On Fri, Jan 13, 2012, at 09:25 AM, Carl Denk wrote:
> I am wanting to make a test setup for a PIC PCB that has 2 pressure=20
> sensors and a temperature sensor with RS-232 communications output. The=20
> Pic responds to a control string (the RS-232 goes to RS-485 down the=20
> wire), responding with a string of the values. I have available=20
> preferably a XP home laptop, or could lug a Ubuntu Lucid desktop to the=20
> workshop.  Thinking is use Open Office Calc to display the data,=20
> including unpacking the string. Would need to send the request string,=20
> say 1/second to have updated data without having to hit some keys. I=20
> have searched for a way to communicate with the Com ports, but come up=20
> blank. Also have  looked at RealTerm, which I have used previously, but=20
> hitting the keys is an issue since I can't find away to do a delay, and=20
> resend. Downloading and installing some application (Free) is not a=20
> problem.

Hi Carl,

I spent many frustrating hours trying to do it the "right way", with
"open office basic" automation. I also enlisted the help of another
smart person. But it is improperly documented, buggy, and just a general
waste of time.=20

That being said, I did get an ugly hack to work. It went like this. Open
Office can update a cell or cells from a web page, at intervals you can
choose. Say you choose once every second. I wouldn't try it faster than
that. Have it pointed to an html page on the same computer. You don't
need a web server running. Then write a small application that
continuously rewrites that web page from the serial data. When I did it,
it was under Windows and I wrote a small Delphi app. You could just as
easily do it in Python or Perl or even Gambas if it was in a Linux box
or they were installed on your Windows machine.

If you want the Windows app, sometime this weekend I can dig it up and
email it to you directly, along with a sample calc document.

Cheerful regards,

Bob

--=20
http://www.fastmail.fm - mmm... Fastmail...

--=20
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist
.