Ascript is a BASIC-like scripting language which can be compiled to PCode. It includes AScript Motion Control Commands, and a BASIC Command Set.

The Ascript Editor is where you write (and compile) AScript programs. 

Key functions:

  • Load and save scripts 

  • Clear the script editor. 

  • Select the folder category for saving and loading script files

There are four categories you can use for saving script files:

    • System Configuration 
    • LibrariesMotion Control Libraries
    • IO Control Libraries
    • General Libraries
  • Available Commander controllers 
    Select the device to download a compiled script to. The button to the right is the Refresh button which refreshes the device list.

  • Script Title Bar  
    The name of your current script is in the Title Bar displays the name of the current script. The Arrow Up button on the top left opens the Script definition screen.

  • Script Definition 
    • Name a script file
    • Select a library folder 
    • brief description of the script. 

When you save a script this information is also included in the file. NPbuilder uses an XML like file format for storing Ascript files.

  • Compiler message and  Compile Button.
    The yellow window is where the compiler returns error messages or a compile success message.
    Click the Compile Ascript button to display the compiler window.

  • Compiler screen
    The script is displayed in the Compiler screen. 

Click Compile to start.


  • Compiler results
  • If there is an error, the compiler flags the problem script line. 
    Click exit to fix the script. 
  • If the script compiles successfully, you can then click the Download button to download your compiled script to the Commander motion controller.  The output box is the actual Pcode generated by the compiler. This will likely not make much sense to you, but it is there for diagnosis by Nippon. If you have problems with a script compiling properly and not working correctly, this output window may be useful to Nippon in finding any errors in the compiler itself.


  • The AScript Tools window is where  custom AScript Plugins are listed. NPbuilder has an Open API for writing plugins (32 bit Windows DLL) which it can load to add features to NPBuilder. You can use any included tools or create your own plugins.