Rockwell Automation Allen-Bradley 1734-232ASC User manual

POINT I/O ASCII Modules
Catalog Numbers 1734-232ASC, 1734-485ASC, 1734-485ASCK
User Manual Original Instructions

2Rockwell Automation Publication 1734-UM009C-EN-P - August 2022
POINT I/O ASCII Modules User Manual
Important User Information
Read this document and the documents listed in the additional resources section about installation, configuration, and
operation of this equipment before you install, configure, operate, or maintain this product. Users are required to familiarize
themselves with installation and wiring instructions in addition to requirements of all applicable codes, laws, and standards.
Activities including installation, adjustments, putting into service, use, assembly, disassembly, and maintenance are required to
be carried out by suitably trained personnel in accordance with applicable code of practice.
If this equipment is used in a manner not specified by the manufacturer, the protection provided by the equipment may be
impaired.
In no event will Rockwell Automation, Inc. be responsible or liable for indirect or consequential damages resulting from the use
or application of this equipment.
The examples and diagrams in this manual are included solely for illustrative purposes. Because of the many variables and
requirements associated with any particular installation, Rockwell Automation, Inc. cannot assume responsibility or liability for
actual use based on the examples and diagrams.
No patent liability is assumed by Rockwell Automation, Inc. with respect to use of information, circuits, equipment, or software
described in this manual.
Reproduction of the contents of this manual, in whole or in part, without written permission of Rockwell Automation, Inc., is
prohibited.
Throughout this manual, when necessary, we use notes to make you aware of safety considerations.
Labels may also be on or inside the equipment to provide specific precautions.
WARNING: Identifies information about practices or circumstances that can cause an explosion in a hazardous environment, which
may lead to personal injury or death, property damage, or economic loss.
ATTENTION: Identifies information about practices or circumstances that can lead to personal injury or death, property
damage, or economic loss. Attentions help you identify a hazard, avoid a hazard, and recognize the consequence.
IMPORTANT Identifies information that is critical for successful application and understanding of the product.
SHOCK HAZARD: Labels may be on or inside the equipment, for example, a drive or motor, to alert people that dangerous
voltage may be present.
BURN HAZARD: Labels may be on or inside the equipment, for example, a drive or motor, to alert people that surfaces may
reach dangerous temperatures.
ARC FLASH HAZARD: Labels may be on or inside the equipment, for example, a motor control center, to alert people to potential
Arc Flash. Arc Flash will cause severe injury or death. Wear proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Follow ALL Regulatory
requirements for safe work practices and for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Rockwell Automation Publication 1734-UM009C-EN-P - August 2022 3
Table of Contents
Preface
About This Publication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Purpose of this Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Download Firmware, Add-on Profile, EDS, and Other Files. . . . . . . . . . . 5
Summary of Changes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Additional Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Chapter 1
Overview of the POINT I/O
ASCII Modules
General Information on the ASCII Modules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Cable Pinouts for Standard DB Connectors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Install a Serial Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Read Serial Device Input Data from the ASCII Module. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Write Serial Output Data to the ASCII Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Configure ASCII Modules. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Requested Packet Interval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Listen Only Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Operating Mode Selections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Transmit Handshake and Transmit Immediate Option. . . . . . . . . . 11
Produce Immediate and Master/Slave Handshake Option . . . . . . . 12
Pad and No Pad Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Module Inhibiting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Electronic Keying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Chapter 2
Configure the ASCII Module Before You Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Create a New Module. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Edit the Module Configuration Categories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
General Category . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Connection Category . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Module Info Category. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Configuration Category . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Advance Format Configuration Category . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
View the Module Tags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Chapter 3
Module Tag Definitions Tag Name Conventions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Access the Tags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Configuration Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
POINT I/O Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Receive Serial Data from the ASCII Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Set Up the Receive Character Buffer Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Set Up and Use Pad Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Set Up and Use the Swap Bytes Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Set Up and Use Delimiter Operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

4Rockwell Automation Publication 1734-UM009C-EN-P - August 2022
Table of Contents
Receive String Data Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Status Byte Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Transmit Serial Data to the ASCII Device. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Set Up the Transmit Character Buffer Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Set Up and Use the Transmit Delimiter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Transmit String Data Assemblies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Transmit Handshake or Transmit Immediate Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Transmit Serial Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Produce Immediate or Master/Slave Handshake Mode . . . . . . . . . . 33
Chapter 4
Diagnostics Interpret Status Indicators. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Appendix A
ASCII Module with ControlLogix
System Application Examples
About These Examples. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Serial Port Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Send Data Through the ASCII Modules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Receive Data From the ASCII Modules. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Read Data from the ASCII Modules into ControlLogix . . . . . . . . . . 38
Transmit Data from ControlLogix Through the ASCII Modules . . 39
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

Rockwell Automation Publication 1734-UM009C-EN-P - August 2022 5
Preface
About This Publication Read this preface to familiarize yourself with the rest of the manual. It
provides information concerning:
• Who should use this manual
• The purpose of this manual
• Related documentation
Rockwell Automation recognizes that some of the terms that are currently
used in our industry and in this publication are not in alignment with the
movement toward inclusive language in technology. We are proactively
collaborating with industry peers to find alternatives to such terms and
making changes to our products and content. Please excuse the use of such
terms in our content while we implement these changes.
Purpose of this Manual This manual describes how to use your POINT I/O™ 1734-232ASC serial
interface module (for the RS-232 network) or 1734-485ASC and 1734-485ASCK
modules (for the RS-485 or RS-422 network) in Logix 5000® control systems.
Make sure that you are familiar with the following:
• Use of a controller in a Logix 5000 control system
• Use of an EtherNet/IP™ network, if the POINT I/O modules are
installed in a remote location from the controller that is accessible via
the EtherNet/IP network
• Studio 5000 Logix Designer® application environment
Download Firmware, Add-on
Profile, EDS, and Other Files
Download firmware, associated files (such as Add-on Profile, EDS, and DTM),
and access product release notes from the Product Compatibility and
Download Center at rok.auto/pcdc.
Summary of Changes This publication contains the following new or updated information. This list
includes substantive updates only and is not intended to reflect all changes.
IMPORTANT Remember the following when you use POINT I/O module:
• You can use POINT I/O modules directly with CompactLogix™ 5370
controllers. However, for all other CompactLogix and ControlLogix®
controllers you need to use a POINT I/O adapter.
• You must use the Studio 5000 Logix Designer application, version 17 or
later, to configure POINT I/O modules.
Topic Page
Updated template throughout
Changed from DeviceNet® to EtherNet/IP throughout
Added inclusive language acknowledgment 5
Removed the installation section 8
Updated configuration chapter with EtherNet/IP network and Studio 5000 Logix Designer 15
Added a module tag definition chapter 23
Removed the specifications appendix 37

6Rockwell Automation Publication 1734-UM009C-EN-P - August 2022
Preface
Additional Resources These documents contain additional information concerning related products
from Rockwell Automation.
You can view or download publications at rok.auto/literature.
Resource Description
POINT I/O RS-232 and RS-485 ASCII Modules Installation Instructions,
publication 1734-IN588 Describes how to install and wire the POINT I/O ASCII modules.
POINT I/O Selection Guide, publication 1734-SG001 Provides specifications for the entire POINT I/O family of products.
System Security Design Guidelines Reference Manual, publication SECURE-RM001 Provides guidance on how to conduct security assessments, implement Rockwell Automation products in a secure system, harden the control system, manage user access, and dispose of
equipment.
EtherNet/IP Network Configuration User Manual, publication ENET-UM006 Describes how to configure and use EtherNet/IP devices to communicate on the EtherNet/IP
network.
Ethernet Reference Manual, publication ENET-RM002 Describes basic Ethernet concepts, infrastructure components, and infrastructure features.
Industrial Components Preventive Maintenance, Enclosures, and Contact Ratings
Specifications, publication IC-TD002 Provides a quick reference tool for Allen-Bradley® industrial automation controls and
assemblies.
Safety Guidelines for the Application, Installation, and Maintenance of Solid-state
Control, publication SGI-1.1
Designed to harmonize with NEMA Standards Publication No. ICS 1.1-1987 and provides general
guidelines for the application, installation, and maintenance of solid-state control in the form of
individual devices or packaged assemblies incorporating solid-state components.
Industrial Automation Wiring and Grounding Guidelines, publication 1770-4.1 Provides general guidelines for installing a Rockwell Automation industrial system.
Product Certifications website, rok.auto/certifications Provides declarations of conformity, certificates, and other certification details.

Rockwell Automation Publication 1734-UM009C-EN-P - August 2022 7
Chapter 1
Overview of the POINT I/O ASCII Modules
General Information on
the ASCII Modules
The POINT I/O ASCII modules provide a flexible EtherNet/IP interface to a
wide variety of RS-232, RS-485, and RS-422 ASCII devices. The modules
provide the communication connections to the ASCII device.
The 1734-232ASC module connects to the RS-232 network while the
1734-485ASC module connects to the RS-485 or RS-422 network.
POINT I/O RS-232 and RS-485 ASCII Modules
Topic Page
General Information on the ASCII Modules 7
Cable Pinouts for Standard DB Connectors 8
Install a Serial Network 8
Read Serial Device Input Data from the ASCII Module 8
Write Serial Output Data to the ASCII Module 9
Configure ASCII Modules 9
Listen Only Mode 11
Operating Mode Selections 11
Module Inhibiting 12
Electronic Keying 13
Component Description
Description Description
1 Module locking mechanism 6 Interlocking side pieces
TX
RX
Module
Status
Network
Status
1734
232ASC
NODE:
5
8
9
1
10
3
4
7
2
6

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Chapter 1 Overview of the POINT I/O ASCII Modules
Cable Pinouts for
Standard DB Connectors
Table 1 shows how to connect cable pinouts for standard DB connectors.
Install a Serial Network The communication between your serial devices and the:
• 1734-232ASC is an RS-232 3-wire network.
• 1734-485ASC is an RS-485 2-wire network or RS-422 4-wire network.
1. Connect an appropriate cable to your device.
2. Connect the other end of the cable to the ASCII module using the
designated positions on the 1734-TB terminal block.
Notice the terminal markings on the ASCII module case.
3. Turn on power to the serial device and the ASCII module.
4. Configure the ASCII buffer sizes on the ASCII module.
The defaults are 20 and 20. If more than 20 bytes are required for the transmit
or receive buffers, set the appropriate parameters. See Read Data from the
ASCII Modules into ControlLogix on page 38 and Transmit Data from
ControlLogix Through the ASCII Modules on page 39.
Read Serial Device Input
Data from the ASCII Module
1. Add the ASCII module to a Studio 5000 Logix Designer application
project, see Create a New Module on page 15.
2. Connect the serial side of the ASCII module to your computer’s serial
port or another serial device.
3. From the Module Information dialog box, check the module information.
4. Make sure that the ASCII module is in the default factory configuration.
5. Set the communication rate and framing format of the serial port to the
communication rate and framing format of the serial device that you are
using.
6. Put the controller in Run mode.
7. Direct the device that you are communicating with to send data.
You can see the data sent from the device in the controller tag. See Read
Data from the ASCII Modules into ControlLogix on page 38.
The default assembly of the poll response message is shown in Table 2.
2 Slide-in writable Label 7 DIN rail locking screw (orange)
3 RTB removing handle 8 Mechanical keying (orange)
4 Removable Terminal Block (RTB) 9 Module wiring diagram
5 Mounting base 10 Insertable I/O module
Component Description (Continued)
Description Description
Table 1 - ASCII Functions
Pin Number
Function DB-25 DB-9
Transmit Data (TXD) 2 3
Receive Data (RXD) 3 2
Signal Ground (SG) 7 5

Rockwell Automation Publication 1734-UM009C-EN-P - August 2022 9
Chapter 1 Overview of the POINT I/O ASCII Modules
Write Serial Output Data to
the ASCII Module
1. Add the ASCII module to a Studio 5000 Logix Designer application
project, see Create a New Module on page 15.
2. Connect the serial side of the ASCII module to your computer’s serial
port or another serial device.
3. From the Module Information dialog box, check the module information.
4. Make sure that the ASCII module is in the default factory configuration.
5. Set the communication rate and framing format of the serial port to the
communication rate and framing format of the serial device that you are
using.
6. Enter the serial data that you wish to send in the transmit data controller
tag.
7. Enter the length of the data in the length byte to reflect the length you
wish to send and press Enter.
8. Set the transmit record number from the controller tag, and apply.
The ASCII module transmits the characters that you entered in the
controller tag to the connected serial device.
Configure ASCII Modules You must create a Studio 5000 Logix Designer application project for the
Logix 5000 controller that owns the ASCII module. The project includes
module configuration data for the ASCII module.
The Studio 5000 Logix Designer application transfers the project to the owner-
controller during the program download. Data is then transferred to the ASCII
module over the EtherNet/IP network.
ASCII modules can operate immediately after receiving the configuration data .
Connections
During module configuration, you must define the module. Among the
Module Definition parameters, you must choose a connection type for the
module. A connection is a real-time data transfer link between the owner-
controller and the module that occupies the slot that the configuration
references.
When you download module configuration to a controller, the controller
attempts to establish a connection to each module in the configuration.
Because part of module configuration includes a slot in the POINT I/O system,
the owner-controller checks for the presence of a module there. If a module is
Table 2 - Default Receive Data Assembly Format (Default Mode)
Byte 1 Byte 2 Byte 3 Byte 4 Byte 5…23 Byte 24
Receive Record Number Status Byte Reserved Length ASCII Data <CR> (Terminator)
Table 3 - Default Transmit Data Assembly Format (Default Mode)
Byte 1 Byte 2 Byte 3 Byte 4 Byte 5…23 Byte 24
Reserved Transmit Record Number Reserved Length ASCII Data <CR> (Terminator)

10 Rockwell Automation Publication 1734-UM009C-EN-P - August 2022
Chapter 1 Overview of the POINT I/O ASCII Modules
detected, the owner-controller sends the configuration. One of the following
occurs:
• If the configuration is appropriate to the module detected, a connection
is made and operation begins.
• If the configuration is not appropriate to the module detected, the data is
rejected and the Studio 5000 Logix Designer application indicates that
an error occurred.
The configuration can be inappropriate for many reasons. For example, a
mismatch in electronic keying that helps prevents normal operation.
The owner-controller monitors its connection with a module. Any break in the
connection, for example, the loss of power to the backplane, causes a fault. The
Studio 5000 Logix Designer application monitors the fault status tags to
indicate when a fault occurs on a module.
Connection Types Available with POINT I/O ASCII Modules
When configuring an ASCII module, you must define the module. Connection
is a required parameter in the Module Definition. The choice determines what
data is exchanged between the owner-controller and the module.
Table 4 describes the connection types that you can use with an ASCII module.
For more information on the connection choices available with ASCII module,
see the Studio 5000 Logix Designer application.
Requested Packet Interval
The Requested Packet Interval (RPI) is a configurable parameter that defines a
specific rate at which data is exchanged between the owner-controller and the
module.
You set the RPI value during initial module configuration and can adjust it as
necessary after module operation has begun. Valid RPI values are 2…750 ms.
Table 4 - Connections - POINT I/O ASCII Modules
Connection Type Description
Data The module returns the following to the owner-controller: • General fault data
• Input data
Listen Only When a Listen Only data connection is used, another controller owns the module. A controller that makes a Listen Only connection to the module does not write configuration
for the module. It merely listens to the data exchanged with the owner-controller.
IMPORTANT If you change the RPI while the project is online, the connection to the
module is closed and reopened in one of the following ways:
• You inhibit the connection to the module, change the RPI value, and uninhibit
the connection.
• You change the RPI value. In this case, the connection is closed and
reopened immediately after you apply the change to the module
configuration.

Rockwell Automation Publication 1734-UM009C-EN-P - August 2022 11
Chapter 1 Overview of the POINT I/O ASCII Modules
For more information on guidelines for specifying RPI rates, see the
Logix 5000 Controllers Design Considerations Reference Manual, publication
1756-RM094.
Listen Only Mode Any controller in the system can listen to the data from an ASCII module. An
owner-controller exchanges data with the ASCII module.
Other controllers can use a Listen Only connection with the module. In this
case, the ‘listening’ controller can only listen to input data or ‘echoed’ output
data. The listening controller does not own the module configuration or
exchange other data with the module.
During the I/O configuration process, you can specify a Listen Only
connection. For more information on Connection options, see Module
Definition on page 17.
Operating Mode Selections The ASCII module has several different operating modes, some of which are
available only in certain combinations. Major options are summarized below,
with additional details provided in Chapter 2.
Transmit Handshake and Transmit Immediate Option
This option defines when the ASCII module transmits data out of its
serial port.
With Transmit Handshake active (default), the ASCII modules keys on the
second byte (Transmit Record Number) of the poll command or explicit
message to determine whether the consumed data from controller is to be
transmitted out the serial port. While this Transmit Record Number is static,
the module does not transmit the command data. Upon sensing a change in
value of the Transmit Record Number byte, the module transmits the data. It
initiates one serial transmission for each change in the Transmit Record
Number value, regardless of the data string value.
In Transmit Immediate mode, the ASCII module ignores the Transmit Record
Number byte value and initiates a new serial port transmission with each
message that is received from the controller.
IMPORTANT Remember the following:
• If a controller attempts to use a Listen Only connection to a module but the
owner-controller connection uses the Unicast option, the attempt at a Listen
Only connection fails.
The ‘Listen Only’ controller receives data from the module as long as a
connection between an owner-controller and module is maintained.
• If the connection between an owner-controller and the module is broken, the
module stops sending data and connections to all ‘listening controllers’ are
also broken.
Carefully consider when you select this option for I/O messaging. See
POINT I/O Parameters on page 25 for details.

12 Rockwell Automation Publication 1734-UM009C-EN-P - August 2022
Chapter 1 Overview of the POINT I/O ASCII Modules
These actions take place with either a Poll command or an explicit message
that writes to the consume Assembly Object or the serial port object.
Produce Immediate and Master/Slave Handshake Option
This option defines when the ASCII module sends new data to controller.
In Produce Immediate mode (default), the ASCII module sends its most
current serial port data to the controller in response to each Poll command or
explicit message, or in response to an event.
With Master/Slave Handshake active, the ASCII module keys on the first byte
(next Transmit Record Number) of the Poll command or explicit message to
determine whether the new data from its serial port is sent to the controller.
This technique is useful when the adapter must ensure that some specific
actions have taken place before receiving the new serial data.
In this operating mode, the module sets the New Data Flag in its Serial Status
byte when a new string is received into the serial port. When the controller is
ready to receive the new data, it changes the value of the next Transmit Record
Number in the next Poll command or explicit message. Upon detection of the
next Transmit Record Number value change, the module updates its produce
buffer with the most recent serial input string.
Pad and No Pad Option
If the Pad option is selected (default), the ASCII module always sends a fixed
number of data bytes to the master. It is typically used when a Terminating
Character trigger is used to stop receiving ASCII data. This is useful if the
ASCII device that is connected to the ASCII module has varying data lengths
and the master cannot accept varying length I/O messages. The ASCII module
fills a short message with the pre-defined Pad Character. The Max Receive
Length parameter defines the data length.
If the No Pad option is selected, the ASCII module’s produce I/O message
resizes itself to the length of the received ASCII data. This conserves
bandwidth, but causes scanners that do not support variable I/O sizes to
malfunction. Do not turn off Pad Mode if you do not have (or do not know if
you have) a scanner that supports variable I/O sizes. Pad Mode is ON by
default.
Module Inhibiting Module inhibiting lets you indefinitely suspend a connection, including Listen
Only connections, between an owner-controller and an I/O module without
removing the module from the configuration. This process lets you
temporarily disable a module, such as to perform maintenance.
You can use module inhibiting in the following ways:
• You write a configuration for an I/O module but inhibit the module to
help prevent it from communicating with the owner-controller. The

Rockwell Automation Publication 1734-UM009C-EN-P - August 2022 13
Chapter 1 Overview of the POINT I/O ASCII Modules
owner does not establish a connection and the configuration is not sent
to the module until the connection is uninhibited.
• In your application, a controller already owns a module, has downloaded
the configuration to the module, and is exchanging data over the
connection between the devices.
In this case, you can inhibit the module and the connection to the module
does not exist.
You can use module inhibiting in these instances:
• You want to update an analog I/O module, for example, update the
module firmware revision. Use the following procedure.
a. Inhibit the module.
b. Perform the update.
c. Uninhibit the module.
• You use a program that includes a module that you do not physically
possess yet. You do not want the controller to look for a module that does
not yet exist. In this case, you can inhibit the module in your program
until it physically resides in the proper slot.
To see where to inhibit a POINT I/O ASCII module, see Connection Category
on page 18.
Electronic Keying Electronic Keying reduces the possibility that you use the wrong device in a
control system. It compares the device that is defined in your project to the
installed device. If keying fails, a fault occurs. These attributes are compared.
IMPORTANT Whenever you inhibit an output module that is ProgMode enabled, it
enters Program mode, and all outputs change to the state
configured for Program mode.
For example, if an output module is configured so that the state of
the outputs transition to zero during Program mode, whenever that
module is inhibited, outputs transition to zero.
Attribute Description
Vendor The device manufacturer.
Device Type The general type of the product, for example, ASCII module.
Product Code The specific type of the product. The Product Code maps to a catalog number.
Major Revision A number that represents the functional capabilities of a device.
Minor Revision A number that represents behavior changes in the device.

14 Rockwell Automation Publication 1734-UM009C-EN-P - August 2022
Chapter 1 Overview of the POINT I/O ASCII Modules
Table 5 shows the Electronic Keying options that are available.
Carefully consider the implications of each keying option when selecting one.
Table 5 - Electronic Keying Options
Keying Option Description
Compatible Module
Lets the installed device accept the key of the device that is defined in the project when the
installed device can emulate the defined device. With Compatible Module, you can typically
replace a device with another device that has the following characteristics:
• Same catalog number
• Same or higher Major Revision
• Minor Revision as follows:
– If the Major Revision is the same, the Minor Revision must be the same or higher.
– If the Major Revision is higher, the Minor Revision can be any number.
Disable Keying
Indicates that the keying attributes are not considered when attempting to communicate with a
device. With Disable Keying, communication can occur with a device other than the type specified
in the project.
ATTENTION: Be extremely cautious when using Disable Keying; if used incorrectly, this option can
lead to personal injury or death, property damage, or economic loss.
We strongly recommend that you do not use Disable Keying.
If you use Disable Keying, you must take full responsibility for understanding whether the device
being used can fulfill the functional requirements of the application.
Exact Match Indicates that all keying attributes must match to establish communication. If any attribute does
not match precisely, communication with the device does not occur.

Rockwell Automation Publication 1734-UM009C-EN-P - August 2022 15
Chapter 2
Configure the ASCII Module
This chapter describes how to configure your POINT I/O ASCII module in a
Studio 5000 Logix Designer application project. You can use the default
module configuration or edit the module configuration.
Before You Begin You must complete the following tasks before you can configure the module:
1. Create a Studio 5000 Logix Designer application project.
2. Add a POINT I/O EtherNet/IP adapter to the project.
For more information on how to add a POINT I/O EtherNet/IP adapter to
a Studio 5000 Logix Designer application project, see the POINT I/O and
ArmorPOINT® I/O Dual Port EtherNet/IP Adapters User Manual,
publication 1734-UM017, or the POINT I/O EtherNet/IP Adapters User
Manual, publication 1734-UM018.
Create a New Module After you create a Studio 5000 Logix Designer application project and add a
POINT I/O EtherNet/IP adapter to the project, complete these steps to add
modules to the project.
Topic Page
Before You Begin 15
Create a New Module 15
Edit the Module Configuration Categories 17
View the Module Tags 21
IMPORTANT Consider the following:
• You must use the Studio 5000 Logix Designer application, version 17 or
later, to configure POINT I/O modules. Version 31 or later is slightly different
from previous software versions. For example, in some cases, instead of
tabs across the top of the Module Properties dialog box, the application
uses categories on the left side of the dialog box.
• This chapter does not explain each user-configurable module feature that
you can edit on different screens in your Studio 5000 Logix Designer
application project.
This example shows how to add a 1734-485ASC module when the Studio 5000 Logix
Designer application project is offline.

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Chapter 2 Configure the ASCII Module
1. Right-click on the POINT I/O Chassis node and choose New Module.
2. Select the module and click Create.
You can use filters to minimize the number of modules displayed as
shown.
The New Module dialog box appears. You can click OK to use the default
configuration as shown or edit the module configuration.
To add additional I/O modules in the same rack, complete one of the following:
• If you cleared the Close on Create checkbox when you created the first
I/O module, repeat step 2.
• If you did not clear the Close on Create checkbox when you created the
first I/O module, repeat steps 1…2.
Clear the Close on Create checkbox if you intend to add more than one module.

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Chapter 2 Configure the ASCII Module
Once added to the network, you must configure the module for use. The
1734-485ASC and 1734-232ASC modules are configured identically.
Edit the Module
Configuration Categories
You click the category names in the New Module dialog box to view and change
the configuration parameters that are associated with that module.
Some new module configuration categories apply to all POINT I/O modules.
Some categories are specific to the module type.
For example purposes, the figures in this section are from a
1734-485ASC module.
The following categories apply to all POINT I/O ASCII modules and are
described in this section:
•General Category
•Connection Category
•Module Info Category
•Configuration Category
•Advance Format Configuration Category
General Category
The General category appears first when you create a module. The parameters
in this category are the same for all POINT I/O ASCII modules.
You use this category to complete the following tasks:
• Name the module
• Assign a slot number (required)
• Describe the module
• Access the Module Definition
Module Definition
Module Definition parameters are available on the General tab of the Module
Properties dialog box in the Studio 5000 Logix Designer application project.
Table 6 describes the parameters on the Module Definition dialog box.
IMPORTANT This chapter shows configuration in the offline mode. Changes set in this
mode take effect when you download to the individual module.
IMPORTANT This chapter shows how to edit configuration when you add the module to
the Studio 5000 Logix Designer application project.
If you access the module configuration after it has been added to the
project, the dialog box is named Module Properties. The Module Properties
dialog box shows the same categories as the New Module dialog box.
IMPORTANT The graphic is an example of a Module Definition dialog box. The same set
of fields and options are not available on all POINT I/O modules.

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Chapter 2 Configure the ASCII Module
Connection Category
The Connection category lets you complete the following tasks:
• Set the RPI rate. For more information about the RPI, see Requested
Packet Interval on page 10.
• Inhibit the module. For more information on how to inhibit the module,
see Module Inhibiting on page 12.
• Configure whether a connection failure while the controller is in Run
mode causes a major or minor fault.
• Configure whether to use a Unicast connection over the EtherNet/IP
network.
Table 6 - Module Definition Parameters
Parameter Definition Available Choices(1)
Series Module hardware series Module-specific
Revision Module firmware revision, including major and minor revision levels Module-specific
Electronic Keying
Software method by which you reduce the possibility of using the wrong device in a control system.
For more information, see the following:
•Electronic Keying on page 13
• Electronic Keying in Logix 5000 Control Systems Application Technique, publication LOGIX-AT001
Exact Match
Compatible Module
Disable Keying
Connection
Determines the following for the module type you configure:
• Available configuration parameters
• Data type transferred between the module and the controller
• Which tags are generated when configuration is complete
Data
Listen Only(2)
Receive Mode Input data for the module that is being defined. Short_String String
Array
Transmit Mode Output data for the module that is being defined. Short_String String
Array
Data Format Module data format transferred between module and controller. Integer
Channel Parameters Maximum number of characters that the ASCII module expects to receive and transmit. 20 (default)
1…127
(1) The range of available choices varies by module type.
(2) In Listen Only connection, the controller and module establish communication without the controller sending any configuration or output data to the module. A full input data connection is established
but depends on the connection between the owner-controller and the module.

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Chapter 2 Configure the ASCII Module
Module Info Category
The Module Info category displays module and status information about the
module when the project is online. You can use this category to complete the
following:
• Identify the module identification information
• Access module status information
• Determine the system configuration and identity of the module
• Refresh the data on the screen
• Reset the module
Configuration Category
The Configuration category lets you complete the following tasks:
• Set the Baud rate. For more information about the baud rate, see
Parameter List on page 25.
The Module Fault area of the Connection category shows a description that includes
an error code that is associated with the specific fault type.

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Chapter 2 Configure the ASCII Module
• Set the data bits, stop bits, and parity in data character frames. For more
information about data character frames, see Parameter List on page 25.
• Configure serial port receive and transmit data modes and delimiters.
For more information about receive and transmit data settings, see
Parameter List on page 25.
Advance Format Configuration Category
The Advance Format Configuration category lets you complete the following
tasks:
• Set the receive and transmit data swap bytes modes. For more
information about Swap Bytes modes, see Set Up and Use the Swap Bytes
Mode on page 28.
• Set the receive and transmit handshake modes. For more information
about Handshake modes, see Produce Immediate and Master/Slave
Handshake Option on page 12.
• Enable or disable Pad Mode. For more information about pad mode, see
Pad and No Pad Option on page 12.
• Define the receive pad character. For more information about pad
characters, see Pad and No Pad Option on page 12.