CF 126
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Nov 2001
6.5.2 Third party Active X controls and DLLs
Because of the above problems with the MsComm control, you may wish to use a third-party Active X
control for serial communications. One such product is CommX from Greenleaf software. Their web site is
located at:
http://www.greenleafsoftware.com
Several vendors offer DLL libraries for serial communications. MarshallSoft Computing offers 16-bit and
32-bit DLLs available as a shareware download. Their web site is:
http://www.marshallsoft.com
6.6 C and C++
6.6.1 Win32 API
One way of using serial communications with a C or C++ program is with the serial communications
functions of the Win32 API developed by Microsoft. These functions include CreateFile (), ReadFile () and
WriteFile (). Sample source code that demonstrates the use of these functions is available on Sensotec's
web site at:
http://www.sensotec.com/scprograms/084-1198-00.zip
The sample program was compiled with the Borland C++ compiler. Although the program is a console
mode program, the communications functions can also be used with a GUI program.
The advantage of using the Win32 API for communications is that access to it is free with your CIC++
compiler. The disadvantages are that these functions are complicated, not well documented, and do not
always work in a consistent way across Win32 operating systems.
6.6.2 Third-party Libraries
Another way of using serial communications with a CIC++ program is by purchasing a third-party library
such as CommLib from Greenleaf Software. The advantages of third-party libraries is their ease of use,
quality documentation, quantity of example code, technical support and source-code compatibility across
past, present and future operating systems.
Information about CommLib can be found at Greenleaf's web site at:
http://www.greenleafsoftware.com
6.7 LabVIEW
LabVIEW from National Instruments is a program development application, which uses a LabVIEW, uses
a graphical programming language to create programs in block diagram form. A low-cost student version
of LabVIEW is also available.
Information about LabVIEW can be found at National Instrument's web site at:
http://www.natinst.com
LabVIEW applications can use either the Serial Port VIs or VISA Vis for serial communications. A
package (Sensotec pin 084-1173-00) containing samples illustrating the use of both is available on
Sensotec's web site at
http://www.sensotec.com/scprograms/084-1173-00.zip
6.8 Trademarks
"Microsoft" and "Windows" are trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation.
"WinWedge" and "SoftwareWedge" are trademarks of TAL Technologies.
"Corel" and "Quattro" are registered trademarks of Corel Corporation.
"Lotus" is a registered trademark of Lotus Development Corporation.
