Basic Stamp to VB6

Doc · 2005-10-13 09:22

Hello,

actually I have a small problem with collecting data from Basic Stamp. I have a SRF235 Ultra Sound detector connected to BS2px24-BOE/USB Interface. I wrote the code in PBasic and all works well,·thus, in the interface I can see the distance measured each "x ms". On VB6, I want to save the data in a list box, that means the distance measured every x ms. The problem is that there is a delay between Basic Stamp and VB6 and moreover, VB6 displays the range measured in basic Stamp preceded by a vertical dash which is the ASCII Value 1 (HOME Symbol).

Is there any solution for this?

Thank you.

Chris Savage · 2005-10-13 14:34

Doc,

·· This is kind of a trick question in a way...One could infer that if the reading is correct but with the extra character, then just don't have your VB6 App print that character.· On the other hand, do you know what's being sent from the BASIC Stamp Module?· Is that character being sent?· If so, don't send it.· If not, perhaps your MSCOMM routine is messed up?· What exactly are you getting?

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Chris Savage
Parallax Tech Support
csavage@parallax.com

Doc · 2005-10-14 08:32

Hello Chris,

Thank you for your reply. Actualy, the Basic Stamp module is sending as follow : "DEBUG 1, DEC4 Range", where "1" is the HOME symbole, so this is the caracter which is not recognized by VB6. In the VB6, I am printing the MSComm.Input into a listbox :

A = MSComm.Input
lstdata.Additem A

Thanks

stamptrol · 2005-10-14 13:01

Doc,

The other way around it is to use a SEROUT command ( on pin 16, if you want to use the existing connector). That way, no additional characters are sent.

Tom

Jon Williams · 2005-10-14 13:36

Doc,

Just filter the 1 from the MSComm input -- I haven't used VB in a while, but you should be able to do something like this:

· temp = MSComm.Input
· If Left$(temp, 1) < 32 Then
··· temp = Mid$(temp, 2)
· End If
· lstData.AddItem temp

Double check use of Left$ and Mid$ -- like I said, I haven't used VB in a while.· The idea is to remove the first character if it's not in the normal ASCII printing range.

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Jon Williams
Applications Engineer, Parallax

Beau Schwabe · 2005-10-14 14:02

  temp = MSComm.Input
  If Asc(Left$(temp, 1)) < 32 Then
    temp = Mid$(temp, 2)
  End If
  lstData.AddItem temp

or

  temp = MSComm.Input
  If Left$(temp, 1) < Chr$(32) Then
    temp = Mid$(temp, 2)
  End If
  lstData.AddItem temp

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Beau Schwabe

IC Layout Engineer
Parallax, Inc.

Jon Williams · 2005-10-14 14:09

Thanks for the fix, Beau.

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Jon Williams
Applications Engineer, Parallax

Doc · 2005-10-20 14:53

Thanx a lot guys for your help.

Sorry for my late reply but I was away.

One more thing, any idea about the delay between the Basic Stamp and the VB6?

Thx,

Doc.

Jon Williams · 2005-10-20 15:03

The problem with using the programming port for PC-to-Stamp communications is that the BASIC Stamp has to be sitting on a SERIN when you send your message. If you have the IO space, it's better to use a full interface that includes hardware flow-control, this way the PC won't try to send data to the BASIC Stamp until the BASIC Stamp is ready for it. Download our RS-232 DCE AppMod documentation for a circuit and demo code.

If you're forced to use the programming port, you may want to develop a software protocol where the BASIC Stamp sends an *ready* message to the PC, the immediately loads a SERIN statement to wait on what the PC has to send.

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Jon Williams
Applications Engineer, Parallax

Basic Stamp to VB6

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