Finally, I decided to ask for Help 😊

The task:

Communicate a PLC 1511 with a Printer (MPERIA - Matthews Marking Systems) over TCP

The manual presents the follow alternatives:

• Line Action Protocol
• XML Protocol
• Command Protocol (chose this one, with structure: <ESC>command<FS>arg0<FS>arg1<FS>…<FS>argN<ETB> )

The idea is that the printer Panel has all the information to print and I just choose the Variable to print, get alarms or other status conditions, etc.

The test:

If tested the command interaction with the Program “Packet Sender” asking for example for the state <ESC>STATE<ETB>

\1bSTATE\17

I got back for example: <ACK> Paused <ETB>

\06PAUSED\17

So the communication with the program and the command functions works.

The TIA:

I am using TSEND_C and TRCV_C based of the example

https://support.industry.siemens.com/cs/document/67196808/how-do-you-program-the-tsend_c-and-trcv_c-instructions-for-open-user-communication-over-the-integrated-profinet-interface-of-the-s7-1200-s7-1500-cpu-?dti=0&lc=en-WW

The PROBLEM:

I don’t know if actually the TSEND_C works, I have been trying the follows procedures:

1. First a DBSENDDATA with an array of Strings, due that the first 2 bytes are something else (and I don’t know how to avoid that on the printer side) I decided to change it to:
2. DBSENDDATA with an array of Char, where I wrote in every array space the specific Char for the instruction (totally crazy to implement but I need to try if works, doesn’t )

The Condition:

TSEND_C is on Status 7004 and some times I could see it on 7005, the connection is on the Port 2000

TRCV_C is on Status 7006 but I don’t get anything on the DBDATARECV, the connection is on the Port 2001

If I STOP the PLC or disable any Block I can see on the LOG window of the Printer the message:

1. “Data was lost because the connection was not closed correctly” and
2. “Communication Error”
3. Together with the info: TCP/IP port #fromprinter# from #IP of PLC#:Port

Means that is a connection stablish between both, however somehow the message or doesn’t go out or is not the right one (don’t recognize some symbols)

I am totally crazy with these TSEND_C T_RECV_C, I will appreciate some help.

Some images attached.

Thanks in advance

Thanks for the help counter tip Kaulquape !!

Now works !! or was all the time working and I didn’t realize

What I did? & what I learned?

My error focused on how the data is interpreted, means the information (Char by Char) was send it and of course the printer doesn’t understand what was coming.

I was sending this instruction

<ESC>STATE<ETB>

Translated as:

\1bSTATE\17

However, my mistake was on take any of the above as Char.

In real the Command has an interpretation as Char (HEX) but his definition as Char has before a $ sign. I didn’t know that ☹ but now I know it 😊

Conclusion:

1. The interpretation of “\” is not necessary (ignore it, not like me)
2. The interpretation of the command <ESC> is 1b and I was taking it as 2 different Chars ‘1’, ‘b’. Wrong! The real interpretation as Single Char should be ‘$1b’
3. The same apply to all other COMMANDs for example as Single Char as following:
   • <ETB>= 17 = ‘$17’
   • <FS> = 1c = ‘$1c’
   • <ACK> = 06 = ‘$06’
   • <NAK> = 15 = ‘$15’

Now that I know my understanding problem for Chars, It is possible to do with Strings?

I have been trying with the AT for overlaying, but is MISSING!!!  (attached)

Thanks again

PS: Just a though: even if I move the pointer, it will be in he correct position, however will be send $1b not as a single Char ‘$1B’ but as separate Chars ‘$’ ‘1’ ‘b’, I don’t know how will be interpreted on the Printer side, I will keep trying if I found where the AT is hidden.