Hi

reply no.16 has your answer, it all lives in the spindle toggle button.

One thing you may find with Mach is that there are few bullet proof solutions - many ways to solve most issues

Just a thought but...

you start Mach and command M4, then M5. You then hit the spindle button - which way does the spindle turn?

I wonder if your original mods to M3/4 would give a more consistent feel.

Up to zmajmr I guess.

now if only there was a list of variables or a way of finding free ones

Not sure there's a definitive list but do some searches - there's bits and pieces scattered about - think of it as Mach3 Pokemon go  .

also interesting info on destroying variables (BASIC)

The variables you create in a macro are all local, so like any other similar language, they are created and destroyed with each invocation.

Well, with the code all in the spindle button, it will rely on the status of the spindle LED's in Mach - providing these work it shouldn't matter if you pressed M4 M5 M4 M5 or whatever - it examines the status of those led's at the instant you press the toggle button

Nope.

You start Mach and do an M4 - spindle CCW
You do a M5 - spindle stopped.
You hit the button - both leds are off so it goes to the else clause to turn it on.
But which way?
Well - 1601 has never been touched yet so it's zero
So your spindle starts CW. - i.e. NOT what it was last doing.

Ah, i was wondering when you would spot that one

Definitely better to put the SetVar bits in the M3/M4 then I think, that would solve it, presuming there is no sneaky macro stuff running elsewhere calling an ActivateSignal(OUTPUTxx)

presuming there is no sneaky macro stuff running elsewhere calling an ActivateSignal(OUTPUTxx)

well indeed - but if you have a system that does that I'd suggest a career in piano playing is not going to end well. 

LOL

So, to the OP,

In your M3 macro

Add...
SetVar(1601,0)

In your M4 macro

Add...
SetVar(1601,1)

In your spindle toggle code, find the line that says DoSpinCW() and put a ' at the start so it looks like 'DoSpinCW()

Then Add...

  If GetVar(1601)=0 Then
    DoSpinCW()
  Else
    DoSpinCCW()
  End If
Sorted

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo... 

You've gone back to where you started.

See reply #7

Ah crap, i am trying to run a printing press at the same time though (

This was the bit i wanted...

If GetOEMLed(164) or GetOEMLed(165) then
  DoSpinStop()
else
  If GetVar(1601)=0 then
    DoSpinCW()
  Else
    DoSpinCCW()
  End If
End if