Curtis 1238SE - Vehicle Control Language (VCL)

10 — VEHICLE CONTROL LANGUAGE (VCL)
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Return to TOC Curtis 1232E/34E/36E/38E & 1232SE/34SE/36SE/38SE Manual, os 31 – May 2017
10 — VEHICLE CONTROL LANGUAGE (VCL)
Curtis 1232E/34E/36E/38E and 1232SE/34SE/36SE/38SE controllers have a built-in programmable
logic controller with application-specific functions. VCL (Vehicle Control Language) software
provides a way to implement unique and complex vehicle control functions.
VCL is a simple programming language that will feel very familiar to anyone who has worked with
BASIC, Pascal, or C. Working with VCL requires the installation of the WinVCL program onto a PC.
WinVCL will compile VCL programs and ash download the soware into the controller through
the computer’s serial port. e install process for WinVCL will also install three important manuals
on your PC: the WinVCL User’s Guide, VCL Programmer’s Guide, and VCL Common Functions
Manual. ese manuals, which are in PDF format, include more detailed information about VCL
than is included here.
is chapter of the manual summarizes VCL and also describes aspects and functions of VCL that
are specic to these E and SE controllers. For a more complete understanding of the functions and
capabilities of VCL, see the WinVCL User’s Guide, VCL Programmer’s Guide, and VCL Common
Functions Manual.
Summary of VCL Basics
• VCL is not case-sensitive:
put_pwm(), Put_PWM(), and PUT_PWM() are identical.
• Spaces in variable names are not allowed in VCL; use underscores in place of spaces.
Example: Forward_Oset is the VCL name for the 1313/1314 parameter
Forward Oset.
• Functions are followed by parentheses; for example:
Reset_Controller() is a function
Reset_Voltage is a variable.
• Logical statements must be inside parentheses; examples:
IF (setpoint >50)
ELSE IF ((setpoint <20) & (temperature >100)).
• Comments are preceded by semicolons.