Noritake Itron - Message Soft Guide

• Installation

1. Download the appropriate program zip file for the module you have from the Noritake Itron website (www.noritake-itron.com/websign/default.htm).

2. Unzip the contents of the file using WinZip into a temporary folder.
3. Run the file Setup.exe to start the installation of the software. Follow the installation instructions.
4. Once installed the temporary folder along with it's contents can be deleted.

• Getting Started  

          Please follow the simple steps below to ensure that the Message Soft program controls the target display module successfully.

1. The serial port settings in the program must match those of the module (COM port, baud rate and parity) and the module must be in STD (standard) mode (ie 00 - 9600N STD).
2. The address specified in the program must match the address setting of the module.
3. The module (via the 9 way 'D' adaptor - CONFP 3J9FDA) must be plugged into a free serial port on your PC and also to a suitable 12V power supply.
4. Optional. Any characters that you want to display on the module that do not have a matching character code on the PC keyboard need to be set up (See 'Character Code Setup', below).

• Serial port settings (Message Soft)

After clicking on 'Change' to display the settings box (below), select the COM port that the display module is connected to. Grayed out COM ports do not exist on your PC and cannot be selected. Set the remaining parameters to match those set on the module. These settings are not lost when the program exits.

• Serial port settings (Module)

Settings on the module can be reviewed / changed using the 3 buttons on the rear of the module. Press the middle button to display the current settings and then press either the left of right buttons to change the settings. Press the middle button again to exit the setting mode. The display address must match the setting in message soft and the mode must be set to STD.

• Character Code Setup

This allows you to set up one or more (up to 24) character conversions where the PC character code does not match the code in the module or the module character does not appear on the PC keyboard. Click on 'Edit' to display the character conversion window. To add or change a conversion, first click on the character that the module will display. Then to add or change the conversion either double click the left mouse button or click the right button and select 'add/change' from the popup menu. This will display an entry box. Now type the key on the PC keyboard that you want the character to be mapped to and click OK. To delete an existing character conversion, either use the 'DEL' key or right click the mouse and select 'Delete' from the popup menu. All character conversions are stored and not lost when the program exits.

• Single Message

Clicking the 'Single Message' button displays a new window that allows a single action / message to be sent directly to the display overwriting any data currently on the display. However, it does not affect any macros therefore the message sent meant as temporary and is lost when power is removed. It is particularly useful as a means to test that the module, settings and connections are OK. The action and message is not lost when the program exits.

• Operation / Description of actions

Once the various settings are in place, your required message sequence can now be created. The sequence can contain up to 31 individual action / message / delays.

Notes:
¹ Display width is 16 characters on the (E)GU96x8M-K612C5 and 21 characters on the (E)GU128x8T-K612C5 / (E)GU256x16M-K612C5.
² Only applicable to (E)GU256x16M-K612C5 (MsgSoft256x16v5)
³ The default font size on the (E)GU256x16M-K612C5 is 10x14.

• Program Display

This sends the current message sequence to the display and programs it into the module's macros. The display will stop any currently running macro and go blank. When programming has finished (this can take up to 10 seconds depending on the length of the sequence) the message sequence will automatically start running. The sequence will also start every time power is applied to the module. The total amount of space available in the display module for the message sequence is 824 bytes for the (E)GU96x8M-K612C5 and 1976 bytes for the (E)GU128x8T-K612C5 and (E)GU256x16M-K612C5. The amount of space used by the current sequence is shown in the bottom right of the main window.

• Run from PC

Rather than programming the message sequence in to the display module it is possible to send and display the sequence in real time. 'Run from PC' can be used for this. In this case the message sequence stored in the module is not overwritten.

• Menu Structure