Stand-alone Debug Terminal

TechnoRobbo

Title says it all. I wanted to use the Debug Terminal - but I didnt want to start the editor. So I wrote one.
·
Basic differences are:

1. One textbox like a standard terminal.
2. All settings are stored in the registry
3. no scrollbars but 4k of data is captured and can be sent to clipboard.
4. column width is adjustable on screen
5. tabs are adjustable.
6. And it's size is scalable.

It follows all the debug control codes. Code 13 does not shift data, but neither does the real terminal (I think that's a typo in the manual).

I have the source code below so you can modify at will, and the install files for those who just want to use it and not play with the programming.

This is a Beta version so some bugs may exist - keep meposted if you find one.

Here's the Visual Basic Source Code (vb5):

http://home.comcast.net/~technorobbo/DB_TERM_PROJECT_FILES.zip

Here's the install program:

http://home.comcast.net/~technorobbo/DB_TERM.zip

Errata & Addendum

9/27/2007 Carraige Return bug found and fixed

9/27/2007 Uploaded project files with fix

9/29/2007 DTR & RTS checkboxes added

9/29/2007 Display routine optimized and accelerated. Version now on program title - Current version v 1.0.12

9/30/2007 Now using Persistent Graphic,·preserves·image when resizing and minimizing.· - Version v 1.0.13

10/1/2007 MSComm Started with DTR off - to avoid·unwanted restart of Stamp.· - Version v 1.0.14

10/2/2007 Last Terminal Size saved. Smaller Faster Executable· - Version v 1.0.17

10/2/2007·Scroll synchronized during resizing·- Version v 1.0.18

10/10/2007·Fix -CLS command homes cursor- Version v 1.0.19

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TR

Post Edited (TechnoRobbo) : 10/10/2007 11:46:56 PM GMT

neoteric

hey, thanks for this!!

TechnoRobbo

Please note that I uploaded the fixed project files at 9/27/2007 11:36:10 PM GMT

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TR

Oldbitcollector (Jeff)

This looks great! I'm about sick of Hyperterminal...

Suggestion/Comment: This would be ultra handy if it could auto connect and disconnect
from the COMM port when minimized/maximized. Or even auto connect only when
the window is in focus. Awesome work! I'll be using this now..

Oldbitcollector

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Buttons . . . check. Dials . . . check. Switches . . . check. Little colored lights . . . check.

— Calvin, of 'Calvin and Hobbes.

TechnoRobbo

Oldbitcollector said...
Suggestion/Comment: This would be ultra handy if it could auto connect and disconnect
from the COMM port when minimized/maximized. Or even auto connect only when
the window is in focus.

If you do it on "Focus" there is a real risk of accidentally loosing data or restarting the program since the stamp resets when comm is established. (Which incidentally is a good programming trick for resetting the stamp).

Maximize and Minimize maybe a less riskier route to go.

If you have Visual Basic that would invlove changing the form resize event to:

Private Sub Form_Resize()
If Me.WindowState =· vbMinimized Then
··· If·MSComm1.PortOpen Then MSComm1.PortOpen = False
Else
··· If Not MSComm1.PortOpen Then setcomm
End If

store_Resize Me

End Sub

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Post Edited (TechnoRobbo) : 9/29/2007 1:46:51 AM GMT

Harrison.

Great work! All it needs is XP Theming. I tend to place manifest files for all non xp themed applications so I get the cool silvery buttons and such.

Couldn't you just set mscomm to not change the DTR state so the Stamp doesn't reset? I haven't used VB5/6 for over a year so I don't remember all the stuff mscomm provided.

TechnoRobbo

Harrison said...
Couldn't you just set mscomm to not change the DTR state so the Stamp doesn't reset? I haven't used VB5/6 for over a year so I don't remember all the stuff mscomm provided.

Sure, just set the DTREnable property to false prior to opening the port.
It could be a checkbox on the form.

But my point was really that the user doesn't have as much control of window focus as they think. Email alerts, Windows alerts, Antivirus alerts and ·all other "modal" dialogs·could take over focus. I have 2 dozen processes running in the background on my laptop and I haven't a clue of what they'll do next.

If you want that XP look just rebuid the forms using the same code. Let me point out that Ctext1 is a picturebox and not a text box that's how I'm doing the cartesian coordinates.

I'll add the DTR & RTS checkboxes into the interface for those who don't program. It was a lazy omission on my part.

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Post Edited (TechnoRobbo) : 9/29/2007 10:17:30 PM GMT

TechnoRobbo

Harrison the DTR & RTS checkboxes have been added to the program and the source files available for download now. As of 9/29/2007 11:21:53 PM GMT

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Oldbitcollector (Jeff)

I can't hit your source... File is missing...


Oldbitcollector

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Buttons . . . check. Dials . . . check. Switches . . . check. Little colored lights . . . check.

— Calvin, of 'Calvin and Hobbes.

TechnoRobbo

Typo in link (space converted to underscores by server)- just as well -re-uploaded·project files -some files hadn't updated in zip. Try it now, should work fine.


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Post Edited (TechnoRobbo) : 9/30/2007 2:30:09 PM GMT

Capdiamont

Note, vista doesn't have hyper terminal anymore.

TechnoRobbo

You can still download·it from Hilgraeve.- the company Microsoft Licensed it from.

http://www.hilgraeve.com/htpe/download.html

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Post Edited (TechnoRobbo) : 10/5/2007 12:54:06 PM GMT

Bryan K.

I am also starting to get sick of hyperterminal and opening the BASIC STAMP editor. Nice work on just the debug terminal! I was in contact with Parallax a while back, and work is being done for the Propeller Tool Software to incorporate not only a text debug terminal, but also some other helpful ones, like an video debugging tool (for RGB i suppose) and other graphing utilities. For the time being, I like the work you have done on just the text dubugging terminal.

TechnoRobbo

That's where this project began, actually. I was hunting through the Parallax's online library for a stand alone version of· a debug terminal. I was surprised to find it was not published since Debug uses proprietary formatting. This and the endless stream of forum requests for VB to stamp integration led me to publish the project files.

I thought that in one fell swoop I could give people the tools to connect and allow them to expand on my work. I wanted to pass on little tricks like, MSComm already has a buffer and you can print and format on a picturebox, that I thought people might find useful.·

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Post Edited (TechnoRobbo) : 10/6/2007 8:47:10 PM GMT