Self test description question

[hamish]

Originally Posted by ericthegeek

As far as I know there is no way. I think it's reasonable to assume that Self Tests will be sequentially numbered starting from one. You can do GET SELF_TEST_DESCRIPTION starting at 1 and keep going until you get a NACK DATA_OUT_OF_RANGE.

A small point to add here, I have found that the PID SELF_TEST_DESCRIPTION may not be implimented.

This is an area of the standard that could definately benefit from a revision.

Something like Get PERFORM_SELFTEST, PDL = 1, PD = $FF would return the count of available self tests.
Using PD in the range of 1 .. Count(tests) would return the status of the individual tests.

Mean while, if anybody can suggest a way out of my little dilemma (with out stopping or starting sef-tests) please comment.

[Gerry]

Originally Posted by hamish

Mean while, if anybody can suggest a way out of my little dilemma (with out stopping or starting sef-tests) please comment.

Hamish,
Does this responder actually expect the controller to initiate the self tests?

If the test PD's are documented in the manual, I guess you could build them into your controller, but it sucks and goes totally against the grain of RDM.

Personally, I wouldn't lose sleep over this. If a responder manufacturer includes self tests, but chooses not to allow the controller to find them by including SELF_TEST_DESCRIPTION, then I would assume they are not for general use.

[hamish]

Gerry

I'm working from the perspective of a generic controller and therefore have to cater for all eventualities. I'd recommend the exercise to anyone who likes a challenge, its like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get till you open it!

If it doesn't, then all you can do is let the user enter a number between 1 and 254, start the self test, and return an error if the responder NACKs the request.

Eric's approach (Poke & Hope) remains the only option at present.