Programming Forums > Script Programming > Python

titaniumdecoy · Jul 20th, 2006, 3:44 PM

This thread is essentially a continuation of this one; however, my problem now is translating BASIC code to Python.

I got ahold of a small piece of BASIC code someone was using to communicate with the device I described which connected to the serial port:

(Toggle Plain Text)

INPUT ; "Enter filename to save data- ", outfile$
OPEN outfile$ FOR OUTPUT AS #1

OPEN "COM1:9600,O,7,1" FOR RANDOM AS #2
PRINT #2, "01,TEMP?"
INPUT #2, A$, B$
INPUT #2, C$, D$, E$, F$

PRINT #1, TIME$, C$, D$, E$, F$

If it's possible to do this in just a few lines of BASIC code, it doesn't make sense to me that it should require an entire module (eg, PySerial) to do the same thing in Python. Is there a simpler way to translate this? Thanks for any input.

DaWei · Jul 20th, 2006, 4:07 PM

Have you tried that BASIC program on your XP machine??

Wizard1988 · Jul 20th, 2006, 4:12 PM

Windows XP will not be happy about that program, it will most likeley crash.

Arevos · Jul 20th, 2006, 4:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by titaniumdecoy

If it's possible to do this in just a few lines of BASIC code, it doesn't make sense to me that it should require an entire module (eg, PySerial) to do the same thing in Python.

The functionality is obviously built into that version of BASIC, both because BASIC was a language that had a lot of built in functionality, and because serial ports were a commonly used interface when the language was developed.

Python came along much later, when it became fashionable to have libraries and modules, rather than inbuilt functionality, and when serial ports had become more or less obsolete.

Just because functionality is inbuilt into a language, doesn't mean it doesn't have overhead. At least when something is an external module you have a choice whether to use it or not.

Game_Ender · Jul 20th, 2006, 4:16 PM

What platform does that code run under? This is closets I could find to explaining that function call, it is for m the help manual for liberty basic. Which is windows only. Both python modules are portable on windows,linux and mac.

Using USPP I think the code translates (roughly) to:

(Toggle Plain Text)

from uspp import *
from time import strftime

tty=SerialPort("COM1", 1000, 9600) 
tty.write("01,TEMP?")  
a = tty.read()
b = tty.read()
c = tty.read()
d = tty.read()
e = tty.read()
f = tty.read()

print '%s %d %d %d %d' % (strftime(''%H:%M:%S')c,d,e,f)

Because I can't get the refernce material online, I am not sure I am using the read method properly.

DaWei · Jul 20th, 2006, 4:40 PM

The reason I asked if that BASIC runs is that the code appears to date back to real-mode days, when one could access ports directly. That is no longer the case. For that to run, the interpreter would have to drop out of protected mode, just as driver or kernel code has to.

titaniumdecoy · Jul 20th, 2006, 4:46 PM

This is all very interesting. It sounds like PySerial/USPP is the way to go.

And Dawei, I don't know if it runs because I haven't had a chance to connect the device to my computer yet (It's very large).

DaWei · Jul 20th, 2006, 5:09 PM

You would have to have a BASIC interpreter (with or without a BASCOM) to use it, anyway. That code indicates that the equipment is rather straightforward, anyway. I have a link here somewhere to serial access via C/C++, but I'm not finding it. I'd probably use Python, though, if it were me.

Jul 20th, 2006, 4:12 PM	#3
Wizard1988 Professional Programmer Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Chitown Posts: 417 Rep Power: 4	Windows XP will not be happy about that program, it will most likeley crash. __________________ JG-Webdesign

Jul 20th, 2006, 4:16 PM	#5
Game_Ender Professional Programmer Join Date: May 2006 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 306 Rep Power: 3	What platform does that code run under? This is closets I could find to explaining that function call, it is for m the help manual for liberty basic. Which is windows only. Both python modules are portable on windows,linux and mac. Using USPP I think the code translates (roughly) to: (Toggle Plain Text) from uspp import * from time import strftime tty=SerialPort("COM1", 1000, 9600) tty.write("01,TEMP?") a = tty.read() b = tty.read() c = tty.read() d = tty.read() e = tty.read() f = tty.read() print '%s %d %d %d %d' % (strftime(''%H:%M:%S')c,d,e,f) from uspp import * from time import strftime tty=SerialPort("COM1", 1000, 9600) tty.write("01,TEMP?") a = tty.read() b = tty.read() c = tty.read() d = tty.read() e = tty.read() f = tty.read() print '%s %d %d %d %d' % (strftime(''%H:%M:%S')c,d,e,f) Because I can't get the refernce material online, I am not sure I am using the read method properly. Last edited by Game_Ender; Jul 20th, 2006 at 4:27 PM.

Jul 20th, 2006, 4:40 PM	#6
DaWei Resident Grouch Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 6,453 Rep Power: 10	The reason I asked if that BASIC runs is that the code appears to date back to real-mode days, when one could access ports directly. That is no longer the case. For that to run, the interpreter would have to drop out of protected mode, just as driver or kernel code has to. __________________ Abstraction doesn't make it impossible to write bad code; it makes it possible to write superior code. Contributor's Corner: Grumpy on C++ Exceptions DaWei on Pointers

Jul 20th, 2006, 5:09 PM	#8
DaWei Resident Grouch Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 6,453 Rep Power: 10	You would have to have a BASIC interpreter (with or without a BASCOM) to use it, anyway. That code indicates that the equipment is rather straightforward, anyway. I have a link here somewhere to serial access via C/C++, but I'm not finding it. I'd probably use Python, though, if it were me. __________________ Abstraction doesn't make it impossible to write bad code; it makes it possible to write superior code. Contributor's Corner: Grumpy on C++ Exceptions DaWei on Pointers

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Jul 20th, 2006, 3:44 PM	#1
titaniumdecoy Expert Programmer Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 856 Rep Power: 3	Serial Communication: BASIC to Python This thread is essentially a continuation of this one; however, my problem now is translating BASIC code to Python. I got ahold of a small piece of BASIC code someone was using to communicate with the device I described which connected to the serial port: (Toggle Plain Text) INPUT ; "Enter filename to save data- ", outfile$ OPEN outfile$ FOR OUTPUT AS #1 OPEN "COM1:9600,O,7,1" FOR RANDOM AS #2 PRINT #2, "01,TEMP?" INPUT #2, A$, B$ INPUT #2, C$, D$, E$, F$ PRINT #1, TIME$, C$, D$, E$, F$ INPUT ; "Enter filename to save data- ", outfile$ OPEN outfile$ FOR OUTPUT AS #1 OPEN "COM1:9600,O,7,1" FOR RANDOM AS #2 PRINT #2, "01,TEMP?" INPUT #2, A$, B$ INPUT #2, C$, D$, E$, F$ PRINT #1, TIME$, C$, D$, E$, F$ If it's possible to do this in just a few lines of BASIC code, it doesn't make sense to me that it should require an entire module (eg, PySerial) to do the same thing in Python. Is there a simpler way to translate this? Thanks for any input.

Jul 20th, 2006, 4:07 PM	#2
DaWei Resident Grouch Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 6,453 Rep Power: 10	Have you tried that BASIC program on your XP machine?? __________________ Abstraction doesn't make it impossible to write bad code; it makes it possible to write superior code. Contributor's Corner: Grumpy on C++ Exceptions DaWei on Pointers

Jul 20th, 2006, 4:46 PM	#7
titaniumdecoy Expert Programmer Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 856 Rep Power: 3	This is all very interesting. It sounds like PySerial/USPP is the way to go. And Dawei, I don't know if it runs because I haven't had a chance to connect the device to my computer yet (It's very large).

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Programming Forums > Script Programming > Python

Serial Communication: BASIC to Python