The configuration dialog boxes for all types of inputs and outputs are accessed by clicking the Davicom Configuration icon (
). Each configuration dialog box allows automatic control parameters to be defined for the metering inputs (including mathematical functions and sensor curve fitting), status inputs (including activity monitoring), virtual logic gates, virtual relays, physical output relays and timers. Configuration of reach-through serial port communications, Unit-to-Unit commands and ping requests can also be accomplished from the Unit configuration menu, allowing monitoring and control of on-site ancillary equipment.
Understanding input/output configuration menus
The configuration dialog boxes for the Davicom inputs/outputs share some common functionality that is explained in this section.
Input/output identifiers (xZyyy)
Identifiers for configurable inputs, outputs, timers, Unit-to-Unit Command flags (commands sent between two Davicom units), and network pings are described in the table below. An Identifier is the short name that refers to a specific input, output, flag, or programming point in the Davicom unit.
All inputs/outputs, except audio inputs and reach-through serial ports, use the xZyyy entry format. The x is for the Davicom identification number (1 to 4), and is used to identify a specific Davicom unit when units are networked together to make up a SuperMAC. The x is also used for the Davicom Expansion Module slave identification number (1 to 8). If you only use a single Davicom unit, or if the type of input/output is only present in the master Davicom unit, you must assign x = 1. The letter or letter group Z is unique for each type of input/output and is described below. Finally, the specific input/output number can be composed of two (yy) or three digits (yyy).
Note: You do not have to type leading zeros. For example, when entering the identifier for 1V005, you can just type 1V5 and your entry will automatically be converted to 1V005.
| Input/output type | Identifier | State |
| Metering input | xAyy | Inactive when normal, active when it exceeds limits. |
| Unit-to-Unit Command flag | xCyy | Follows the command sent by a remote Davicom.1 |
| Status input | xDyy | Inactive when normal, active when it toggles to its active level. |
| Metering mathematical function | xFyy | Inactive when result is normal, active when result exceeds limits. |
| Timer | xHyyy | Inactive when outside the configured period, active during the configured period. |
| Modbus Input Register (Metering input) | xMAyy | Inactive when normal, active when it exceeds limits. |
| Modbus Input Status (Status input) | xMDyy | Inactive when normal, active when it toggles to its active level. |
| Modbus Coil (Physical relay) | xMRyy | Depends on the state of the inputs controlling the relay. |
| Network ping | xNyy | Goes active when no ping response is received.2 |
| Virtual relay | xOyyy | Depends on the state of the inputs controlling the relay. |
| Physical relay | xRyy | Depends on the state of the inputs controlling the relay. |
| Status activity monitoring | xTyy | Inactive until input activity/inactivity time is exceeded. |
| Virtual logic gate (VLG) | xVyyy | Inactive when logic is false, active when logic is true. |
1When a Davicom unit transmits a Unit-to-Unit Command (UUC) to another Davicom unit, it uses a command flag xCyy and waits for an acknowledgement from the equipment. If no acknowledgement is received, the UUC is re-transmitted at intervals of 10 seconds, up to the configured Number of Attempts.
2 For each configured ping command, the Davicom will periodically check for a ping response and the flag associated to the specific ping will go active if no response is received. Refer to this article. No log entry is associated with this flag, except when it is being configured. The flag will remain active as long as there is no ping response.
Tip: This feature can be used to monitor on-site network equipment and have the Davicom automatically reset the equipment if it ever becomes erratic.
System flags
Davicom units provide different useful flags. These internal flags are not configurable, but they can be used as qualifiers for inputs, or as entry operands for virtual logic gates.
Any flag or identifier can be inverted by adding the exclamation sign “!” before its identifier (for example !1S01 creates a flag that goes active after sunset).
The following table provides a description of the Davicom system flags, their identifier and the way they operate.
| Identifier | Description | State |
| xB01 | RAM Battery | Goes active (true) when the RAM battery falls below the predefined limit. |
| xB02 | Battery Discharge Test | Goes active (true) when the external battery discharge test fails. |
| xE01 | Alarm Calls | Goes active (true) when alarm calls are disabled. |
| xJ01 | Processor board temperature | Goes active (true) when the processor board temperature exceeds the predefined limit. |
| xL01 | No dial tone | Goes active (true) when no dial tone is detected. Only works if your Davicom has the optional internal modem.3 |
| xP01 | AC Power Fail Detector | Goes active (true) when AC power is off. |
| xP02 | DC power (+12V) | Goes active (true) when the DC power falls below the predefined limit. |
| xS01 | Sunset/sunrise | Goes active (true) at sunrise and remains active until sunset.4 |
| xU01 | USB Storage | Goes active (true) when unable to write to USB Storage device. |
| xW01 | Username/Password fail | Goes active after 5 consecutive errors in the Davicom username and/or password. |
| xY01 | Clock synchronization fail | Goes active when the Davicom’s clock fails to synchronize with a time synchronization service. Only works if a Synchronization Phone Number/Address is configured.5 |
3 If your Davicom is equipped with the optional internal modem, the Davicom will send it a query every 15 minutes. If no response is received from the internal modem after a query, a “MODEM FAIL” event is recorded in the System Log. If the modem responds but no dial tone is detected, a “LINE CHECK FAIL” event is recorded in the System Log. In both cases, the L01 flag goes active (true). The flag will toggle inactive when dial tone is detected.
4 To configure the site latitude and longitude, refer to this article.
5 The time synchronization fields must be configured for this flag to work. The flag will only become active after all attempts have failed. System Log entry will only indicate one fail after all attempts have failed. Refer to this article.
Read button and Auto Read function
Clicking the Read button (see image below) updates the dialog box with information related to the Input/Relay Number selected in the dropdown list. Configuration data is retrieved directly from the Davicom memory.
TIP: If you change the Input/Relay Number in the dropdown list, but forget to click the Read button, you will still be viewing the information related to a previous input or relay. The best way to avoid this problem is to select the Auto Read function as soon as you complete the Davicom’s initial configuration, as explained below.
Upon installation of DavLink, the Auto Read function is unchecked by default. This default setting allows you to quickly configure similar inputs or outputs of the same type using the Read and Write as a copy-paste function (e.g. Read 1D01 input configuration, and then Write to 1D15 input configuration dialog box).
To copy-paste an input configuration, you must ensure that the Auto Read function is unchecked. Then, from the Input/Relay Number dropdown list, select the input/output you want to copy and click the Read button to “copy” the information.
From the Input/Relay Number dropdown list, select the input/output to which you want to “paste” the configuration. Modify the parameters that differ and click the Write button. The following confirmation message will appear.
Click Yes to update the Davicom memory with the “pasted” and modified information.
Repeat this process for all similar input configurations you wish to copy-paste. Once you are done with the configuration of an input/output type, click the OK button to return to the Unit Configuration menu.
When you have finished with the configuration of your unit’s inputs/outputs, we recommend you activate the Auto Read function. Instead of checking the box in the configuration dialog box of each input/output type, you can set the parameter globally. Logon to DavLink by clicking the Logon/Logoff icon (
). From the Setup menu, select Options.
Select the Auto Read line in the top portion of the Properties screen, enter 1 for value in the Value field at the bottom and click OK.
The Auto Read checkbox will then be checked in all input/output configuration dialog boxes. This way, data displayed in each dialog box updates automatically when you select a new Input/Relay Number in the dropdown list, without any need to click the Read button.
Write/OK, Cancel and Delete buttons
There are two ways to update configuration data in the Davicom unit’s memory. The first one is to click the Write button located at the top of the input/relay dialog box. The second is to click the OK button located at the bottom of the input/relay dialog box.
The Write button should be used when you have several inputs/relays of the same type to configure/update, since you will remain in the same configuration window.
Every time you click the Write button, you will obtain the following confirmation message:
When you click Yes, the Davicom memory is updated and you remain in the same configuration window, allowing you to select a new input/relay.
If you do not wish to stay in the current configuration window after you update a specific input/relay configuration, click the OK button instead of the Write button. If any changes were made to the configuration, you will get the confirmation window above and then the configuration window will close, bringing you back to the Unit Configuration menu.
Clicking the Cancel button closes the input/output configuration window without updating the Davicom memory (when the “Validate Cancel” option is disabled). Any changes made since the last Write/OK will be lost.
Clicking the Delete button erases all the configuration parameters for the selected input/output from the Davicom memory, and clears all data fields in all the tabs of the input/output configuration dialog box without closing the window.
Default and Alternate language (Unicode and 7-bit ASCII character sets)
Each Davicom input/output configuration dialog box has two Description fields (Default and Alternate) that get stored in the Davicom’s memory. Depending on the Davicom user language selection (refer to Figure 12 on page 32 of the Reference Manual), the Default or Alternate Description will appear in all DavLink view screens, System and Custom Logs and System Status reports, as well as in alarm messages sent through DavLink or by e-mail.
Default Descriptions use a Unicode character set, allowing the use of accents with the Latin alphabet, as well as with several other alphabets (Cyrillic, Chinese, Arabic, etc.). For the complete list of character sets supported by Unicode, refer to www.unicode.org/charts.
If all Davicom users only speak English, you can still benefit from using Default Unicode descriptions since they are longer, allowing more detailed descriptions (up to 30 alphanumerical characters).
Alternate Descriptions use the 7-bit ASCII character set, meaning the Latin alphabet without accents. Also, Alternate Descriptions are shorter (maximum 18 alphanumerical characters).
There are two important reasons why you should configure both the Default and Alternate Descriptions for each input/output. First, each Davicom user can select the Default or Alternate Language in his user configuration, and you want to avoid empty/incomplete DavLink screens in any of the selected languages. Second, alarms sent by terminal, fax, alphanumerical pager or SMS only support Alternate ASCII Descriptions, while alarms sent by e-mail include both an ASCII attachment file (.txt) and a Unicode attachment file (.html).
Tip: It is possible for a Davicom user to switch the input/output descriptions from the Default to the Alternate Language or vice-versa in DavLink. Once you are connected to a Davicom unit, go to the DavLink View menu and select/deselect Alternate Language.
Note: Older Davicom units only have Default Descriptions limited to 18 alphanumerical characters. You can enter up to 30 characters, but only the first 18 characters will be stored in the older Davicom MAC’s memory. Also, older Davicom units use 7-bit ASCII characters, meaning Latin alphabet without accents. Unicode is not supported on older models. If you also want to translate DavLink menus, Command Bar buttons, popup messages, field titles, etc., you’ll have to install an appropriate language module. Contact your local dealer for more details.
Default and alternate language (Davicom voice response system)
Davicom units have a voice response system allowing them to “speak” information. This information can be spoken when the Davicom calls the recipient in an Alarm-Call List over the telephone or voice pager. It can also be spoken when a Davicom user calls a Davicom unit by telephone in order to monitor or control it.
Vocal messages are stored in two different banks in the Davicom’s memory. The first bank consists of static (or system) expressions that cannot be selected by the user (for example: “Please enter password”). Refer to Appendix B for the complete list of expressions. The second dynamic (or user) bank consists of useful terms that you can use to build customized vocal messages. Refer to Appendix C for the complete list of terms.
For a fee, both of these banks can be translated in a second language by your local dealer and stored in the Davicom memory. By doing so, this new language becomes the default language, while the factory English becomes the alternate language.
If you do not order your Davicom unit with a second language preloaded by your local dealer, the same factory English expressions/terms will be used for both the default and alternate languages.
Note: For older Davicom units, you can only configure vocal messages using factory default terms.
Vocal descriptions
For example, assume a remote unit calls you to report a minor alarm generated by an unauthorized door entry in the site rack room. The Davicom voice response system will say something like: “Minor Alarm One, Digital Input Six, Press one and pound key to confirm, or star and pound key to abort”. It might be difficult to remember what status input 1D06 is monitoring exactly. Fortunately, Davicom units allow you to personalize the Davicom vocal messages by adding terms that will better identify what exactly has happened. For example, you could add the terms “door” and “entry” to produce the following message: “Minor Alarm One, Digital Input Six, Door Entry, Press one and pound key to confirm, or star and pound key to abort”.
Metering Inputs and Metering Mathematical Functions can also be assigned a vocal description. For these input types, the same vocal description will be spoken for the active state as well as the return to normal (inactive) state. Status Inputs, Virtual Logic Gates (VLG), Relays and Virtual Relays can be assigned a different vocal description for the active state and the inactive state.
Vocal descriptions for inputs/outputs are obtained by arranging a sequence of words drawn from the vocal dynamic (or user) vocabulary. Refer to Appendix C for the complete list of factory English terms. Refer to the previous section (Section 1.6) if you want to add, change or translate terms in that list.
To add vocal descriptions to Metering Inputs and Metering Mathematical Functions, click the Vocal Description tab. To add vocal descriptions to Status Inputs, Virtual Logic Gates (VLG), Relays and Virtual Relays, click the Vocal Description when Active tab to configure the Active vocal message, and then the Vocal Description when Normal tab to configure the Normal (inactive) message.
Build your personalized message by selecting terms from the listbox on the left in the order they will be spoken. After each term selection, click the Insert button. The selected term will be added in the listbox on the right, as well as in the Literal Description above.
If you made a mistake or want to remove a term, select the term to remove in the listbox on the right and click Remove. The term will also be removed from the Literal Description above.
You can also change the order in which selected terms in the listbox on the right will be spoken. To move a term up in the list, click the Move Up button. The term will move up one position each time you click the button. To move a term down in the list, click the Move Down button. The term will move down one position each time you click the button. The Literal Description will adapt each time you click a button.
To store the configured Vocal Descriptions in the Davicom memory, click the Write or the OK button, and confirm you want to update the Davicom unit configuration.
Automatic Action Types (MAJ, MIN, CMD, QLF)
Each Davicom input can be configured to take automatic action when they exceed certain limits or toggle to certain values. For each input, you must configure an automatic action type.
In addition to the selected automatic action type, you also have the option to configure the automatic control of up to 6 on-board relays.
The four automatic action types available are:
MAJ: MAJ stands for Major Alarm. This automatic action type initiates an Alarm-Call Sequence (ACS) using the selected MAJx Alarm-Call List (ACL). It also records a “MAJORx” event in the System Log. Note that this action type requires that you also select one of the 8 MAJ ACLs (MAJ1 to MAJ8). If the input is also controlling relays, the Davicom will automatically act on those as well.
MIN: MIN stands for Minor Alarm. This automatic action type initiates an Alarm-Call Sequence (ACS) using the selected MINx Alarm-Call List (ACL). It also records a “MINORx” event in the System Log. Note that this action type requires that you also select one of the 8 MIN ACLs (MIN1 to MIN8). If the input is also controlling relays, the Davicom will automatically act on those as well.
CMD: CMD stands for Command. This automatic action type is used when you only want to control relays (up to 6), or qualify another input without triggering any alarm. It also records events in the System Log (for example “1A01 ACTIVE”). If the CMDtype input is controlling relays, the Davicom will automatically act on those.
QLF: QLF stands for Qualifier. This automatic action type is used when the configured input is used to qualify another input, or as an operand for a Virtual Logic Gate (VLG). Events related to QLF-type inputs are not recorded in the System Log since they qualify a more relevant input. If the QLF-type input is controlling relays, the Davicom will automatically act on those.
