Programmer Required!

[Dak]

I am building a computer controlled water fountain similar to the one I posted in:

http://fearless-assassins.com/topic/45017-cool-water-feature/

 

Basically, the way it works is there is a series of solenoid valves mounted on a header which are computer controlled to turn on and off and generate images in the falling water.

 

I have the valves designed (prototype built and tested) and have bought the relay control board I intend to use.

 

I have minimal knowledge of programming and looking for someone who would be willing to help me develop the control software.  There is some VB6 freeware available from someone who tried unsuccessfully to build one in the past and there is some VB code for controlling the relay board through the computers rs-232 port.

 

Thinking this should be done in VB but open to other ideas.

 

Am willing to pay reasonable compensation for programming services or make a contribution to FA in the programmers name.

 

Let me know if you have the skills to pull this together and are interested in giving it a shot.

[rolf]

There are actually two options, I'm not really sure which is best. One way is to modify the VB6 code, but that is only after you've seen/testing that it is working. An alternative is building it from scratch. However in both cases, information about the relay board is very welcome (nice way of saying: necessary)

The main problem/idea should be splitted into two ways. First of all, how to control the valves by the relay board. The second, how to use it for 'drawing' pictures. The first needs to be tested on-site, although with sufficient knowlegde about the relay board it can be done without it. The second is the thing others can do off-site as well.

I probably don't have the hours of time to spend on it building from scratch, but if you're interested I can guide you into how to program it. My main knowledge lies in controlling the relay board (even off-site), and my knowledge about VB6 isn't that much (haven't used it for >5 years now, and only about 200 lines of code). However I can develop well enough to adapt myself to different situations. So, I can help you, but not build it entirely myself for you.

[Dak]

Hey rolf,

 

Thanks for the response.

 

The VB6 code that is already developed takes graphical images and converts them into a binary word representing the various on/off status for the solenoids.  Should be able to use at least some of the code from this.

 

The relay board I have purchased is from NCD at http://www.controlanything.com/Relay/Device/ZADR85PROXR_ZRS&Category_Code=SERIAL_PROXR&CpField=relays&CpValue=8

I realize this only has 8 relays on it but it is expandable to 256.  I just wanted to get the system functional before I spend the money on the expansion boards.

 

Details for  relay control programming are also available on this site.

 

I appreciate the offer to guide me on how to program it but my programming experience is with VB from 20 years ago and I find myself completely lost  when looking at the VB6 and VB.net stuff.

 

Maybe if there is someone else willing to jump in on the programming we can utilize your skills on the relay control portion.

 

I can post the freeware software (VB6) here if anyone is interested in looking at it.

 

I will be away (fishing) for a few days starting tomorrow but will check up on this thread early next week.

 

Thanks again rolf, I appreciate the offer and I am sure your skills will come in handy.

[rolf]

No problem, what is FA if we won't help each other

Anyway, I guess you still need to be able to compile/run the versions yourself. I'd suggest that you install MS Visual Studio (I **guess** C# Express Edition 2010 should suffice) and install the Component Library from the site you gave as well. There are a few demo's in the folder "C:\Program Files\NCD Component v2.0\CSharpSamples2010", from the download site all examples are given. I guess that you can find from the download-site an example of which should -somewhat- work for testing it. You should be able to click/compile/run by opening the corresponding .csproj-file.

If that works, you (or someone else) can copy the data required to a new project and start writing stuff around it. Personally, for me C# would be more convienent than old-sk00l VB which should have died already But as I said, I won't be able to develop everyting. Since you already mentioned that there exists some application which can control the valves, can you be more explicit on why you want to develop a new application? Is it because the old application does not run, or you want to have more/new features? In the first case, why? And in the latter case, which?

[Dak]

Hey rolf,

 

Definitely not necessary to develop a new application but need to integrate the old application with the specific relay control commands.  Does this make sense?

 

The examples for relay control are written in VB.net and the existing graphical component is VB6.  Not educated enough to know if this is a big deal but smart enough to know I am not the guy to integrate the two.

 

I have VB express and the component library installed.   Also have VB6 installed.  I have seen all the code.  I need help.

[rolf]

 

Definitely not necessary to develop a new application but need to integrate the old application with the specific relay control commands.  Does this make sense?

 

Not really 

 

Do you mean the old application works, but you have different hardware to address? That is, it works for someone, but not for you? In that case, try to run/use the examples (even without programming!) to see if you can control the hardware. If that isn't the case, I have no idea what the problem is

[PiNoY]

Wonder how can the code be tested offshore if the relay board is at your end? This may require coordination between the programmer and you. Guessing that the relay control have enough documentation of relay controls commands that it can perform to communicate that particular relay board via serial.

 

There must be an existing module (not sure how they call it on VB) or generic DLL file that you can use to communicate to relay board, maybe some kind of existing generic component made to or by that particular relay board.

 

Nonetheless, the programmer might find it difficult to debug codes and further more test codes unless he is actually coding inside your remote PC to test the reaction of the relay board for some commands. If this is the case, you must be willing to allow your programmer to remotely connect to your PC, code, and test. Otherwise, that is going to be like weeds growing down here at one place and match or fire is only available at the other place

 

Willing to learn and help if needed. But I'd be busy in the next couple of weeks. So ,followed this thread and sure read it back again.

[BaDBoY]

Is this still an open project for you? i could code vb6 like a pro if i was blind dumb deaf and crazy baby............let me know if you still want to make this happen.

[D..X]

i would assume no as nobody has replied to this in a year

please refrain from bumping ancient topics thanks 

[Dak]

Thanks for the reply, here is the status of the program:

 

I had an unemployed electrical engineer start the program in C# and got it about 60% complete before he got a job.  It is functional but needs a number of tweaks.  Also want to convert it to work on a Windows 8 touchscreen.

 

How is your C# coding?