Code to help with debugging SX/B programs...

RobotWorkshop

Hello,

I was working on one of my projects using SX/B and wanted an easy way to send
debugging data to a PC to help see what was going on in my code. I used the built
in RS-232 port on the SX48 DIP module kit to send data to the host PC. Sending a
specific character is easy and has been shown quite a few times on this forum. I
wanted a quick way to send the Hexidecimal representation of each byte to the
Serial Port (followed by a space) and came up with the following code as another
subroutine. It only has one byte passed to it and converts the value to be sent
to the serial port for debugging.

Just define BaudDbg as a constant like "T9600" and define DbgSer as the pin
you want to use to send the debug data one. Also make sure to define the pin
as an output!


TX_ByteDbg SUB 1 ' Transmit character to debug port
TX_ByteDbgHex SUB 1 ' Transmit Hex value to debug port

.
.
.


'

---

' Use: TX_ByteDbg char
' -- 'Transmits 'char' over serial connection

TX_ByteDbg:
tmpB1 = __PARAM1 ' get the passed byte value
SEROUT DbgSer, BaudDbg, tmpB1 ' Send the byte
RETURN

TX_ByteDbgHex:
tmpB1 = __PARAM1 ' get the passed byte value
tmpB2 = tmpB1 // 16 ' Get the low nybble digit (0-15)
tmpB1 = tmpB1 / 16 ' Get the high nybble digit (0-15)

tmpB1 = tmpB1 +$30
IF tmpB1 > $39 THEN
tmpB1 = tmpB1 + 7
ENDIF

tmpB2 = tmpB2 +$30
IF tmpB2 > $39 THEN
tmpB2 = tmpB2 + 7
ENDIF

SEROUT DbgSer, BaudDbg, tmpB1 ' Send the upper nybble

SEROUT DbgSer, BaudDbg, tmpB2 ' Send the lower nybble

SEROUT DbgSer, BaudDbg, 32 ' Send a trailing space

RETURN


I just wrote this code today as I needed something quick to help me debug a problem
(which it did). I suppose it could be optimized a bit but perhaps some of you will find
it useful.

Best Regards,

Robert

Sparks-R-Fun

Robert,

Thanks for posting your debugging subroutine.

I noticed that you define TX_ByteDbg but never seem to call it. I assume you meant to use it to save program space and probably meant to replace your three SEROUT calls with something like the following:

TX_ByteDbg tmpB1     ' Send the upper nybble

TX_ByteDbg tmpB2     ' Send the lower nybble

TX_ByteDbg 32         ' Send a trailing space

This should not affect how the subroutines work, just home much program space they consume.

- Sparks

JonnyMac

You might want to encapsulate SEROUT into its own routine to save code space.

RobotWorkshop

Hello Sparks,

You are definitely right and I should just call TX_BtyeDbg from within the Hex routine to save space. I hadn't put that in place yet but will as I clean up the program i'm using it in.

What wasn't shown is that I had called the TX_ByteDbg from a few other places whenever I wanted to send out status. One routine prints stored text strings (to make it look pretty) and other times I just send the ASCII code of the character I wanted to use for status. When I needed to display Hex bytes I then call the TX_ByteDbgHex routine above. I posted that portion since I hoped others would find the conversion to Hex useful.

Robert

JonnyMac

Here's a collection of similar routines that I use for sending values to a PC:

' Use: TX_BYTE theByte
' -- transmit "theByte" at "Baud" on "TX"

SUB TX_BYTE
  tmpB1 = __PARAM1                              ' get byte to send
  SEROUT TX, Baud, tmpB1
  ENDSUB

' -------------------------------------------------------------------------

' Use: TX_STR [noparse][[/noparse]string | label]
' -- "string" is an embeded string constant
' -- "label" is DATA statement label for stored z-String

SUB TX_STR
  tmpW1 = __WPARAM12                            ' get base+offset
  DO
    READINC tmpW1, tmpB1                        ' read a character
    IF tmpB1 = 0 THEN EXIT                      ' if 0, string complete
    TX_BYTE tmpB1                               ' send character
  LOOP
  ENDSUB

' -------------------------------------------------------------------------

' Use: TX_BIN8 theByte
' -- transmits value of "theByte" in BIN8 format

SUB TX_BIN8
  tmpB2 = __PARAM1                              ' get byte to send
  FOR tmpB3 = 1 TO 8                            ' loop through eight bits
    IF tmpB2.7 = 1 THEN                         ' if MSB is set
      TX_BYTE "1"                               '   send "1"
    ELSE                                        ' else
      TX_BYTE "0"                               '   send "0"
    ENDIF
    tmpB2 = tmpB2 << 1                          ' shift next bit to MSB
  NEXT
  ENDSUB

' -------------------------------------------------------------------------

' Use: TX_HEX2 theByte
' -- transmits value of "theByte" in HEX2 format

SUB TX_HEX2
  tmpB2 = __PARAM1                              ' get byte to send
  tmpB3 = tmpB2                                 ' make copy
  SWAP tmpB3                                    ' swap hi/lo
  tmpB3 = tmpB3 & $0F                           ' mask to isolate hi
  READ Hex_Digits + tmpB3, tmpB1
  TX_BYTE tmpB1                                 ' send hi nib
  tmpB2 = tmpB2 & $0F                           ' mask to isolate lo
  READ Hex_Digits + tmpB2, tmpB1
  TX_BYTE tmpB1
  ENDSUB

Hex_Digits:
  DATA "0123456789ABCDEF"