Cable Master User Documentation

This is the freeware version of the CableMaster Software. You are free to 
make copies of this software so long as no modifications are made.

This software is **not** in the public domain and remains the exclusive
property of Houston Computer Services, Inc.; 3207 Ashfield Drive;
Houston TX 77082 USA; voice: (713)493-9900. fax: (713)558-1880.

The CableMaster hardware is available for purchase. An order form has been
included with this software. Contact Houston Computer Services for more 
information.




Introduction

There are literally thousands of possible cables used to make connections 
between terminals, PCs, printers, modems, and other types of serial 
communication devices.

End users, systems integrators, and service technicians are frequently 
called on to find the correct wiring configuration for cables between two 
different devices. Often a similar cable may have already been configured 
or an existing cable may already be in use.

The Cable Master system makes it easy to look inside a cable to see how it 
is wired and to document which cable is supposed to do what.



The Package

The Cable Master package allows an IBM PC (or compatible including the 
PS/2) to examine cables to determine the exact internal wiring of the 
cable.

Attaching to the serial port of the PC, the hardware is a small black box 
with cable-scanning circuitry that checks for continuity with each and 
every pin on the cable to determine exactly how each pin is used.

The Cable Master software determines the wiring diagram for the cable. 
The diagram is compared to a list of commonly encountered cables and 
may be displayed on the screen of the PC or printed to the PC's printer.

The Cable Master package consists of two parts: the ID200H cable
-scanning hardware and the Cable Master software. The user supplies an 
IBM PC, PS/2, or compatible and the DOS operating system.

The package installs in less than a minute without tools (and without 
turning off the PC or opening its case). Simply attach the hardware to the 
PC's serial port and load the Cable Master software from the diskette.



The Hardware

The ID200H hardware is a cable-scanning test instrument which operates 
under the control of software on an IBM PC, PS/2, or compatible. 
Specifically designed to scan and test cables, the hardware attaches to 
the serial port of an IBM PC.

There are three connectors on the ID200H hardware. The host port 
connector (at the end of the RS232 cable) connects to the serial port of 
the PC. The hardware uses this connection to communicate with the PC and 
the Cable Master software. This connection also provides power to the 
Cable Master hardware.

The hardware uses five of the signals on the serial interface to operate. 
These signals are:

	TD      2       power to scanner
	RTS     4       data to scanner
	DSR     6       data from scanner
	DTR     20      data to scanner
	GROUND  7       signal ground

There are two 25-pin test connectors. (One of these connectors is labeled 
A, the other is labeled B.) The hardware examines each pin on the test 
connectors, looking for continuity (that is, a hard-wired connection) with 
any of the other pins on either the A or B connectors.

The wiring of each cable is unique and is determined by the needs of the 
communication devices which it connects. By checking for continuity, the 
Cable Master hardware can quickly determine the complete wiring of the 
cable (much like a technician might do using a break-out box or by Ohming 
out the cable using a hand-held meter).

This pin-to-pin continuity information is used by the Cable Master 
software to display the wiring diagram for the scanned cable.



The Software

The Cable Master hardware is controlled by software operating on the PC. 

Most software fits into one of two categories: simple or sophisticated. 
There are two different programs provided with the Cable Master 
hardware.  Cable Master 1 ("CM1") is simple. This program provides an 
easy-to-use, one-screen interface to the Cable Master hardware. Cable 
Master 2 ("CM2") is sophisticated. This program uses a mouse-oriented, 
windowed user interface to provide a maximum of user capability.



The CM1 Software

The Cable Master 1 software is a program (called CM1.EXE) that operates 
on an IBM PC (or compatible). This software has the following features:

	. Easy-to-use, one-screen user interface
	. Scan and identify any cable
	. Compare to other cables stored in a disk file
	. Each disk file may store up to 70 cable descriptions
	. Compact software that easily fits on one floppy diskette



Installing the CM1 Software

The Cable Master 1 software does not have an installation procedure. The 
software on the diskette is ready for immediate use. Users may find it 
easier to copy the Cable Master software to a directory on a hard disk. 
This may be done by using the DOS COPY command. For example, insert the 
Cable Master diskette in drive A and do the following commands:

	C:> MKDIR C:\CM1
	C:> CD A:\CM1
	C:> COPY A:*.* C:\CM1

There are two files on the Cable Master diskette used by CM1:

	CM1.EXE         The executable Cable Master 1 program.
	CM1.HLP         This help file.



The Command Line

To use the CM1 program, type the program name at the DOS command 
prompt. For example:

	C:> CM1



The Disk File

Selects the disk file used by the software. The disk file is used to match 
the cables being tested to other (previously defined and tested) cables. 
The default file is CM1.DAT in the current directory.

Examples:

	C:> CM1 filename        -or-
	C:> CM1 a:\filename

	where filename is any file available on any drive. If the file 
	does not exist, one will be created.



The Serial Port

Identifies the serial port parameter to which the cable scanning hardware 
is attached. Ports from 1 to 4 may be used. The software will 
automatically search all of the available ports, looking for the Cable 
Master hardware. To re-do this search, press [altW]. To review all of the 
available serial ports, press [altC].

Examples:

	C:> CM1 /3              -or-
	C:> CM1 filename /3     -or-
	C:> CM1 /3 filename


The Display

The display of the CM1 program is divided into four main groups: the list 
of cables, the wire list, the cable diagram and the message area. The 
bottom line of the display shows some of the active keys. The top right 
hand corner of the display shows the version level of the software.



The List Of Cables

The list of the cables stored in the disk file. Use the up and down arrow 
keys the select a particular cable.

When selected, the name for the cable is highlighted and the wire list and 
cable diagram are displayed. If the wire list or diagram is too large to be 
displayed on the screen, use the left or right arrow keys to move the 
cursor to that area of the screen, and the up and down arrows to display 
the additional parts of the list or diagram.



The Wire List

Shows the wire list for the selected cable. Wire lists are of the format 
Ax,Ay,Bx,By where A indicates the first or A side of the cable, B indicates 
the second or B side of the cable and x and y are the pin numbers on that 
particular side.



The Cable Diagram

Shows the diagram for the selected cable. Cable diagrams are of the 
format  x ----- y, where x indicates the pin number on the A side and y 
indicates the pin number on the B side.



Scanning The Cable

Use the [F4] key to scan and identify a cable. Scanning a cable takes a snap
-shot of the cable currently mounted on the Cable Master hardware and 
stores a copy of the wiring diagram into working memory within the PC.

The scanned cable is compared to the list of cables. If a match is found, 
the cursor is positioned to the first cable in the list that matches the 
scanned cable. If no match is found, a new cable (called ///new cable///) 
is added to the end of the list of cables.

Use [Ins] to change the name of a cable.Use [Del] to delete a cable.



Saving The Data

Use the [F2] key to save data to the input disk file. No changes to the disk 
file are made unless the [F2] key is pressed.



Printing The Cable Diagram

Use the [F3] key to print a description of the selected cable to the printer. 
(If the printer does not support the IBM character set, use /A on the 
command line or press [altA] once.)



Messages

The Cable Master 1 software will occasionally display messages during 
its operation. This is a list of those messages, along with a brief 
explanation of their meaning:

	MATCH           During SCAN, the scanned cable exactly matches 
			the indicated cable.

	REVERSED        During SCAN, the scanned cable exactly matches 
			the indicated cable, but End A and End B are 
			reversed. (The cable is mounted on the Cable 
			Master hardware backwards.)

	NO MATCH        During SCAN, the scanned cable does not exactly 
			match any cable in the list. A new cable (called 
			///new cable///) has been added to end of the list.

	NO WIRES        The Cable Master hardware detected a cable without 
			wires (probably, no cable is mounted).

	NEW FILE        The input disk file does not exist. If [F2] is used, 
			a new disk file will be created. (A default list of 
			cables has been used.)

	ERROR DURING 
	WRITE           The disk file could not be written (by [F2]). Correct 
			the problem and try again.

	ERROR DURING 
	SCAN,
	NO DEVICE       The Cable Master hardware did not respond. Either the 
			hardware is not attached or the serial port is not 
			correctly identified. (Use /2 /3 or /4 on the command 
			line).

	OUT OF MEMORY   There is not enough available memory in this PC to 
			run the CM1 program. Delete some memory resident 
			programs, reboot the PC, or otherwise get more 
			application memory before restarting the CM1 program. 
			(CM1 needs less than 128k to run.)

	FILE READ 
	ERROR           The input disk file could not be read. Correct the 
			problem and try again.



The CM2 Software

The Cable Master 2 software is a program (called CM2.EXE) that operates 
on an IBM PC (or compatible). This software has the following features:

	. Windowed, mouse-oriented user interface
	. Scan and identify any cable
	. Compare to other cables stored in a data base
	. Each data base stores an unlimited number of cable descriptions



Installing The CM2 Software

The Cable Master 2 software does not have an installation procedure. The 
software on the diskette is ready for immediate use. Users may find it 
easier to copy the Cable Master software to a directory on a hard disk. 
This may be done by using the DOS COPY command. For example, insert the 
Cable Master diskette in drive A and do the following commands:

	C:> MKDIR C:\CM2
	C:> CD A:\CM2
	C:> COPY A:*.* C:\CM2

There are five files on the Cable Master  diskette used by CM2:

	CM2.EXE         The executable Cable Master 2 program.
	CM2.HLP         The CM2 context-sensitive help file.
	CM2.DAT         The default CM2 data base of cables.
	CM2.IX          The index to the CM2.DAT file.
	CM2.CFG         The CM2 configuration file.


The Command Line

To use the CM2 program, type the program name at the DOS command 
prompt. For example:

	C:> CM2


The Display

The display of the CM2 program is windowed. The main menu (the Selector) 
appears whenever a data base is opened.

The top line of the screen consists of pull-down menus. The bottom line of 
the display shows some of the active keys.



The Selector

When a data base is opened, the Selector appears on the screen. Use the 
Selector to scan cables using the Cable Master hardware, to display or 
print cable descriptions, and to enter or to edit cable descriptions into the 
Cable Master data base.

The Selector consists of a list of cables, a view selection box, an 
information box, and a set of action buttons.



The List Of Cables

The list of the cables stored in the data base. Use the up and down arrow 
keys the select a particular cable.



The View Selection Box

Use the selections in the view box to control which cables are displayed in 
the list of cables.



The Information Box

This box shows the relationship of the selected cable to the scanned cable.



Scan A Cable

Use the SCAN BUTTON to scan and identify a cable. Scanning a cable takes 
a snap-shot of the cable currently mounted on the Cable Master hardware 
and stores a copy of the wiring diagram into working memory within the 
PC.

The scanned cable is compared to the list of cables. If a match is found, 
the cursor is positioned to the first cable in the list that matches the 
scanned cable. If no match is found, a new cable (called *** unknown cable 
***) is added to the list of cables.

Use the EDIT BUTTON to enter additional information about the scanned 
cable, including a name and description.



Display A Cable Diagram

Use the DISPLAY BUTTON to view the cable diagram and wire list of the 
selected cable. (The cable diagram and wire list are placed in a new 
window.)

Cable diagrams are of the format  x ----- y, where x indicates the pin 
number on the A side and y  indicates the pin number on the B side.

Wire lists are of the format Ax,Ay,Bx,By where A indicates the first or A 
side of the cable, B indicates the second or B side of the cable and x and y 
are the pin numbers on that particular side.



Printing A Cable Diagram

Use the PRINT BUTTON to print a description of the selected cable to the 
printer. Either a PURCHASE ORDER or a CABLE DESCRIPTION may be printed.



Edit/Add/Copy/Delete

Use these buttons to modify the details of the cable description including 
the connectors, wiring list and textual descriptions.



The Data Base

The data base is used to match the cables being tested to other 
(previously defined and tested) cables. There may be many different data 
bases stored on disk, but only one data base may be in use at any given 
time.

A data base is stored as two DOS files, one with a DAT extension and one 
with an IX extension. When a backup is made, a file with the extension OUT  
is used. Use Open on the File menu to select a data base.



Saving The Data

The data base is continuously saved to disk whenever changes are made. 
Occasionally, use the Backup command on the File menu to store a backup 
copy of the changes made.



Setup

Use the Setup pull-down menu to select the serial port, to enter company 
and vendor information, to identify adapters, to add or edit connectors, 
and to select the printer.

Select the serial port to which the Cable Master hardware is attached.

Select the correct adapter whenever one is mounted on the Cable Master 
hardware.



Messages

The Cable Master 2 software will occasionally display messages during 
its operation. This is a list of those messages, along with a brief 
explanation of their meaning:

	NO WIRES        The Cable Master hardware detected a cable without 
			wires (probably, no cable is mounted).

	NO DEVICE       The Cable Master hardware did not respond. Either the
			hardware is not attached or the serial port is not 
			correctly identified.

