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Newbie Activity Bot Start Up Problem... — Parallax Forums

Newbie Activity Bot Start Up Problem...

hoela4075hoela4075 Posts: 16
edited 2014-05-12 13:58 in Learn with BlocklyProp
I am new to the BOE Bot and Activity Bot; but I have a better understanding of the BOE Bot than the Activity Bot. I tried out the Activity Bot tonight and was faced with a game stopping issue. When I try to calibrate the servos and encoders, I get a red error that states that the building is done, but the program won't run. I have updated to the most recent library and not sure what the problem is...any help is appreciated!:smile:

Comments

  • hoela4075hoela4075 Posts: 16
    edited 2014-05-03 23:50
    I am trying to post the error here, but this forum won't let me. I can't even hit "enter" when entering posts, to start a line of text one line down in the paragraph. The Error is not a hard error...but "error: opening serial port". What is that?!?!
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2014-05-04 02:22
    hoela4075 wrote: »
    I am trying to post the error here, but this forum won't let me. I can't even hit "enter" when entering posts, to start a line of text one line down in the paragraph. The Error is not a hard error...but "error: opening serial port". What is that?!?!

    Be sure to check the COM Port, (upper right), is set to the COM port of you BOT. I believe Simple IDE do not do an auto check for the COM Port yet, and defaults to COM1
  • Steph LindsaySteph Lindsay Posts: 767
    edited 2014-05-05 09:15
    Hi hoela4075,

    Hmm, let's see. 2 Questions to start:

    1. If you are following through the ActivityBot tutorial, it sent you over to Set Up SimpleIDE at some point. When you set up the software, were you able to confirm the programming connection with the Hello program, as shown here? http://learn.parallax.com/propeller-c-set-simpleide/windows

    2. I'm just guessing that you are using Windows since you are also using the Boe-Bot. Could you please let us know which operating system and version you are using? (I'm wondering if your USB drivers might need updating?)


    Thanks!
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2014-05-05 09:20
    Steph and hoela467s,

    I am also very new to     SimpleIDE, and I ALWAYS forget to check my COM Port. Hopefully auto detect will be implemented soon..



    SimpleIDE
  • Jeff MartinJeff Martin Posts: 758
    edited 2014-05-05 10:05
    Publison wrote: »
    Steph and hoela467s,

    I am also very new to     SimpleIDE, and I ALWAYS forget to check my COM Port. Hopefully auto detect will be implemented soon..



    SimpleIDE

    Hi Publison,

    What version of SimpleIDE are you using, and on what OS?

    We've been working on improving this. As of v0.9.45, it should update the COM port box drop down list when a board (like the Activity Board) is connected to the computer. You'll need to verify and possibly select the proper port (often the last port listed, but it depends on your system configuration at the time).

    The next release will improve on this by visibly making the list drop down (revealing the updated list of ports and provide your cue to verify and possibly select the desired port), and we're also fixing some issues with this regarding how this feature works with regards to the Simple Terminal.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2014-05-05 10:10
    Jeff Martin wrote: »
    Hi Publison,

    What version of SimpleIDE are you using, and on what OS?

    We've been working on improving this. As of v0.9.45, it should make the COM port box drop down an updated list of available ports when a board (like the Activity Board) is connected to the computer. You'll need to verify and possibly select the proper port (often the last port listed, but it depends on your system configuration at the time).

    I, like many others just got a build fail going to the EEPROM. COM Port selection fixed the problem.


    The next release will fix some issues with this regarding the Simple Terminal, but as tested it seems to work as I described above already.

    Jeff,

    I just mean to imply that the COM Port HAS to be selected. It is available in my version 09.0.45.

    Thanks for your work on this great project!

    I, like many others just got a build fail going to the EEPROM. COM Port selection fixed the problem.


    Jim
  • Jeff MartinJeff Martin Posts: 758
    edited 2014-05-05 10:15
    Publison wrote: »
    Jeff,

    I just mean to imply that the COM Port HAS to be selected. It is available in my version 09.0.45.

    Thanks for your work on this great project!

    I, like many others just got a build fail going to the EEPROM. COM Port selection fixed the problem.


    Jim

    You're welcome. Thanks for the feedback! We hope to have the next version released this month.
  • Steph LindsaySteph Lindsay Posts: 767
    edited 2014-05-05 17:30
    I apologize for the thread detour hoela4075!

    Did you get this solved? Was the issue in setting the COM port in SimpleIDE, or do you still need troubleshooting help?
  • hoela4075hoela4075 Posts: 16
    edited 2014-05-12 12:49
    Hi Steph,

    You are correct, I just need to ensure picking the COM port. Thanks!

    When I work with the Activity Bot, I have two windows open; the on-line instruction "book" and SimpleIDE. That makes SimpleIDE only half of the screen. That makes the COM port hidden and easy to overlook.

    While I understand why the manual is on-line, is it possible to buy a paper Activity Bot manual?
  • Steph LindsaySteph Lindsay Posts: 767
    edited 2014-05-12 13:58
    hoela4075 wrote: »
    Hi Steph,

    You are correct, I just need to ensure picking the COM port. Thanks!

    When I work with the Activity Bot, I have two windows open; the on-line instruction "book" and SimpleIDE. That makes SimpleIDE only half of the screen. That makes the COM port hidden and easy to overlook.

    While I understand why the manual is on-line, is it possible to buy a paper Activity Bot manual?

    Oh good, I'm glad that was the issue and all is well.

    We do not have a printed manual at this time. However, we set up the web pages to make it very easy to print your own.

    On the first page of the tutorial, or at the beginning of any section, click the "Printer-friendly version" link at the bottom-right corner. All of the web pages in the tutorial (or in the section of the tutorial) will open as a single HTML file. You can then save that file to your computer so you don't have to be online to work. Or, you can print that file to PDF or to your home printer.
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