Visual Basic and a BS2P
Archiver
Posts: 46,084
I'd like to get into creating a VB application allowing my PC to
interface with a BS2P. I know very little about VB but it keeps coming
up in articles, emails etc, so I figure it must be good. Right?
My plans are to use the PC to control motors, data acquisition, weather
station and general messing around. I want to create controls,
instruments panels, gauges, sliders, etc. All that neat looking stuff!
I'll likely connect to the stamp(s) via RS-485 or plain RS-232.
Running a search on the Microsoft web site reveals 3 levels of VB.
Visual Basic.Net, Visual Basic Enterprise Edition and Visual Basic
Professional. How do I decide what I need? Suggestions? I'd love to
see examples of your creations (screen shots)!
Thanks,
Chris
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interface with a BS2P. I know very little about VB but it keeps coming
up in articles, emails etc, so I figure it must be good. Right?
My plans are to use the PC to control motors, data acquisition, weather
station and general messing around. I want to create controls,
instruments panels, gauges, sliders, etc. All that neat looking stuff!
I'll likely connect to the stamp(s) via RS-485 or plain RS-232.
Running a search on the Microsoft web site reveals 3 levels of VB.
Visual Basic.Net, Visual Basic Enterprise Edition and Visual Basic
Professional. How do I decide what I need? Suggestions? I'd love to
see examples of your creations (screen shots)!
Thanks,
Chris
________________________________________________________________
GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!
Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!
Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit:
http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/.
Comments
Office Depot has several Visual Basic self training courses. One I purchased,
"Learn to Program in Visual Basic"
by Learn2.com, has been very helpful. You can also purchase it direct from
Learn2.com.
Another course I purchased, that even comes with a compiler, is "Visual Basic 6
for Dummies" by Wallace Wang.
Don't install the compiler if you already have VB6 on your machine.
Both have many examples. Good luck.
Jim
cdundorf@j... wrote:
> I'd like to get into creating a VB application allowing my PC to
> interface with a BS2P. I know very little about VB but it keeps coming
> up in articles, emails etc, so I figure it must be good. Right?
>
> My plans are to use the PC to control motors, data acquisition, weather
> station and general messing around. I want to create controls,
> instruments panels, gauges, sliders, etc. All that neat looking stuff!
> I'll likely connect to the stamp(s) via RS-485 or plain RS-232.
>
> Running a search on the Microsoft web site reveals 3 levels of VB.
> Visual Basic.Net, Visual Basic Enterprise Edition and Visual Basic
> Professional. How do I decide what I need? Suggestions? I'd love to
> see examples of your creations (screen shots)!
>
> Thanks,
> Chris
>
> ________________________________________________________________
> GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!
> Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!
> Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit:
> http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/.
>
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and Body
of the message will be ignored.
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Original Message
From: <cdundorf@j...>
To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 25, 2002 6:03 PM
Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Visual Basic and a BS2P
> I'd like to get into creating a VB application allowing my PC to
> interface with a BS2P. I know very little about VB but it keeps coming
> up in articles, emails etc, so I figure it must be good. Right?
>
> My plans are to use the PC to control motors, data acquisition, weather
> station and general messing around. I want to create controls,
> instruments panels, gauges, sliders, etc. All that neat looking stuff!
> I'll likely connect to the stamp(s) via RS-485 or plain RS-232.
>
> Running a search on the Microsoft web site reveals 3 levels of VB.
> Visual Basic.Net, Visual Basic Enterprise Edition and Visual Basic
> Professional. How do I decide what I need? Suggestions? I'd love to
> see examples of your creations (screen shots)!
>
> Thanks,
> Chris
Hi Chris,
The learning editions of VB lack the MSComm ActiveX control that you'll need for
serial
communications, so look for at least versions 5 to 6 of the Pro version. VB.Net
is primarily
for web applications, and you won't find as many examples as you will for VB 5 &
6.
We have a lot of VB tutorials at http://www.rentron.com/BasicStamp.htm for Stamp
/ VB
apps controlling relays, servos, etc,,.
Jared Hoylman posted a nice set of beginner VB articles you may find useful on
our web
site here http://www.rentron.com/VisualBasic.htm
Al Williams has several on his site as well at http://www.wd5gnr.com/
Check into Jan Axelson's book "Serial Port Complete" if you you're looking for
the best book
around on using the PC serial port with the Stamp [noparse][[/noparse]her book includes excellent
VB code],
and plenty of RS-485 info as well.
Another nice VB resource is http://www.controlanything.com They have many VB
apps
including all source code to control their relay boards that can be used for
many other
apps. VB is popular primarily because you can get something up & going with
little effort.
Regards,
-Bruce
tech@r...
http://www.rentron.com
Original Message
From: <cdundorf@j...>
To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 25, 2002 5:03 PM
Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Visual Basic and a BS2P
> I'd like to get into creating a VB application allowing my PC to
> interface with a BS2P. I know very little about VB but it keeps coming
> up in articles, emails etc, so I figure it must be good. Right?
>
> My plans are to use the PC to control motors, data acquisition, weather
> station and general messing around. I want to create controls,
> instruments panels, gauges, sliders, etc. All that neat looking stuff!
> I'll likely connect to the stamp(s) via RS-485 or plain RS-232.
>
> Running a search on the Microsoft web site reveals 3 levels of VB.
> Visual Basic.Net, Visual Basic Enterprise Edition and Visual Basic
> Professional. How do I decide what I need? Suggestions? I'd love to
> see examples of your creations (screen shots)!
>
> Thanks,
> Chris
Hi Chris:
You really need VB5 or 6 Professional.
You will some VB communication examples at:
www.rentron.com
One issue specific to the BS2s to be aware of, is Port16 the programming
port. It saves using Stamp pins and has a PC ready connector, but it
operates in half duplex.
If the PC only transmits or only receives it is not an issue. But if the PC
is interacting with a Stamp and data is flowing in both directions the PC
will receive its own transmitted data along with the Stamp originated data.
Another issue when interacting as in 'Sliders/Gauges' 'Switches/LEDs' is
ensuring that the Stamp is ready and waiting before the PC transmits. The
Stamp cannot receive data in the background, it must give its full attention
to receiving.
One instant solution designed precisely for your needs, called 'microGUI',
is outlined here:
http://www.rhombus-tek.com/software.html
and the Beta version and Manual for download here:
http://www.rhombus-tek.com/microGUI.zip
http://www.rhombus-tek.com/microGUI.pdf
I hope this helps.
David H Lawrence
Simple Multi-tasking, Co-Processors, Compilers, and microGUI
mailto:david@r...
http://www.rhombus-tek.com
---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.384 / Virus Database: 216 - Release Date: 8/21/02
cdundorf@j... writes:
> I'd like to get into creating a VB application allowing my PC to
> interface with a BS2P. I know very little about VB but it keeps coming
> up in articles, emails, etc., so I figure it must be good. Right?
>
> My plans are to use the PC to control motors, data acquisition, weather
> station and general messing around. I want to create controls,
> instruments panels, gauges, sliders, etc. All that neat looking stuff!
> I'll likely connect to the stamp(s) via RS-485 or plain RS-232.
>
> Running a search on the Microsoft web site reveals 3 levels of VB.
> Visual Basic.Net, Visual Basic Enterprise Edition and Visual Basic
> Professional. How do I decide what I need? Suggestions? I'd love to
> see examples of your creations (screen shots)!
>
> Thanks,
> Chris
>
>
Chris:
Don't even consider anything less than the VB professional version as the
standard version will NOT support serial interfacing, at least not without a
LOT of work. The Professional version has MSCOMM included and makes the
serial comms easy to work with, you will need that with a Basic Stamp. The
Enterprise edition also had it but unless you intend to do Internet
designing, etc., you won't need it. I use the Professional version and love
it. VB is not as fast and not quite a flexible as C or some of the other
development systems but it is relatively easy to learn and use and so far, it
has worked well for me.
Regards,
Randy Abernathy
4626 Old Stilesboro Road
Acworth, GA 30101
Phone / Fax: 770-974-5295
E-mail: cnc002@a...
We service, install and repair industrial woodworking machinery
Specializing in SCM / SCMI CNC Panel Saws and Routers
[noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I'm a vb programmer. I think what i hear you saying is that what you want to
do is send some bytes down the comm port via a VB app for the stamp to read.
I personally learned most of what I know on a 100 dollar learning edition of
VB, but I don't know that that version gave you access to the mscomm control,
which is probably what you will use to send your bytes down the pike. Your
alternatives are 1. mscomm control. 2. API calls. Any version of VB will let
you do an API call, even the learning edition. A starting place for learning
API calls is www.vbapi.com. They are not as easy as using controls such as
mscomm control, but you can usually get your job done with them. I think my
learning edition even compiled into an .exe file - it was only limited in that
it had no packaging wizard and you were not allowed to distribute any apps you
made with it. Also i think it might have been limited in that you did not get
to use some of the controls such as the mscomm control.
I now use VB6.0 Enterprise edition which for sure has the mscomm control
packaged with it. I have productional code running that pulls data in thru
the comm port - this I wrote using VB 6.0 Enterprise and it is really not hard
at all. Even an amature could be sending a few bits down the pike in a hour
or so.
I do imagine that the Professional has the mscomm control too, but i would
check with them before purchasing just in case.
Again the question to ask is "does the professional edition have the
mscomm.ocx control packaged with it?" This is an "active X" control.
It sounds like you want to the the same types of things i want to do. My
problems however are funding and lack of electronics knowledge. I plan on
getting the starter kit and working all of the lessons before i attempt to
interface with the stamp with my own code. I want to be able to dial into my
pc or send my pc an email and have it turn my lights on or thermostat up or
some such thing, and then email me back, maybe even with small snap shot of
the completed mission.
matt
( Forwarded letter 1 follows )
Date: Thu, 26 Sep 2002 15:01:04 EDT
To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
From: cnc002@a...
Sender: sentto-1327227-24333@g...
Reply-To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Visual Basic and a BS2P
In a message dated 9/25/02 8:10:11 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
cdundorf@j... writes:
> I'd like to get into creating a VB application allowing my PC to
> interface with a BS2P. I know very little about VB but it keeps coming
> up in articles, emails, etc., so I figure it must be good. Right?
>
> My plans are to use the PC to control motors, data acquisition, weather
> station and general messing around. I want to create controls,
> instruments panels, gauges, sliders, etc. All that neat looking stuff!
> I'll likely connect to the stamp(s) via RS-485 or plain RS-232.
>
> Running a search on the Microsoft web site reveals 3 levels of VB.
> Visual Basic.Net, Visual Basic Enterprise Edition and Visual Basic
> Professional. How do I decide what I need? Suggestions? I'd love to
> see examples of your creations (screen shots)!
>
> Thanks,
> Chris
>
>
Chris:
Don't even consider anything less than the VB professional version as the
standard version will NOT support serial interfacing, at least not without a
LOT of work. The Professional version has MSCOMM included and makes the
serial comms easy to work with, you will need that with a Basic Stamp. The
Enterprise edition also had it but unless you intend to do Internet
designing, etc., you won't need it. I use the Professional version and love
it. VB is not as fast and not quite a flexible as C or some of the other
development systems but it is relatively easy to learn and use and so far, it
has worked well for me.
Regards,
Randy Abernathy
4626 Old Stilesboro Road
Acworth, GA 30101
Phone / Fax: 770-974-5295
E-mail: cnc002@a...
We service, install and repair industrial woodworking machinery
Specializing in SCM / SCMI CNC Panel Saws and Routers
[noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and Body
of the message will be ignored.
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
matt.lorenz@d... writes:
> Chris,
>
> I'm a vb programmer. I think what i hear you saying is that what you want
> to
> do is send some bytes down the comm port via a VB app for the stamp to
> read.
>
> I personally learned most of what I know on a 100 dollar learning edition
> of
> VB, but I don't know that that version gave you access to the mscomm
> control,
> which is probably what you will use to send your bytes down the pike. Your
> alternatives are 1. mscomm control. 2. API calls. Any version of VB will
> let
> you do an API call, even the learning edition. A starting place for
> learning
> API calls is www.vbapi.com. They are not as easy as using controls such as
> mscomm control, but you can usually get your job done with them. I think
> my
> learning edition even compiled into an .exe file - it was only limited in
> that
> it had no packaging wizard and you were not allowed to distribute any apps
> you
> made with it. Also i think it might have been limited in that you did not
> get
> to use some of the controls such as the mscomm control.
>
> I now use VB6.0 Enterprise edition which for sure has the mscomm control
> packaged with it. I have productional code running that pulls data in thru
> the comm port - this I wrote using VB 6.0 Enterprise and it is really not
> hard
> at all. Even an amature could be sending a few bits down the pike in a
> hour
> or so.
>
> I do imagine that the Professional has the mscomm control too, but i would
> check with them before purchasing just in case.
> Again the question to ask is "does the professional edition have the
> mscomm.ocx control packaged with it?" This is an "active X" control.
>
> It sounds like you want to the the same types of things i want to do. My
> problems however are funding and lack of electronics knowledge. I plan on
> getting the starter kit and working all of the lessons before i attempt to
> interface with the stamp with my own code. I want to be able to dial into
> my
> pc or send my pc an email and have it turn my lights on or thermostat up or
> some such thing, and then email me back, maybe even with small snap shot of
> the completed mission.
>
> matt
>
I use VB6.0 Professional and can say for certain that it DOES have MSCOMM.
Unless you are planning on developing Internet applications, the Professional
version will do everything you need and want with the BS2 device.
Regards,
Randy Abernathy
4626 Old Stilesboro Road
Acworth, GA 30101
Phone / Fax: 770-974-5295
E-mail: cnc002@a...
We service, install and repair industrial woodworking machinery
Specializing in SCM / SCMI CNC Panel Saws and Routers
[noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
- Visual Basic 6.0 Professional does include the mscomm control
- Visual Basic 6.0 Learning Edition does not include the mscomm control
- Visual Basic .NET does include the mscomm control under COM controls
section (its not part of the original framework)
I haven't researched using API calls with the stamp but if I was new to
this stuff, I would
definately look into getting a version of VB that does have the mscomm
control for ease
of use.
Last night I re-wrote my BS2 temperature program in Visual Basic.NET and it
works flawlessly.
I went to the Parallax site and downloaded project 31 (i think!) and
interface it with VB instead of
the Debug program.
<DAVE>
cnc002@a... on 09/27/2002 08:56:02 AM
Please respond to basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
cc:
Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Visual Basic and a BS2P
In a message dated 9/26/02 3:56:52 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
matt.lorenz@d... writes:
> Chris,
>
> I'm a vb programmer. I think what i hear you saying is that what you
want
> to
> do is send some bytes down the comm port via a VB app for the stamp to
> read.
>
> I personally learned most of what I know on a 100 dollar learning edition
> of
> VB, but I don't know that that version gave you access to the mscomm
> control,
> which is probably what you will use to send your bytes down the pike.
Your
> alternatives are 1. mscomm control. 2. API calls. Any version of VB
will
> let
> you do an API call, even the learning edition. A starting place for
> learning
> API calls is www.vbapi.com. They are not as easy as using controls such
as
> mscomm control, but you can usually get your job done with them. I think
> my
> learning edition even compiled into an .exe file - it was only limited in
> that
> it had no packaging wizard and you were not allowed to distribute any
apps
> you
> made with it. Also i think it might have been limited in that you did
not
> get
> to use some of the controls such as the mscomm control.
>
> I now use VB6.0 Enterprise edition which for sure has the mscomm control
> packaged with it. I have productional code running that pulls data in
thru
> the comm port - this I wrote using VB 6.0 Enterprise and it is really not
> hard
> at all. Even an amature could be sending a few bits down the pike in a
> hour
> or so.
>
> I do imagine that the Professional has the mscomm control too, but i
would
> check with them before purchasing just in case.
> Again the question to ask is "does the professional edition have the
> mscomm.ocx control packaged with it?" This is an "active X" control.
>
> It sounds like you want to the the same types of things i want to do. My
> problems however are funding and lack of electronics knowledge. I plan
on
> getting the starter kit and working all of the lessons before i attempt
to
> interface with the stamp with my own code. I want to be able to dial into
> my
> pc or send my pc an email and have it turn my lights on or thermostat up
or
> some such thing, and then email me back, maybe even with small snap shot
of
> the completed mission.
>
> matt
>
I use VB6.0 Professional and can say for certain that it DOES have MSCOMM.
Unless you are planning on developing Internet applications, the
Professional
version will do everything you need and want with the BS2 device.
Regards,
Randy Abernathy
4626 Old Stilesboro Road
Acworth, GA 30101
Phone / Fax: 770-974-5295
E-mail: cnc002@a...
We service, install and repair industrial woodworking machinery
Specializing in SCM / SCMI CNC Panel Saws and Routers
[noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
Body of the message will be ignored.
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Thanks, this is good information. It sounds like mscomm control is
the key feature to look for. Do you know if the Visual Basic.net
Standard version ($100) includes mscomm control? Which version of
VB.net do you have?
Regards,
Chris
<<>>
--- In basicstamps@y..., david_amrhein@f... wrote:
>
>
> - Visual Basic 6.0 Enterprise Edition does include the mscomm
control
> - Visual Basic 6.0 Professional does include the mscomm control
> - Visual Basic 6.0 Learning Edition does not include the mscomm
control
> - Visual Basic .NET does include the mscomm control under COM
controls
> section (its not part of the original framework)
>
> I haven't researched using API calls with the stamp but if I was
new to
> this stuff, I would
> definately look into getting a version of VB that does have the
mscomm
> control for ease
> of use.
>
> Last night I re-wrote my BS2 temperature program in Visual
Basic.NET and it
> works flawlessly.
> I went to the Parallax site and downloaded project 31 (i think!) and
> interface it with VB instead of
> the Debug program.
>
> <DAVE>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> cnc002@a... on 09/27/2002 08:56:02 AM
>
> Please respond to basicstamps@y...
>
> To: basicstamps@y...
> cc:
>
> Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Visual Basic and a BS2P
>
>
> In a message dated 9/26/02 3:56:52 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> matt.lorenz@d... writes:
>
>
> > Chris,
> >
> > I'm a vb programmer. I think what i hear you saying is that what
you
> want
> > to
> > do is send some bytes down the comm port via a VB app for the
stamp to
> > read.
> >
> > I personally learned most of what I know on a 100 dollar learning
edition
> > of
> > VB, but I don't know that that version gave you access to the
mscomm
> > control,
> > which is probably what you will use to send your bytes down the
pike.
> Your
> > alternatives are 1. mscomm control. 2. API calls. Any version
of VB
> will
> > let
> > you do an API call, even the learning edition. A starting place
for
> > learning
> > API calls is www.vbapi.com. They are not as easy as using
controls such
> as
> > mscomm control, but you can usually get your job done with them.
I think
> > my
> > learning edition even compiled into an .exe file - it was only
limited in
> > that
> > it had no packaging wizard and you were not allowed to distribute
any
> apps
> > you
> > made with it. Also i think it might have been limited in that
you did
> not
> > get
> > to use some of the controls such as the mscomm control.
> >
> > I now use VB6.0 Enterprise edition which for sure has the mscomm
control
> > packaged with it. I have productional code running that pulls
data in
> thru
> > the comm port - this I wrote using VB 6.0 Enterprise and it is
really not
> > hard
> > at all. Even an amature could be sending a few bits down the
pike in a
> > hour
> > or so.
> >
> > I do imagine that the Professional has the mscomm control too,
but i
> would
> > check with them before purchasing just in case.
> > Again the question to ask is "does the professional edition have
the
> > mscomm.ocx control packaged with it?" This is an "active X"
control.
> >
> > It sounds like you want to the the same types of things i want to
do. My
> > problems however are funding and lack of electronics knowledge.
I plan
> on
> > getting the starter kit and working all of the lessons before i
attempt
> to
> > interface with the stamp with my own code. I want to be able to
dial into
> > my
> > pc or send my pc an email and have it turn my lights on or
thermostat up
> or
> > some such thing, and then email me back, maybe even with small
snap shot
> of
> > the completed mission.
> >
> > matt
> >
>
> I use VB6.0 Professional and can say for certain that it DOES have
MSCOMM.
> Unless you are planning on developing Internet applications, the
> Professional
> version will do everything you need and want with the BS2 device.
>
> Regards,
>
> Randy Abernathy
> 4626 Old Stilesboro Road
> Acworth, GA 30101
> Phone / Fax: 770-974-5295
> E-mail: cnc002@a...
> We service, install and repair industrial woodworking machinery
> Specializing in SCM / SCMI CNC Panel Saws and Routers
>
>
> [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> basicstamps-unsubscribe@y...
> from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the
Subject and
> Body of the message will be ignored.
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
2) http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/richard_grier/xmcomm.htm
Either of these should get you going....
Al Williams
AWC
* Easy RS-232 Prototyping
http://www.al-williams.com/awce/rs1.htm
>
Original Message
> From: cdundorf@j... [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=OVwvqBme9b9PUN2ziCCGS7bgPFiveh0XGG6CYxT-gLrzzTsYCeaeZM74M59c7mvo91OoDSyLwA]cdundorf@j...[/url
> Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2002 10:54 AM
> To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Visual Basic and a BS2P
>
>
> Hi Randy and Others,
>
> Thanks for your indepth and helpful response.
>
> I checked out VB Professional as you suggested and have
> learned of a new VB product put out by our friends at
> Microsoft. You've probably heard of it. It's called Visual
> Basic.net and is part of the Visual Studio family for lack of
> a better description. This VB.net package comes in at least
> 3 levels; Standard $90, Professional $1000+/-, and
> Enterprise. With this said, I'm interested to know if you
> have suggestions on how I might want to proceed. Is it worth
> loking for an "old" copy of VB professional ( i don't know
> what that would cost) or is the .net the way to go. I'm also
> looking for a very quick and simple solution.
>
> Any help is appreciated,
> Chris
>
> <<>>
>
> Chris:
>
> Don't even consider anything less than the VB professional
> version as the standard version will NOT support serial
> interfacing, at least not without a LOT of work. The
> Professional version has MSCOMM included and makes the serial
> comms easy to work with, you will need that with a Basic
> Stamp. The Enterprise edition also had it but unless you
> intend to do Internet designing, etc., you won't need it. I
> use the Professional version and love it. VB is not as fast
> and not quite a flexible as C or some of the other
> development systems but it is relatively easy to learn and
> use and so far, it has worked well for me.
>
> Regards,
>
> Randy Abernathy
> 4626 Old Stilesboro Road
> Acworth, GA 30101
> Phone / Fax: 770-974-5295
> E-mail: cnc002@a...
> We service, install and repair industrial woodworking
> machinery Specializing in SCM / SCMI CNC Panel Saws and Routers
>
>
> [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
( Forwarded letter 1 follows )
> Date: Thu, 26 Sep 2002 15:01:04 EDT
> To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
> From: cnc002@a...
> Sender: sentto-1327227-24333@g...
> Reply-To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Visual Basic and a BS2P
>
> <<>>
>
> Chris,
>
> I'm a vb programmer. I think what i hear you saying is that
> what you want to do is send some bytes down the comm port via
> a VB app for the stamp to read.
>
> I personally learned most of what I know on a 100 dollar
> learning edition of VB, but I don't know that that version
> gave you access to the mscomm control, which is probably what
> you will use to send your bytes down the pike. Your
> alternatives are 1. mscomm control. 2. API calls. Any version
> of VB will let you do an API call, even the learning edition.
> A starting place for learning API calls is www.vbapi.com.
> They are not as easy as using controls such as mscomm
> control, but you can usually get your job done with them. I
> think my learning edition even compiled into an .exe file -
> it was only limited in that it had no packaging wizard and
> you were not allowed to distribute any apps you made with it.
> Also i think it might have been limited in that you did not
> get to use some of the controls such as the mscomm control.
>
> I now use VB6.0 Enterprise edition which for sure has the
> mscomm control packaged with it. I have productional code
> running that pulls data in thru the comm port - this I wrote
> using VB 6.0 Enterprise and it is really not hard at all.
> Even an amature could be sending a few bits down the pike in
> a hour or so.
>
> I do imagine that the Professional has the mscomm control
> too, but i would check with them before purchasing just in
> case. Again the question to ask is "does the professional
> edition have the mscomm.ocx control packaged with it?" This
> is an "active X" control.
>
> It sounds like you want to the the same types of things i
> want to do. My problems however are funding and lack of
> electronics knowledge. I plan on getting the starter kit and
> working all of the lessons before i attempt to interface with
> the stamp with my own code. I want to be able to dial into my
> pc or send my pc an email and have it turn my lights on or
> thermostat up or some such thing, and then email me back,
> maybe even with small snap shot of the completed mission.
>
> matt
>
> <<>>
>
> In a message dated 9/25/02 8:10:11 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> cdundorf@j... writes:
>
>
> > I'd like to get into creating a VB application allowing my PC to
> > interface with a BS2P. I know very little about VB but it
> keeps coming
> > up in articles, emails, etc., so I figure it must be good. Right?
> >
> > My plans are to use the PC to control motors, data acquisition,
> > weather station and general messing around. I want to
> create controls,
> > instruments panels, gauges, sliders, etc. All that neat
> looking stuff!
> > I'll likely connect to the stamp(s) via RS-485 or plain RS-232.
> >
> > Running a search on the Microsoft web site reveals 3 levels of VB.
> > Visual Basic.Net, Visual Basic Enterprise Edition and Visual Basic
> > Professional. How do I decide what I need? Suggestions? I'd love to
> > see examples of your creations (screen shots)!
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Chris
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________
> Sign Up for Juno Platinum Internet Access Today
> Only $9.95 per month!
> Visit www.juno.com
>
> To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the
> Subject and Body of the message will be ignored.
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
new unopened. I have had good luck with things there, as long as the
seller has a high feedback and sell a lot of software you can be pretty
sure of getting a good deal.
BOB
cdundorf@j... wrote:
>Hi Randy and Others,
>
>Thanks for your indepth and helpful response.
>
>I checked out VB Professional as you suggested and have learned of a new VB
product put out by our friends at Microsoft. You've probably heard of it. It's
called Visual Basic.net and is part of the Visual Studio family for lack of a
better description. This VB.net package comes in at least 3 levels; Standard
$90, Professional $1000+/-, and Enterprise. With this said, I'm interested to
know if you have suggestions on how I might want to proceed. Is it worth loking
for an "old" copy of VB professional ( i don't know what that would cost) or is
the .net the way to go. I'm also looking for a very quick and simple solution.
>
>Any help is appreciated,
>Chris
>
><<>>
>
>Chris:
>
>Don't even consider anything less than the VB professional version as the
>standard version will NOT support serial interfacing, at least not without a
>LOT of work. The Professional version has MSCOMM included and makes the
>serial comms easy to work with, you will need that with a Basic Stamp. The
>Enterprise edition also had it but unless you intend to do Internet
>designing, etc., you won't need it. I use the Professional version and love
>it. VB is not as fast and not quite a flexible as C or some of the other
>development systems but it is relatively easy to learn and use and so far, it
>has worked well for me.
>
>Regards,
>
>Randy Abernathy
>4626 Old Stilesboro Road
>Acworth, GA 30101
>Phone / Fax: 770-974-5295
>E-mail: cnc002@a...
>We service, install and repair industrial woodworking machinery
>Specializing in SCM / SCMI CNC Panel Saws and Routers
>
>
>[noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
( Forwarded letter 1 follows )
>Date: Thu, 26 Sep 2002 15:01:04 EDT
>To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
>From: cnc002@a...
>Sender: sentto-1327227-24333@g...
>Reply-To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Visual Basic and a BS2P
>
><<>>
>
>Chris,
>
>I'm a vb programmer. I think what i hear you saying is that what you want to
>do is send some bytes down the comm port via a VB app for the stamp to read.
>
>I personally learned most of what I know on a 100 dollar learning edition of
>VB, but I don't know that that version gave you access to the mscomm control,
>which is probably what you will use to send your bytes down the pike. Your
>alternatives are 1. mscomm control. 2. API calls. Any version of VB will let
>you do an API call, even the learning edition. A starting place for learning
>API calls is www.vbapi.com. They are not as easy as using controls such as
>mscomm control, but you can usually get your job done with them. I think my
>learning edition even compiled into an .exe file - it was only limited in that
>it had no packaging wizard and you were not allowed to distribute any apps you
>made with it. Also i think it might have been limited in that you did not get
>to use some of the controls such as the mscomm control.
>
>I now use VB6.0 Enterprise edition which for sure has the mscomm control
>packaged with it. I have productional code running that pulls data in thru
>the comm port - this I wrote using VB 6.0 Enterprise and it is really not hard
>at all. Even an amature could be sending a few bits down the pike in a hour
>or so.
>
>I do imagine that the Professional has the mscomm control too, but i would
>check with them before purchasing just in case.
>Again the question to ask is "does the professional edition have the
>mscomm.ocx control packaged with it?" This is an "active X" control.
>
>It sounds like you want to the the same types of things i want to do. My
>problems however are funding and lack of electronics knowledge. I plan on
>getting the starter kit and working all of the lessons before i attempt to
>interface with the stamp with my own code. I want to be able to dial into my
>pc or send my pc an email and have it turn my lights on or thermostat up or
>some such thing, and then email me back, maybe even with small snap shot of
>the completed mission.
>
>matt
>
><<>>
>
>In a message dated 9/25/02 8:10:11 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
>cdundorf@j... writes:
>
>
>
>
>>I'd like to get into creating a VB application allowing my PC to
>>interface with a BS2P. I know very little about VB but it keeps coming
>>up in articles, emails, etc., so I figure it must be good. Right?
>>
>>My plans are to use the PC to control motors, data acquisition, weather
>>station and general messing around. I want to create controls,
>>instruments panels, gauges, sliders, etc. All that neat looking stuff!
>>I'll likely connect to the stamp(s) via RS-485 or plain RS-232.
>>
>>Running a search on the Microsoft web site reveals 3 levels of VB.
>>Visual Basic.Net, Visual Basic Enterprise Edition and Visual Basic
>>Professional. How do I decide what I need? Suggestions? I'd love to
>>see examples of your creations (screen shots)!
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Chris
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>________________________________________________________________
>Sign Up for Juno Platinum Internet Access Today
>Only $9.95 per month!
>Visit www.juno.com
>
>To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
> basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and Body
of the message will be ignored.
>
>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
>
>
Thanks for your indepth and helpful response.
I checked out VB Professional as you suggested and have learned of a new VB
product put out by our friends at Microsoft. You've probably heard of it. It's
called Visual Basic.net and is part of the Visual Studio family for lack of a
better description. This VB.net package comes in at least 3 levels; Standard
$90, Professional $1000+/-, and Enterprise. With this said, I'm interested to
know if you have suggestions on how I might want to proceed. Is it worth loking
for an "old" copy of VB professional ( i don't know what that would cost) or is
the .net the way to go. I'm also looking for a very quick and simple solution.
Any help is appreciated,
Chris
<<>>
Chris:
Don't even consider anything less than the VB professional version as the
standard version will NOT support serial interfacing, at least not without a
LOT of work. The Professional version has MSCOMM included and makes the
serial comms easy to work with, you will need that with a Basic Stamp. The
Enterprise edition also had it but unless you intend to do Internet
designing, etc., you won't need it. I use the Professional version and love
it. VB is not as fast and not quite a flexible as C or some of the other
development systems but it is relatively easy to learn and use and so far, it
has worked well for me.
Regards,
Randy Abernathy
4626 Old Stilesboro Road
Acworth, GA 30101
Phone / Fax: 770-974-5295
E-mail: cnc002@a...
We service, install and repair industrial woodworking machinery
Specializing in SCM / SCMI CNC Panel Saws and Routers
[noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
( Forwarded letter 1 follows )
Date: Thu, 26 Sep 2002 15:01:04 EDT
To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
From: cnc002@a...
Sender: sentto-1327227-24333@g...
Reply-To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Visual Basic and a BS2P
<<>>
Chris,
I'm a vb programmer. I think what i hear you saying is that what you want to
do is send some bytes down the comm port via a VB app for the stamp to read.
I personally learned most of what I know on a 100 dollar learning edition of
VB, but I don't know that that version gave you access to the mscomm control,
which is probably what you will use to send your bytes down the pike. Your
alternatives are 1. mscomm control. 2. API calls. Any version of VB will let
you do an API call, even the learning edition. A starting place for learning
API calls is www.vbapi.com. They are not as easy as using controls such as
mscomm control, but you can usually get your job done with them. I think my
learning edition even compiled into an .exe file - it was only limited in that
it had no packaging wizard and you were not allowed to distribute any apps you
made with it. Also i think it might have been limited in that you did not get
to use some of the controls such as the mscomm control.
I now use VB6.0 Enterprise edition which for sure has the mscomm control
packaged with it. I have productional code running that pulls data in thru
the comm port - this I wrote using VB 6.0 Enterprise and it is really not hard
at all. Even an amature could be sending a few bits down the pike in a hour
or so.
I do imagine that the Professional has the mscomm control too, but i would
check with them before purchasing just in case.
Again the question to ask is "does the professional edition have the
mscomm.ocx control packaged with it?" This is an "active X" control.
It sounds like you want to the the same types of things i want to do. My
problems however are funding and lack of electronics knowledge. I plan on
getting the starter kit and working all of the lessons before i attempt to
interface with the stamp with my own code. I want to be able to dial into my
pc or send my pc an email and have it turn my lights on or thermostat up or
some such thing, and then email me back, maybe even with small snap shot of
the completed mission.
matt
<<>>
In a message dated 9/25/02 8:10:11 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
cdundorf@j... writes:
> I'd like to get into creating a VB application allowing my PC to
> interface with a BS2P. I know very little about VB but it keeps coming
> up in articles, emails, etc., so I figure it must be good. Right?
>
> My plans are to use the PC to control motors, data acquisition, weather
> station and general messing around. I want to create controls,
> instruments panels, gauges, sliders, etc. All that neat looking stuff!
> I'll likely connect to the stamp(s) via RS-485 or plain RS-232.
>
> Running a search on the Microsoft web site reveals 3 levels of VB.
> Visual Basic.Net, Visual Basic Enterprise Edition and Visual Basic
> Professional. How do I decide what I need? Suggestions? I'd love to
> see examples of your creations (screen shots)!
>
> Thanks,
> Chris
>
>
________________________________________________________________
Sign Up for Juno Platinum Internet Access Today
Only $9.95 per month!
Visit www.juno.com
> I checked out VB Professional as you suggested and have learned of
a new VB product put out by our friends at Microsoft. You've
probably heard of it. It's called Visual Basic.net and is part of
the Visual Studio family for lack of a better description. This
VB.net package comes in at least 3 levels; Standard $90, Professional
$1000+/-, and Enterprise. With this said, I'm interested to know if
you have suggestions on how I might want to proceed.
It's been a little while since I purchased my copy of VB 6.0 Pro.
But I purchased it at a local community college bookstore where it
was available for $99.00. The catch was that it came with ZERO
documentation. But all the neat stuff (like RS-232 support) was
there!
Good Luck,
Ack