CAM-POST GENER Interface

The following menus are available:

• Files

• Run

• View

• Debug

• Help

• Tools

• Other operation (Synchronize)

A comprehensive tracing and debugging feature can be activated by selecting the “full-mode” (or verbose) display. This display enables the post-processor writer to better understand the relationship between CL data, macro processor and resultant NC program data. It does this both by tracing the processing of various types of data, and also by providing the capabilities of a fully functional debugger.

Note: The Windows interface currently provides more features than the UNIX one. Where differences occur, they are noted in the descriptions that follow.

When GENER is run in this mode, post-processing starts in a paused state. The Run»Play menu selection or toolbar button can be pressed to start post-processing.

There are four trace windows that trace (or list) various types of input and output records. GENER provides Run»Step and Run»Pause commands to pause processing whenever something is written to one of these windows. The trace windows are:

A Synchronize function is available for the trace windows, using the right-mouse context sensitive pop-up menu. Synchronizing on a line of output in one trace window, causes all other trace windows to identify the corresponding point they were at when the selected line was output. On Windows systems, the up and down arrows can be used to change the line of output being synchronized.

Diagnostic messages are listed to the Console trace window, and also to...

On Windows systems, there are four debugging windows that can be used to perform more advanced Visual debugging and testing of a post-processor. GENER provides Debug»Step Over, Debug»Step Into, Debug»Step Out and Debug»Run to Cursor menu commands (and keyboard shortcuts) to debug CL and macro records, one command at a time. GENER also provides a Debug»Breakpoint Manager to identify stopping points in your CL file or post-processor where closer inspection is required, and Debug»Macro Manager to individually enable or disable macros for testing purposes. The debugging windows are:

On UNIX systems, the debugger is command line based. The debugger must be activated from the UNIX command line or from the Options panel of the GENER launch facility. Debug commands are typed into a Debug input window, and the results are shown in the Console window.

Many of the features and functions listed in the drop down menus are also available using the toolbar menus. On Windows systems, select the Tools»Toolbar... menu selection to select the toolbar menus you want displayed; the toolbars are fixed on UNIX systems.