Picotel is a tool that allows the remote control of a Picosyst and Netsyst systems, with a serial port. It can communicate with the MODBUS protocol in ASCII code.

By using Microsoft Visual Basic 5.0 or higher or any VBA compatible program (Word, Excel, Access, etc.), Picotel allows the data exchange between the PC program and the PICOSYST system.

In the one's program, the user can place different ActiveX controls, they allow, to exchange data with the remote PICOSYST systems.

With an installation in Windows 95-98-NT-2000 environment, the software gives you the tools that allow to manage the development of the different project phases.

The application package including also an hyper textual "Help" and a multi medial presentation that help the user to immediately lear the most important program functions.

Picotel has three divided modules: configurator, server, Active X. The configurator module and the Active X doesn't have the protection keys. The server module is sold in two different solutions.

The Server can manage simultaneously 4 serials, optimizing the waiting times of the different calls. The serials can be connected with different devices allowing, in this way, to manage the communication, using the following ways.

Il "download" del programma è gratuito. L'utilizzo con connessione via cavo in RS232 e/o RS422/485 sul server channel 0 non necessita di alcuna registrazione. Per l'utilizzo sugli altri server channel e per connessioni via radio o modem il programma funziona senza limitazioni per 30 giorni, dopo tale periodo verrà visualizzata a tempo una finestra che ne ricorda la registrazione.

Picotel 2.0 is available in various license forms:

Run Time
This license is supplied with an hardware protection key. You have to buy this solution for every PC in which the server module is installed, aside to the kind and the connections number.

Full License
This license is supplied with an activation password. You have to buy this solution only once, aside to the PC number in which the server module is installed. The kind and the connections number is not important.

ActiveX

The ActiveX are objects to insert in the one's own form by Visual Basic created or in any VBA application (Word, Excel, Access, etc.). They dialog with the server module and they allow the variables reading and/or writings in the PICOSYST systems memory. Using Visual Basic it's possible to develop "animated" synoptic tables that by the ActiveX dialogue with the PICOSYST systems, exchanging the information.

	Picotel. This ActiveX allows the data exchange between the application and the server program. It manages the variables reading/writing, all the memory area can be defined (comprised the mass memory module), in various formats, up to 32 bytes. When the variables read/write is finished an event is generated.
	Picotel frames. This ActiveX allows the data exchange between the application and the server program. It manages the variables reading/writing in various formats, all the memory area can be defined (comprised the mass memory module). The communication is splitted in frames of user define dimension. At every read/write frame an event is generated.
	Picotel flat. This ActiveX allows the data exchange between the application and the server program. It manages the variables reading/writing in various formats, all the memory area can be defined (comprised the mass memory module). When the complete defined memory area is read/write, an event is generated.

Additional ActiveX

To increase the PICOTEL features and to make easier its use, additional ActiveX are been developed. These ActiveX are supplied into a program suite that must be installed after the PICOTEL.

	Picotel text box. This ActiveX allows the decimal and hexadecimal data input carrying out the range control. It checks the data writing on the remote system modifying its background color. Available from version 1.0 of additional ActiveX suite.
	Picotel frames count. This ActiveX allows the counting and the visualization in a textbox of the receipt number of frames. Available from version 1.0 of additional ActiveX suite.

Installing PICOTEL are given three example projects in source code:

Remote I/O, it's a use example of the ActiveX Picotel. Using a connection by cable, by radio or by telephone line it's possible to read the inputs and the output writing on a PICOLOG system.

Data logger, it's an use example of the ActiveX PicotelFrames. The inputs variation on a PICOLOG system is memorized in the one's own memory, showing the date and the hour. By the PC it's possible to read the memorized data that are inserted in a Microsoft Access database.

Sampler, it's an use example of the ActiveX PicotelFlat. A PICOLOG system reads, at regular intervals, the inputs state and memorizes it in the one's own memory. By the PC it's possible to read the memorized data that are inserted in a Microsoft Excel page.