Serial Polling possible with parallax basic using the kit sold at Radio Shack?

[SparkySU1]

Hello,

The demo kit manual gives examples of how to do an input off the serial port - where the program stops and waits for a response. What if you want to check and see if there is information on the port but not wait around if there isn't - is there a way to poll the port that doesn't require bringing the program to a halt?

Also, if anyone has a URL address to an online Parallax Basic Manual - mainly just need a reference for all the different commands, what they do, and what are the arguments.

thanks...

Post Edited (SparkySU1) : 2/5/2010 8:15:37 PM GMT

[Mike Green]

Read the description of the SERIN statement in the Basic Manual. In particular, look at the description of the timeout parameter. This causes the SERIN wait to abort after a specified period of time.

All of Parallax's manuals and tutorials can be found under the "Resources" tab on the main Parallax webpage. Click on that, then "Downloads & Press". The Manual is under "BASIC Stamp Documentation". The tutorials are under "Stamps in Class Downloads". There's also some great material under "Resources" clicking on "Nuts and Volts Columns" which gets you to the index of articles.