Installation

The installation program copies the PC*MILER Rail TCP/IP files into the default directory:

c:\ALK Technologies\PCRWINXX\TCPIP

PC*MILER Rail-Connect must be installed prior to running the TCP/IP interface.  The interface program (pcmsock.exe) or the Windows Service (tcpsvc.exe) requires a command-line parameter—a unique port number to which they will be listening.

For PC*MILER Rail-Connect: 

pcmsock PC_MILERRAIL 2001

The server program comes with a tester program: tcptest.exe to connect to PC*MILER Rail-Connect. This test program sends commands to the server engine that is running via TCP/IP. It includes a sample trip (tcptest.in) to send to the engine.

Syntax (do not include brackets)

pcmsock [product code] [port number]

Interface Specifics

The interface is completely text based. You can use a telnet application to test the installation and familiarize yourself with the interface. For example (assuming that the host PC has a 127.0.0.1 address):

For PC*MILER Rail-Connect: 

• telnet 127.0.0.1 [Port #]

When the connection is made the host PC (server) sends a prompt ending with the word READY.  Most of the routing functions listed in the corresponding Connectivity manuals are available. The mapping functions and the functions listed below as "APIs NOT Available Via TCP/IP," below are not available. Also note that there are a few differences in the syntax. PC*MILER Rail-Connect functions do not require (and will not accept) the ServerID parameter. The strings in the parameters must be quoted if they contain commas and/or parentheses. 

Example:

# telnet 127.0.0.1 [Port #] <Enter>

PCMILER RAIL SERVER READY

pcrsnewtrip()<Enter>

0 -- this is a good return code

14460364 -- this is the trip ID

pcrscalctrip(14460364, "CHICAGO IL", "NS", "C","PHILADELPHIA PA", "NS", "C") <Enter>

0 – this is a good return code

8468 – distance in tenths of miles

  READY

pcrsdeletetrip(14460364) <Enter>

0 – this is a good return code

 READY

NOTE:  When finished testing, simply exit your telnet session; there is no “kill” command.    

Syntax errors (wrong spelling of functions, missing parameters, etc.) will result in textual error messages. 

Example:

# telnet 127.0.0.1 2001 <Enter>

PCMILER SERVER READY

pcrssetrouteformula(14460364, "P") <Enter>

-401 – this is the error code associated with a parameter error

APIs Available Via TCP/IP

The following APIs are EXPOSED to the TCP/IP interface in PC*MILER Rail:

APIs NOT Available via TCP/IP