Dept of Neurophysiology -- COM Commands Documentation

Commands used in the COM Program

Once the user has started the COM program, it will run indefinately, using the information in the macro and parameter files to generate the trials. To stop the program, the user can type one of several available commands. Also, there are other command options available, allowing the user to pause the program, resume the program, and execute other functions. These commands are described below. Note that the user must type the 2-letter command, followed by the 'RETURN' (or 'ENTER') key. Whenever a valid command is typed, the program waits for the 'RETURN' key to continue.

AP Abort Program. The program ends, WITHOUT saving the data in the data file. Since it potentially discards much information, the user is prompted to confirm the command with 'Y' or 'y'. If neither of these is typed, the program continues to run.
TP Terminate Program. The program ends, saving the data collected so far in the data file specified when the COM program started.
HP Hold Program. The program pauses, and waits for the user to type either "RP" or one of the other available commands.
RP Resume Program. The program continues where it left off when the command "HP" was typed.
SP Stimulate Electrically. The program executes the electrical stimulation routine, which will be described in a separate document.
NP Re-read Parameter Files. The program re-reads the parameter files that are specified in the macro file used for this run. This allows the user to change certain parameters in the parameter files during a run of the COM program, (from a separate terminal), and give the "NP" command to read in the new set of parameters and continue the current run with these new parameter values. Note that only CERTAIN parameters are allowed to be changed. They are: attset, azwndl1, elwndl1, azwndl2, elwndl2, led1wts, and spkbwts.
PP Dump Partial Data Set to File. The program stores the UET (spike time) data collected so far into a separate data file. The name of this file is similar to the name of the data file for the current run of COM. That is, if the current data file is called "mydata.dat", then the UET data file is called "mydata.tmp". The "PP" command can be issued repeatedly during a run, and each time it creates an updated data file, containing data collected so far. The user can access the new data file from separate programs, in order to plot results that have been obtained so far.

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This page last modified on : June 24, 1996

AP	Abort Program. The program ends, WITHOUT saving the data in the data file. Since it potentially discards much information, the user is prompted to confirm the command with 'Y' or 'y'. If neither of these is typed, the program continues to run.
TP	Terminate Program. The program ends, saving the data collected so far in the data file specified when the COM program started.
HP	Hold Program. The program pauses, and waits for the user to type either "RP" or one of the other available commands.
RP	Resume Program. The program continues where it left off when the command "HP" was typed.
SP	Stimulate Electrically. The program executes the electrical stimulation routine, which will be described in a separate document.
NP	Re-read Parameter Files. The program re-reads the parameter files that are specified in the macro file used for this run. This allows the user to change certain parameters in the parameter files during a run of the COM program, (from a separate terminal), and give the "NP" command to read in the new set of parameters and continue the current run with these new parameter values. Note that only CERTAIN parameters are allowed to be changed. They are: attset, azwndl1, elwndl1, azwndl2, elwndl2, led1wts, and spkbwts.
PP	Dump Partial Data Set to File. The program stores the UET (spike time) data collected so far into a separate data file. The name of this file is similar to the name of the data file for the current run of COM. That is, if the current data file is called "mydata.dat", then the UET data file is called "mydata.tmp". The "PP" command can be issued repeatedly during a run, and each time it creates an updated data file, containing data collected so far. The user can access the new data file from separate programs, in order to plot results that have been obtained so far.