Just in case someone wants to know the difference between arguments and parameters as mentioned in this question. Arguments are those variables that one passes to a subroutine, or for example, as in the old days when programming in C, main(int argc, char * argv[]). These values are passed before the program is executed. Parameters on the other hand are variables(inputs) required by a program during its execution, for example scanf() or getc() in C. Thanks again. Bamboo

I looking for a batch program where one could place the same program to be executed with its parameters (not arguments as we know it) several times. When the batch program is run, it would executed the program file automatically with its parameters(not arguments). I would like run the same program several times with different parameters. Does anyone perhaps know of such a batch program and where I could get hold of it. Thanks. louis

Hi there I am receiving asynch serial data successfully using a thread. But I noticed that the time the data arrives is never the same. It actually arrives at say time (y), then at Time (y+1), (y+2)... until (y+10). Then it jumps back to time (y). The transmission time is accurate always at 100ms intervals. Can anyone maybe tell me why this is the case AND what I should look for to correct it. Maybe a setting somewhere. Thanks

Hi there, How can one allow the program to effectively wait until all the data has been received. I have used the HasOverlappedIOCompleted and GetOverlappedResult function so far. But data is still incomplete. Only when I use Sleep(50) then I get all the data at once. Code used to far : while (!HasOverlappedIOCompleted (&ovRead)); and, GetOverlappedResult(m_hComm, &ovRead, &BytesRead, TRUE); Are there any other ways to wait? I am reading 50 bytes at 9600 baud. Thanks

Thank you. It confirms my suspicions. I was however unable to detect it in the MSDN notes. Cheers

I am currenlty going through a former colleague's code who used OVERLAPPED I/O to receive asynchronous serial data. The program first declare a pointer variable pRxBuffer which will contain the received data. It then creates the port, then creates an overlapped event, and then reads the port which contains no data. The program then waits indefinitely using WaitForMultipleObjects function. When the data arrives, the pointer variable pRxBuffer is immediately filled with the received data without using the ReadFile fucntion (or so it seems) and prior to calling the GerOverlappedResult function. If this makes sense to someone, can you please explain to me how this is possible? How is the data transferred to pRxBuffer. Thanks

Thanks for the reply. Yes, you're right CreateFile() and the WIN32 Comms API can be used. My problem is that I receive data that is between 40 and 45 bytes in length far too late. The instrument on the other side sends the data at 9600 baud every 100ms. My program must receive it by 65ms. At the moment the data is received it at approximately 80ms, which is way too late. I have used the CreateFile() and ReadFile() with the necessary time-out, threads and event operations to read the data. I also wrote a utility in Delphi which seem to work fine (54ms). Unfortunately the code must be in C++ as it fits into a bigger Visual C++ program. Any ideas. Thank again.

Hi there, Is there any other way of implementing asynchronous serial communication in Visual C++ than the MFC way. The MFC way is too time consuming. I so far have seen that _inp and _outp are only for WIN95 platform. Any suggestions will help. Thanks.

Thanks, I have done so. That part works. I am still not able to update my listview with the new data. The program gives an application error. One more question. How do I read the handle of the application. Thanks again. Cheers

Hi all, I have a program written in Delphi that broadcats a window message. I have manage to read this message using Delphi code using the RegisterWindowMessage function, Delphi's TApplicationEvents component OnMessage function with great succes. Now I want to read this same message using my beloved Visual C++ code. Where do I start? Thanks

Thanks for your input. It is appreciated. I do use a QueryPerformance counter to check the time. Timing and the data is critical. Other instruments that sends synchronous data at 19200 baud are received at less than 50ms. Unfortunately the instrument in question is the only one that sends asynchronous data at 9600 baud. I will check out the threads in the mean time. Thanks again

I am receiving between 40 and 50 bytes from a some asynchronous serial equipment at 9600 baud. I am suppose to receive this data within 50 milliseconds after it being sent. When I compare the two timestamps it is more than 80 milliseconds. I am currently using a thread to read the data and do the timestamp immediately. Any ideas how one could configure the COMMTIMEOUTS optimally to reduce the delay. Maybe I need to look at something else in my program. Any ideas. Thanks Cheers

I am looking for a good Graphical User Interface tool that can interface with Visual C++ or Delphi(sorry). Does anyone know any web sites or products which I can look at. The GUI tool must be able to accept and process real-time data in short. Thanks LOUIS

Hi all, I want to write a serial and parallel device driver for Windows 2000. Does anyone of any good books on the market. Thanks Louis

I have seen some good ones on this site in the past, especially for TCP. Browse around. Maybe some specific questions will do. Good luck Louis

Look for this article on this site. Read it and implement. Article name : "CSerialCom - A simple Class for Implementing Serial Communication in Win-9X/2000" by SHIBU K.V Good luck. Louis

Hi all, Does anyone perhaps know what the CommTimeOuts formula is for determining ReadIntervalTimeout or where can I find it? How do I determine what value to assign when receiving total bits of 10 per character, at 9600 baud? Any help/advise would be appreciated. Thanks Louis

Hi all

Hi there, I am examining some VC++ code that attempts to read asynchronous serial data via third party serial interface cards, namely (Moxa<4-port> and Aurora<8-port>). When I set the baudrate to 19200 and above, then the data packets read are all fine and consistent. But when I set the baudrate to 9600 and below then the problems start. The length and the content of the packets read are not always the same. A packet consists of 44 bytes, with 8 bits, one start and stop bit only, no parity. I have inserted the HasOverlappedIOCompleted() function before ReadFile() function, but to no avail. Any help/advise would be appreciated. Thanks Louis

Thanks James Adding a delay, thus waiting for all threads to startup solved the crash problem at startup. Thanks again for your input. Cheers :) Louis