shortcut e-control Vote Server from the Crestron folder in the Windows Start
Menu. If the title bar of the window does not read “e-control Vote (SW-VOTE)
Demos,” use the File | Configuration file… command to navigate to the demos
folder and select the file demovote.ini.
6Start the “server protocol”
Give the command Server | Start Server w/Signal Analyzer. (The Signal Analyzer
is good for demos because it shows you the various signals going back and forth.)
7Start the demo
Do one of the following to enable the the Voting Console:
(1) From the touchpanel, touch the Start Demo button. You will see a PLEASE
WAIT screen until the signal block becomes fully enabled.
(2) From the Voting Computer, open the Vote Proctor window by selecting the
Voting | Start Voting command from the main window.
8Set Agenda
Select an item to vote on by touching Set Agenda on touchpanel, or by selecting an
item from the combo-box in the Vote Proctor window.
9Take a vote!
Select*Start Vote. Go to the Simulated Voting Stations Page and enter a few votes.
10 Close the floor; make a change; display results
Select End Vote. Select seat icons to adjust their votes. Select Display Results. Etc.
*Touch button on touchpanel or click button in Vote Proctor window.

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8•• Introduction Installation & Reference Guide — DOC. 5822
Introduction
Below, you will find introductory material on several aspects of the Crestron
e-control Software Server product family, including the following specific sub-
sections:
Sub-section Description Page
What is Crestron e-
control™ Vote?
An abstract describing the Crestron e-control Vote
component of the Crestron Software Server,
including a table of practical limitations.
follows
directly
Leading
Specifications A table summarizing Crestron products required to
build an application using e-control Vote.page 9
Requirements A section detailing minimum system requirements. page 9
What is the Crestron
Software Server? Another abstract, describing the Crestron Software
Server itself. page 10
System Terminology
and Topology This illustrated section includes system block
diagrams.
page Error!
Bookmark
not defined.
Feature Summary An in-depth summary of all features of the e-control
Vote server component. page 13
Installation Brief instructions on installing the package. page 17
Licensing An explanation of the licensing requirements and
interface. page 17
What is Crestron e-control™ Vote?
Crestron e-control Vote (SW-VOTE) uses a Crestron control system and a PC to
perform both voting and request-to-speak functions. It is licensable software which
runs on the PC and communicates with Crestron control system(s) to serve the voting
and request-to-speak needs of a legislative body.
NOTE:In the following table, the term “unlimited” should be read as “practically unlimited”
meaning “limited only by system resources,” such as number of available control system signals,
number of available indirect text fields, etc.
Table of practical limitations
Specification Range
Window sizes (pixels) Vote Proctor window: 1024x768, 1152x870, or 1280x1024
Vote Results window: 1024x768 (only)
Voting Consoles One (1). The present release requires the use of the Voting
Computer interface for voting, which limits operations to a
single room.
Request-to-Speak
Consoles Unlimited; however in the present release, all utilize the same list of seat names, again limiting operations to a single room.
Seats Unlimited; however the Vote Results window will only display
the first 80 names.
Attendance* Seat signals: PRESENT, ABSENT
Clerk control: PRESENT, ABSENT
Votes Seat signals: YES, NO, ABSTAIN*, EXCUSE*(conflict-of-
interest)
Clerk control: YES, NO, ABSTAIN*, EXCUSE*, nullify a vote
Agenda item list* size Unlimited number of items
Request-to-speak queues Unlimited number of queues; note however that there is only

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9•• Introduction Installation & Reference Guide — DOC. 5822
Specification Range
room for five (5) columns (queues) across a regular 8.5”-wide
paper printout.
Order in which names are
recognized from queues No particular order enforced.
Times a seat can request
to speak on an item Seats may be recognized to speak on an item up to ten (10) times before the queue(s) are cleared; may be set to once (1).
Varies as per configuration. Make estimates using the
formulae in the following table:
Item Digital Analog Serial
Typical Request-to-
Speak Console with
qqueues, ffiles, and
sseats
10 + q+
2qs + 2f21 + f+ q
Voting console with
sseats each having
bvote buttons
21 + s+
bs 6 + s2 + s
Standard Scroller
(one per queue or
agenda list) 15 1 17
Control system signals
Items in the table above that are marked with an asterisk (*) are configuration
options which may be excluded from the finished application. (Exception: The
agenda item list is optional on a touchpanel interface but not an option on the Voting
Computer interface.)
Leading Specifications
The following table lists the Crestron products required to build an application using
e-control Vote.
Specifications Details Version
SWSERVER.EXE
(included with this
package)
Required. Contains all the latest components
although only those actually licensed will be available
for use. (All components available during 15-day free
trial period.)
1.5
CNMS/RACK
Operating System Required for older generation racks. 3.18.12
CNMSX/RACKX
Operating System,
Monitor, and
Stack
Required. The version number at right refers to the
UPZ packages which contain all three components.
Use the 51011x.upz package for CNMSX-PRO or
-AV; and 51011z.upz for CNRACKX.
5.10.11
CNX Gateway Required for TCP/IP server-control system connec-
tions only; not required when all connections are
serial. 2.08.04
SIMPL™ Windows®Required for programming control systems. 1.4
VisionTools™ Pro-e Required only when designing touchpanels (if any), 2.1
Microsoft®Access Required only when implementing more than sixteen
(16) active request-to-speak queues (among all RTS
Consoles). Access 97
Requirements
The server should meet these minimum system requirements.
Windows 95/98/NT Operating System hardware requirements
32 MB RAM

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10 •• Introduction Installation & Reference Guide — DOC. 5822
100 MB hard drive space
133 MHz or faster Pentium processor
A faster processor is recommended for serving multiple connections
simultaneously
COM ports
Required to make serial (RS-232) connections to control systems (one
port per control system). (See Cable requirements below.)
Network Interface Card
Required to make TCP/IP connections to control systems.
TCP/IP sockets
(These are software constructs provided by your operating system. The
maximum number of sockets is operating system dependent.)
Server requires one socket per server–control system connection
Required for EtherNet control system connections only. The maximum
number of sockets is operating system dependent.
CNX Gateway (see below) requires one socket + one additional socket per
server–control system connection
Cables
Precise CNSP-532 specs are
available in the Crestron Cable
Database.
Null modem cable, Crestron model CNSP-532 or equivalent
Required for serial control system connections only.
Warning: Do not use a generic null modem cable.
Auxiliary software
CNX Gateway
Required for TCP/IP (EtherNet) connections between the server and
the control systems. Not required for serial connections.
What is the Crestron Software Server?
The term “server” should not be
taken to imply a need for special-
ized hardware. Any PC meeting
the minimum requirements (page
9) will suffice to run the server
application.
The actual logic involved in the functions described in the previous section is not
carried out by the control systems themselves, but by the freely distributed Crestron
e-control Software Server. This “server” is a software-only product which is hosted
on a standard PC running Windows®95/98 or Windows NT®. The server performs
various tasks which are beyond the scope of a control system. These tasks usually
involve access to and processing of large amounts of data (“large” relative to what a
control system is capable of dealing with), such as:
•Exchanging data with large databases (which may be local to the server’s PC or remotely
accessed across a LAN).
•Exchanging data with other computers via the Internet (such as e-mail; and mining data
off of World Wide Web pages; etc.).
•Performing translation and report functions — and other complex logical functions — on
such data in support of specific application requirements.
The server consists of several licensable components which translate data in
application-specific ways and funnel the data to and from the connected control
systems. The bulk of this manual covers the specific functions provided by the SW-
VOTE component.
The data from the server appears to the connected control systems as “blocks” of
digital, analog, and serial signals. Separate “signal blocks” are defined in the server
for each function, each of which is reflected in a control system using Intersystem
Communications symbols. There are several standard types of signal blocks, all

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11 •• Introduction Installation & Reference Guide — DOC. 5822
customizable to some extent. See “Signal Block Configuration and Definition,” page
30, for specifics.
The server is connected to each control system via either a serial cable through an
RS-232 port or an Ethernet network through a LAN port. To effect the latter type of
connection, the control system relies on an intermediary, the Crestron CNX Gateway,
to translate communications protocols. To aid in making this clear, the following
illustrated discussion of system terminology and topology should prove useful at this
point.
System Terminology and Topology
The server is connected to the control system via either a serial cable through an
RS-232 port or an Ethernet network through a LAN port. To effect the latter type of
connection, the control system relies on an intermediary, the Crestron CNX Gateway,
to translate communications protocols.
This manual simultaneously discusses several different inter-connected computer
systems. To reduce confusion, throughout the manual, these systems are referred to
using the terms in the following table. (Also refer to the diagrams on the next page.)
Term Explanation
The system
or the control system
One of a number of Crestron control system(s), which may
include any combination of the following models: CNMS,
CNRACK, CNMSX-PRO, CNMSX-AV, and CNRACKX.
The server
or the software server
or the Voting Computer
The Crestron Software Server, swserver.exe,which runs
on a PC under Microsoft®Windows®95 or Windows NT®.
The gateway
or the CNX Gateway A communications conduit that sits between the server and the control system(s).
The control system(s) are connected to the server via direct RS-232 serial connection
or via TCP/IP to the gateway and thence via TCP/IP to the server.
NOTE: “Connected via TCP/IP” means any node (computer) visible on the Local Area Network
(LAN). If the LAN is connected to the Internet, this could include any node visible anywhere on the
Internet. Since a node can also see itself, this implies that multiple services can run on the same
machine. For example, the gateway and the server can be “self-hosted” in this way.
In the illustration that follows, the communication pathways are represented by the
arrows. The physical network is not represented, however.

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12 •• Introduction Installation & Reference Guide — DOC. 5822
System block diagram, showing communication pathways (all connections using TCP/IP):
Database
VT-3500 VT-3500 VT-3500
Crestron
Software
Server
Crestron
CNX
Gateway
Crestron
control
system
Crestron
control
system
VT-3500 VT-3500 VT-3500
System block diagram, showing communication pathways
(curved arrows are RS-232 serial connections; straight arrows are TCP/IP):
VT-3500 VT-3500 VT-3500
Crestron
Software
Server
Crestron
control
system
Crestron
control
system
VT-3500 VT-3500 VT-3500
Database
NOTE: The CNX Gateway is not necessary when using RS-232 serial communications.
TCP/IP connections between the server and the control systems require that each
side of the connection be provided with the IP address of the other. This kind of
connection also requires the use of the CNX Gateway which is separately licensed
software that facilitates communication between the server and the control system.
The CNX Gateway is typically installed on the server (when sufficient TCP/IP
sockets are available) or it can be installed on any computer visible (i.e., pingable) on
the TCP/IP network. There only needs to be one Gateway running on one computer
to service the needs of all the computers and CNX control systems on the network.
However, multiple Gateways are perfectly permissible as long as they are run on
different computers.

Crestron e-control Vote SW-VOTE
13 •• Introduction Installation & Reference Guide — DOC. 5822
Feature Summary
Licensing the SW-VOTE component permits the creation and activation of the
following types of signal blocks (see “Signal Block Configuration and Definition,”
page 30, for more information on signal blocks):
•Voting Console signal blocks provide Operators with the ability to control, monitor,
adjust, display, and record votes.
•Request-to-Speak (RTS) Console signal blocks provide Operators with the ability to view
request-to-speak queue sets and recognize speakers.
Although the Voting Computer can simultaneously support multiple active Request-
to-speak Consoles signal blocks, the present release only supports a single active
Voting Console signal block. Furthermore, inasmuch as all these signal blocks use
the same database table for seat names (the Members table), they are only useful
when serving the needs of a single body (i.e., within a single room).
To serve the needs of multiple bodies meeting at different times, prepare alternate
server configurations (each with its own database file) and switch configurations
before each meeting. Switching configurations is simple, consisting of pointing to a
new file with a standard file “Browse” window. You can name these files after the
bodies they represent. However, it should be noted that the present release only
supports switching configurations when the server is halted; and this operation must
be carried out from the Voting Computer interface and is not available from a
touchpanel.
In addition to — or as an alternative to — a voting console (human interface) on the
control system (button panel and/or touchscreen), a full interface is also supported on
the Voting Computer. Note however that this is not the case for Request-to-Speak
consoles.
Voting Console signal blocks
Voting Console signal blocks accept and respond to signals from both the Operator
and the individual seats in the voting chamber.
Summary of Operator functions
A Operator controls a vote from one or more of the following user interfaces, all of
which may be active simultaneously:
•the PC screen using a mouse, and/or
•a Crestron touchpanel, and/or
•a hardwired control panel of buttons and tally lights (i.e., simple digital i/o)
All above user interfaces provide the following functions:
General:
•Send names
Sends the name of each seat from the Members database table
Before floor is “opened” (for a vote):
•Take attendance (all seats are assumed to be present if this step is omitted)
•Open floor to a vote (activate seats’ voting buttons)
While floor is opened:
•Close floor to further voting (deactivate voting buttons)
After floor is closed:
•Display (or redisplay) results of vote to assembly
•Abort vote before it is recorded
•Report results

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14 •• Introduction Installation & Reference Guide — DOC. 5822
The following additional functions are only available to the PC screen or Crestron
touchpanel interfaces (not available through a control panel-only interface):
Before floor is opened:
•Operator selection of a chairperson from among assembled membership (there is a
default if this step is omitted)
•Operator selection of an agenda item from a database table, or, in the case of an
impromptu vote, entered directly from the PC’s keyboard or the touchpanel’s simulated
“keyboard.”
While floor is opened:
•Visual feedback of vote progress (which seats have voted, as opposed to which have not
yet voted, optionally showing how each vote has been cast)
•Provide a live tally of vote results (Yeses, Nos, Abstentions, Total votes cast, plus
number of Absentees, and number of seats excused from the present vote)
After floor is closed:
•Adjust votes (which at this point are displayed to Operator as they were actually cast),
and redisplay the results; this operation may be repeated indefinitely
Vote reporting modalities include:
•as a record added to a database table
•in a textfile
•as a print-out (optional)
•via high-resolution video display.
Summary of Seat functions
Each member’s seat has buttons for each kind of ballot they can cast, which normally
would include at least
•Yes (also doubles for “present” during taking of attendance)
•No
Seats might also have the following additional buttons:
•Abstain
•Conflict (actually a Request-to-Speak button; see next section)
All vote buttons (Yes, No, and Abstain) are momentary contacts which transmit a
pulse to the server. It is not necessary to worry about de-bouncing these buttons;
additional pulses are ignored. Nevertheless, buttons typically display feedback to
allay user anxiety about whether the system has “heard” their button press.
Feedback is not however controlled by the Voting Computer, but rather locally (by
the control system). Depending on the rules of the voting body, your control system
program should provide feedback to either the last vote button pressed, or to all vote
buttons whenever one is pressed. In the latter case, a single Vote has been cast
feedback might suffice (rather than lighting up all buttons), although after the floor
has been closed, it may be desirable to go ahead and display each seat’s actual vote
using the individual button feedbacks. (See the Statusssignals in the Signal
Reference.)
Request-to-Speak Console signal blocks
Like the Voting Console signal block, Request-to-Speak Console signal blocks also
accept and respond to signals from both the Operator and the individual seats in the
voting chamber. The Request-to-Speak Console signal block automatically maintains
a number of request-to-speak queues, each of which displays the order in which
members have pressed their various RTS buttons to enter the queue.

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15 •• Introduction Installation & Reference Guide — DOC. 5822
Queue sets
Each RTS signal block can support an arbitrary number of queues (called a queue
set), all of which can be active simultaneously. Typically a queue set will contain at
least one queue for members to use to request time to speak on an item.
Additional queues might be set up to question the speaker, to question counsel, to
raise points of order, etc. Any or all of these additional queues may be set up as
dependent queues. Dependent queues are automatically cleared whenever a seat is
recognized from the first queue. This feature would typically be used for a “request
to question speaker” queue.
The precise state of the currently displayed queue set is implicitly saved to the
database whenever a change is effected — whether by action of the Operator or any
individual seat. This information, the last known state of the queue set, is
automatically redisplayed upon re-enabling the signal block.
In addition, the current state of the queue set may be frozen (“put on hold”) by
saving it to any of nine save files. The display might then be cleared (i.e, to open
debate on a new item); or any of the save files might then be reloaded into the
display (overwriting the current state — which presumably is no longer of interest or
has been saved).
The information that is saved in the database includes the names in each queue in the
order in which they were added to the queue and the specific states of each name.
Whenever a queue set is reloaded, individual seat button feedbacks are inferred from
this information and tallied back to the seats.
Note that all the queues in a queue set are saved and reloaded together. If you need to
save queues separately, define separate Request-to-Speak Console signal blocks for
each such queue (or sub-set of queues).
Seat marks
Before discussing specific operator and seat functions, familiarize yourself with the
various possible “marks” (states) each seat can take on with regard to the Request-to-
Speak functions:
Mark (state) Definition
(not in queue) Seat not in queue (button feedback dark)
WAITING
(see note) Seat has requested to speak; but does not yet have the floor
WAITING-n
(see note)
Seat has already spoken n – 1 times;
has requested to speak for the nth time;
does not yet have the floor
RECOGNIZED Seat has the floor
DONE
(see note)
Seat remains in queue after speaking
(either seat yielded his time voluntarily; or was forced to yield
either by Operator or by running out of time)
DONE-n
(see note) Seat remains in queue after speaking for the nth time
HOLD Seat had the floor but has temporarily yielded it
EXHAUSTED Seat has requested to speak for the nth time where n = one
more than the maximum times permitted by the configuration
(cannot be recognized again)
INSISTENT Seat has requested to speak for the nth time where n > one
more than the maximum times permitted by the configuration
(cannot be recognized again)

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16 •• Introduction Installation & Reference Guide — DOC. 5822
NOTE: WAITING and DONE appear only on consoles configured for single use queues; WAITING-nand
DONE-nappear on consoles configured for re-entrant queues.
Summary of Operator functions
Through a touchpanel interface, working through the control system, the Operator
has complete flexibility in recognizing seats in queues. Operator functions include:
•Send names
Sends the name of each seat from the Members database table.
•Load queue set
Reloads all queues from a previously saved file;
sets feedback states of all seats’ RTS buttons.
•Recognize (a seat from a queue)
Forces previously recognized seat, if any, to yield its remaining time, if any, and killing
its mic;
marks selected seat as recognized; asserts its mic.
•Put a seat “on hold”
Places recognized seat “on hold”;
kills its mic.
•Take a seat “off hold”
Forces recognized seat, if any, to yield its remaining time, killing its mic;
asserts mic for newly recognized seat.
•Yield
Forces recognized seat to yield its remaining time;
kills its mic.
•Print
Prints current state of all queues.
•Clear a queue
If queue contained recognized speaker, kills his mic;
automatically clears any dependent queues as well.
•Clear all queues
Kills mic (if any active)
automatically clears any dependent queues as well.
•Save queue set
Saves current state of all queues for reloading at some future date.
Speaker timer functions are not implemented in the server but are left to the control
system. (See the Yield signal in the Signal Reference.)
Another popular function, printing queues whenever a queue is saved, or whenever
the touchpanel leaves the RTS Console page, is also left to the control system. (See
the PrintReport signal in the Signal Reference.)
Summary of Seat functions
Members have a single button for each queue. Each such button has feedback
indicating the seat’s presence in the queue. Unlike the seat’s voting buttons, all
request-to-speak buttons’ feedback are controlled automatically by the Voting
Computer through the Request-to-Speak Console signal block.
For each queue, the functions described below are all available to each seat by
momentary contact of that seat’s Request-to-Speak (RTS) button (there being one
such button per queue, per seat). Functions included:
Before entering queue (button feedback is dark; mic is dead):
•Request to speak
feedback asserted; seat added to bottom of queue, marked as WAITING
In queue but not yet recognized (button feedback is hot; mic is dead):
•Cancel request to speak
seat removed from queue (loses place in queue)

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17 •• Introduction Installation & Reference Guide — DOC. 5822
In queue and recognized (button feedback is hot; mic is hot):
•Yield remaining time
feedback goes dark; mic goes dead; seat remains in queue, marked as DONE
If the signal block is configured to allow seats to speak more than once, the
following functions are also available to each seat. (In this case, the queue status
symbols shown above, WAITING and DONE, would instead appear as WAITING-1 and
DONE-1.)
Done speaking (button feedback is dark; mic is dead; still in queue, marked as FINSIHED-1):
•Request to speak again
Feedback re-asserted;
seat remains in queue, now marked as WAITING –2.
In queue but not yet recognized (button feedback is hot; mic is dead):
•Cancel request to speak again
Seat remains in queue, marked again as FINSIHED-1.
In queue and recognized again (button feedback is hot; mic is hot):
•Yield remaining time
Feedback goes dark;
mic goes dead;
seat remains in queue, now marked as DONE-2.
The specific function implied by a particular button press depends on the state of the
seat vis-à-vis the queue. This state can be inferred from the following two pieces of
information:
•Button feedback
Button feedbacks come from the Voting Computer;
Feedbacks indicate whether or not a seat is currently in the queue.
•Has the floor (is recognized to speak)
Reflected in mic status.
Therefore, either the mic status should have a tally light of its own (at each seat), or
some other display plainly visible to all seats can be used to indicate who has the
floor. (Such as a large seat number display, or a public video display of the
Operator’s Request-to-Speak Console screen.)
Installation
As of this writing, the Crestron
Downloads page can be found at:
http://ftp.crestron.com/library/
To install the Software Server, first download the installer package from the
Crestron FTP site. To do this, first go to the Crestron website and select the
Downloads page. New users must register. Proceed to the ECONTROL Library.
Simply click on SW-VOTE.EXE to start the download.
Once the install package arrives on your PC, double-click the icon to initiate the
install. Directions for the install are provided. The package is typically installed in
C:\Crestron\econtrol. During the install, the package reminds the user that a CNX
Gateway is required. (This is actually only true for TCP/IP connections. Direct
RS-232 connections do not require the CNX Gateway.)
Licensing
A 15-day free trial follows initial
installation. If you are still within
the 15-day period, you have the
option to postpone licensing and
skip to the next section.
Both the Software Server and the CNX Gateway are a licensed products, which
means that although both software packages may be freely downloaded from the
Crestron FTP site, use of the software requires purchase of licenses from Crestron.
Each server running the Software Server must be individually licensed. In addition,
to use Ethernet, you must acquire a CNX Gateway license with sufficient
connections to accommodate all servers and control systems on your network.

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18 •• Introduction Installation & Reference Guide — DOC. 5822
Server components are separately
licensed. An SW-VOTE license
must be obtained from Crestron
even if other components are
already in use.
Each package, once installed, generates a “Site Code” specific to the server on which
it is running. Upon being provided with these Site Codes, Crestron can issue the
appropriate “Site Keys,” which, once entered into each package’s licensing window,
enables the full functionality of the software.
Obtaining a License
e-control Software Server – Upgrade/Transfer License window
showing “unlimited” database license — shown activated (checked)
You must use the Copy button to
copy the SITE CODE to the
clipboard. (Copying with Ctrl+C
does not work from this field.)
Open the server application. Select Server | License to open the e-control Software
Server – Upgrade/Transfer License window, shown above. The license can be
obtained over the phone or via e-mail. Call Crestron Customer Support with the
“Site Code” shown in the Site Code field. However, it is easier and far more reliable
to copy the “Site Code” into an e-mail message addressed to [email protected].
Once received, Crestron Customer Support issues a “Site Key” which must either by
typed or pasted into the Site Key field of the window. Once entered, click on the
Update License button. If the key is valid, the licensed components appear in the list
above. Before closing the License Window, be sure to activate the components you
plan to use. In the above example, the user has checked the box next to SW-VOTE.
It is permissible to exit the program while waiting for a “Site Key” to be issued. The
application can be restarted and the “Site Key” entered at a later time. The “Site
Key” issued is only valid on the same computer. It does not work on a different
computer.
The License Window of the CNX Gateway is almost identical to the above. See the
documentation that comes with the Gateway package for specific instructions.
Transferring an Existing License to Another Computer
As mentioned, a license is only valid on the computer for which it was obtained.
However, a license can be transferred from one computer to another without the need
to contact Crestron first. There are several reasons to transfer a license. The
application developer may set up the system off-site, then transfer the license to the
actual computer on-site when ready. Alternatively, if the hardware or operating
system on the computer where the server is licensed is upgraded, the license may

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19 •• Introduction Installation & Reference Guide — DOC. 5822
cease to be valid, but could be transferred to another computer before the upgrade
and then back to the original machine after the upgrade.
On both the source computer (where the license is currently valid) and the
destination computer (where the license is to be transferred), open the server
application. Select Server | License to open the e-control Software Server –
Upgrade/Transfer License window (shown above). Make sure this window is active
on both computers.
Step 1. On the destination computer, create a preparation file on a diskette in the A:
drive by inserting a blank, formatted diskette and selecting Prepare Diskette. This
creates a file on the diskette which indicates who is receiving the license. A second,
backup copy of the file is also created. Alternatively, these files can be created on
another portable media (e.g. Zip disc) or a network drive by simply browsing for a
new file location in the save file window. If you plan to transfer via a network drive,
first make sure that both computers have the appropriate read/write access to the
drive and folder being used.
Step 2. After the above step has completed, remove the diskette from the drive and
insert it into the source computer’s floppy drive. Do not flip the write-protect tab; the
diskette must remain write-enabled. Click on the Transfer License button. The
source computer reads the preparation file to see which computer wants the license.
It encodes the license for the destination and writes it back to the same file on the
floppy diskette (or network drive). The source computer has now passed the license
to the file. Only the designated computer can use the license, so the server is no
longer licensed on the source computer.
NOTE: At this point in the transfer procedure the server license resides on a file on the diskette or
network drive, and not on the computer. If this file should become lost or damaged, the license is
lost as well. Because of this, please use the utmost care while performing this transfer.
Step 3. Bring the diskette back to the destination computer. Click on the Transfer
License button. The computer reads the license information off the diskette and
transfers the license to itself. The server is now licensed on this machine.

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20 •• Basic Server Setup Installation & Reference Guide — DOC. 5822
Basic Server Setup
This product requires a proper physical connection between both “sides” of the
system — the server and the control system. Furthermore, the software on both sides
must be properly configured. As previously discussed, the connection can be either
serial via RS-232 cable or Ethernet via Local Area Network (LAN). Choose your
mode of communication and refer to the following sections to make the proper
physical connections and to configure the software.
The following sections include specific notes in italics for setting up the server and
the control system to run the two included demo programs. Although the focus is
therefore on the demos, the same basic procedures would be followed to ready the
system for any other programming as well.
The files for both demos are in a folder called demos which can be located
through the following Start Menu shortcut:
Start Menu
| Programs
| Crestron
| e-control Vote
| e-control Vote Demos
Inside this folder there are two individual demo folders and support files:
demo1 Request-to-Speak demo
demo2 Voting demo
demovote.vtp VisionTools touchpanel project file
demovote.hex compiled VisionTools file
demovote.ini Server’s Configuration Settings file which accommodates both demos
demovote.mdb Sample database file for use with all three demos
The installer registers demovote.ini as the currently selected Configuration
Settings file. (If the server’s title bar does not read “e-control Vote (SW-VOTE)
Demos,” use the File | Configuration file… command to reset it.) This file
configures the server for both demos.
Each demo folder contains the following files:
Demo?COM.smw SIMPL Windows project file (RS-232 version)
Demo?TCP.smw SIMPL Windows project file (TCP/IP version)
demo?COM.bin compiled SIMPL program code (RS-232 version)
demo?TCP.bin compiled SIMPL program code (TCP/IP version)
RS-232 is featured in the Quick
Setup Guide because it is easy to
set up. Because we anticipate
strong interest in TCP/IP, we have
pre-built both versions for your
convenience.
In the above, ?stands for the demo number. The two versions of the SIMPL
program for each demo, (COM and TCP) are almost identical, both being
configured for a CNMSX-PRO, using the front panel device and a touchpanel with
CRESNET ID = 03. Both versions have ports defined for both serial (RS-232)
communications via the CNMSX-PRO’s built-in COM A port (slot 4, port A), and
EtherNet (TCP/IP) communications via the LAN port on a CNXENET card installed
in the CNMSX-PRO’s DPA slot. In the COM versions, the TCP/IP port is
commented off while in the TCP versions, the RS-232 port is commented off. This
is the only difference between the two versions.
The following sections separately describe the setup procedures for connecting
multiple control systems via either RS-232 or TCP/IP connections. Actually, a
mixture of connections is permitted. For example, two control system might be
connected via RS-232 (using the COM1 and COM2 ports) while two more might be
simultaneously connected via the TCP/IP network connection.