RS232 Sending Data Format

[JimWalters]

I have a sensor tester that needs to send a global variable serial number to a pin stamp printer to etch on the part tested.

The format is very plain: SETVAR SER xxxx[LF].

If i use the serial monitor and type SETVAR SER 1111\n it changes the serial number to be printed to 1111.

I haven't had any luck incorporating a global variable in place of the xxxx.

My last attempt was SETVAR SER StrFmt(${SERIAL_NUMBER},4,0)\n that didn't work either.

Everything I have sent, other than the string with numbers, has resulted in the serial number showing 0000 on the pin stamp printer.

I wish the serial monitor would also show you the characters sent out the RS232 line as well.

Any ideas how to make this work?

DASYLab 16.0 Full

Windows 11 Pro

[john@MCC · Accepted solution]

I'm unsure what generates the serial number, but if it's stored in a global variable (${VAR_1}), you can format a global string as follows:

"SETVAR SER" + strfmt(${VAR_1}, 4, 0)

This should produce "SETVAR SER1111" 

Use the RS232 Output set for Single Commands. Set the format to [a]\n to send a line feed and use an Action module to send the global string.

[JimWalters]

I have worked with serial communications since the 80's.

As a newbie to DASYLab, the answer wasn't working at first, but I finally figured out I had to put the solution into the string calculation box instead of directly into the variable string.

I needed to see what data was going across the serial line, but didn't have the inline capture setup I had at previous jobs.  Adding to the issue was having to use a USB to Serial converter.

I found a USBPcap interface for WireShark that allowed me to see what was going across the USB interface to the Serial Converter.  Once I was able to see the data, it was pretty simple to troubleshoot.

I really appreciate the assistance!