Here are some of the major highlights for this release:
- Generate button moved from Main Relay (or PDE/INO) tab to the Controller tab.
- Added Custom Menu tab
- Moved Expansion relay quantity from the Controller tab to the Features tab under the expansion relay feature.
- Internal Memory window is simpler. It mimics the Android Status memory page.
- Memory values / ranges are altered appropriately in the app based on F or C selection.
- Added Info tab to give a little synopsis about the different tabs.
When RAGen starts up, you will be presented with this screen: If you have never used RAGen before, make sure you READ the screen.
If you are initially setting up your controller, your next step will be to goto the Internal Memory window.
Note:If you are going to use Celsius temperatures, goto the Controller tab first and change the temperature to C before opening up the Internal Memory window.
Goto the Controller menu and select Internal Memory. You will be presented with this window: Make sure you read the note at the top of the window. Once this window is open, you should go through and review the memory settings. The default values are preloaded. Select the memory location from the drop down list and look at the value it has stored. If you do not like a value or want to change it, either type in the new value or use the up/down buttons to change it. Once the value is changed, it is saved. After you have looked through all the memory locations, you will want to press the Generate button to generate the Internal Memory file to be loaded on your controller. After you generate the file, you can launch Arduino to upload your memory file to the controller.
If you launched arduino, it will open with the memory file. You can upload it to your controller now. When completed, your controller will say "Internal Memory Set, Now load your RA code file". Now back to RAGen.
Once your memory values are set AND you have generated the memory file, you can close the Internal Memory window.
The next tab is the Controller tab. On this screen, there are only a few options / choices. You can:
- Set the controller temperature to F or C (F is default)
- Enable WIFI module (enabled is default). You can also enable the WIFI module on the Features tab
- Add PWMSlope function to code (No default). Enabling this will add the pwm slope to your code for the Actinic and Daylight channels only (pwm channels on the controller). The PWM Slope function uses the Standard Lights ON/OFF schedule and the start and end percentages and duration from internal memory. PWM Slope will not be discussed here, there is a separate thread on it (http://forum.reefangel.com/viewtopic.ph ... lope#p5679).
The locations in the Internal Memory page are:- PWM Slope Daylight Start %
- PWM Slope Daylight End %
- PWM Slope Daylight Duration
- PWM Slope Actinic Start %
- PWM Slope Actinic End %
- PWM Slope Actinic Duration
- Send controller data to Web Portal (No default). This will send your controller data to the portal for viewing on the portal. If you click the Configure button, you will get the Portal window where you can add your username (login username for the forum) and an optional security key. The security key entered is the same one you set on the Portal.
- Last, the Generate and Launch (only after Generate) buttons are here. Generate saves all the features and creates the features file and then generates the controller code.
The Features tab is next. This screen lets you set all the features on the controller. If you click on the feature, you will get a description on the right side of the window. To enable a feature, you must click the check box next to the feature. There is a SAVE button at the bottom of the screen. This button generates the Features file right away. This is ONLY needed if you need to update your features file without generating new code. Otherwise, ignore this button because the Generate button on the Controller tab will automatically generate the features file for you.
The Main Relay tab is next. This tab was initially called PDE. Then it was renamed to PDE / INO. You have a list of the Ports / Relays on the left. Select the Port you wish to modify and then select the device you would like to assign it on the right. You can only use the devices in the right column 1 time each. If they are not available, they are greyed out. You are only able to use a Wavemaker or a Dosing Pump. You are not able to use them both at the same time. You can, however, use a Wavemaker 1 and a Dosing Pump 2. You just cannot use both Wavemaker 1 and Dosing Pump 1 at the same time. This may change in the future but currently that's all RAGen allows.
At the bottom of the screen, you can select what ports are toggled in the corresponding modes. If you want a port turned OFF/ON when entering/leaving a mode, place a Check in the appropriate box.
The last tab is the brand new one that is welcomed. This tab is the Custom Menu tab. This tab allows you to enable the custom menu (also in the Features tab). This handles most of the difficult stuff. There is some explanation for the screen.
- Menu Entries - This is where you set how many entries your menu has. As you change this value, the list box that says "Menu Entry 1" will change based on the entries selected.
- Reset Menu - This will reset the menu to the default / generic menu. This will erase ALL OF YOUR CHANGES. Use this with caution. There is also a warning that pops up if you press this button.
- Load Simple Menu - This does exactly what it says. It will erase everything in your menu and load the simple menu. There is a prompt before it proceeds as well. You can load the simple menu, then change / update it if you like.
- Menu Entry List - Use this drop down list to change / select the menu Entry to update. As you change the selection, the labels and menu code will change.
- Menu Label - Enter the label you would like to use for the menu entry. This is the label you see on the controller screen to select.
- Menu Code Box - This text box is the "guts" of the menu function. Place your code you would like executed when the menu is chosen.
- Predefined Functions button - This button displays a list of common functions that can be used. It does not contain all of the functions, just the majority of them that will be used. Some functions require additional changes to work properly, which should be obvious as to what needs changed. If not, simply ask for help on the forum.
- Clear Function button - This button clears the code for the current function. This cannot be undone, so use with caution.
Once you have gone through all the tabs and made all of your changes, click the Generate button on the Controller tab to generate your code. This button will create the Features file and the controller code file. The controller code file is saved in your Documents/Arduino folder under RA_MMDDYY_HHMM folder. The interpretation is this:
- MM - 2 digits for the current month
- DD - 2 digits for the current day
- YY - 2 digits for the current year
- HH - 2 digits for the current hour (in 24 hour format)
- MM - 2 digits for the current minute
If you run in to any problems or would like to suggest features, please do so on the forum.
Enjoy!