Sending Data - Visual Basic 2005 Serial Communication Program

• Basic Knowledge
• Media Converters
• Programming Methods
• Opening/Closing Ports
• Sending Data
• Receiving Data

Creating the form and configuring properties

NewLine (delimiter code)

The delimiter code means the separating character or separating symbol for the data.The default delimiter code for the SerialPort class is "LF", but this must be configured for the equipment that will be connected.Use the appropriate delimiter code according to the specifications of the connected device.

• Breaks in consecutive data are judged by adding the delimiter code to data.
• The delimiter code here has the same definition as the NewLine value in the Visual Basic help.
• When using the WriteLine method, the NewLine value is added to the send data stored in the send buffer and then the data is sent.The default NewLine value is LF (line feed).
• CR (carriage return), LF (line feed), and CR+LF are often used for the delimiter code.

Program code example

Add the processing for when the connect button and the disconnect button are clicked.Write the following code on Form1.vb.When you double-click each object (button, etc.), if the object is a button, the procedure to code the processing when the button is pressed will open.Write the code for the processing you want to perform here.

Private Sub Button1_Click(...  : Processing when the connect button is pressed
    Try                     ' Start of exception handling 
    　If SerialPort1.IsOpen = True Then          ' Port has been opened
        MessageBox.Show("Error", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error)                
        Exit Sub
    　End If
        SerialPort1.PortName = TextBox1.Text    ' Stores the name of the port to open
        SerialPort1.Open()                          ' Opens the port        
    Catch ex As Exception           ' Exception handling            
        MessageBox.Show(ex.Message, "Error", MessageBoxButtons.OK,MessageBoxIcon.Error)        
    End Try
End Sub

Private Sub Button2_Click(...  : Processing when the disconnect button is pressed
    If SerialPort1.IsOpen = True Then   ' Port has been opened
       SerialPort1.Close()                      ' Closes the port
    End If
End Sub

Private Sub Button3_Click(...  : Processing when the send button is pressed
    If TextBox2.Text.Length = 0 Then                ' Error if there is no send data
        MessageBox.Show("String input error", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error)
        Exit Sub                ' Break out of processing
    End If
    
    Try
        SerialPort1.WriteLine(TextBox2.Text)       ' Write data to the send buffer
    Catch ex As Exception           ' Exception handling            
        MessageBox.Show(ex.Message, "Error", MessageBoxButtons.OK,MessageBoxIcon.Error)        
    End Try  
End Sub

To change the delimiter in the code and send the data, write the code as follows.

Dim strSend As String                       ' String variable to store NewLine
 
strSend = SerialPort1.NewLine ' Get NewLine
strSend = strSend.Replace(vbLf, vbCr)       ' To convert LF in string to CR

SerialPort1.NewLine = strSend                       ' Store replaced delimiter in NewLine

Try
　　SerialPort1.WriteLine(TextBox2.Text)       ' Write data to send buffer
Catch ex As Exception                                        ' Exception handling
     MessageBox.Show(ex.Message, "Error", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error)
End Try

For the Try - Catch - End Try syntax, check the Visual Basic 2005 reference.

• Open/close port programming method
• Receive data programming method

• Basic Knowledge and Terminology
  • DAQ & Control
  • Analog input and output
  • Digital input and output
  • Motion control
  • Serial communication
  • GPIB communication
  • Industrial PC
  • CPU/Chipset
  • Storage
  • Expansion slots
  • Display interfaces