Creating a Virtual Control Creating a Virtual Control Console for Hardware using Console for Hardware using

Visual BasicVisual Basic

Presented by Presented by William KochWilliam Koch

Kochworx, Ltd.Kochworx, Ltd.October 24, 2002October 24, 2002

SummarySummary

GoalsGoals Hardware & InterfaceHardware & Interface Visual Basic ConceptsVisual Basic Concepts Solution DevelopmentSolution Development DemonstrationDemonstration

GoalsGoals

Create a Virtual Console to Create a Virtual Console to Demonstrate HardwareDemonstrate Hardware

Describe Visual Basic ConceptsDescribe Visual Basic Concepts Use the RS-232 PortUse the RS-232 Port

Hardware & InterfaceHardware & Interface

Virtual Hardware – the RGB BeastVirtual Hardware – the RGB Beast 4 Addressable Channels4 Addressable Channels Each Channel has 0-FF settings for Each Channel has 0-FF settings for

Red, Green, BlueRed, Green, Blue Settings Tx Via RS-232 InterfaceSettings Tx Via RS-232 Interface Start Sequence = 4 $FFStart Sequence = 4 $FF Data Sequence = Channel# R G BData Sequence = Channel# R G B Sample: FF FF FF FF 01 C0 FF D6Sample: FF FF FF FF 01 C0 FF D6

RGB Beast VirtuwareRGB Beast Virtuware

Software to Hardware ConnectionSoftware to Hardware Connection

Hardware Control Console(VB Software)

Serial Port (RS-232) NULL Modem Serial Port (RS-232)

RGB BeastVirtual Hardware

Visual Basic ConceptsVisual Basic Concepts

Basis of all Visual Tools is Object Basis of all Visual Tools is Object Oriented DesignOriented Design

Functionality is Encapsulated in Functionality is Encapsulated in ControlsControls

Properties, Methods & Events provide Properties, Methods & Events provide programming hooksprogramming hooks

VB is powerful because of Reusable VB is powerful because of Reusable ComponentsComponents

Solution DevelopmentSolution Development

Begin a Project as a Standard EXEBegin a Project as a Standard EXE Add Controls for Project to the Add Controls for Project to the

Toolbox (ex. MSCOMM Control 6.0)Toolbox (ex. MSCOMM Control 6.0) Design the Form Visually by Adding Design the Form Visually by Adding

Controls and Setting PropertiesControls and Setting Properties Write Code to Interact with Visual Write Code to Interact with Visual

ObjectsObjects

Constructing Virtual ConsoleConstructing Virtual Console

Add a Label and a Slider Control to Add a Label and a Slider Control to FormForm

Set Slider Properties, Label Set Slider Properties, Label PropertiesProperties

Replicate for Blue, GreenReplicate for Blue, Green Add a Timer, MSCOMM ControlAdd a Timer, MSCOMM Control Write Code to Transmit DataWrite Code to Transmit Data

Simple Control ConsoleSimple Control Console

Coding the TimerCoding the Timer

Must send 4 FF’s, Channel#, R, G, BMust send 4 FF’s, Channel#, R, G, B When Byte Stream Ready, SendWhen Byte Stream Ready, Send Timers specified in millisecondsTimers specified in milliseconds Finest granularity is ~55ms, max is Finest granularity is ~55ms, max is

65535ms (60K=1 minute)65535ms (60K=1 minute)

Adding a Channel SelectorAdding a Channel Selector

TextboxTextbox Spinner ControlSpinner Control Command ButtonsCommand Buttons Radio ButtonsRadio Buttons ……many options availablemany options available Hook the Channel Selector Into Data Hook the Channel Selector Into Data

StreamStream

Other Visual ControlsOther Visual Controls

Microsoft Standard Microsoft Standard ControlsControls

33rdrd Party Controls Party Controls for just about for just about anythinganything

SummarySummary

Goal was to create a Virtual Console Goal was to create a Virtual Console to control a hardware deviceto control a hardware device

Hardware was a 4-Channel Hardware was a 4-Channel addressable RGB display deviceaddressable RGB display device

VB Components encapsulate large VB Components encapsulate large amounts of functionalityamounts of functionality

Drag/Drop Development of UIDrag/Drop Development of UI Demonstrated Hardware ControlDemonstrated Hardware Control

Questions (?)Questions (?)

William KochWilliam Kochwkoch@kochworx.comwkoch@kochworx.comwww.kochworx.comwww.kochworx.com973.534.6367973.534.6367