7.2.2.3 Info variables

Each device driver defines a number of so called info variables which tell the operator, but also the client software about the device driver. All info variables

Info variables are used to display information like device types, serial numbers etc. Beside this, there are three info variables each device driver must define in any case. They are:

info.type This variable tells the user interface name of the device driver. It is used to select the subdirectory for device presets and to find the help screen for this device driver. info.type must be initialized to the name of the device driver which in fact is the file name with the trailing .device cut off.
info.port This variable is set by the device driver to the name of the serial port which is used to access the device. This is for convenience, offering the operator this information without opening the device setup.
info.frame The standard user interface uses the value assigned to this variable to select the 'device oriented' screen set for this device. info.frame must be initialized to name of the device frame definition file to be used with this device.

Example

    VAR info.type             CYCLE 0 TEXT READONLY INIT "Tandberg-Alteia"
    VAR info.port             CYCLE 0 TEXT READONLY
    VAR info.frame            CYCLE 0 TEXT READONLY INIT "IRD-Alteia"
    VAR info.model            CYCLE 0 TEXT READONLY
    VAR info.serial           CYCLE 0 TEXT READONLY

The example above - taken from the Tandberg-Alteia device driver - identifies the driver as Tandberg-Alteia and tells the user interface to use the device oriented frame set called IRD-Alteia for this device. The info variables info.model and info.serial are set by the driver later, when it read the model description and serial number from the device.