ControlForge Specialized Utilities Guide

James M. Belcher Founder, JMB Technical Services LLC April 2026 | ControlForge v1.0.535

1. Overview

This guide covers specialized utility functions that don't fit into the major protocol or library guides.

Category	Functions	Use Case
KNX	6	Building automation (lighting, HVAC, blinds)
M-Bus	12	Utility meter reading (water, gas, heat, electric)
ZPL	8	Zebra label printing
Barcode	6	Barcode parsing and validation
URL	8	URL parsing and building
TLV/BER	12	Tag-Length-Value encoding (smart cards, ASN.1)
GSV/SSV	17	Get/Set System Value (Allen-Bradley compatibility)
ctrlX EtherCAT	10	Bosch Rexroth ctrlX I/O
DIR	4	Directory operations

2. KNX — Building Automation (6)

Control KNX/EIB devices (lights, blinds, HVAC) on a KNX/IP network.

(* Switch a light on/off *)
KNX_SWITCH('knx-gw:3671', '1/1/1', TRUE);

(* Dim to 75% *)
KNX_DIM('knx-gw:3671', '1/1/2', 75);

(* Set temperature setpoint (2-byte float) *)
KNX_SET_FLOAT('knx-gw:3671', '3/1/0', 22.5);

(* Set 1-byte value *)
KNX_SET_VALUE('knx-gw:3671', '1/1/3', 128);

(* Raw data send *)
KNX_SEND('knx-gw:3671', '1/1/4', 16#01, 16#FF);

(* Build group address from components *)
addr := KNX_GROUP_ADDR(1, 1, 1);      (* "1/1/1" *)

Function	Returns	Description
`KNX_SWITCH(target, addr, on_off)`	BOOL	DPT 1.001 switch
`KNX_DIM(target, addr, percent)`	BOOL	DPT 5.001 dimming (0-100)
`KNX_SET_VALUE(target, addr, byte)`	BOOL	DPT 5.x 1-byte value
`KNX_SET_FLOAT(target, addr, float)`	BOOL	DPT 9.001 2-byte float
`KNX_SEND(target, addr, bytes...)`	BOOL	Raw data telegram
`KNX_GROUP_ADDR(main, mid, sub)`	STRING	Build "main/mid/sub"

3. M-Bus — Utility Metering (12)

Read utility meters (water, gas, heat, electricity) via M-Bus over TCP gateway.

(* Connect to M-Bus gateway *)
ok := MBUS_TCP_CONNECT('meter', '10.0.0.60:10001');

(* Request data from meter at address 1 *)
raw := MBUS_REQUEST_DATA('meter', 1);

(* Parse response *)
resp := MBUS_PARSE_RESPONSE(raw);
mfr := MBUS_GET_MANUFACTURER(resp);           (* "KAM" *)
medium := MBUS_GET_MEDIUM(resp);               (* "Water" *)
records := MBUS_GET_RECORD_COUNT(resp);        (* 4 *)

(* Read individual records *)
FOR i := 0 TO records - 1 DO
    value := MBUS_GET_RECORD_VALUE(resp, i);   (* 1234.56 *)
    unit := MBUS_GET_RECORD_UNIT(resp, i);     (* "m3" *)
    rtype := MBUS_GET_RECORD_TYPE(resp, i);    (* "instantaneous" *)
END_FOR;

MBUS_TCP_CLOSE('meter');

Function	Returns	Description
`MBUS_TCP_CONNECT(name, host_port)`	BOOL	Connect to TCP gateway
`MBUS_TCP_CLOSE(name)`	BOOL	Close connection
`MBUS_REQUEST_DATA(name, addr)`	ARRAY	Send SND_NKE + REQ_UD2, get response
`MBUS_PARSE_RESPONSE(bytes)`	Handle	Parse long frame
`MBUS_GET_MANUFACTURER(h)`	STRING	Manufacturer code
`MBUS_GET_MEDIUM(h)`	STRING	Medium type (Water, Gas, Heat...)
`MBUS_GET_RECORD_COUNT(h)`	INT	Data record count
`MBUS_GET_RECORD_VALUE(h, idx)`	REAL	Record value
`MBUS_GET_RECORD_UNIT(h, idx)`	STRING	Unit (m3, kWh, etc.)
`MBUS_GET_RECORD_TYPE(h, idx)`	STRING	Record type
`MBUS_BUILD_SND_NKE(addr)`	ARRAY	Build init frame
`MBUS_CHECKSUM(bytes...)`	INT	Calculate checksum

4. ZPL — Zebra Label Printing (8)

Build ZPL II commands for Zebra thermal printers.

(* Build a shipping label *)
label := ZPL_BEGIN(400, 600);
label := ZPL_TEXT(label, 50, 50, 30, 'SHIP TO:');
label := ZPL_TEXT(label, 50, 90, 20, '123 Main Street');
label := ZPL_TEXT(label, 50, 120, 20, 'Anytown, USA 12345');
label := ZPL_LINE(label, 50, 160, 300, 2);
label := ZPL_BOX(label, 40, 40, 320, 200, 3);
label := ZPL_QR(label, 250, 250, 5, 'https://track.example.com/PKG123');
zpl := ZPL_END(label);

(* Send to printer via HTTP or serial *)
HTTP_POST('http://zebra-printer:9100', zpl, 'text/plain');

(* Quick single-text label *)
quick := ZPL_LABEL('Part: 12345', 'Qty: 100', 'Date: 2026-04-05');

Function	Returns	Description
`ZPL_BEGIN([width, height])`	Handle	Start label
`ZPL_END(h)`	STRING	Finalize ZPL string
`ZPL_LABEL(lines...)`	STRING	Quick multi-line label
`ZPL_TEXT(h, x, y, size, text)`	Handle	Add text
`ZPL_FIELD(h, x, y, field_num)`	Handle	Variable field placeholder
`ZPL_BOX(h, x, y, w, h, thick)`	Handle	Draw rectangle
`ZPL_LINE(h, x, y, w, thick)`	Handle	Draw horizontal line
`ZPL_QR(h, x, y, mag, data)`	Handle	QR code (magnification 1-10)

5. Barcode — Parse & Validate (6)

Parse raw barcode scanner input and validate check digits.

parsed := BARCODE_PARSE('0012345678905');
btype := BARCODE_GET_TYPE(parsed);        (* "EAN-13" *)
data := BARCODE_GET_DATA(parsed);         (* "0012345678905" *)

valid := BARCODE_VALIDATE_UPC('012345678905');   (* TRUE *)
check := BARCODE_CHECK_DIGIT('01234567890');     (* 5 *)
clean := BARCODE_STRIP(']E00012345678905');       (* Remove AIM identifier *)

Function	Returns	Description
`BARCODE_PARSE(raw)`	Handle	Parse and detect type
`BARCODE_GET_TYPE(h)`	STRING	Type (EAN-13, CODE128, etc.)
`BARCODE_GET_DATA(h)`	STRING	Cleaned data
`BARCODE_VALIDATE_UPC(code)`	BOOL	Validate 12-digit UPC
`BARCODE_CHECK_DIGIT(digits)`	INT	Calculate Mod 10 check digit
`BARCODE_STRIP(raw)`	STRING	Remove AIM identifiers

6. URL — Parse & Build (8)

(* Parse URL into components *)
parts := URL_PARSE('https://api.example.com:8443/v2/data?key=abc&limit=10#section');
(* {scheme:"https", host:"api.example.com:8443", path:"/v2/data",
    query:"key=abc&limit=10", fragment:"section"} *)

(* Build URL from components *)
url := URL_BUILD('https', 'api.example.com', '/v2/data');

(* Encode/decode *)
encoded := URL_ENCODE('hello world & more');   (* "hello%20world%20%26%20more" *)
decoded := URL_DECODE(encoded);

(* Join paths *)
full := URL_JOIN('https://api.example.com/v2', 'data/123');

(* Query parameter manipulation *)
val := URL_QUERY_GET('https://x.com?page=3', 'page', '1');  (* "3" *)
url := URL_QUERY_SET('https://x.com?page=3', 'limit', '20');
url := URL_QUERY_DELETE(url, 'page');

Function	Returns	Description
`URL_PARSE(url)`	MAP	Decompose URL
`URL_BUILD(scheme, host, path)`	STRING	Build URL
`URL_ENCODE(str)`	STRING	Percent-encode
`URL_DECODE(str)`	STRING	Percent-decode
`URL_JOIN(base, path)`	STRING	Join base + relative
`URL_QUERY_GET(url, key [,default])`	STRING	Read query param
`URL_QUERY_SET(url, key, value)`	STRING	Set query param
`URL_QUERY_DELETE(url, key)`	STRING	Remove query param

7. TLV/BER — Tag-Length-Value Encoding (12)

Parse and build BER-TLV structures (smart cards, ASN.1, EMV payment).

(* Parse TLV data *)
nodes := TLV_PARSE('6F 1A 84 07 A0000000041010 A5 0F 50 0A 4D617374657243617264');
count := TLV_COUNT(nodes);

tag := TLV_GET_TAG(nodes);
len := TLV_GET_LENGTH(nodes);
hex := TLV_GET_VALUE_HEX(nodes);
str := TLV_GET_VALUE_STRING(nodes);

(* Navigate constructed nodes *)
IF TLV_IS_CONSTRUCTED(nodes) THEN
    children := TLV_GET_CHILDREN(nodes);
END_IF;

(* Find by tag *)
app_label := TLV_FIND_TAG(nodes, 16#50);

(* Build TLV *)
tlv_bytes := TLV_BUILD(16#84, 16#A0, 16#00, 16#00, 16#00, 16#04);

Function	Returns	Description
`TLV_PARSE(hex_or_bytes)`	ARRAY	Parse BER-TLV
`TLV_BUILD(tag, value_bytes...)`	ARRAY	Encode TLV
`TLV_COUNT(nodes)`	INT	Top-level node count
`TLV_GET_TAG(node)`	INT	Tag number
`TLV_GET_LENGTH(node)`	INT	Value length
`TLV_GET_VALUE(node)`	ARRAY	Raw bytes
`TLV_GET_VALUE_HEX(node)`	STRING	Value as hex
`TLV_GET_VALUE_INT(node)`	INT	Value as integer
`TLV_GET_VALUE_STRING(node)`	STRING	Value as UTF-8
`TLV_GET_CHILDREN(node)`	ARRAY	Child nodes
`TLV_FIND_TAG(nodes, tag)`	Handle	Find tag recursively
`TLV_IS_CONSTRUCTED(node)`	BOOL	Has children?

8. GSV/SSV — Get/Set System Value (17)

Allen-Bradley Logix compatibility functions for accessing runtime system attributes.

(* Read system clock *)
ts := GSV_WALLCLOCKTIME();                    (* Unix ms *)

(* Read task scan time *)
scan := GSV_TASKSCANTIME('MainTask');          (* ms *)

(* Set task scan time *)
SSV_TASKSCANTIME('MainTask', 100);

(* System status *)
faulted := GSV_FAULTED();
state := GSV_ENTRYSTATE();
module := GSV_MODULESTATUS(0);        (* slot *)
port := GSV_PORTSTATUS(1);            (* port *)
io := GSV_IOCONNECTION(1);            (* connection instance *)
ethernet := GSV_ETHERNET_STATUS(1);   (* port *)
dlr := GSV_DLR_STATUS();

Function	Returns	Description
`GSV_WALLCLOCKTIME()`	INT	Unix timestamp (ms)
`GSV_TASKSCANTIME([task])`	INT	Task scan time (ms)
`SSV_TASKSCANTIME(task, ms)`	BOOL	Set task scan time
`GSV_FAULTED()`	BOOL	PLC faulted?
`GSV_ENTRYSTATE()`	INT	Entry state code
`GSV_MODULESTATUS()`	STRING	Module status JSON
`GSV_PORTSTATUS()`	STRING	Port status JSON
`GSV_IOCONNECTION()`	STRING	I/O connection JSON
`GSV_ACTIVEPROCESSOR()`	STRING	Active processor ID
`GSV_REDUNDANCYSTATUS()`	STRING	Redundancy mode
`GSV_SYNCSTATUS()`	STRING	Sync/RTC status
`GSV_ETHERNET_STATUS()`	STRING	Ethernet port status
`GSV_DLR_STATUS()`	STRING	Device Level Ring status
`GSV`	(generic)	ANY
`SSV`	(generic)	BOOL

9. ctrlX EtherCAT I/O (10)

Read/write digital I/O on Bosch Rexroth ctrlX CORE via EtherCAT Data Layer.

(* Create EtherCAT I/O client *)
ok := CTRLX_EC_CREATE('io', 'https://localhost', 'boschrexroth', 'boschrexroth',
                       'ethercatio/fieldbus/di', 'ethercatio/fieldbus/do',
                       16, 16, 100);

CTRLX_EC_START('io');

(* Read digital inputs *)
sensor := CTRLX_EC_READ_DI('io', 1);          (* Channel 1, 1-based *)
limit := CTRLX_EC_READ_DI('io', 5);

(* Write digital outputs *)
CTRLX_EC_WRITE_DO('io', 1, TRUE);
CTRLX_EC_WRITE_DO('io', 2, FALSE);

(* Read back output state *)
out_state := CTRLX_EC_READ_DO('io', 1);

(* Diagnostics *)
connected := CTRLX_EC_CONNECTED('io');
modules := CTRLX_EC_BROWSE('io');              (* JSON module list *)
stats := CTRLX_EC_STATS('io');                 (* JSON diagnostics *)

CTRLX_EC_STOP('io');
CTRLX_EC_DELETE('io');

Function	Returns	Description
`CTRLX_EC_CREATE(name, host, user, pass, di, do, di_count, do_count, poll_ms)`	BOOL	Create I/O client
`CTRLX_EC_START(name)`	BOOL	Start polling
`CTRLX_EC_STOP(name)`	BOOL	Stop polling
`CTRLX_EC_DELETE(name)`	BOOL	Remove client
`CTRLX_EC_CONNECTED(name)`	BOOL	Connection alive?
`CTRLX_EC_READ_DI(name, ch)`	BOOL	Read digital input (1-based)
`CTRLX_EC_READ_DO(name, ch)`	BOOL	Read back digital output (1-based)
`CTRLX_EC_WRITE_DO(name, ch, val)`	BOOL	Write digital output (1-based)
`CTRLX_EC_BROWSE(name)`	STRING	Discover I/O modules (JSON)
`CTRLX_EC_STATS(name)`	STRING	Diagnostic statistics (JSON)

10. Directory Operations (4)

Supplement to the File I/O guide — manage directories from ST.

DIR_CREATE('/data/logs/2026');           (* Creates parents *)

IF DIR_EXISTS('/data/logs') THEN
    files := DIR_LIST('/data/logs');      (* Array of filenames *)
END_IF;

DIR_DELETE('/data/temp');                 (* Empty directories only *)

Function	Returns	Description
`DIR_CREATE(path)`	BOOL	Create directory (including parents)
`DIR_EXISTS(path)`	BOOL	Check if directory exists
`DIR_LIST(path)`	ARRAY	List directory contents
`DIR_DELETE(path)`	BOOL	Delete empty directory

ControlForge v1.0.535 | KNX, M-Bus, ZPL, Barcode, URL, TLV, GSV/SSV, ctrlX EtherCAT, DIR

1. Overview​

2. KNX — Building Automation (6)​

3. M-Bus — Utility Metering (12)​

4. ZPL — Zebra Label Printing (8)​

5. Barcode — Parse & Validate (6)​

6. URL — Parse & Build (8)​

7. TLV/BER — Tag-Length-Value Encoding (12)​

8. GSV/SSV — Get/Set System Value (17)​

9. ctrlX EtherCAT I/O (10)​

10. Directory Operations (4)​