Download the Windows Serial Port Programming Handbook and Master this Skill
The Windows Serial Port Programming Handbook Download
If you are interested in learning how to communicate with devices through serial ports using Windows, you might want to check out the Windows Serial Port Programming Handbook. This handbook is a comprehensive guide that covers everything you need to know about serial port programming in Windows, from the basics to the advanced topics. In this article, I will show you how to download and install the handbook on your computer, how to use it effectively, and some tips and tricks for serial port programming in Windows.
The Windows Serial Port Programming Handbook Download
Introduction
Serial port programming is a technique that allows you to send and receive data between your computer and other devices through serial ports. Serial ports are physical interfaces that transmit data one bit at a time, using a standard protocol such as RS-232 or USB. Serial ports are commonly used for connecting devices such as modems, printers, scanners, cameras, sensors, microcontrollers, and more.
Serial port programming is useful for many purposes, such as:
Controlling external devices with your computer
Collecting data from sensors and instruments
Testing and debugging hardware and software
Creating custom applications that interact with serial devices
While serial port programming can be done on any operating system, Windows offers some advantages that make it easier and more convenient. Some of these advantages are:
Windows has a built-in support for serial port communication through its Application Programming Interface (API)
Windows provides a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows you to configure and manage your serial ports
Windows has a large and active community of developers and users who share their knowledge and experience on serial port programming
Windows has a variety of tools and resources that can help you learn and improve your serial port programming skills
One of these resources is the Windows Serial Port Programming Handbook, which is a comprehensive guide that covers everything you need to know about serial port programming in Windows.
How to download and install the Windows Serial Port Programming Handbook
The Windows Serial Port Programming Handbook is a free ebook that was written by Ying Bai, a professor of computer engineering at Johnson C. Smith University. The handbook was published in 2004 by CRC Press, and it has 608 pages. The handbook covers topics such as:
The fundamentals of serial port communication
The structure and functions of the Windows API for serial port communication
The design and implementation of serial port applications in C/C++ and Visual Basic
The examples and exercises that demonstrate various aspects of serial port programming
The advanced topics such as multithreading, synchronization, buffering, error handling, and more
The handbook is suitable for beginners and experts alike, as it explains the concepts and techniques in a clear and concise manner, with plenty of diagrams, tables, and code snippets.
To download and install the handbook on your computer, you need to follow these steps:
Where to find the handbook online
The handbook is available online on the CRC Press website, which is the official publisher of the handbook. You can access the handbook page by clicking here. On this page, you can find more information about the handbook, such as the table of contents, the author biography, the reviews, and more.
How to download the handbook as a PDF file
To download the handbook as a PDF file, you need to have an account on the CRC Press website. If you don't have one, you can create one for free by clicking on the "Sign in" button on the top right corner of the page, and then choosing the "Register" option. You will need to provide your name, email address, and password to create your account.
Once you have your account, you can download the handbook by clicking on the "Download Book PDF" button on the right side of the page. You will be asked to confirm your email address and agree to the terms and conditions of the CRC Press. After that, you will be able to download the handbook as a PDF file to your computer.
How to install the handbook on your computer
To install the handbook on your computer, you need to have a PDF reader software that can open and display PDF files. If you don't have one, you can download one for free from the internet. Some of the popular PDF readers are Adobe Acrobat Reader, Foxit Reader, Sumatra PDF, and more.
Once you have a PDF reader, you can install the handbook by opening the PDF file that you downloaded from the CRC Press website. You can then choose to save the file to a location of your choice on your computer, or simply view it online. You can also print the file if you prefer to have a hard copy of the handbook.
How to use the Windows Serial Port Programming Handbook
Now that you have downloaded and installed the handbook on your computer, you can start using it to learn and improve your serial port programming skills. Here are some tips on how to use the handbook effectively:
How to access the handbook from your computer
To access the handbook from your computer, you need to open the PDF file that you saved or viewed online. You can do this by double-clicking on the file icon, or by right-clicking on it and choosing "Open with" and then selecting your PDF reader software. You can also open your PDF reader software first, and then choose "File" and then "Open" and then browse to the location of the file.
How to navigate through the handbook chapters and sections
To navigate through the handbook chapters and sections, you can use the bookmarks panel that is usually located on the left side of your PDF reader software. The bookmarks panel shows a hierarchical list of all the chapters and sections in the handbook, with their titles and page numbers. You can click on any bookmark to jump to that chapter or section in the handbook.
You can also use the table of contents that is located at the beginning of the handbook. The table of contents shows a similar list of all the chapters and sections in the handbook, with their titles and page numbers. You can click on any title to jump to that chapter or section in the handbook.
How to find examples and exercises in the handbook
To find examples and exercises in the handbook, you can use the index that is located at the end of the handbook. The index shows an alphabetical list of all the keywords and topics that are covered in the handbook, with their page numbers. You can click on any keyword or topic to jump to that page in the handbook where it is discussed or demonstrated. You can also use the search function that is usually located on the top right corner of your PDF reader software. The search function allows you to enter a word or phrase that you want to find in the handbook, and it will highlight all the occurrences of that word or phrase in the handbook. You can then click on any highlighted word or phrase to jump to that page in the handbook where it is used or explained.
In this section, I will share some tips and tricks for serial port programming in Windows that can help you create better and more efficient serial port applications. These tips and tricks are based on the Windows Serial Port Programming Handbook, as well as my own experience and research.
How to use the Windows API functions for serial port communication
The Windows API provides a set of functions that allow you to communicate with serial ports in Windows. These functions are divided into two categories: the communication functions and the device control functions. The communication functions are used to perform basic operations such as opening, closing, reading, and writing to serial ports. The device control functions are used to configure and manage the serial port settings, such as the baud rate, the parity, the data bits, the stop bits, and more.
To use these functions, you need to include the header file windows.h in your C/C++ or Visual Basic code. You also need to link your code with the library file kernel32.lib, which contains the definitions of these functions. You can then call these functions in your code using their names and parameters.
For example, to open a serial port named COM1 in C/C++, you can use the following code:
#include
HANDLE hCom; // handle for the serial port hCom = CreateFile("COM1", // name of the serial port GENERIC_READ GENERIC_WRITE, // access mode 0, // share mode NULL, // security attributes OPEN_EXISTING, // creation disposition 0, // flags and attributes NULL); // template file if (hCom == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE) // handle error
To close a serial port in C/C++, you can use the following code:
#include
HANDLE hCom; // handle for the serial port CloseHandle(hCom); // close the serial port
To read data from a serial port in C/C++, you can use the following code:
#include
HANDLE hCom; // handle for the serial port DWORD dwBytesRead; // number of bytes read char buffer[256]; // buffer for storing data ReadFile(hCom, // handle of the serial port buffer, // buffer for data sizeof(buffer), // size of buffer &dwBytesRead, // number of bytes read NULL); // overlapped structure if (dwBytesRead > 0) // process data
To write data to a serial port in C/C++, you can use the following code:
#include
HANDLE hCom; // handle for the serial port DWORD dwBytesWritten; // number of bytes written char buffer[256]; // buffer for storing data WriteFile(hCom, // handle of the serial port buffer, // buffer for data sizeof(buffer), // size of buffer &dwBytesWritten, // number of bytes written NULL); // overlapped structure if (dwBytesWritten > 0) // data written successfully
To set the serial port settings in C/C++, you can use the following code:
#include
HANDLE hCom; // handle for the serial port DCB dcb; // device control block structure dcb.DCBlength = sizeof(DCB); // size of structure GetCommState(hCom, &dcb); // get current state of serial port dcb.BaudRate = 9600; // set baud rate to 9600 bps dcb.Parity = NOPARITY; // set parity to none dcb.ByteSize = 8; // set data bits to 8 dcb.StopBits = ONESTOPBIT; // set stop bits to 1 SetCommState(hCom, &dcb); // set new state of serial port
For more information on how to use these functions and their parameters, you can refer to the Windows Serial Port Programming Handbook or the Microsoft documentation online.
How to handle errors and exceptions in serial port programming
When you are working with serial ports in Windows, you might encounter some errors and exceptions that can affect your application performance and reliability. These errors and exceptions can be caused by various factors, such as hardware failures, software bugs, user mistakes, or external interference. Some of the common errors and exceptions are:
Invalid handle value: This means that the handle for the serial port is not valid or has been closed. This can happen if you try to open a serial port that does not exist, or if you close a serial port without releasing its handle.
Read or write error: This means that the read or write operation on the serial port has failed. This can happen if the serial port is not configured properly, or if there is a problem with the data transmission or reception.
Timeout error: This means that the read or write operation on the serial port has timed out. This can happen if the serial port is busy or not responding, or if there is a mismatch between the data rates or protocols.
Overlapped error: This means that the read or write operation on the serial port has overlapped with another operation. This can happen if you use asynchronous or multithreaded programming techniques, and you do not synchronize your operations properly.
To handle these errors and exceptions, you need to use some error handling mechanisms that are provided by the Windows API. These mechanisms are:
The return value: This is the value that is returned by the Windows API functions when they are called. The return value indicates whether the function has succeeded or failed, and what kind of error has occurred. You can check the return value in your code and take appropriate actions based on it.
The GetLastError function: This is a function that returns the last error code that was set by the Windows API functions when they failed. The error code is a numerical value that identifies the type and cause of the error. You can call this function in your code and compare the error code with the predefined constants that are defined in winerror.h.
The COMSTAT structure: This is a structure that contains information about the current status of the serial port, such as the number of bytes in the input and output buffers, the number of errors that have occurred, and the type of errors that have occurred. You can use the ClearCommError function to get this structure in your code and analyze its fields.
The exception handler: This is a block of code that is executed when an exception occurs in your code. An exception is an unexpected event that disrupts the normal flow of your code, such as a division by zero, an access violation, or a memory allocation failure. You can use the try, catch, and finally keywords in C++ or Visual Basic to define and execute your exception handler.
For more information on how to handle errors and exceptions in serial port programming, you can refer to the Windows Serial Port Programming Handbook or the Microsoft documentation online.
How to optimize the performance and reliability of your serial port applications
When you are developing serial port applications in Windows, you might want to optimize their performance and reliability, so that they can run faster and smoother, and avoid crashes and glitches. To optimize your serial port applications, you can use some optimization techniques that are suggested by the Windows Serial Port Programming Handbook. Some of these techniques are:
Use appropriate buffer sizes: The buffer size is the amount of memory that is allocated for storing data that is sent or received through serial ports. The buffer size affects how much data can be transferred at once, and how often data needs to be transferred. If the buffer size is too small, data might be lost or corrupted due to overflow or underflow. If the buffer size is too large, data might be delayed or wasted due to unnecessary overhead. To use appropriate buffer sizes, you need to consider factors such as the data rate, the data size, the data format, and the application requirements.
Use appropriate timeout values: The timeout value is the amount of time that is allowed for a read or write operation on a serial port to complete. The timeout value affects how long your application waits for data to be sent or received, and how it handles situations when data is not available or not expected. If the timeout value is too short, data might be missed or incomplete due to premature termination. If the timeout value is too long, data might be delayed or blocked due to excessive waiting. To use appropriate timeout values, you need to consider factors such as the data rate, the data size, the data format, and the application requirements.
Use appropriate communication settings: The communication settings are the parameters that define how data is transmitted and received through serial ports, such as the baud rate, the parity, the data bits, the stop bits, and more. the quality and compatibility of data transmission and reception. If the communication settings are not matched or configured properly, data might be corrupted or lost due to errors or conflicts. To use appropriate communication settings, you need to consider factors such as the device specifications, the cable specifications, the protocol specifications, and the application requirements.
Use appropriate programming techniques: The programming techniques are the methods and strategies that you use to design and implement your serial port applications in Windows. The programming techniques affect the functionality and efficiency of your serial port applications. Some of the programming techniques that you can use to optimize your serial port applications are:
Use asynchronous programming: Asynchronous programming is a technique that allows you to perform multiple tasks simultaneously without blocking or waiting for each other. Asynchronous programming can improve the performance and responsiveness of your serial port applications, as it can avoid delays or freezes caused by synchronous operations. To use asynchronous programming, you can use the overlapped structure and the WaitCommEvent function that are provided by the Windows API.
Use multithreading programming: Multithreading programming is a technique that allows you to create multiple threads of execution within your serial port applications. Each thread can perform a specific task independently or cooperatively with other threads. Multithreading programming can improve the performance and reliability of your serial port applications, as it can distribute the workload and handle errors or exceptions more effectively. To use multithreading programming, you can use the thread functions and the synchronization objects that are provided by the Windows API.
Use error handling mechanisms: Error handling mechanisms are the methods and tools that you use to detect and handle errors and exceptions that occur in your serial port applications. Error handling mechanisms can improve the reliability and stability of your serial port applications, as they can prevent crashes and glitches caused by unexpected events. To use error handling mechanisms, you can use the return value, the GetLastError function, the COMSTAT structure, and the exception handler that are provided by the Windows API.
For more information on how to optimize your serial port applications in Windows, you can refer to the Windows Serial Port Programming Handbook or the Microsoft documentation online.
Conclusion
In this article, I have shown you how to download and install the Windows Serial Port Programming Handbook on your computer, how to use it effectively, and some tips and tricks for serial port programming in Windows. I hope you have found this article useful and informative, and that you have learned something new about serial port programming in Windows.
If you are interested in learning more about serial port programming in Windows, I highly recommend you to read the Windows Serial Port Programming Handbook in full, as it contains a lot of valuable information and examples that can help you master this topic. You can also check out some other resources online, such as blogs, forums, tutorials, videos, books, and more.
Serial port programming is a fun