1. Product Overview

Product Name: ActiveX Components for CONTEC Boards
Model: ACX-AIO(W98)
Series: ACX-PAC(W32)BP Ver. 2.0
Article Number: ACX-AIO(W98)
Manufacturer: CONTEC Co., Ltd.
Category: Industrial Automation Software / ActiveX Component Suite
Website: [www.contec.com](http://www.contec.com)

The CONTEC ACX-AIO(W98) is part of CONTEC’s industrial automation software suite designed to provide ActiveX-based control and monitoring capabilities for CONTEC’s range of analog, digital, counter, motion control, and GPIB interface boards. It integrates seamlessly with Windows OLE-enabled applications and third-party software, offering a visual, object-oriented interface for system developers working in industrial measurement, control, and automation environments.

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2. Key Features

- Visual ActiveX Interface: Provides a graphical, property-based interface for easy configuration and control of CONTEC I/O boards.
- OLE and COM Compatibility: Fully compatible with Windows OLE-enabled development environments such as Microsoft Excel, Visual Basic, and Visual C++.
- Unified Control Architecture: Supports analog I/O, digital I/O, counter, motion control, and GPIB communication boards under a single ActiveX framework.
- Cross-Platform Integration: Works with Windows 95 through Windows 2000 and XP, ensuring broad compatibility with legacy and modern systems.
- Ease of Use: Simplified configuration through property sheets and wizards; minimal coding required for setup and operation.
- Diagnostic and Configuration Utilities: Includes configuration and diagnostic tools for verifying board installation, driver status, and I/O functionality.
- Sample Programs and Documentation: Comprehensive sample programs for supported languages to accelerate development and testing.
- Seamless Integration with API-PAC(W32): Works in conjunction with CONTEC’s API function libraries for direct hardware access and advanced control.
- LabVIEW Compatibility: Can be used alongside CONTEC’s GPIB driver software for LabVIEW (API-GPLV(W32)) for hybrid development environments.
- Free Software Distribution: Available for download from CONTEC’s website, with free updates and support.

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3. Technical Specifications

- Software Package: ACX-PAC(W32)BP Ver. 2.0
- Supported Operating Systems:
- Windows 2000 Professional
- Windows NT Workstation 4.0 (SP3 or later)
- Windows Me
- Windows 98 / 98SE
- Windows 95
- Supported Programming Languages:
- Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 / 5.0 / 4.0
- Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 / 5.0 / 4.x / 2.0
- Microsoft Excel 2000 / 97
- Supported Hardware Buses: PCI, ISA, CompactPCI, PC Card (PCMCIA)
- Supported Board Groups:
- Analog I/O (AD/DA boards)
- Digital I/O (DI/DO boards)
- Counter boards
- Motion control boards
- GPIB communication boards
- Distribution Format: Windows ActiveX control components (.OCX), configuration utilities, and documentation.
- Installation Media: Downloadable installer package; included with CONTEC PCI boards and PC cards.
- Documentation: Online help files, HTML references, and PDF manuals.
- Licensing: Free for CONTEC hardware users; redistributable within licensed applications.

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4. Functionality

The ACX-AIO(W98) ActiveX component provides a visual programming interface for controlling CONTEC’s analog input/output boards. It allows developers to integrate measurement and control functions directly into Windows-based applications without low-level driver programming.

Use Cases and Applications:
- Industrial process monitoring and control
- Data acquisition and logging systems
- Automated test equipment (ATE)
- Laboratory instrumentation and measurement
- Motion control and robotics systems
- GPIB-based device communication and automation

Compatibility and Integration:
- Fully compatible with CONTEC’s API-PAC(W32) function libraries.
- Operates with CONTEC’s GPIB driver software for LabVIEW (API-GPLV(W32)).
- Supports integration with Microsoft Office applications for data visualization and reporting.
- Can be embedded in custom Visual Basic or C++ applications for real-time control.

Operational Overview:
- Each ActiveX control corresponds to a specific hardware function (Analog, Digital, GPIB, etc.).
- Developers can configure board parameters, channels, and I/O modes through property sheets.
- Data acquisition and control operations are executed via high-level methods and events.
- Diagnostic utilities verify hardware communication and driver integrity.

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5. Components & Accessories

Included Components:
- ACX-PAC(W32)BP Ver. 2.0 ActiveX control library (.OCX files)
- Configuration utility (CONFIG.EXE)
- Diagnostic program for board and driver verification
- Sample programs for Visual Basic, Visual C++, and Excel
- Online help and documentation

Optional Add-ons:
- API-PAC(W32) function library for advanced programming
- API-GPLV(W32) GPIB driver software for LabVIEW integration
- VI-DAQ library for LabVIEW-based data acquisition
- COM-DRV(W32) for serial communication modules

Supported Board Families:
- Analog I/O: AD12-16(PCI)E, AD12-16U(PCI)E, AD16-16(PCI)E, AD12-64(PCI), DA12-4(PCI), DA12-16(PCI), AD12-8(PM), etc.
- Digital I/O: PIO-16/16L(PCI), PIO-32/32B(PCI), PIO-48D(PCI), PI-64L(PCI), PO-64L(PCI), RRY-32(PCI), etc.
- GPIB: GP-IB(PCI), GP-IB(PM), GP-IB(PC), GP-IB(PC)F
- Counter: CNT24-4(PCI), CNT32-8M(PCI)
- Motion Control: SMC-2P(PCI), SMC-4P(PCI), SMC-3(PC)

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6. Installation & Setup

System Requirements:
- Windows 95 or later (up to Windows 2000 Professional)
- OLE-enabled development environment (Visual Basic, Visual C++, Excel)
- Installed CONTEC hardware board and corresponding driver (API-PAC(W32))

Installation Procedure:
1. Run the setup program included with the ACX-PAC(W32)BP package.
2. Select the CONTEC board(s) to be used; the installer automatically registers the corresponding ActiveX controls.
3. Use the configuration utility (CONFIG.EXE) to verify board installation and resolve I/O address or IRQ conflicts.
4. Launch the diagnostic program to confirm driver and hardware functionality.
5. Import the ActiveX control into the development environment (VB, VC++, Excel).
6. Configure properties and methods to establish communication with the target board.

Mounting and Configuration:
- No physical mounting required; software-based configuration.
- Supports automatic board detection for PCI, ISA, and PC Card devices via API-TOOL Configuration Ver. 4.10 or later.
- Diagnostic reports can be exported to text files for maintenance documentation.

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7. Performance & Capabilities

- Analog I/O: Supports up to 64 channels; analog input/output from specified channels; internal or external sampling clock; multiple interrupt conditions (sampling completion, buffer status, error detection).
- Digital I/O: Supports up to 64 channels; bit-level input/output; hardware digital filtering to prevent chattering.
- Counter: Real-time count monitoring, preset value configuration, one-shot pulse output, event messaging on count match or timer halt.
- Motion Control: Multi-axis synchronization, PTP motion, jogging, origin return, and bank motion for pre-defined patterns.
- GPIB Communication: IEEE-488 and IEEE-488.2 compliant; supports master/slave mode selection, interrupt level configuration, and 3-line handshaking for reliable data transfer.
- Timer Control: Microsecond-level precision timing; interval control; compatible with CONTEC ACX Timer Control ActiveX component.

Efficiency and Limitations:
- Optimized for Windows 9x/NT/2000 environments; limited ActiveX functionality under Windows NT 3.51.
- ActiveX controls cannot be used under certain restricted OS configurations (as noted in API-PAC documentation).
- PC Card products may have limited functionality under older Windows versions.

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8. Standards & Compliance

- Software Standards:
- Microsoft OLE/COM ActiveX Control Specification
- Win32 API Function Interface
- IEEE-488 / IEEE-488.2 (for GPIB communication)
- Hardware Interface Standards:
- PCI, ISA, CompactPCI, PCMCIA (PC Card) bus compliance
- Regulatory Compliance:
- Designed for industrial automation and measurement applications; conforms to standard Windows driver model (WDM) practices.
- Industry Compatibility:
- Compatible with National Instruments LabVIEW and VI-DAQ environments.
- Follows standard naming conventions and function structures for interoperability with third-party software.

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9. Additional Information

Warranty & Support:
- Provided as part of CONTEC’s software support for hardware products.
- Free updates and driver library downloads available from CONTEC’s global portal.
- Technical support and documentation accessible online.

Maintenance:
- Virtually maintenance-free; periodic updates recommended to ensure compatibility with new OS versions.
- Diagnostic utilities assist in identifying hardware or driver issues.

Software Updates:
- Latest versions of ACX-PAC(W32)BP and API-PAC(W32) available for free download at [www.contec.com/apipac/](http://www.contec.com/apipac/).
- Updates include bug fixes, new board support, and enhanced sample programs.

Integration with Other CONTEC Software:
- API-PAC(W32): Unified driver library for all CONTEC I/O boards.
- API-GPLV(W32): GPIB driver software for LabVIEW, compatible with ACX-AIO(W98).
- VI-DAQ: LabVIEW-compliant VI library for analog, digital, and counter modules.
- COM-DRV(W32): Standard COM driver for serial communication modules.

Developer Resources:
- Sample programs for Visual Basic, Visual C++, and Excel.
- Online help files with function descriptions and usage examples.
- Diagnostic and configuration utilities for board setup and verification.
- API-TOOL Developer’s Site for driver downloads and documentation.

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Summary

The CONTEC ACX-AIO(W98) ActiveX Component is a comprehensive software solution for integrating CONTEC’s industrial I/O boards into Windows-based applications. It provides a unified, visual, and programmable interface for analog, digital, counter, motion, and GPIB control, enabling developers to build robust automation and measurement systems with minimal effort. With broad OS and language support, built-in diagnostics, and seamless integration with CONTEC’s API-PAC(W32) and LabVIEW drivers, ACX-AIO(W98) stands as a versatile and reliable tool for industrial automation professionals seeking efficient, scalable, and maintainable control solutions.