Force device into download mode...

Was the post I referenced in vb6?  I may have misjudged what language it was - Any help is appreciated... Does anyone know if it's possible to do it in .Net?

jasgiv1122,

If you post the code that you have tried, it might help us help you.

This is what I used, but I get an application error when I run it.

Module Module1
 
 
 
    Sub Main()
 
        'New a MSComm control
 
        Dim MSComm1 As MSComm
 
        MSComm1 = New MSComm
 
        ' Buffer to hold input string.
 
        Dim Buffer As String
 
        ' Use the COM1 serial port.
 
        MSComm1.CommPort = 1
 
        ' 9600 baud, no parity, 8 data, and 1 stop bit.
 
        MSComm1.Settings = "9600,N,8,1"
 
        ' Tell the control to read the whole buffer when Input is used.
 
        MSComm1.InputLen = 0
 
        ' Open the serial port.
 
        MSComm1.PortOpen = True
 
        Console.WriteLine("Open the serial port.")
 
        ' Tell the control to make the Input property return text data.
 
        MSComm1.InputMode() = InputModeConstants.comInputModeText
 
        'Clear the receive buffer.
 
        MSComm1.InBufferCount() = 0
 
        ' Send the attention command to the modem.
 
        MSComm1.Output = "xdld"
 
 
        Do
 
            Buffer = Buffer & MSComm1.Input
 
        Loop Until InStr(Buffer, "OK" & vbCrLf)
 
 
    End Sub
 
 
 
End Module

                                              

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Well, that looks a lot like VB6 code.  If you're getting an application error it's probably because the MSCOMM32.OCX is not available for use like this.

Try a .NET solution for comm communications:
http://www.codeworks.it/net/VBNetRs232.htm

That sample project should allow you to experiement sending the right download code to your device.

Thanks for that valuable piece of information! The next wall I've run in to, is that I'm trying to call a batch file after the port is open and the command has been sent - this has to be within the same application, right?  When I just run the batch file by itself after trying to send the command, it seems to just think the port is closed or in use.  

I was wondering about that... Unless you close the port from the application, your batch file won't work.  I'm guessing the batch file does a redirect of a file to COM1: or something similar.

To clarify, you need to try opening the port, sending the command and closing the port, then running the batch file.

Ok, after weeks of waiting for a response from the manufacturer, I have it.  I have the command I'm supposed to use, but I'm stuck on getting anything to communicate to it.

REQ: <STX>XDLD<FS>FileName<FS>DownloadType<FS>[ForceRestart]<ETX>{LRC}
RSP: <STX>XDLD<FS>RetVal<FS>RetValString<ETX>{LRC}
where:
FileName = name of file to be downloaded
DownloadType =
'P' = PARTIAL download (contents of file system are NOT erased)
'F' = FULL download (contents of file system are erased)
ForceRestart = 1 = Force restart the application
2 = Force restart the Device
RetVal = 0 - Unsuccessful operation
1 - Successful operation
RetValString - contains a text description of the result.

Is there anyway you can guide me through setting this up in Visual Studio 2003?  I tried inputting this into apps, but it doesn't communicate.

Hopefully you can offer any kind of solution!  Thanks

It would be better if I could just have this all happen in a console application and open my port, then send the command, then possibly prompt the batch file I have that sends the file...  I've invested hours upon hours with trial and error, and nothing to show for it :/