An IAMBIC Keyer in VB.NET

1. An IAMBIC Keyer in VB.NET Dave Wade G4UGM

2. Aims of Talk • Provide Overview of VB • Introduce key concepts • Main components of VB • Demonstrate a simple program • Show more complex programs • Show limitations • Give pointers on where to go next

3. Origin of Basic • Invented at Dartmouth College in 1964 (Beginner's All Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) • Simple, Easy to learn, • Can run on small computers • Pic Basic • Almost Universally implemented • From Mainframe to Micro • Don’t know of a computer without “basic”

4. Visual Basic • Basic for Windows • but can write “command line programs” • Simplified Windows Programming • “Basic” works out what has been clicked etc. • Calls a “snippet” of code to handle it • Introduced Structured Constructs • Reduced use of “goto” • <and the more evil “come from”>

5. Iteration Sequence Selection “Structured Programming” • Edsger Wybe Dijkstra • Dutch Computer Scientist • Showed that ANY program could be written using only three constructs:- • All have • One entry, One Exit

6. Many Dialects in Windows • VBA – Visual Basic for Applicatons • Part of MS Office e.g. Excel, Word • Lets look at this! • Also in “Open Office” • + Other Applications • VB Script • “super” batch language • Also used in “Internet Explorer”

7. VB.Net • Grown up “Basic” • Fully featured language • “.NET” is the “windows interface” • Used by all windows languages • Current Version is 2008 • Use 2005 – very similar • Special “Express” versions • Free download

8. Compare with PIC assembler • Number of statements • PIC • 35 instructions • 1 data type • 1 statement = 1 machine instructions • VB.Net • 51 Statement Types • 36 Operators • 150 functions • 1 statement = multiple machine instructions • Probably over 1000 objects in the .Net framework

9. Elements of Basic - Constants • Constants • Integer – int8, int16, int32 10, 12345, -54 • Floating Point - single, double 1.0, 1.123e-5, 1.6e+5 • String “Hi Dave” • Boolean • True,False • Object • Cover later

10. Elements of Basic - Variables • A place to store (changing) data • Name (alphanumeric) • Identifies each variable • Usually chosen to reflect use • iCount, dCurrent, bOff • Type • Defines what it can hold • Match Constant Types • int, double, string, boolean • Value • 10,0.95,“Hi Dave”

11. Elements of Basic - Statements • “Instructions to the computer” • Assignment “=“ • Performs a calculation • Sets a variable to the result • A=A+3 • Control (if, while, do, select, catch, call) • “control” how instructions are interpreted If A > 5 Then Msgbox(“too small”) End If • Data Declarations • Create Variables – Reserve Storage – Give it a name • Dim voltage As Double

12. Elements of Basic - Routines • Functions and Subroutines • Groups of Statements • Used to perform common tasks • Modules • Groups of Related subroutines • Common Storage • Variables that are shared between routines

13. “Objects” • Objects – a defined set of • Properties • Variables that can be set or tested • Methods • Functions that perfom and action on the object • Events • Functions called by the object when it wants something to be done • Everything in VB.NET is an OBJECT • .NET framework defines many object types

14. Forms - The Visual Bit • The most important thing in Windows • The windows • The graphical forms designer. • Allows you to build a user interface • Can add a variety of elements • Radio Buttons • Check Boxes • Combo Boxes • Text Boxes • Command Buttons

15. Sample User Interface

16. Debugging • VB is an “Interpreted” language • Runs more slowly • Debugging can be easier • Debugging tools • Breakpoints • Immediate Window • Demo

17. “IambicMorse” object SendDot KeyDown() IambicMorse SendDash KeyUp() NoDot CWSpeed CWPitch

18. Morse Timing • All timing derived from “dot” • Dash = 3 x Dot • Element Space = Dot • Inter-character Space = Dash = 3 x Dot • Morse speed based on sending “PARIS” • Total Length = 50 Dots • So for 12 words/Minute • 12x50 Dots/Minute = 600 Dots/Minute • Dot = 60000/600 Ms = 100 Ms • For “W” wpm dot length = 60000/(w * 50) Ms

19. Making a “Beep” • Every application has “Console” object • This has a “beep” method • Console.Beep (Freq, Duration) • Plays the sound of a beep of a specified frequency and duration through the console speaker. • Frequency in Hertz, Duration Milliseconds • Do Demo

20. Code To Send Dot/Dash • Code for a Dot Console.Beep(cwPitch, CInt(60000 / (50 * cwSpeed))) • Code for a Dash Console.Beep(cwPitch, 3 * CInt(60000 / (50 * cwSpeed))) • Code for a Pause Threading.Thread.Sleep(CInt(60000 / (50 * cwSpeed))) • Now look at real code. • SMRCC2

21. Look at real code • This “code” sends a “dot” + inter-element space. Public Sub Dot() RaiseEvent keydown() Console.Beep(cwPitch, CInt(60000 / (50 * cwSpeed))) RaiseEvent keyup() Threading.Thread.Sleep(CInt(60000 / (50 * cwSpeed))) Application.DoEvents() End Sub • Dash code is the same • Except seens a longer beep • NoDot code just sleeps • Used for AutoComplete logic .

22. The “Real” Program • Main page

23. The “Real” Program • Settings

24. The “Real Program” • Send from box

25. The “Real” Program • Module Definitions • Used to pass data between the routines • DotDown and DashDown • Current state of “paddles” • DotWas and DashWas • “Memories” • only cleared when a character sent

26. Generating Morse • Program will accept input from • Paddle on RS232/Serial Port • Mouse when pointer is over the “send pad” • Mouse Input • Use left and right buttons • Only when mouse is over a special spot

27. Morse from Mouse • Code Called when a button pressed If (e.Button = Windows.Forms.MouseButtons.Left) Then If ChkSwap.Checked Then DotDown = True DotWas = True Else DashWas = True DashDown = True End If End If • Duplicate for other button • When the button is released • clear the “DotDown” ONLY

28. Sending Logic While DotDown Or DashDown Or DotWas Or While DotDown Or DashDown Or DotWas Or DashWas If DotWas Or DotDown Then keyer.Dot() DotWas = False End If If DashWas Or DashDown Then keyer.Dash() DashWas = False End If End While If ChkAuto.Checked Then keyer.NoDot() keyer.nodot() End If End While

29. Interfacing a Real Key • I used a serial port • Because VB.NET has this built in • Use the “Control” lines • RTS used to drive the “Paddle Key” • DTR used to drive the “PTT” • CTS & DSR are inputs from Key • VB calls an “Event” when a line changes • Program then can set status

30. The Real Code If (e.EventType = IO.Ports.SerialPinChange.CtsChanged) Then If MYPort.CtsHolding Then DotDown = True DotWas = True Else DotDown = False End If End If If (e.EventType = IO.Ports.SerialPinChange.DsrChanged) Then If MYPort.DsrHolding Then DashDown = True DashWas = True Else DashDown = False End If End If If ((Not Sending) And (DotDown Or DashDown)) Then SendTask = New Thread(AddressOf SendCw) SendTask.Start() End If

31. Demo the Key

32. SendByte Function • Need to convert letters to “morse” • Uses the Morse_Code(char) function • Returns a string for each character • “T” for “doT” • “H” for “dasH” • So for example:- • “S” => “TTT” • “O” => “HHH” • “P” => “THHT” • Special Symbols • + (AR) ! (AS); # (KN); $ or * (SK); • % (SN); & (KA); = (BT); @ (AA).+ • Can then send use the Morse Keyer object • Used by to send “F” keys and “text” box

33. Preset Buttons • Send Preset Strings • Stored in settings • Both caption and text can be set • Can be sent by • Click on button • Press “F” Key • Can be saved using the “my.settings”

34. Settings Page • Speed & pitch Control • Slide Bar with Max and Min Set • Preset Send Keys • Captions and Values • Select “com” port for Key • “Enumerate” ports • Fills the drop down box • Other tweaks • Swap paddles • Enable/Disable “auto complete”

35. Future Options • Two Tone Railway Morse • Needs an extra property on the morse object • Sending from File • Load file into text control • “Skins” • Change the color and font • “Classic”, “Modern”, “ArtDeco”

36. Questions?