How can i display data from a microcontroller to PC using Serialport

Question

Hello,pls can someone help me with a code or giudeline on this project am currently working on.
my project is on reading data from a microcontroller (89s52) via serialport to Eight textboxes on a pc GUI using C#,am using Visual studio 2008.Am having problems on how to display the ASCII characters e.g(55,23,12,34,42,33,22,23,N 55,23,12,34,42,33,22,23,N,55,etc) also to store the received data on an access database

Danatas Gervi · Answer

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE HE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} Sorry, I missed your question - it was not on top on my page account. Your error - thrived by DB engine, and, probably it because error in query string. Check the string yourself – set breakpoint before exact query, copy value of string to query generator (I do not know the MS Access – absolutely, but sure, must be something) and try to run it. Error will be shown – syntaxes, column name or something else. So, the code should be corrected, it must build correct query string.

Danatas Gervi · Answer

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE HE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} Aha, now it is more clear….. So, try this code : string m_serialData ; // data needs to besaved beetween events bool m_readEnd = false ; private void serialPort1_DataReceived ( object sender , System . IO . Ports . SerialDataReceivedEventArgs e ) { char dataChar = ' ' ; while ( serialPort1 . BytesToRead > 0 ) { dataChar = ( char ) serialPort1 . ReadChar (); if ( dataChar != 'N' ) // reading only beetween 'N' ..... 'N' { m_serialData += dataChar ; // collecting the data } else { m_readEnd = true ; break ; } } if ( m_readEnd ) // next 'N' found - needs to send collected data { SetTextToTextboxes ( m_serialData ); //end reading send string of data to main thread m_serialData = "" ; // data sent, ready for next m_readEnd = false ; } } delegate void SetTextToView ( string textData ); private void SetTextToTextboxes ( string textData ) { if ( this . InvokeRequired ) { SetTextToView tempDelegate = new SetTextToView ( SetTextToTextboxes ); this . Invoke ( tempDelegate , new object [] { textData }); } else { // textData = "55,43,23,12,32,22,12,44," ; // example string - i cannot get anything from my port... // now string contains only numbers and commas string [] separatedData = textData . Split ( new char [] { ',' }, StringSplitOptions . RemoveEmptyEntries ); // now string contains only numbers and commas if ( separatedData . Length == 8 ) { this . Text = "Data Ok" ; textBox1 . Text = separatedData [ 0 ]; // this is more optimal for this task textBox2 . Text = separatedData [ 1 ]; // instead common solution textBox3 . Text = separatedData [ 2 ]; // to set all needed data in one delegate textBox4 . Text = separatedData [ 3 ]; textBox5 . Text = separatedData [ 4 ]; textBox6 . Text = separatedData [ 5 ]; textBox7 . Text = separatedData [ 6 ]; textBox8 . Text = separatedData [ 7 ]; } else { this . Text = "Data error" ; } } } I have commented important places, so it will (may ) help you to implement the idea in your progam.

Lu Sun · Answer

I try the codes in the similar situation, but it is unstable, I remove this line: // textData = "55,43,23,12,32,22,12,44," ; // example string - i cannot get anything from my port... sometimes it work, sometime I got an error message the error message is about "textData" in this function: private void SetTextToTextboxes(string textData) it said that the textData was null, how to solve this problem? Thank you very much!

Mahesh Chand · Answer

Search this site for any kind of chart and you will see articles related to that chart.

Dave Chika · Answer

Hello Danatas, its been a long time,i have a problem regarding this my project, is there any way i can display those data on a graph like appearance,histogram or pie chart?? sorry for bothering you again.

Toby · Answer

Dear Danatas Gervi, Would you tell me please how to display incoming data from serialport in 3 textboxes? I have simple serial terminal software in c#. Its possible to receive rx data via sertial port. I see rx data in console view like hyperterminal in win xp. this is incoming data string: 1. X:1023, Y:0, Z:1023 2. X:1023, Y:0, Z:1023 3. X:1023, Y:0, Z:1023 4. X:1023, Y:0, Z:1023 5. X:1023, Y:0, Z:1023 6. X:1023, Y:0, Z:1023 7. X:1023, Y:0, Z:1023 8. X:1023, Y:0, Z:1023 ... I have 3 textboxes or labels that should display each Value and update everytime value change. I upload a picture of my mainform as referenz: http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/377/readdata.png Reagrds Toby

Dave Chika · Answer

Hello Danatas, i hv tried ur recent codes for storing data on a Database but when i run the program i usually have have errors which states like this ArgumentException was Unhandled format of the initialisation string does not conform to specification starting at index 0. pls do you have any idea where d problem might be from. Thanks for your Anticipated response.

Danatas Gervi · Answer

Use something like this: if ( separatedData . Length == 8 ) { this . Text = "Data Ok" ; if ( TimeToSaveData ()) // timeout checking { SaveTemperatureToDB ( separatedData ); m_LastSaveTime = DateTime . Now ; } And function: DateTime m_LastSaveTime ; private bool TimeToSaveData () { return m_LastSaveTime . AddMinutes ( 3 ) DateTime . Now ; }

Dave Chika · Answer

Hello Danatas i forgot one point on the last question, the data should be collected peridically say every 2-3 minutes in other to minimize database memory usage in terms of storage.Also if there is any point/feature u may add to this my projects,pls do,i want it to be a standard device.(laughs).

Danatas Gervi · Answer

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE HE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} Sure you can! I can guess that you want to store all data in DB – for future statistic or something… :) If so, you can do it in same delegate – that inserts data to check boxes. The function for this should be like: if ( separatedData . Length == 8 ) { this . Text = "Data Ok" ; SaveTemperatureToDB ( separatedData );// function call ……. private void SaveTemperatureToDB ( string [] separatedData ) { SqlConnection dbConnect = new SqlConnection ( "conn string" ); dbConnect . Open (); string sSql = "INSERT INTO Temeratures ([col_temp1] , [col_temp2] ,[col_temp3] ) VALUES (" ; for ( int iii = 0 ; iii separatedData . Length ; iii ++ ) { if ( iii != separatedData . Length - 1 ) // not last element { sSql += separatedData [ iii ] + "," ; } else // last element { sSql += separatedData [ iii ] + ")" ; } } SqlCommand sqlCommand = new SqlCommand ( sSql , dbConnect ); sqlCommand . ExecuteNonQuery (); dbConnect . Close (); } This is example for MS-SQL client, but for every other will be same prinsip. I have written the simplest example of dynamic query building – without protection and optimisations (that can be implemented using sql params and exeption catching) and so on… Also – you should change the table name and colums names in sSql string – I do not know exact names in your DB.

Dave Chika · Answer

Hello Danatas, pls am sorry to disturb you so soon. am calling on you for one more problem am having now,pls hw can i be retrieving and storing these data on the 8 textboxes to an Access database using SQL or any.

Danatas Gervi · Answer

Thanks! I will be glad to help you. :-)

Dave Chika · Answer

Danatas Gervi YOUR DA BOMB!!!!!. the code is working perfectely,Men i am very happy for your Help.THANKS A MILLION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. pls i like to be communicating with,i u to be my MENTOR in programming.here is my address chez_projects@yahoo.com . Am into embedded programing but i want to be intergrating them to my PC,am an electronic Enthuasist. once again THANKS BROTHER.can i be free to ask you any Question in future?

Dave Chika · Answer

Danatas Gervi i must say that am very happy with the attention ur givin me,i dnt knw how to say thank you. u asked wat i will do with the other stream of data.okay let me give you more info about my project. i will be measuring 8 temperature levels via 8 sensors(8 #Lm35) which is converted to digital signal using 8-channels ADC0808 chip(Analogue To Digital Converter),then fed to the microcontroller (89S52) that now does the conversion to Decimals(ASCii).The micocontroller now transmits the converted data to the serial port thereby displaying those values on 8 textboxes,it should also be updating those values on the textbox based on what the temperature level from the sensors. (Realtime) i used hyperterminal to view the incoming data from the 89S52 which shows these stream of datas continuosly (i.e N44,34,12,54,32,11,23,43,N34,51,50,40,30,22,31,00,N05,02,03,07,09,08,18,16,N19.(the N signifies start of new reading)) the 89S52 continously supplies data about the cuurent temperature value to the serialport(GUI) so that it will continously be updating those textboxes. The textboxes are updated (Realtime)as long as there is incoming data on the serial port. These data which are displayed is also used to populate an Access Database for reference or storage purposes.

Danatas Gervi · Answer

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE HE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} So, "N" is also separator. It is a surprise for me. :-) This code: private void serialPort1_DataReceived ( object sender , System . IO . Ports . SerialDataReceivedEventArgs e ) { string serialData = "" ; //while (serialPort1.BytesToRead> 0) //{ // serialData += (char)serialPort1.ReadChar(); //} serialData = "N55,43,23,12,32,22,12,44,N55,43,23,12,32,22,12,44,N55,43,23,12,32,22,12,44" ; // example string - i cannot get anything from my port... string [] dataRows = serialData . Split ( new char [] { 'N' }, StringSplitOptions . RemoveEmptyEntries ); if ( dataRows . Length > 0 ) { string [] separatedData = dataRows [ 0 ] . Split ( new char [] { ',' }, StringSplitOptions . RemoveEmptyEntries ); // only first row wil be displayed... if ( separatedData . Length == 8 ) // data validation { SetText ( textBox1 , separatedData [ 0 ]); // this is not best kind of binding SetText ( textBox2 , separatedData [ 1 ]); // but will work SetText ( textBox3 , separatedData [ 2 ]); SetText ( textBox4 , separatedData [ 3 ]); SetText ( textBox5 , separatedData [ 4 ]); SetText ( textBox6 , separatedData [ 5 ]); SetText ( textBox7 , separatedData [ 6 ]); SetText ( textBox8 , separatedData [ 7 ]); } else { SetText ( this , "Error in received data" ); // data is not valid } } } can show only first row in received data. I do not (cannot guess) know, what you want to do with other rows (we have only 8 textboxes on form)…. May be you want to show stream of real time data - changes every second or something.

Dave Chika · Answer

Danatas Gervi thank you very much for the code but it gives me " Error in received data" when i plug my device.but if run it without it displays fine,i dnt know where the problem is.the data from the microcontroller comes like this N22,11,23,34,54,44,22,13,N55,34,22etc the N shows the begining of a new reading.i tryed increasing my baudrate but is nt working.

Danatas Gervi · Answer

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE HE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} You problem is that event of serial port rises in other thread. Here is example: Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE HE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} private void serialPort1_DataReceived ( object sender , System . IO . Ports . SerialDataReceivedEventArgs e ) { string serialData = "" ; //while (serialPort1.BytesToRead> 0) //{ // serialData += (char)serialPort1.ReadChar(); //} serialData = "N55,43,23,12,32,22,12,44" ; // example string - i cannot get anything from my port... string [] separatedData = serialData . Split ( ',' ); // may be here you needs more smart splitting if ( separatedData . Length == 8 ) // data validation { SetText ( textBox1 , separatedData [ 0 ]); // this is not best kind of binding SetText ( textBox2 , separatedData [ 1 ]); // but will work SetText ( textBox3 , separatedData [ 2 ]); SetText ( textBox4 , separatedData [ 3 ]); SetText ( textBox5 , separatedData [ 4 ]); SetText ( textBox6 , separatedData [ 5 ]); SetText ( textBox7 , separatedData [ 6 ]); SetText ( textBox8 , separatedData [ 7 ]); } else { SetText ( this , "Error in received data" ); // data is not valid } } delegate void SetTextToControl ( Control viewControl , string textData ); private void SetText ( Control viewControl , string textData ) { if ( viewControl . InvokeRequired ) { SetTextToControl tempDelegate = new SetTextToControl ( SetText ); viewControl . Invoke ( tempDelegate , new object [] { viewControl , textData }); } else { viewControl . Text = textData ; } }

Dave Chika · Answer

pls am trying to read datafrom 8 temperature sensors(Lm35) via serial port using c# to 8 textboxes,below is my microcontroller c++ code on 89S52 micocontroller [code] #include sbit start=P3^3; sbit end=P3^4; sbit oe=P3^5; sbit ale=P3^6; sbit clock=P3^2; sbit relay1=P1^3; sbit relay2=P1^4; sbit relay3=P1^5; sbit relay4=P1^6; unsigned char temp; unsigned char aray[]={'0','1','2','3','4','5','6','7','8','9'}; void delay() { int k,l; for(k=0;k for(l=0;l } void initSerial() { TMOD=0x22; TH1=0xFD; SCON=0x50; TR1=1; EA=1; ES=1; } void usDelay(int a) { TH0=256-(a/1.085); TR0=1; ET0=1; } void timerRoutine() interrupt 1 { clock=~clock; } void sendChar(unsigned char ch) { SBUF=ch; while(!TI); TI=0; } void serialRoutine() interrupt 4 { if(RI==1) { temp=SBUF; switch(temp) { case('a'): relay1=1; break; case('b'): relay1=0; break; case('c'): relay2=1; break; case('d'): relay2=0; break; case('e'): relay3=1; break; case('f'): relay3=0; break; case('g'): relay4=1; break; case('h'): relay4=0; } RI=0; } } void sendReading(unsigned char val) { unsigned char l,m; l=val%10; m=(val/10)%10; sendChar(aray[m]); sendChar(aray[l]); sendChar(','); } void latch() { ale=0; delay(); ale=1; } void startConv() { delay(); start=0; delay(); start=1; } void wait() { while(end==1); } void get() { delay(); oe=0; delay(); oe=1; } void main() { unsigned char sensor=0,reading; P1=0; initSerial(); usDelay(50); while(1) { if(sensor==8) sensor=0; if(sensor==0) sendChar('N'); P1=(P1&0xf8)+sensor; latch(); startConv(); wait(); get(); reading=P2; sendReading(reading); sensor++; } } [/code] my problem is,afta creating an instance of serial port,uner the DataReceived event Handler,i could receive the data from the 89s52 ASCII e.g N55,43,23,12,32,22,12,N32,41,25,51,etc.so i want each of the 8 data to be displayed on 8 textboxes intead of one. my GUI design has 8 textboxes to display these data

Danatas Gervi · Answer

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE HE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:right; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} This data should be received as byte array (byte [] mcResivedData) and converted to string by following code: string resultString = "" ; byte [] mcResivedData = { 55 , 23 , 12 , 34 , 42 , 33 , 22 , 23 , 55 , 23 , 12 , 34 , 42 , 33 , 22 , 23 }; foreach ( byte rByte in mcResivedData ) { // here you can add any checking and logic - how you want to se (or dont) any byte with spesific value resultString += ( char ) rByte ; } this . Text = resultString ; *if amount of data is big (more than 1000 bytes at onse) better use StringBuilder instead string.

How can i display data from a microcontroller to PC using Serialport

Answers (19)