Read Me
DeBug V2.0.0.3
The DeBug
utility is a simple terminal emulator for any device running
the Palm
operating system (PalmOS V2.0 or greater), and having at least
one
accessible serial port. Palm devices
will accept an asynchronous
CMOS, TTL or true RS-232c level data stream.
This software can be
configured
to operate at 9600 baud (for the Parallax
Basic Stamp )or 19,200
baud (for
the NetMedia BasicX-24). The data should
arrive as
8 data bits, no parity, and 1 stop bit; thus the settings
available
are 9600,8,N,1 or 19200,8,N,1. These settings
are compatible
with the Parallax Basic Stamp "Debug"
command (9600,8,N,1) or the
NetMedia BasicX-24 "Debug.print"
command (19200,8,N,1). The software
should
allow a device running the PalmOS to interpret data from any
device
capable of generating an asynchronous serial signal,
logically
and electrically compatible with the specifications described above.
DeBug was
developed using the AppForge, Mobile VB 3.5 development environment.
It consists
of the Debug installer application (FinalDeBug-Install.prc).
This
package will install the DeBug application and the AppForge
Booster. Booster is the AppForge runtime that is
required for the
correct
operation of the DeBug program. The Booster
VM is approximately
350 Kb in
size, and is automatically installed when Debug is installed.
Booster is
a product of AppForge, Inc., and is provided through a
license
generously donated by Palm, Inc. For
more information about
the Mobile
VB development environment, the Booster application, or the
Palm
licensing agreement, visit AppForge on the web at:
Before
installing DeBug, back up all files on your Palm device. This
program has
been tested on Palm IIIxe, Palm Vx and on Palm VII
hardware
with no adverse effects. It has been run
successfully on ROM emulators
of all
current PalmOS devices. We have taken
every precaution to ensure the
safety
and proper operation of this program. No
sense being careless, though.
This is
shareware. Take appropriate precautions.
To install
Debug, simply extract the following compressed file to the
"Install"
directory of HotSync:
FinalDeBug-Install.prc
During your
next HotSync operation, the files will be downloaded to the
Palm
device, and will install themselves. The HotSync operation during
which
DeBug is installed will take several minutes.
You will see two
new icons
in the Home directory of your Palm device after installation:
the
NewDeBug scarab icon, and the Booster rocket icon. Tapping the
NewDeBug
icon will activate the program. Tapping
the booster icon will
provide
you with more information about Booster and AppForge.
If your
Palm device uses a serial cradle, you may test the DeBug program on
your
device as follows: leave your Palm device in its docking cradle after
the
HotSync operation. Disable HotSync (to
release your PC's serial port),
and
activate the Next DeBug application on the Palm device. Activate a terminal
emulator
program on your PC (such as HyperTerminal, usually found in
Start-->Programs-->Accessories-->Communications
on most Windows PC's).
Set the
terminal emulator for 9600,8,N,1 on whatever serial
port your
docking
cradle is connected to. Press the
"open" button on the DeBug
main
screen and type into the PC terminal emulator.
You should see the
keystrokes
on the screen of the left (Receive) pane of the Palm device. Data entered
into the
the right (Transmit) pane, will be sent back to the terminal program when the
“Send”
button is depressed. Thus, 2 way
communication between your Palm device
and any
other microcontrolleror computer is possible.
To use the
DeBug application to read the Debug output from a BX-24 or Stamp,
you must first
know how the serial port (cradle port) on your Palm device
is set
up. Get a copy of the schematic from the
website of the manufacturer
of your
device. Read it and understand it. A few quick pointers: The simplest
way to
access the serial port on a Palm device is through the HotSync cradle
connection. The HotSync connector makes certain
assumptions about the
relationship of the Palm device to the device to which it is connected (usually a
PC).
The Palm
device expects to be communicating with a PC, as does the BX-24 or the Stamp;
thus both
the Palm and the microcontroller are wired as DCE terminations: they have
the same
"polarity". For these devices
to talk to each other, you will need a
null-modem
adapter that will swap the TX/RX lines in the HotSync cradle for
you
(RadioShack sells a nice, cheap one that will fit on the end of the Palm
cradle
serial port connector). You will also
need a "gender-bender" to allow the
null-modem
adapter to fit into the programming port connected to your microcontroller
(once again, RadioShack has this part). Digikey
also sells a full series of connectors
online.
If you are
unsure about any aspect of the electrical connections to the serial
port, get
a copy of Jan Axelson's excellent book "The
Serial Port Complete."
Read it and
understand it before playing with the serial port of your Palm
device. Be aware that you are making an electrical
connection between your
Palm device
and whatever you are connecting it to.
In many cases, you probably
built the
thing you are connecting to the Palm device yourself. If something
is
miss-wired, you could fry the microcontroller, the Palm device, both of
them, or
yourself. Take appropriate precautions. Always remember the old
carpenter's
adage: "Measure twice- cut
once!" Check and recheck all
connections
before
turning the power on. Do not try any of
this if you don't know what
you are
doing. And I won't even bring up the
subject of connecting the
Palm device
to anything "homemade" that runs off mains...
Finally- please let me know
what your experience using this software is (a link to my email
can be
found at the bottom of this page). I
would be interested to know what Palm device
you have
installed DeBug on, what microcontroller you were communicating with, and
whether
or not
you had any problems. Suggestions for
additional features to this application would
also be
appreciated.
This is
shareware, but we will hapilly accept donations $9.99 (US) to pay for currently
unfunded projects (or whatever you can afford).
(NOTE: A donation to CyberBiota,
Incorporated is NOT TAX DEDUCTABLE.)
Annoying legal crap:
The DeBug
software is a utility developed in house for testing. We have provided it
as Shareware
to the members of the microcontroller hobbyist community. This utility
has only
limited error-handling capability, and currently has no means of saving
data.
This software
is provided as is, without any guarantee of fitness or suitability for any
purpose,
and is not warranted against any defects.
This
software is not ISO 9000 compliant, nor does it conform to 29 CFR
part 11
guidelines for medical devices. This software
should not be installed
on any
medical device, nor should it be installed on any device that could be
connected
to a medical device. This software should not be installed on
any
device who's failure could conceivably lead to injury, loss of life, material
or financial damage of any kind.
By
installing this software, you agree to these terms, and furthermore agree
to
indemnify and hold harmless the author of this software and CyberBiota,
Incorporated
in the
event of any injury, of any kind. You may
share this software with anyone,
but must
distribute this Read Me file in its entirety with the software.
If you
require software or hardware solutions for biomedical devices that are
compliant
with all
applicable regulations, please contact us at:
CyberBiota, Incorporated
© 2004, Peter C. Charles, PhD
CyberBiota, Inc.
All rights reserved.