TCPWedge is almost identical to the Software Wedge except that instead of providing an interface to a serial port, TCPWedge communicates through a TCP/IP network port address. Like File Wedge and the Software Wedge, TCPWedge is extremely powerful because it allows you to take data from any TCP/IP network data source and feed that data directly into any Windows application and works by either converting the data to keystrokes or by passing the data through DDE links. TCPWedge has the ability to parse, filter, format, translate data and to write data to a disk file instead of another program. TCPWedge provides full two way I/O capabilities thereby allowing you to send and receive data to any device connected over a TCP/IP network, including an Intranet or the Internet! Note: TCPWedge is provided with the 32 bit version of the SoftwareWedge only. To use TCPWedge, you must have the TCP/IP network protocol installed in your PC. You can install the TCP/IP network protocol by selecting the Network icon in the Window control panel. Since there are very few differences between TCPWedge and the Software Wedge you can use the SoftwareWedge Users Manual for both products. The differences between the two products are discussed below. Differences Between TCPWedge and The SoftwareWedge Since TCPWedge communicates through a TCP/IP port address and not through a serial port, instead of allowing you to select any serial communications parameters, TCPWedge allows you to specify an IP address and port number. When you select "Settings" from the PORT menu in TCPWedge, the following dialog box will appear: TCPWedge can operate as a TCP/IP Client or as a TCP/IP server. If you choose the option to set up TCPWedge as a TCP/IP Client, then you will need to enter the IP address ("Remote Host IP Address") and the Port number ("Remote Port") of the TCP/IP Server that you want TCPWedge to connect to. When you set up TCPWedge as the client, TCPWedge will be responsible for establishing the connection to the Remote IP Address and Port number that you specify. The connection to the remote IP Address will occur when you activate TCPWedge by selecting either "Test Mode" or "Normal Mode" from the ACTIVATE menu or when you open the "Analyze" window by selecting "Analyze" from the PORT menu. If you choose to set up TCPWedge as a TCP Server, then TCPWedge will use the IP address of the computer that you are using as the "Local IP Address" however you will need to specify a "Local Port" number that you would like to use. In this case, the remote client will be responsible for initiating the connection to TCPWedge using the Local IP address for your PC and the Local Port number that you specify. When you select the option "This PC Will Act as TCP Server" in the TCP Wedge Port Settings dialog box, the Local IP Address for your computer will be displayed in gray text in IP Address text box. If your PC does not have the TCP/IP network protocol installed or if your PC does not have an IP Address assigned to it, you will not be able to select the option to set up TCPWedge as a TCP Server. If you set up TCPWedge as a TCP Server, after you activate TCPWedge in either Test or Normal mode, it will simply wait for another computer on the network to establish a TCP/IP connection to it using the Local IP Address of the PC where TCPWedge is running and the Port Number that you specified. TCPWedge is functionally identical to the SoftwareWedge except for a few minor differences. Since TCPWedge does not communicate over a serial port you will not be able to select any options that are specific to a serial port. For example, when you define serial output strings or hot keys and hot key actions in TCPWedge you will not find any options or hot key actions that relate specifically to serial ports. This includes the ability to set the states of any serial port hardware handshaking lines like RTS and DTR. Otherwise, TCPWedge is identical to Software Wedge. To communicate with TCPWedge using Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE), use the DDE Application Name TCPWedge and set the DDE Topic to the IP Address that you entered in the TCPWedge Port Settings dialog box. If TCPWedge is set up to be a Server, the DDE Topic would be the IP Address of the PC that TCPWedge is running on. The DDE Item names available in TCPWedge are the same as in the Software Wedge (i.e. Field(1), Field(2), etc., RecordNumber and DateTime) There are a number interesting ways that you could use TCPWedge including sending and receiving data over an Intranet or the Internet directly from within any Windows program like Excel or Access. Several network hardware companies also sell protocol converters that convert from RS232 to an Ethernet connection. Using one of these devices, you could connect an instrument with an RS232 output directly to a TCP/IP network. You could then run TCPWedge in any PC on the network to communicate with the serial device. Using an RS232 to TCP/IP converter, you would not need to install a complete networked PC at the location where the device is at. You could simply install a network connection and the RS232 to TCP/IP converter and then use TCPWedge on any other PC in the network to communicate with the device. One company that makes a good RS232 to Ethernet converter for around $500 (model# MSS1) is Lantronix , Tel: 714-453-3990 (http://www.lantronix.com). If you have a PC with a network connection near your RS232 devices you can use TAL’s new TCP/Com software to convert the RS232 to TCP/IP (or TCP/IP to RS232).

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