Using the Serial Port Magic Box Software -Page 1
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The first step in using your Magic Box is to set up the hardware itself. You will need a computer with a Pentium class processor, running Windows 95, 98, Millenium or 2000. The Magic Box will run on Windows XP if you upgrade the software to version 3.2.1, which is available for download from the main page of www.embroideryonline.com. You will also need a true 9-pin serial port. Hook up one end of the serial cable to the Magic Box and the other end to the port you are going to use on the back of your computer. Plug the thin end of the black power cord into the plug on the back of the Magic Box, and the large end into a trusted power source (preferably with a surge protector). Once this is done, the green light on the front of the Magic Box should glow constantly.
Now we are ready to install your Magic Box software. Put the CD (label side up) into your CDRom drive on your computer and close the tray. The CD should automatically start the installation process. If it does not, double-click My Computer, then double-click your CDRom drive. You should see a Setup file, which will need to be double-clicked. This will start the installation process. Agree to the terms of the licensing agreement and allow the Magic Box program to install into the default location on your computer. Be sure to reboot your computer after the installation is complete. After rebooting, you should have two new icons on your desktop, Magic Box and Color Editor:
Double-click the Magic Box icon to start the program. Clicking once to highlight the icon, then hitting Enter on your keyboard will accomplish this as well. The Magic Box splash screen will open up, showing you which version of the Magic Box you have (for computers running Windows XP, this version will show up as Version 3.2.1):
Clicking OK will bring up the Converter Box screen. If, however, your Magic Box is not set to the correct COM port to begin with, you may receive this message first:
If this happens, just click OK, then OK on the splash screen to access the Converter Box screen. The Magic Box is set up to ask you to unplug and replug the power to the box any time a settings change is made. Technically, going from a closed state to an open state in the program is a settings change, so you may receive this message whenever you open the program. Clicking OK will bring you to the Converter Box screen:
The first thing that will need to be done is to determine which COM port your Magic Box is going to use to communicate with your computer. To do this, you will need to click on either the Options link at the top of the screen, or the Options button towards the lower right-hand side of the screen. This will bring up the Options screen:
