---
title: Hex Commands & Bytes
slug: legacy-docs/hex-commands-and-bytes
docTags: 
createdAt: 2025-03-11T06:58:09.587Z
---

:::hint{type="warning"}
This page / section pertains to **BrightAuthor Classic**, our legacy app. **BrightSign Author **is our latest app for managing content and players.

Development of BrightAuthor Classic has largely ceased and the app will eventually be deprecated and replaced with BrightSign Author.
:::

# Send Hex Commands

You can easily send Hex values using an Interactive presentation in BrightAuthor Classic.

This is an example of a "power on" command for a Viewsonic projector. The hex values are indicated by the “0x” prefix. 

`0x06 0x14 0x00 0x04 0x00 0x34 0x11 0x00 0x00 0x5D`

To send this command to the projector using the serial port on a player, do the following:

::::WorkflowBlock
:::WorkflowBlockItem
Create an [Interactive presentation](http://docs.brightsign.biz/display/DOC/Interactive+Presentations#InteractivePresentations-CreatinganInteractivePresentation).
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:::WorkflowBlockItem
Open the Media State or Event where you want to send the hex command.
:::

:::WorkflowBlockItem
Select the **Advanced** tab.
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:::WorkflowBlockItem
Select **Add Command** and set the command to **Send -- Serial Bytes**.
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:::WorkflowBlockItem
Set the **Port** to 0 (this is the case for most standard serial devices).
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:::WorkflowBlockItem
Enter the command in the **Bytes** field. Use a comma to separate each byte.
:::
::::

# Send / Receive Bytes

BrightSign players that have a serial port support sending and receiving bytes, in addition to strings. When sending serial bytes, you must use decimal values, not hex values. You can convert hex values to decimal values using any number of [free websites](http://www.easycalculation.com/hex-converter.php) or with a standard Windows calculator (to do this, go to **View** and select **Programmer** mode).

Hex values: `06 00 04 00 34 11 00 00 5D`

Equivalent decimal values: `06 00 04 00 52 17 00 00 93`

:::hint{type="info"}
The DE-9 (more commonly referred to as DB-9) serial port is fully RS-232 compatible, but the 3.5mm serial port can only interoperate with some RS-232 compatible devices. It can receive from any RS-232 device, but transmission may not work depending on the electrical characteristics of the device.
:::

## Sending Bytes

::::WorkflowBlock
:::WorkflowBlockItem
Select an [Interactive playlist](http://docs.brightsign.biz/display/DOC/Interactive+Presentations).
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:::WorkflowBlockItem
Open the State or Event where you want to send the command.
:::

:::WorkflowBlockItem
Select the **Advanced** tab.
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:::WorkflowBlockItem
Under **File > Presentation Properties > Interactive**, set the serial **Protocol** to **ASCII** mode.
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:::WorkflowBlockItem
Use the **Send - Serial byte** or **Send - Serial bytes (comma separated)** [Commands](docId\:lG8iLYdnIB0PL8tvxTKBo) to send a byte or bytes.
:::
::::

## Receiving Bytes

::::WorkflowBlock
:::WorkflowBlockItem
Under **File > Presentation Properties > Interactive,** set the serial **Protocol **to **Binary **mode.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/0prk6SO2dy9LdU77jB8D1/tJ4fZo9NMRyhXVkJ9vwRD_image.png)
:::

:::WorkflowBlockItem
Use **Serial Input** events to trigger transitions and other events in an Interactive playlist (see Image 2). Separate the serial values with a comma in the **Specify serial input field**. For example, "31 0D" in hex would be "49,13" in decimal.

![serial_-_receive_bytes.jpg](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/511c8QBH-VHiwWnyzIwUb/PZvCi5OSA7mFDCnK-gswT_nameserial-receivebytes.jpg)
:::
::::

# Troubleshooting

Most serial issues are caused by one of the following:

- Incorrectly or poorly formatted commands
- Incorrect serial port settings
- Serial cable

To check on what is being sent, either:

1. Turn on system log debugging in the BrightAuthor **Publish** tab (*not* serial debugging), then log into the player IP address. The **Log** tab which should show the output of any commands that were sent.
2. Add a **Serial** event and a variable in your BrightAuthor project. In the event, specify that you want any serial commands received to be assigned to the variable. Display the variable on your screen or log into the player on port 8008 (if the local server is enabled on the player) to see the variable value.