USB port TMS

David McFarlane mcfarla9 at msu.edu
Fri Mar 14 15:34:49 UTC 2014 

Annchen,

Cool, and thanks for following up with your report, this should come in useful!

-- David McFarlane


At 3/13/2014 12:59 PM Thursday, Annchen Knodt wrote:
>Thanks again for your help, David - I was able to get it working!  A 
>big part I was missing was what to use for PortNum - the directions 
>that came with the hardware only specified FIRSTPORTA, but I had to 
>do a little searching before I found that the value of that constant 
>was 10 on my device...all of the constants are listed in the file 
>cbw.bas, which on my computer is in C:/Program Files/Measurement 
>Computing/DAQ/VBWIN. (I found out that the board # was 0 after 
>installation from the InstaCal program)
>
>So, this is what I have for the working version at the top of my User script:
>
>Dim config_success As Integer
>Dim write_success As Integer
>
>Declare Function cbDConfigPort Lib "cbw32.dll" (ByVal BoardNum&, 
>ByVal PortNum&, ByVal Direction&) As Long
>Declare Function WritePortUSB Lib "cbw32.dll" Alias "cbDOut" (ByVal 
>BoardNum&, ByVal PortNum&, ByVal DataValue%) As Long
>
>Then this at the beginning of the script (configuring port 10 on 
>board 0 to DIGITALOUT = 1):
>config_success = cbDConfigPort(0, 10, 1)
>
>And this every time in the script that I wanted to send, for example 
>the signal 4 to port 10 on board 0:
>write_success = WritePortUSB(0, 10, 4)
>
>(It was helpful to use Eprime's Debug.print when checking the 
>write_success and config_success results)
>
>Hope this helps somebody else who might run into the same issue!
>
>Annchen
>
>On Friday, March 7, 2014 4:14:23 PM UTC-5, McFarlane, David wrote:
>Annchen,
>
>OK, I dug out my old project and took a look to refresh my
>memory.  First, as I recall, you have to run some software that came
>with the MCC board just to set it up to work with the system, and
>that should have been covered in the documentation that came with the
>board.  If you have not yet run that setup software, and the
>diagnostics to confirm that the board works with your system, then
>you need to stop and do that first.  As I recall, that's where the
>board number gets assigned, until you do that the board is just not
>available to the system.  In particular, after you run the setup, run
>the demo software that came with the board, as I recall that includes
>both signal generator and oscillosope emulators (you will need other
>equipment to measure this output or supply some varying
>input).  Until you get all that to work, all bets are off with
>E-Prime or anything else.
>
>Typically, again as I recall, the board number is 0 (it was in my
>case), but again you need to run the MCC setup software to make that
>active.  You may also use the cbGetBoardName() function to discover
>active board numbers, but as I keep saying, that will also fail if
>you have not first run the MCC setup software.  And be aware that
>this board number setup has to be done individually on each machine
>you use, the same USB board may be assigned a different board number
>on each machine (in which case you might find the cbGetBoardName()
>function handy to have your EP program automatically adapt to
>different machines, but that is an advanced topic, even I skipped
>that in my program and just assumed 0).
>
>(BTW, for those tuning in, "board"  here takes a special meaning
>where it refers to an external USB device that performs functions
>that formerly were left to adapter boards added to slots on the PC
>motherboard.)
>
>Good luck,
>-- dkm
>
>
>At 3/7/2014 03:40 PM Friday, Annchen Knodt wrote:
> >Thanks, I actually just caught that myself as well!  I was
> >unknowingly copying from a call to a subroutine or something of the
> >sort then - totally new at this.
> >
> >Changing my code to the following allowed it to compile and run:
> >
> >write_success = WritePortUSB(0, 888, 16)
> >
> >FWIW I also realized that I might need an additional function and
> >call to configure the device (per the user guide):
> >Declare Function cbDConfigPort Lib "cbw32.dll" (ByVal BoardNum&,
> >ByVal PortNum&, ByValDirection&) As Long
> >...
> >config_success = cbDConfigPort(0, 1, 1)
> >
> >Now I just have to make sure I'm getting the port number correct -
> >any tips on how to figure out what to use for that?  I'm resorting
> >to trial and error for now and haven't had success generating the
> >signals yet - I'm not sure if it's this or something else that's
> >configured incorrectly, so I'd like to have more confidence that at
> >least some of the arguments I'm using are correct.
> >
> >Thanks for all your help!
> >
> >AK
> >
> >On Friday, March 7, 2014 3:14:06 PM UTC-5, McFarlane, David wrote:
> >Annchen,
> >
> >Ah, the old "Subroutine vs. Function" distinction that is peculiar to
> >Visual Basic / E-Basic, and one of my pet peeves (rational languages
> >such as C do not make this useless distinction).  Here is the deal,
> >which you might never see documented elsewhere:
> >
> >- Subroutines *never* return a value, and their arguments must *not*
> >be enclosed in parentheses.
> >
> >- Functions *always* return a value, and their arguments *must* be
> >enclosed in parentheses.
> >
> >Sheesh!  (In C, for example, all subroutines are functions, functions
> >may be defined to either return a value or not, and if a function
> >does return a value you need not collect it in a variable -- isn't
> >that a lot better?)
> >
> >So try something like
> >
> >      Dim  rtnValue as Long  ' just because we need to take the
> > returned value
> >      rtnValue = WritePortUSB( 0, 1, 16 )
> >
> >Come to think of it, the MCC UL documentation should have shown this usage.
> >
> >You do not need to do anything with the return value, but VBA/E-Basic
> >usage *requires* that you store the function's return value to a
> >variable anyway.  In this case, though, the function should return a
> >meaningful success/error code, so you might want to do something with that.
> >
> >Good luck,
> >-----
> >David McFarlane
> >E-Prime training
> >online:
> ><<http://psychology.msu.edu/Workshops_Courses/eprime.aspx>http://ps 
> ychology.msu.edu/Workshops_Courses/eprime.aspx>http://psychology.msu.edu/Workshops_Courses/eprime.aspx 
>
> >
> >Twitter:  @EPrimeMaster
> >(<<https://twitter.com/EPrimeMaster>https://twitter.com/EPrimeMaste 
> r>https://twitter.com/EPrimeMaster )
> >
> >
> >At 3/7/2014 01:59 PM Friday, Annchen Knodt wrote:
> > >Hi David,
> > >
> > >Thanks for your response.  I was able to get a little further and am
> > >now fairly confident that my declare function should look like:
> > >
> > >Declare Function WritePortUSB Lib "cbw32.dll" Alias "cbDOut" (ByVal
> > >BoardNum&, ByVal PortNum&, ByVal DataValue%) As Long
> > >(since per MCC documentation, the cbw32.dll file contains the
> > >"cbDOut" function for sending digital signals to the device)
> > >
> > >and my inline commands (eg to send signal 16 to the device through
> > >port 1, with board set to 0 since when I open MCC's instacal program
> > >I see that the device is labeled as Board #0) as follows:
> > >
> > >WritePortUSB 0, 1, 16
> > >
> > >The script will compile and run with the declare function, but once
> > >i include the WritePortUSB line of code I get a "missing parameter"
> > >error from eprime.
> > >
> > >Any idea what I might be missing here?  I'm not sure particularly
> > >what number I should be using for PortNum, but I tried several
> > >values with the same result.
> > >
> > >Thanks!!
> > >
> > >Annchen
> > >
> > >
> > >On Thursday, March 6, 2014 12:09:02 PM UTC-5, McFarlane, David wrote:
> > >Annchen,
> > >
> > >For the syntax & usage of the Declare statement, look at the Declare
> > >topic in the E-Basic Help facility.  You might find even better
> > >documentation for Declare in references for Microsoft Visual Basic or
> > >Visual Basic for Applications.
> > >
> > >For the rest, you really do have to get that from MCC, they are
> > >supposed to know and document which of their .dll files and functions
> > >to use.  As I recall when I used their UL (almost 4 years ago now),
> > >it came with extensive documentation and examples.  Remember that
> > >E-Prime is just a derivative of MS VBA, so you should look at the
> > >documentation & examples for Visual Basic.  In fact, next time you
> > >talk to MCC staff, do *not* mention E-Prime, just tell them you want
> > >to use their board with Visual Basic, and that should help orient
> > >them better.
> > >
> > >Best,
> > >-----
> > >David McFarlane
> > >E-Prime training
> > >online:
> > ><<<http://psychology.msu.edu/Workshops_Courses/eprime.aspx>http:/ 
> /psychology.msu.edu/Workshops_Courses/eprime.aspx>http://ps
> > 
> <http://ychology.msu.edu/Workshops_Courses/eprime.aspx>ychology.msu.edu/Workshops_Courses/eprime.aspx>http://psychology.msu.edu/Workshops_Courses/eprime.aspx 
>
> >
> > >
> > >Twitter:  @EPrimeMaster
> > >(<<<https://twitter.com/EPrimeMaster>https://twitter.com/EPrimeMa 
> ster>https://twitter.com/EPrimeMaste
> > r><https://twitter.com/EPrimeMaster>https://twitter.com/EPrimeMaster )
> > >
> > >/----
> > >Stock reminder:  1) I do not work for PST.  2) PST's trained staff
> > >take any and all questions at
> > ><<<https://support.pstnet.com>https://support.pstnet.com>https:// 
> support.pstnet.com>https://sup
> > <http://port.pstnet.com>port.pstnet.com , and they
> > >strive to respond to all requests in 24-48 hours, so make full use of
> > >it.  3) In addition, PST offers several instructional videos on their
> > >YouTube channel
> > >(<<<http://www.youtube.com/user/PSTNET>http://www.youtube.com/use 
> r/PSTNET>http://www.youtube.com/user/P
> > 
> STNET><http://www.youtube.com/user/PSTNET>http://www.youtube.com/user/PSTNET
> > >).  4) If you do
> > >get an answer from PST staff, please extend the courtesy of posting
> > >their reply back here for the sake of others.
> > >\----
> > >
> > >
> > >At 3/6/2014 11:54 AM Thursday, Annchen Knodt wrote:
> > > >I've been referring to this older post for help getting E-prime to
> > > >send output signals to a USB device: MCC USB-1208FS.  Since Eprime
> > > >doesn't have any native functionality for communicating with a USB
> > > >I'd like to try using the DLL the comes with the device's "Universal
> > > >Library" installation as David suggests below.  However, I can't
> > > >find any instructions for working with Eprime anywhere in the UL
> > > >documentation (and the rep I chatted with at MCC help had never
> > > >heard of Eprime), so I'm hoping that someone might be able to
> > > >clarify two things for me:
> > > >
> > > >1) Which MCC DLL file to I link to in Eprime? (and what is the
> > > >syntax of the Declare statement?)  The MCC rep said I should use
> > > >cbw64.dll, but I'm not sure if he's right since he didn't really
> > > >know what I was talking about
> > > >2) What inline commands then do I use in Eprime to send the signal
> > > >to the USB?  We had previously used WritePort with a different
> > > >device that's been replaced with this USB
> > > >
> > > >Thanks!
> > > >
> > > >Annchen Knodt
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >On Monday, May 31, 2010 6:20:18 PM UTC-4, David McFarlane wrote:
> > > >Sara,
> > > >
> > > >Come to think of it, there is a way to send & receive data through USB
> > > >using E-Prime, in fact I am doing that for a project now.  First go to
> > > >Measurement Computing (referred to earlier) and get whatever I/O board
> > > >suits your fancy, e.g., their USB-1024 ($100).  When that arrives,
> > > >install the Universal Libray software that comes with it.  Then add the
> > > >appropriate Declare statements in the User Script area of your EP
> > > >program (see instructions that come with the MCC UL).  Now you can use
> > > >MCC UL function calls from EP inline code to send & receive 
> data through
> > > >the USB port.
> > > >
> > > >Recognizing that the MCC UL essentially just adds a DLL to provide the
> > > >USB support, with enough ingenuity you could take this even further by
> > > >writing your own DLL to use from EP.  For that, you might want 
> to take a
> > > >look at "USB Complete" by Jan Axelson.
> > > >
> > > >Mind you, I am not advising you do any of this.  Just being an academic
> > > >and pointing out the full range of possibilities.
> > > >
> > > >-- David McFarlane, Professional Faultfinder
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >David McFarlane wrote:
> > > > > Sara,
> > > > >
> > > > > Stock reminder:  1) I do not work for PST.  2) PST's trained staff
> > > > > really does like to take any and all questions at
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > 
> <<<<http://support.pstnet.com/e%2Dprime/support/login.asp>http://support.pstnet.com/e%2Dprime/support/login.asp>http://support.pstnet.com/e%2Dprime/support/login.asp>http://support.pstnet.com/e%2Dprime/support/login.asp>http://support.pstnet.com/e%2Dprime/support/login.asp 
>
> >
> > >
> > > > , and they strive
> > > > > to respond to all requests in 24-48 hours -- this is pretty 
> much their
> > > > > substitute for proper documentation, so make full use of
> > it.  3) If you
> > > > > do get an answer from PST Web Support, please extend the courtesy of
> > > > > posting their reply back here for the sake of others.
> > > > >
> > > > > That said, here is my take ...
> > > > >
> > > > > Unless PST has added something new to the latest release of
> > EP2, E-Prime
> > > > > simply has no facility for sending or receiving data through
> > a USB port,
> > > > > so you are just out of luck there.  But do not take my word 
> for this,
> > > > > please contact PST Web Support yourself and then report back here.
> > > > >
> > > > > Say, why not just install another parallel port?  Or, does 
> your other
> > > > > device need all 8 outputs from the parallel port?  If not,
> > why not just
> > > > > build a cable to send different wires to your different 
> devices?  Just
> > > > > take a look at the book "Parallel Port Complete" by Jan 
> Axelson to get
> > > > > some idea of how to make full use of the parallel 
> port.  Or, skip the
> > > > > parallel port and just install a real digital I/O card (e.g., from
> > > > >
> > 
> <<<<http://www.mccdaq.com>http://www.mccdaq.com>http://www.mccdaq.com>http://www.mccdaq.com>http://www.mccdaq.com 
>
> > ).
> > > > >
> > > > > -- David McFarlane, Professional Faultfinder
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >> does anyone knows the scropt to open the USB port in order 
> to trigger
> > > > >> a TMS?
> > > > >>
> > > > >> please, let me know
> > > > >> I have to send a trigger though the USB port, because the parallel
> > > > >> port is used to trigger another device.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> thank you very much
> > > > >> Sara

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