| External Interfaces/API | |
Specify the number of data bits to transmit
Description
You can configure DataBits to be 5, 6, 7, or 8. Data is transmitted as a series of five, six, seven, or eight bits with the least significant bit sent first. At least seven data bits are required to transmit ASCII characters. Eight bits are required to transmit binary data. Five and six bit data formats are used for specialized communications equipment.
| Note Both the computer and the peripheral device must be configured to transmit the same number of data bits. |
In addition to the data bits, the serial data format consists of a start bit, one or two stop bits, and possibly a parity bit. You specify the number of stop bits with the StopBits property, and the type of parity checking with the Parity property.
To display the supported number of data bits for the serial ports on your platform, refer to Finding Serial Port Information for Your Platform.
Characteristics
| Read only |
Never |
| Data type |
Double |
Values
DataBits can be 5, 6, 7, or 8. The default value is 8.
Properties
| | BytesToOutput | DataTerminalReady | |