PCC program variables, functions, math and reserved words
Selection of measurement channels.
Variables
PSYLAB variables are words used to represent numbers. Any variable contains the number 0 when PSYLAB measurement begins unless a program statement deliberately changes it. Variables used in PCC code may use any number of characters to 'describe' them, all of which must be exactly the same each time the variable is used in the program. (Variables used in the PSYLAB processing RFP programs are less positively identified, using only the first and last characters). One exception to this rule, however, is that the system is not 'case sensitive', it does not matter whether the letters in the character description are upper or lower case.
The 'description' characters used to represent a variable may be chosen to help remember what the purpose of the variable is in the particular program. For example, in a program which delivers a number of stimuli, there might be a variable named StimCount, which is increased by one every time a new stimulus is delivered. This variable could just as easily be called variable1 or V1, but then it would be necessary to remember what varaible1 does, as opposed to varaible2 etc. The use of upper case characters to break up the descriptor into its meaningful parts is recommended (e.g. the upper case S and C in StimCount). Spaces or other punctuation characters are not allowed, so this is a useful way to enhance readability of the program.
Any mix of letters and numbers may be used to describe a variable, as long as the first character is not a number. The variable descriptor may not be the same as any of the reserved words used for pre-defined functions.
For those with knowledge of computer languages, PSYLAB PCC variables are only numeric, floating point (meaning that they may be fractional and have a range in the region of 10 to the power of +/-13).
Examples of use of variables and math.
Variables might be used as in the following examples. These are intended to suggest uses, and demonstrate syntax, but it should not imply limitation of other uses not shown. Notice that all lines in the PCC program except labels must start at least one space from the left.
variable1 = .5
Value zero point five (0.5) is assigned to 'variable1'. Regardless of whatever value it had before, after execution of this line, it will contain 0.5. Any other value, positive or negtative could have been assigned. It is important to note that with fractional numbers, the leading zero should not be given.
variable1 = variable1 + 1
Every time program execution includes this line, 'variable1' will increase by one.
if variable1 = 10 then gosub SUB1
The value of variable1 is used to determine when a conditional jump will occur. Assuming that varaible1 is changed as measurement continues, perhaps by counting the number of times a stimulus is presented, then only when it becomes ten (in that case, on the tenth stimulus) will the jump to subroutine SUB1 occur (which might perhaps be a UCS which is npresented only once). Notice that the label SUB1 is given in upper case. This is just a convention, which helps to separate the subroutine labels when reading the program. PSYLAB is not case sensitive, it sees upper and lower case letters the same.
if variable1 = variable2 then gosub SUB1
This is similar to the last example, except that variable1 is compared to another variable, so that the condition under which the jump to SUB1 will occur can be repeated by changing the value of variable2. For example, if variable1 counted the total number of occurrences of the stimulus, but the stimulus sequence was repeated several times, variable2 could be set to some number relative to variable1 (e.g. variable2 = variable1 + 10) so that each time a new stimulus sequence began, the UCS would be delivered on the tenth stimulus in that sequence.
The following are a few examples of more complex math expressions. Parentheses must be used where shown.
variable1 = variable1 + variable2
variable1 = variable1 + (variable2 * variable3)
if (variable1 + variable2) = (variable3 / variable4) then gosub SUB1
In the next example, an expression is calculated separately before the result is used in the specific functions. These functions will not allow use of complex expressions directly for their parameters:
variable1 = variable2 + variable3
tone variable1,1
variable4 = table(variable1)
print variable1
The last examples demonstrate that the parameters used for 'tone' and 'print' may not be expressions, nor the subscript for 'table'. This is also true for 'noise', 'relay', 'bin8', 'shock', and any function which has a subscript.
Reserved words
PSYLAB measurement PCC language uses a number of reserved words which are recognised by the system and perform specific functions. For example, the word Tone is used to operate the TG2 tone generator. These words must therefore be avoided when choosing descriptions for user variables. The following is a summary of PSYLAB PCC language reserved words. A full description may be found using HELP in the PSYLAB Measurement program editor menu.
MEASUREMENT SYSTEM KEYWORD SUMMARY
------------------------- ----------------------------
BEEP Make a sound in the computer
BIN8 Operate BIN8 TTL outputs
BINARY(..) Convert numbers from 1-8 to 1-128 for BIN8.
CLS Clear the screen
DELAY UNTIL Wait at this statement until condition is true
EPCUE Synchronise averaged EP display with stimulus
$EPMAGNIFY [factor] Set magnification of on-line EP display
EPSTART Start new set of EP trials (zero on-line display)
FORCE [seconds] Prevent display & disk storage at critical times
GOSUB ... RETURN Jump program lines and return back
GOTO Jump program lines
GROUP Group number for subjects (put in results file)
$GROUP Cause prompt for group number at exp. start
IF ... THEN ... If expression after if is true, do ... after then
INPUT Read in a number from the keyboard
INT(..) Convert fraction to whole number
KEY Returns number of function key (also KEY = ..)
LATENCY Increases with time resolved to sampling interval
LINE Plot a line or draw a box on screen
LOCATE Determine position for PRINT
MARK Put a vertical mark on graphs
$MC24 Accommodate MC24 12 bit A-D converter
$MEASURE Establish a channel of measurement
MODE [mode no] Changes graph display format
$MONO Force CGA black and white display
NOISE [level] [time] Operate white noise generator
PARAMETER Similar to SUBJECT and GROUP
$PARAMETER Cause prompt for number at experiment start
PRINT Write on the measurement screen (see LOCATE)
RANDOM Produce random number between 0 and 255
RATE [samples/sec] Adjust sample rate (or switch off sampling)
$RATE [samples/sec] Establish data rate at start of measurement
RELAY Operate RL8 relay coupler
RETURN ..from GOSUB
RUN [program] Start another PCC control file
$SAMPLE Establish measurement channel for old devices
SHOCK [level] [time] Operate shock generator
$SPEED [pixels] Change distance covered x axis for each point
STORE End measurement or processing automatically
SUBJECT Returns Subject number
$SUBJECT Cause prompt for subject number at experiment start
TABLE(..) Array function (set up pseudo random conditions)
$TABLE Enter values into table array (like basic 'data')
$TABLESAVE Retain original measurement table for use in RFP
TIME Returns absolute time since recording began
TONE [vol] [freq] [time] Operate tone generator
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