Alpha® Marquee Control

ActiveX Developer’s Reference

Version 1.1

Copyright  2000, 2001 Adaptive Micro Systems, Inc.

10/9/2001 9709-2054A
 Table of Contents
TITLE PAGE..........................................................................................................................................................

TABLE OF CONTENTS ......................................................................................................................................

INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................................ 1

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS............................................................................................................................. 2

GETTING STARTED ......................................................................................................................................... 3

GENERAL USE ................................................................................................................................................... 4

INITIALIZE THE CONTROL................................................................................................................................... 4
PRE-DEFINED MESSAGES.................................................................................................................................... 4
CUSTOM MESSAGES ........................................................................................................................................... 4
OTHER FUNCTIONALITY ..................................................................................................................................... 4
MODES.................................................................................................................................................................. 5
TEMPLATE MODE ............................................................................................................................................... 5
STRING MODE ..................................................................................................................................................... 5
ALARM MODE..................................................................................................................................................... 5
NO STATE ........................................................................................................................................................... 6
CONNECTIONS .................................................................................................................................................. 7
COMMUNICATION ............................................................................................................................................... 7
Serial .............................................................................................................................................................. 7
TCP/IP............................................................................................................................................................ 7
SINGLE MARQUEE PER CONNECTION .................................................................................................................. 7
MULTIPLE MARQUEES PER CONNECTION ........................................................................................................... 7
Serial .............................................................................................................................................................. 7
TCP/IP............................................................................................................................................................ 7
MESSAGE MANAGER UTILITY ................................................................................................................... 9
USER INTERFACE ................................................................................................................................................ 9
TEMPLATES ....................................................................................................................................................... 10
STRINGS ............................................................................................................................................................ 11
ALARMS ............................................................................................................................................................ 12
METHODS.......................................................................................................................................................... 13

PROPERTIES .................................................................................................................................................... 18

APPENDIX: VERSION 1.1 CHANGES 21

Marquee Control – User’s Guide

INTRODUCTION

The Marquee Control is a development tool designed to ease communication with an Alpha Marquee
Display.

The Marquee Control is an ActiveX Control. As such, it should function in any container that supports
the ActiveX standard.

The Marquee Control can display predefined messages, stored in ‘Message Files’ in XML format, or
messages created at run-time.

The Message Manager utility is provided with the Control to allow message creation, modification,
and deletion. A given message file can hold as many messages as desired.

The Marquee Control offers multiple modes of operation for displaying different types of data.

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SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 (or greater)

Internet Explorer must be installed on the machine, but need not be the default browser. The
Control simply utilizes libraries that are installed with Internet Explorer.

Internet Explorer 4.01 can meet this requirement if the ‘xmlredist.exe’ is used to upgrade the
needed libraries. This file is run automatically upon installation if needed. If Internet Explorer
4.01 is installed after the Control, ‘xmlredist.exe’ must be run before the Control will function
properly.

A design environment that supports ActiveX controls. The Control should function in any ActiveX
container, such as Visual C++; compatible manufacturing software/Human Machine Interfaces (HMI), as
well as business applications such as Microsoft Excel.

NOTE: The following five containers have all been thoroughly tested and message samples for them are
available, along with telephone support:

Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 SP3

GE Cimplicity 4.01 SP3

Intellution iFix 2.1

Rockwell RSView32 6.20.49

Wonderware Intouch 7.1

A serial or LAN connection to an Adaptive Alpha Marquee.

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GETTING STARTED

Open the container to be used in its design environment.

Load / Install the Control within the container if needed.

For example, in Visual Basic, the Control must be selected under “Components”, or in
Wonderware’s Intouch, an ActiveX Control must be installed with the Installation Wizard.

Place an instance of the Control on the application.

Bring up the Control’s property pages. Set properties to desired values.

Minimally: set MarqueeAddress on the ‘General’ tab, and set LAN or Serial properties on the
Communication tab.

Place code in a script/event/function to call the Initialize method upon startup.

As desired, add code to call methods and set properties of the Control.

Run application.

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GENERAL USE

Initialize the Control

The Initialize method should be called before any other method on the Control. Startup scripts/events of
the containing application are a good place to do this.

Pre-defined Messages

Calling ChangeMode makes use of other properties on the Control. Make sure to set these properties
before calling ChangeMode.

For example, to display a template, the TemplateName and MessageFile properties should combine to
reference an existing template in an existing file. Thus, in Visual Basic:

Marquee1.MessageFile = “c:\AMS Marquee\Demos\demoMessages.xml”

Marquee1.TemplateName = “Status”
Marquee1.ChangeMode(“String”)

If one file contains all the templates to be used by the application, MessageFile can be set at design time on
the ‘General’ property page. Then, the property does not need to be set through code.

If the message contains variables, those variables can be updated with a call to the UpdateVariable
method.

Custom Messages

Messages can be created through code with a single call to the QuickDisplay method. Attributes of the
message are sent as parameters to the method.

Other functionality

The ResetBoard method can be used to send a reset signal to the marquee. This causes the marquee to run
through its startup routine. The reset is a “soft” reset that is non-destructive to the marquee’s internal
memory.

The Clear method can be used to remove all messages from the marquee.

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MODES

The Control can function in several different modes.

Template Mode
Template mode is designed for displaying production information or statistics. Templates are
designed to fill the marquee display and do not move on and off the marquee. Thus only color
(per character) and font (per template) attributes are available.

Parts of the template can be configured statically to display labels, such as “Machine#” or
“Parts/Hr”. Other parts of the template can be configured to show variables, like the current value
of a machine number or parts per hour. Variables can be updated at any time using the
UpdateVariable method.

Example:
Parts/Hr: XXXX Count: XXXX
Machine #: XX

The Message Manager utility is used to design Template messages.

String Mode
String mode is intended for use with messages that have movement. Color, font, mode, position,
speed and special attributes are available for strings. Color can be selected on a character basis;
remaining attributes affect the complete string.

Example: “Shift 2 has met its production goal!” can be configured to scroll left to right, at low
speed, across the middle of the marquee, with various colors, in five high standard letters.

String mode supports variables, which are updated by calls to the UpdateVariable method.
Therefore, the above example could be easily be used for shift 3 or 4 by making the shift number a
variable.

The Message Manager utility is used to design String messages.

Alarm Mode
Alarms are Strings that must be acknowledged before other messages can be displayed. However,
unlike Strings, Alarms do not support the ability to define variables.

The Control maintains an internal queue of alarms. All alarms in the queue are displayed one after
another in a round-robin manner

Alarm mode can be entered explicitly or implicitly.

Calling the ChangeMode function will explicitly put the marquee in alarm mode. If no
alarms are in the Control’s queue, nothing will be displayed on the marquee. Alarms can be
added and acknowledged as needed with the AlarmAdd, AlarmAcknowledge, and
AlarmAcknowledgeAll functions. When all alarms have been acknowledged, the marquee
displays nothing. The marquee will remain in alarm mode until a call to ChangeMode
switches the current mode.

Adding an alarm with the AlarmAdd function will implicitly put the marquee in alarm mode.
If the Control is already in alarm mode, the alarm is added to the Control’s queue. If the
Control is not in alarm mode, it will save its settings, enter alarm mode, and add the first

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Marquee Control – User’s Guide

alarm to its queue. Additional alarms can be added; any alarm can be acknowledged. Once
the last alarm has been acknowledged, the Control will revert to its saved settings (displaying
what it was before entering alarm mode.)

No State

The Control does not have to keep an internal state. The Control can simply be used as an interface to the
marquee if desired. This can be accomplished by using only the QuickDisplay and Strings that contain no
variables.

Alarm mode requires the Control to keep an internal queue of alarms to rotate to the marquee. Templates
and Strings with variables require the Control to keep an active list of available variables and where they
are located. Thus, these modes cannot be used in a stateless manner.

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Marquee Control – User’s Guide

CONNECTIONS

Communication

Serial
Each Control is configurable at design time to use a specific COM port. The COM port is opened and
closed as needed by the Control. Thus, multiple Controls can be configured to use the same COM port.

TCP/IP
Each Control is configurable at design time to use a specific remote IP address and remote port. Due to the
overhead of creating a socket connection with the ethernet adapter, the socket connection is made when the
Control is initialized, and terminated when the Control terminates.

Note the difference from Serial communication. Since a Control maintains the socket connection to the
ethernet adapter, only one Control can use a given IP address.

Single marquee per connection

If each marquee has its own IP address or COM port, the application simply needs one Control per
marquee.

Multiple marquees per connection

It is possible to “chain” marquees together. In this situation, from the perspective of the local computer,
multiple marquees exist at one connection (be it a COM port or IP address.)

Serial
When multiple marquees exist behind one COM port, the number of Controls needed depends on how the
marquees are to be used.

If all the marquees are to display the same data, they can be thought of as one marquee. Thus, only one
Control is needed. Simply set the MarqueeAddress property to ‘00’ to broadcast to all marquees.

If the marquees are to display different data, one Control per marquee will be needed. Configure each
Control to use the given COM port, and set the MarqueeAddress property to the address of a single
marquee.

TCP/IP
When multiple marquees exist at one IP address, less flexibility exists. Only one Control can access the IP
address since the Control maintains a socket connection to the adapter, as discussed above.

If all the marquees are to display the same data, they can be thought of as one marquee. Thus, only one
Control is needed. Simply set the Control’s MarqueeAddress property to ‘00’ to broadcast to all
marquees. This is the same as a Serial connection.

The difference becomes apparent when the marquees are to display different data. An instance of the
Control has only one internal state. Since the marquees are to display different data, multiple Controls are
required. However, only one Control can use the single IP address. Thus, if the Control monitors state
(Templates, Strings with variables, or Alarms), all marquees at the IP address must display the same data.

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If the Control can be used in a “stateless” mode, the marquees can display different data. Prior to any
communication with the marquees, simply reset the MarqueeAddress property to the desired marquee.
Stateless operation means using only QuickDisplay and Strings with no variables.

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MESSAGE MANAGER UTILITY

Templates, Strings, and Alarms are stored in message files to be used by the Control. The messages are
stored in XML format, hence the “.xml” extension. The Message Manager utility is installed in the same
directory as the Marquee Control. A sample message file, “demoMessages.xml” is installed in the ‘Demos’
directory.

Message files can contain any number of Alarms, Templates, and Strings.

User Interface

The Message Manager utility provides a user interface for creating the Message files. The main window is
divided into two panes.

The left pane operates much like the standard Windows Explorer. Message files can be added and removed
as desired. When a message file is loaded, the contained messages are grouped by type. When a single
message is selected, an editor should appear in the right pane and load the selected message.

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The right pane displays an editor specific to the type of message selected. Templates have their own editor
while Strings and Alarms share a second editor.

Templates

Selecting a Template from the tree causes the Template editor to be displayed on the right.

The controls at the top determine template attributes. Rows and Columns determine the size of the
grid just below. Font determines what font will be used on the marquee. This selection has no
visual implications on the grid.

The grid represents the marquee.

Color will change the color of the cursor at its current location. Selecting several cells or a
variable will change the color of all selected cells.

View Font Size only adjusts the size of the font used in the grid. This is for user convenience only
and has no effect on the message displayed on the marquee.

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Variables can be defined by selecting cell(s) on the grid, typing a name in the Variables section at
the bottom, and clicking Add. The list box shows all defined variables for the Template. The
variable’s name is used in later calls to UpdateVariable.

The Save button at the bottom saves the Template to the file.

Strings

Selecting a String message causes the String editor to be displayed on the right.

There is a large text box at the top of the String editor. Type the message to be displayed here.
Variables are created by surrounding the variable name with angle brackets. The variable’s name
is later used in calls to UpdateVariable.

Color will change the color of any selected text in the text box.

View Font Size only changes the size of the text in the editor. It has no effect on how the String is
displayed on the marquee.

The Save button at the bottom saves the String to the file.

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The Attributes section defines attributes for the whole message. Check the marquee’s
documentation for an explanation of the attributes.

Not all values are available for every model of Alpha sign. The utility displays all values that are
available. Check the marquee’s documentation for a list of which values are supported. Most
marquees will use a default value if an unsupported value is specified.

Alarms

Selecting an Alarm message brings up the Alarm editor on the right.

The same editor used by Strings is used for Alarms. All attributes work in the same manner.

The only difference from Strings is that Alarms do NOT support variables. Text surrounded by
angle brackets defines a variable in Strings. In Alarms the angle brackets are considered part of
the message.

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METHODS

AlarmAdd

Syntax:
Marquee.AlarmAdd

Remarks:
This method is used to add an alarm message to the Control’s internal alarm queue. The method
attempts to add the alarm specified by the AlarmName and MessageFile properties. A specified
alarm can only be added to the queue once.

Alarms in the queue are cycled to the marquee in a round-robin manner. New alarms are added to
the front of the queue.

Method returns a Boolean value indicating success or failure of the method.

See Also:
MessageFile, AlarmName properties.

AlarmAcknowledge

Syntax:
Marquee.AlarmAcknowledge

Remarks:
This method is used to remove an alarm message from the Control’s internal alarm queue. The
method attempts to remove the alarm specified by the AlarmName and MessageFile properties.

If the alarm removal empties the internal alarm queue, and Alarm mode was entered implicitly, the
Control will attempt to revert to the saved mode. See section on Alarm mode in User’s guide.

Method returns a Boolean value indicating success or failure of the method.

See Also:
MessageFile, AlarmName properties.

AlarmAcknowledgeAll

Syntax:
Marquee.AlarmAcknowledgeAll

Remarks:
This method is used to remove all alarm messages from the Control’s internal alarm queue. It is
equivalent to calling AlarmAcknowledge for all alarms in the queue.

Method returns a Boolean value indicating success or failure of the method.

ChangeMode

Syntax:
Marquee.ChangeMode(NewMode)

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Parameters:
NewMode – String
Indicates new mode. Modes can be referenced either by name or number.
Possible values:
Template Mode: “Template” or “0”
String Mode: “String” or “1”
Alarm Mode: “Alarm” or “2”

Remarks:
This method is used to change the internal state of the Control. Calling ChangeMode attempts to
load the message specified by the File and Name properties of the specified mode.
For example, calling ChangeMode(“1”) will attempt to change to string mode and display the
string specified by StringName and MessageFile.

Note that ChangeMode is also used to change the message displayed without changing modes. If
the Control is in String mode, a subsequent call to ChangeMode(“string”) will simply change the
String displayed.

Method returns a Boolean value indicating success or failure of the method.

Clear

Syntax:
Marquee.Clear

Remarks:
This method clears the marquee display, and erases the values of all variables stored in the
marquee’s memory.

Does not rewrite the internal memory configuration table of the marquee.

Method returns a Boolean value indicating success or failure of the method.

Initialize

Syntax:
Marquee.Initialize(VariableSize)

Parameters:
VariableSize – Optional Integer
Specifies the size of the string files created in the marquee’s memory. Default size (if
parameter is omitted) is 32 bytes.

Remarks:
Method must be called prior to any other calling any other method on the Control.

Method creates the permanent socket connection with the marquee, if LAN connection is
specified. The memory configuration table is then sent to the marquee. Configuration consists of
64 string files and one text file. Size of the string files is determined by the VariableSize
parameter. Any remaining memory is assigned to the single text file.

Method returns a Boolean value indicating success or failure of the method.

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QuickDisplay

Syntax:
Marquee.QuickDisplay(Text, Color, Font, Mode, Special, Position)

Parameters:
Text – String
The text to be displayed.

Color – Optional String

The color to use when displaying Text. Must be one of:
“AutoColor” – default if Color is unspecified
“Red”
“Green”
“Amber”
“DimRed”
“DimGreen”
“Brown”
“Orange”
“Yellow”
“Rainbow1”
“Rainbow2”
“Mix”

Font – Optional String

The font to use when displaying Text. Must be one of:
“S5”
“S7” – default if Font is unspecified
“F7”
“S10”
“FFULL”
“SFULL”
Note: Values are of the form “S(tandard) | F(ancy)” followed by the height.

Mode – Optional String

The mode in which to display Text. Must be one of:
“Rotate”
“Hold”
“Flash”
“RollUp”
“RollDown”
“RollLeft”
“RollRight”
“WipeUp”
“WipeDown”
“WipeLeft”
“WipeRight”
“Scroll”
“AutoMode” – default if Mode and Special are unspecified
“RollIn”
“RollOut”
“WipeIn”

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“WipeOut”
“CompressedRotate”
Note: see marquee documentation for descriptions.

Special – Optional String

The special mode in which to display Text. Special overrides Mode if both are specified.
Must be one of:
“Twinkle”
“Sparkle”
“Snow”
“Interlock”
“Switch”
“Slide”
“Spray”
“Starburst”
Note: see marquee documentation for descriptions.

Position – Optional String

The position at which to display Text. Must be one of:
“Top”
“Middle”
“Bottom”
“Fill” – default if Position is unspecified

Remarks:
Method displays the message defined by its parameters, IF POSSIBLE. Not all marquees are
capable of all listed colors, modes, and fonts. Certain positions do not allow certain fonts, etc.
The marquee will usually use a default value if the specified option or combination is invalid. The
defaults shown above are the Control’s defaults. These defaults will be sent when a parameter is
not specified.

Using QuickDisplay does not change the Control’s state. A subsequent call to ChangeMode will
return the marquee to the mode used before QuickDisplay, provided none of the properties have
been changed.

Method returns a Boolean value indicating success or failure of the method.

ResetBoard

Syntax:
Marquee.ResetBoard

Remarks:
Method causes the marquee to run through its startup diagnostic sequence (soft reset.) The soft
reset does not clear the marquee’s memory.

This method has no affect on the Control or its internal data.

Method returns a Boolean value indicating success or failure of the method.

UpdateVariable

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Syntax:
Marquee.UpdateVariable(Name, Value)

Parameters:
Name – String
The name of the variable to be updated.
Value – String
The value to be displayed.

Remarks:
Method causes the Control to look through the list of available variables for the current message.
If Name is found, Value is sent to the marquee. If Value is longer than the variable’s defined
length, Value is truncated. If Value is shorter, it is left aligned in the defined space.

Method returns a boolean value indicating success or failure of the method.

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PROPERTIES

AlarmName
Type: String

Availability: Run-time only

Remarks:
Name of alarm to look for in the specified message file. Used in conjunction with
MessageFile. This property should be set before a call to AlarmAdd,
AlarmAcknowledge, or a call to ChangeMode that changes to Alarm mode

MarqueeAddress
Type: String (length of 2): Hexadecimal value.

Availability: Design-time & Run-time

Remarks:
Specifies the internal address of the marquee. Can be used to route a message to a
specific marquee.

MarqueeConnectMode
Type: Byte [0 – 1]
0 – Serial Connection
1 – LAN Connection

Availability: Design-time only

Remarks:
Specifies the means for connecting to the marquee. Serial Connections are established
and relinquished as needed. LAN Connections are established and relinquished upon
Control initialization and termination.

MarqueeLogFile
Type: String

Availability: Design-time & Run-time

Remarks:
Specifies the file and path to log errors to. Any method which returns FALSE will write
an error message to this file, if it is specified.

MarqueeType
Type: Byte: [0]
0 – Alpha

Availability: Design-time only

Remarks:
Reserved for future use.

MessageFile

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Type: String

Availability: Design-time & Run-time

Remarks:
Message file to access when looking for a given message. Used in conjunction with
TemplateName, StringName, AlarmName. Can be changed at run-time to allow
multiple files to be used.

Can be set initially on the ‘General’ property page. If all messages are contained in one
file and the property is set at design time, this property need not be used in code.

NetworkAddress
Type: String

Availability: Design-time only

Remarks:
Network address where LAN adapter resides. Can be an IP address, or network name,
provided that the local computer can resolve it.

NetworkPort
Type: Integer: [0 – 32767]. Default is 3001.

Availability: Design-time only

Remarks:
Port at which to open socket connection with LAN adapter.

SerialComPort
Type: Byte: [1-16]

Availability: Design-time only

Remarks:
COM port to use for serial communication.

SerialBaudRate
Type: Integer: [100, 300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 14400, 19200, 28800,
38400, 56000, 57600, 115200, 128000, 256000]

Availability: Design-time only

Remarks:
Baud rate to at which to open COM port.

SerialParity
Type: String [“None”, “Even”, “Odd”, “Mark”, “Space”]

Availability: Design-time only

Remarks:
Parity used when opening COM port.

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SerialDataBits
Type: Byte: [4, 5, 6, 7, 8]

Availability: Design-time only

Remarks:
Data bits used for COM port.

SerialStopBits
Type: Byte: [1, 2]

Availability: Design-time only

Remarks:
Stop bits used for COM port.

StringName
Type: String

Availability: Run-time only

Remarks:
Name of string to look for in the specified message file. Used in conjunction with
MessageFile. This property should be set before a call to ChangeMode that changes to
String mode.

TemplateName
Type: String

Availability: Run-time only

Remarks:
Name of template to look for in the specified message file. Used in conjunction with
MessageFile. This property should be set before a call to ChangeMode that changes to
Template mode.

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Appendix: Version 1.1 changes

New Method: UpdateVariableAdv

• Description
An extended version of the UpdateVariable method has been added to the Control entitled
UpdateVariableAdv. This new method retains all functionality of UpdateVariable and adds two
optional parameters that control the variable’s color and flash state.
Marquee.UpdateVaraibleAdv(Name, Value, Color, Flash)

• Performance
BEHAVIOR: Flashing a template variable decreases update speed!
EXPLANATION: By design, while showing a template, the marquee uses zero delay between
updates to its display. This allows all variables on the marquee to be updated as fast as possible.
However, a non-zero delay is used when flashing a variable in order to allow time for the flash to
be visible. This delay causes the performance decrease.
Depending on the type of data shown, this behavior may or may not be acceptable. If real-time
data is the goal, avoid flashing variables. If an update approximately every 3-5 seconds is
acceptable, flashing variables are a viable option.

• Optional Parameters
The meaning of ‘Optional’ in the phrase ‘Optional Parameter’ depends greatly on the HMI in use.
For example, Microsoft’s Visual Basic allows:
Marquee.UpdateVaraibleAdv(Name, Value, Color)
Marquee.UpdateVaraibleAdv(Name, Value, , Flash)
In Wonderware’s Intouch, the first statement is legal, but the second statement would be:
Marquee.UpdateVaraibleAdv(Name, Value,””, Flash)

Consult the individual HMI’s documentation complete details on optional parameter syntax.

• Syntax

UpdateVariableAdv

Syntax:
Marquee.UpdateVariableAdv(Name, Value, Color, Flash)

Parameters:
Name – String
The name of the variable to be updated.

Value – String
The value to be displayed.

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Color – String
Optional. Determines the variable’s color. If omitted, variable’s color is
determined by the message. Possible values:
“AutoColor”
“Red”
“Green”
“Amber”
“DimRed”
“DimGreen”
“Brown”
“Orange”
“Yellow”
“Rainbow1”
“Rainbow2”
“Mix”

Flash – Byte [0 – 1]
Optional. Causes variable to flash. If omitted, variable does not flash.
0 – Off (no Flash)
1 – On (Flash)

Remarks:
Method causes the Control to look through the list of available variables for the current
message. If Name is found, Value is sent to the marquee.
If Value is longer than the variable’s defined length, Value is truncated. If Value is
shorter, it is left aligned in the defined space.
Since flashing only occurs while the message is stationary on the marquee, Flash is
dependent on the mode and speed of the message that contains the variable.
If Color is omitted, the variable is displayed in the color defined by the message.
Method returns a boolean value indicating success or failure of the method.

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Change: Communication Property Availability

In an effort to make the Control as flexible as possible, the “design-time-only” attribute of several
properties has been lifted. The following properties are now modifiable through code, at run-time,
until the Initialize method is called:
MarqueeConnectMode
NetworkAddress
NetworkPort
SerialComPort
SerialBaudRate
SerialParity
SerialDataBits
SerialStopBits
Once Initialize has been called there should be no need to change these properties, and thus they
are not modifiable.

1) FIX: DoEvents

A) The Control calls DoEvents after each transmission in TCP/IP mode. This relieves the
end-user from calling DoEvents.

B) Recompilation with Visual Studio SP4 should fix bug where multiple controls using
TCP/IP communication can cause communication loss if not separated by DoEvents.

For example, if two Marquee controls were used, Marquee1 and Marquee2, sending
data to both without separating them with a DoEvents usually resulted in only the second
send being successful:

Marquee1.UpdateVariable("test", 1)
Marquee2.UpdateVariable("test", 1) ' Clobbers the call by Marquee1

Marquee1.UpdateVariable("test", 1)
DoEvents
Marquee2.UpdateVariable("test", 1) ' OK because of DoEvents call

With version 1.1, the first scenario should function properly.

Service Pack 4 for Visual Studio supposedly fixes this issue with an update to the
Winsock control. Microsoft Knowledgebase Article: Q245159. (The Marquee Control uses
the Winsock Control for TCP/IP communication.)

NEW: Addition of ResetCommunication method.

Serial mode: Closes COM port if stranded open.

TCP/IP mode: Closes socket connection, attempts to re-establish the socket connection.
A boolean return value indicates success/failure of method call.

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