nixie_tubes/README.md
Vanessa Ezekowitz 3156f03add update README
2015-06-20 03:59:02 -04:00

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nixie_tubes mod by Vanessa Ezekowitz
This mod provides a set of classic Nixie tubes, and a set of alphanumeric
15-segment tubes similar to Burroughs B-7971, controlled by Mesecons'
Digilines mod.
Simply place a tube, right-click it, and set a channel.
Then send a character or one of several control words to that channel from a
Mesecons Lua Controller and the tube will try to display it.
The classic tubes are numeric with colon and period symbols, and hence will
respond to the literal numbers 0-9, and the words "colon", "period", and
"off". Any other symbol or word is ignored.
The alphanumeric tubes respond to characters from the standard 7-bit ASCII
character set, along with these messages:
* "off", "colon" and "period" act the same as on the numeric tubes. Note that
neither a colon nor a period actually look all that great on a 15-segment
display, so use a classic tube for those, if you can.
* "del" or character code 127 displays an all-on square, but without segment
#15 (the bottom, chevron-shaped one).
* "allon" or character code 128 will display an all-on square, with segment
#15 lit also.
* "cursor" or character code 129 will display just segment 15.
Any unrecognized word or symbol outside the 32-129 range is ignored.
The Decatron tubes respond to 0-9 and "off", same as the others, along with
the following actions:
* "inc" will increment the tube's current number value.
If the value overflows from 9 back to 0, the tube will generate a "carry"
message.
* "dec" will decrement the current value.
If the value wraps from 0 back to 9, the tube will send out a "borrow"
message.
* "get" will query the current state of the tube, responding with a single
digit 0-9 or the word "off".
Tubes emit a small amount of light when displaying something.
Nixies can only be mounted on the floor, while Decatrons can be mounted on a
wall (or a ceiling if so desired).
A Decatron has a small grey spot on its internal insulator to mark the "0"
position.