Getting Propeller to communicate with VB.NET using SEROUT (BS2_Functions OBJ)

ryfitzger227

Hey guys.

I'm working on trying to get a Propeller to communicate to a VB.NET program using the BS2_Functions Object from the Object Exchange. I'm fairly new to the Propeller, so I want to make sure that I'm doing everything correctly. Every time I run the program the red light on the QuickStart flashes, so I assume that data gets sent out, but right after that the TextBox on the VB Program stays the same value. Can anyone see what I'm doing wrong??

SPIN

OBJ BS2 : "BS2_Functions"

PUB main
            
  BS2.start(31,30)


  pause(10000)


  BS2.Serout_Str(5,string("Hello World!"),9600,1,8)


PUB pause(ms)
  waitcnt(clkfreq/1000 * ms + cnt)

VB.NET

Public Class Form1

    Private WithEvents COMPort As New IO.Ports.SerialPort


    Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load


        If COMPort.IsOpen Then
            COMPort.Close()
        End If
        Try
            With COMPort
                .PortName = "COM7"
                .BaudRate = 9600
                .Parity = IO.Ports.Parity.None
                .DataBits = 8
                .StopBits = IO.Ports.StopBits.One
                .Handshake = IO.Ports.Handshake.None
            End With
            COMPort.Open()
        Catch ex As Exception
            MsgBox(ex.ToString)
        End Try


    End Sub


    Private Sub COMPort_DataReceived(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.IO.Ports.SerialDataReceivedEventArgs) Handles COMPort.DataReceived


        TextBox1.Text = COMPort.ReadLine


    End Sub

End Class

I don't know if I'm doing the Serial Port part on VB the correct way. It's been a while since I've dealt with Serial Ports in VB.NET.

EDIT:
I found the Serial Port code for VB that I used a while back and it works fine with the BS2 using

SEROUT 16, 16468, ["Hello World!"]

but when I use the Propeller code (above) it doesn't do anything but send a '?' to the computer. Am I using the Prop SEROUT correctly?

Hugh

Do you have to use SEROUT? If you can cope with different objects I can probably find some VB.net code that I know works...

Bean

If you run serial terminal does that receive correctly ? If it does, then the problem in in the VB.NET code.

I've not used the BS2 functions, so I'm wondering what the "5" parameter is for ?

BS2.Serout_Str(5,string("Hello World!"),9600,1,8)

Also, you might need to send a carriage return after the string.

Bean

Mike G

Try adding a CON block with the appropriate settings. The following is the "standard" setup.

  CON
  _clkmode = xtal1 + pll16x     
  _xinfreq = 5_000_000
  
OBJ BS2 : "BS2_Functions"

PUB main
            
  BS2.start(31,30)


  pause(1000)


  BS2.Serout_Str(30,string("Hello World!"),9600,1,8)


PUB pause(ms)
  waitcnt(clkfreq/1000 * ms + cnt)

Also, this is bad in a Win Form...

    Private Sub COMPort_DataReceived(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.IO.Ports.SerialDataReceivedEventArgs) Handles COMPort.DataReceived
        TextBox1.Text = COMPort.ReadLine
    End Sub

You need a method like the on below to write to the UI from a secondary thread. Your method will work for the most part but it can cause unexpected results from time to time.

        private void SetText(String message)
        {
            try
            {
                if (txtStatus.InvokeRequired)
                {
                    SetTextCallback del = new SetTextCallback(SetText);
                    this.Invoke(del, message);
                }
                else
                {
                    txtStatus.AppendText(message);
                }
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                throw ex;
            }
        }

ryfitzger227

Thanks guys for your responses. I ended up using the Full Duplex Serial object instead and it worked fine. I also changed up my vb.net code (I found an example that I used a while back with the BS2). Everything is working as it should.

groggory

ryfitzger227 wrote: »

Thanks guys for your responses. I ended up using the Full Duplex Serial object instead and it worked fine. I also changed up my vb.net code (I found an example that I used a while back with the BS2). Everything is working as it should.

Serial comms in vb.net are a bit funky in my experience. Would you mind sharing your vb.net code?

ryfitzger227

Not at all. This will work with BS2 and Propeller.

    Private readBuffer As String = String.Empty
    Private CharToRead As String = String.Empty
    Private Bytenumber As Integer
    Private ByteToRead As Integer
    Private byteEnd(2) As Char
    Private comOpen As Boolean
    Private counter As Integer = 0


    Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load


        With comPort


            .ParityReplace = &H3B
            .PortName = "COM7"
            .BaudRate = 9600
            .Parity = IO.Ports.Parity.None
            .DataBits = 8
            .StopBits = IO.Ports.StopBits.One
            .Handshake = IO.Ports.Handshake.None
            .RtsEnable = False
            .ReceivedBytesThreshold = 1
            .NewLine = vbCr
            .ReadTimeout = 10000


        End With


        Try


            comPort.Open()
            comOpen = comPort.IsOpen


        Catch ex As Exception


            comOpen = False
            MsgBox(ex.Message)


        End Try


    End Sub


    Public Sub DoUpdate(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs)


            TextBox1.Text = readBuffer


    End Sub


    Private Sub comPort_DataReceived(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.IO.Ports.SerialDataReceivedEventArgs) Handles comPort.DataReceived


        If comOpen Then


            Try
                Threading.Thread.Sleep(250) 'This pause can be removed. Just wanted to make sure that everything in the string was being read.
                byteEnd = comPort.NewLine.ToCharArray
                Bytenumber = comPort.BytesToRead
                readBuffer = comPort.ReadExisting
                Me.Invoke(New EventHandler(AddressOf DoUpdate))


            Catch ex As Exception


                MsgBox(ex.Message)


            End Try


        End If


    End Sub