Setting up QMatic with Dise

Hardware setup

The Q-matic device is connected to the computer using a serial cable.

If there is no serial port on your computer you need to use a usb serial adapter.

Connect the cable to the RS-232 connector on the Q-matic device.

Test

To find out which com port is used for the connection, start Device manager, Ports (Com & LPT).

We can test Q-matic device data input using a terminal emulator such as HyperTerminal (XP), or PuTTY (all versions)

Read more: PuTTY Download Page

We create a new connection using the below settings.

Bits per second: 9600. Data bits: 8. Parity: None. Stop bits: 1. Flow control: None.

When pressing the arrow buttons to display the next number on the Q-matic device, we should see data like 001011 in the terminal.

Dise setup

This guide explains how to display a queue message using the supplied example files.

Dise Parser

Supplied with Dise Parser is a Q-matic example. Select File > Import and the file Samples\QMatic.dpmodifiers.

You need to change the settings for the Q-matic modifier (Right-click > Settings) to your com port. Make sure that the other settings are as above.

You also need to select the service type that the Q-matic system uses. By default, this is 1. Which service type is used is chosen in the settings for the XslModifier (Right-click > Settings). Select one of the supplied files QMaticServiceTypeX.xsl, where X is the service type to use. If unsure, leave it as 1.

By default implementation, the Q-matic modifier is set to listen for incoming data every 50 milliseconds. When data is received, the message is extracted and three remote control signals are sent out.

The first will be the message received. Second, a sync signal will be sent out to only show this message. Third, a message will be sent out to trigger the channel the message will appear in.

Under Service control, select Install and then Start.

Note: If you previously selected Test, it will lock the com port and you will get an Access denied message when trying to start the service.

To have the service start automatically go into File > Settings and tick the Autostart service at system start checkbox.

Test

Make sure that Dise Replay can receive multicast signals (Preferences > Communication). Select Information > Remote control view and press an arrow button on the Q-matic device. There should be three messages appearing.

Dise Composer

Create a Dise Movie where the queue message will appear. For the message itself, insert and data connect a text object. In the data connection source, enter #RC#QMatic. It will dynamically read the text sent via the remote control channel with the QMatic header.

Dise Bridge

Create a new channel named QMaticOverlay and add the above Dise Movie to it. Schedule the Channel on the remote control signal DiseParser|ShowQMaticOverlay with a long validity time.