problem working with director + basic stamp 2

[Sang]

I have a problem receiving a message from basic stamp 2.
I have very simple code :

BS2 code :

Main:
DEBUG "BLINK "
GOTO Main



Director script (used serialExtra @ http://www.physicalbits.com )

on startMovie
set theXtra to new ( xtra "SerialXtra" )
if objectP(theXtra) then
theXtra.OpenPort("COM1")
if theXtra.IsPortOpen() then
reply = theXtra.ReadString()
put reply
end if
end if
end startMovie

It seems that the port opens correctly, but the message is receives is empty.
Can be a wrong port number or using USB be a problem?
Sorry.. I'm very new to serial communication.

Thanks in advance.

[stamptrol]

Hi and welcome to the forums.

The DEBUG on the stamp will send/receive data using the programming port at 9600, 8, n, 1 I believe. Therefore the computer running Director also has to have the same settings.

The use of USB shouldn't cause a problem as long as Director can select the proper COM port.

If you could show us the actual connections you're using, we can make a better attempt at a successful diagnosis. From experience, it is common to have to interchange the connections on pin 2 and 3 of the programmiing port.

Cheers,

[Sang]

Thank you!

Seems that the default port setting is 9600 8 n 1 already.

I'm not sure how I may check the actual connections.. Is there a way to check this?
How may I interchange the pins? ( I'm not clear on what you mean by interchange pins, actually )

[Mike G]

Check the director syntax OpenPort. you can probably add baud, parity...


theXtra.OpenPort("COM1")


Are you sure that the STAMP is on COM1?

Take a look at the Stamp SEROUT command in the help file. SEROUT might be better than the DEBUG command, more options.

[Sang]

Thank you everyone!
Geoff @ serialXtra gave me the solution.
I had to create 2 separate script. One for movie start/end, and the other for frame exit.
Frame script allowed me to constantly monitor for incoming messages, becuase once a movie started, it played again and again, letting frame exit be called multiple times. ( am I right? )
Of course I had to check the port (COM4, for example) manually. Not sure if there's a more elegant way.

working Director script1 :


global theXtra

on startMovie

put "movie started available ports "

set theXtra to new ( xtra "SerialXtra" )
put theXtra.FindPorts()

if objectP(theXtra) then

theXtra.OpenPort("COM4")
put theXtra.IsPortOpen()

end if
end if
end startMovie



on stopMovie
theXtra.closePort()
put theXtra.IsPortOpen()
set theXtra to 0

end


working Director script 2:

global theXtra
on exitFrame me
put "frame exited"

if theXtra.IsPortOpen() then

reply = theXtra.ReadString()
put reply
end if
end