                   This is the Help File for the
                      CABLE MASTER 1 SOFTWARE

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 RS232 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.

                      ┌───────────────────┐
                      │           a  b    │
                      │           │  │    │
                      │           │  │    │
                      │CableMaster        │
                      └───────────────────┘

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 displayed on the screen of the PC and is
compared to a list of commonly encountered cables.

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 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 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 A 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.



                                                ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
                                 This program and documentation are
                                                  (c)COPYRIGHT 1992
                                                                 by
                                                            Houston
                                                           Computer
                                                           Services
                                                       Incorporated
                                                3207 Ashfield Drive
                                          Houston, Texas 77082-2205
                                                fax: (713) 558-1880
                                              voice: (713) 493-9900

