Uploading/downloading Progs to Triac.

Roy · Post by **Roy** » Thu 15 Feb , 2007 23:49 pm

Having now got the '86 Triac set up, I wish to use the RS232 link for uploading and downloading programmes.
I have made up the appropriate cable as described.

However both Triac 4.2 and Ind text editor only have options for Com 1 or Com 2, wheras my PC's serial port is on Com 5. Is there any way of changing the options in Triac 4.2 and/or Ind text editor.

Help would be gratley appreciated!
Thanks Roy.

Ps, Also some help on general settings would be helpful, the triac's baudrate is set to 4800

Roy · Post by **Roy** » Fri 16 Feb , 2007 22:43 pm

I Have solved my Com numbering problem now. And I have managed to get the Triac to communicate with the Ind Text editor, only problem is it only sends the first line of programme to machine!

Anybody know the answer?

Thanks Roy

Mr Magoo · Post by **Mr Magoo** » Sun 18 Feb , 2007 0:52 am

The Ind. Text Editor is waiting for an 'ACK' character to come back from the machine before it sends the next line.

The prob could be a bad cable (PC Transmit line is OK but the Receive line is broken) Can you send a program from the machine to the PC OK?

Also take a look at this post about testing the RS232 link viewtopic.php?t=701
instead of shorting pins 7 and 8 at the Triac, leave serial the cable connected to the machine and short out pins 2 and 3 on the other (PC) end of the cable. This way you'll know the cable is good.

Roy · Post by **Roy** » Sun 18 Feb , 2007 1:41 am

Thanks Mr Magoo, I did try to send a prog from the m/c to pc, but got a error 1010 on ind text editor. I will try the cable test tommorow.

Roy

Mr Magoo · Post by **Mr Magoo** » Sun 18 Feb , 2007 9:03 am

Mmmm...

Error 1010 = "Output Queue Full" - I guess it's saying that the PC is trying to respond to the first line sent by the machine but the response is failing to leave the serial port. Things to check...

- If there are any links shown in the cable diagram then make sure they are fitted!

- Make sure the Comms settiings in the Ind Text Editor software are set to either 'No Flow Control' or 'Software Flow Control'

BTW, have you loaded the PNC Settings in the Ind Text Editor software?

Roy · Post by **Roy** » Sun 18 Feb , 2007 12:48 pm

All cable tests ok, and all links are fitted.

Ind Text editor is set up with pnc settings.

Looking at flow settings i have the choice of:
No remote Flow
Use remote flow
or
No Local flow
use local flow

would the use local flow be similar to the software flow you mention?

Roy

Mr Magoo · Post by **Mr Magoo** » Mon 19 Feb , 2007 11:06 am

If you're using PNC settings then all should be OK

(flow control shouldn't matter but I guess both local and remote should be off)

I don't have Ind Text Editor with me at the moment so am at a loss as to what to try next. Perhaps try 2 stop bits ???

Roy · Post by **Roy** » Mon 19 Feb , 2007 11:23 am

I have already tried with both 'flows' off and 2 stop bits, also played around a bit with charector delays etc, but still no joy

what should i try now?????

Mr Magoo · Post by **Mr Magoo** » Mon 19 Feb , 2007 11:33 am

What COM port number did you end up using? Editor only likes 'True' COM1 or COM2 ports, and not PCI card com ports.

Also check that the IRQ used by your COM port isn't been shared with another device

Roy · Post by **Roy** » Mon 19 Feb , 2007 11:38 am

Used COM 1, as I swapped to different computer from the original one I was trying, I will check the IRQ later and let you know, ( I am supposed to be working at the moment!!)
Thanks

Mr Magoo · Post by **Mr Magoo** » Mon 19 Feb , 2007 11:41 am

Bloody work getting in the way again

Roy · Post by **Roy** » Mon 19 Feb , 2007 20:55 pm

Have checked the IRQ settings, and there are no conflicts/sharing.

Tried altering the IRQ to other positions which were free, and this either caused no communication at all, or Ind Text editor to crash, so I am back to original IRQ of 04.

????

Post by **Denford Admin** » Mon 19 Feb , 2007 22:02 pm

If you're running it under a windows OS, then try turning off the FIFO buffers in the COM ports Advanced settings in device manager.

Otherwise, if its a fast PC (ie better than a 386) then maybe something like CPU killer will get it to talk to the COMMS a bit slower.

However, the only luck I had with some old software running RS232 comms on a new PC, was to install VMWARE and install Windows 3.11 into the 'virtual' PC.

RS232 from a DOS app sort of works in XP, but its never reliable and will eventually trip up or time out

Mr Magoo · Post by **Mr Magoo** » Mon 19 Feb , 2007 23:02 pm

Have you tried the Triac software now you've got a COM1 available?

Maybe this could be a more reliable solution.

Roy · Post by **Roy** » Mon 19 Feb , 2007 23:06 pm

I did have a go with the Triac software, but it would not even send one line to the m/c

Roy · Post by **Roy** » Tue 20 Feb , 2007 21:50 pm

No luck with the CPU killer,
how did you use the VMware, just downloaded it, but looks complicated to me?

I have just tried another PC, but still no luck.
I am a little lost for ideas at the moment

Post by **Denford Admin** » Wed 21 Feb , 2007 8:35 am

I only set up vmware the once and that pc is now in pakistan. the most difficult thing I remember was getting hold of dos 6.22 disks to install into it. the rest was fairly straightforward .
I remember magoo mentioning an open source dos project that was compatible with ms dos.

I suppose we haven't considered that the problem could be with the triac.

maybe the next step should be to try the software sending to another pc running teraterm / hyperterminal. just to get to the bottom of which part of the system isn't working.

mrmagoo?

Mr Magoo · Post by **Mr Magoo** » Wed 21 Feb , 2007 11:19 am

The original problem of the Ind Txt Edt only sending one block and then hanging indicates that it hasn't seen the ACK character come from the Triac (which is what it is waiting for before it will send the next block). I think you've checked the cable using the 'T' test on the Triac and shorting pins 2 & 3 at the computer end so I guess cable and machine are OK

If you select "Paper Tape" mode on the Triac then it uses normal X-ON / X-OFF protocol (instead of it's own proprietry ACK/NACK protocol) Maybe you could try this along with the default EDITOR settings (or with Hyperterminal or similar).

Roy · Post by **Roy** » Wed 21 Feb , 2007 21:46 pm

Tried the paper tape option, but still the same only 1 line transmitted then just hangs. Default editor settings do not work at all, also tried the 'triac' configuration but with same results as pnc configuration.

Roy

Roy · Post by **Roy** » Wed 21 Feb , 2007 21:52 pm

Mr magoo, do you think altering the triac's baudrate will make any difference? If so what would you recomend?

Just a thought

Roy

Denford Software & Machines

Denford Software & Machines

Uploading/downloading Progs to Triac.

Uploading/downloading Progs to Triac.