RS232 input/output help needed

Hi, I'm new at programming and new at Linux. It happened so, that I'm working on a project where i thought I'd just edit already written program and have the wished result. Well what do you know! It isn't as easy as I assumed :) I've got a code of an internet radio tuner, but I want to make it send output (status1, status2 and status3 text in code) character by character (1 second interval between characters) to my serial RS232 port. And I need the program to react (change preset) to input from RS232 serial port. So when I connect my serial LCD and keypad to computer RS232 i get external user interface for the program. In my mind it sounded way easier than it seems to be to me. The OS is Ubuntu. I've got this code:

Code:

---

#include <gtk/gtk.h>
#include <glade/glade.h>
#include <glib/gthread.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>
#include "bass.h"

// path to glade file
#ifndef GLADE_PATH
#define GLADE_PATH ""
#endif

GladeXML *glade;
GtkWidget *win=0;
GThread *cthread=0;
guint prebuftimer;
HSTREAM chan;

const char *urls[10]={ // preset stream URLs
        "http://servers.internet-radio.org.uk/tools/playlistgenerator/?u=http://cp.internet-radio.org.uk:15634/listen.pls&t=.pls",
        "http://84.32.194.146/crfm.aac.m3u",
        "http://84.32.194.146:80/crfm.aac",
        "http://somafm.com/tags.pls","http://somafm.com/tags32.pls",
        "http://somafm.com/secretagent.pls","http://somafm.com/secretagent24.pls"
};

char proxy[100]=""; // proxy server

// display error messages
void Error(const char *es)
{
        GtkWidget *dialog=gtk_message_dialog_new(GTK_WINDOW(win),GTK_DIALOG_DESTROY_WITH_PARENT,
                GTK_MESSAGE_ERROR,GTK_BUTTONS_OK,"%s\n(error code: %d)",es,BASS_ErrorGetCode());
        gtk_dialog_run(GTK_DIALOG(dialog));
        gtk_widget_destroy(dialog);
}

#define GetWidget(id) glade_xml_get_widget(glade,id)

void WindowDestroy(GtkObject *obj, gpointer data)
{
        gtk_main_quit();
}

void gtk_label_set_text_8859(GtkLabel *label, const gchar *text)
{
        gsize s;
        char *utf=g_convert(text,-1,"UTF-8","ISO-8859-1",NULL,&s,NULL);
        if (utf) {
                gtk_label_set_text(label,utf);
                g_free(utf);
        } else
                gtk_label_set_text(label,text);
}

// update stream title from metadata
void DoMeta()
{
        GtkLabel *label=GTK_LABEL(GetWidget("status1"));
        const char *meta=BASS_ChannelGetTags(chan,BASS_TAG_META);
        if (meta) { // got Shoutcast metadata
                char *p=strstr(meta,"StreamTitle='");
                if (p) {
                        p=strdup(p+13);
                        strchr(p,';')[-1]=0;
                        gtk_label_set_text_8859(label,p);
                        free(p);
                }
        } else {
                meta=BASS_ChannelGetTags(chan,BASS_TAG_OGG);
                if (meta) { // got Icecast/OGG tags
                        const char *artist=NULL,*title=NULL,*p=meta;
                        for (;*p;p+=strlen(p)+1) {
                                if (!strncasecmp(p,"artist=",7)) // found the artist
                                        artist=p+7;
                                if (!strncasecmp(p,"title=",6)) // found the title
                                        title=p+6;
                        }
                        if (artist) {
                                char text[100];
                                snprintf(text,sizeof(text),"%s - %s",artist,title);
                                gtk_label_set_text(label,text);
                        } else if (title)
                                gtk_label_set_text(label,title);
                }
    }
}

void CALLBACK MetaSync(HSYNC handle, DWORD channel, DWORD data, void *user)
{
        gdk_threads_enter();
        DoMeta();
        gdk_threads_leave();
}

void CALLBACK EndSync(HSYNC handle, DWORD channel, DWORD data, void *user)
{
        gdk_threads_enter();
        gtk_label_set_text(GTK_LABEL(GetWidget("status1")),"");
        gtk_label_set_text(GTK_LABEL(GetWidget("status2")),"not playing");
        gtk_label_set_text(GTK_LABEL(GetWidget("status3")),"");
        gdk_threads_leave();
}

void CALLBACK StatusProc(const void *buffer, DWORD length, void *user)
{
        if (buffer && !length) {
                gdk_threads_enter();
                gtk_label_set_text(GTK_LABEL(GetWidget("status3")),buffer); // display connection status
                gdk_threads_leave();
        }
}

gboolean PrebufTimerProc(gpointer data)
{ // monitor prebuffering progress
        DWORD progress=BASS_StreamGetFilePosition(chan,BASS_FILEPOS_BUFFER)
                *100/BASS_StreamGetFilePosition(chan,BASS_FILEPOS_END); // percentage of buffer filled
        if (progress>75 || !BASS_StreamGetFilePosition(chan,BASS_FILEPOS_CONNECTED)) { // over 75% full (or end of download)
                { // get the broadcast name and URL
                        const char *icy=BASS_ChannelGetTags(chan,BASS_TAG_ICY);
                        if (!icy) icy=BASS_ChannelGetTags(chan,BASS_TAG_HTTP); // no ICY tags, try HTTP
                        if (icy) {
                                for (;*icy;icy+=strlen(icy)+1) {
                                        if (!strncasecmp(icy,"icy-name:",9))
                                                gtk_label_set_text_8859(GTK_LABEL(GetWidget("status2")),icy+9);
                                        if (!strncasecmp(icy,"icy-url:",8))
                                                gtk_label_set_text_8859(GTK_LABEL(GetWidget("status3")),icy+8);
                                }
                        } else
                                gtk_label_set_text(GTK_LABEL(GetWidget("status2")),"");
                }
                // get the stream title and set sync for subsequent titles
                DoMeta();
                BASS_ChannelSetSync(chan,BASS_SYNC_META,0,&MetaSync,0); // Shoutcast
                BASS_ChannelSetSync(chan,BASS_SYNC_OGG_CHANGE,0,&MetaSync,0); // Icecast/OGG
                // set sync for end of stream
                BASS_ChannelSetSync(chan,BASS_SYNC_END,0,&EndSync,0);
                // play it!
                BASS_ChannelPlay(chan,FALSE);
                return FALSE; // stop monitoring
        } else {
                char text[20];
                sprintf(text,"buffering... %d%%",progress);
                gtk_label_set_text(GTK_LABEL(GetWidget("status2")),text);
                return TRUE; // continue monitoring
        }
}

void *OpenURL(char *url)
{
        g_source_remove(prebuftimer); // stop prebuffer monitoring
        BASS_StreamFree(chan); // close old stream
        gdk_threads_enter();
        gtk_label_set_text(GTK_LABEL(GetWidget("status1")),"");
        gtk_label_set_text(GTK_LABEL(GetWidget("status2")),"connecting...");
        gtk_label_set_text(GTK_LABEL(GetWidget("status3")),"");
        gdk_threads_leave();
        if (!(chan=BASS_StreamCreateURL(url,0,BASS_SAMPLE_FLOAT|BASS_STREAM_STATUS|BASS_STREAM_AUTOFREE,StatusProc,0))) {
                gdk_threads_enter();
                gtk_label_set_text(GTK_LABEL(GetWidget("status2")),"not playing");
                Error("Can't play the stream");
                gdk_threads_leave();
        } else
                prebuftimer=g_timeout_add(50,PrebufTimerProc,NULL); // start prebuffer monitoring
        cthread=0;
        return NULL;
}

void PresetClicked(GtkButton *obj, gpointer data)
{
        if (cthread) { // already connecting
                // beep!
        } else {
                const char *url;
                const gchar *objname=gtk_widget_get_name(GTK_WIDGET(obj));
                if (!strcmp(objname,"customopen")) { // play a custom URL
                        url=gtk_entry_get_text(GTK_ENTRY(GetWidget("customurl")));
                } else { // play a preset
                        int preset=atoi(objname+6)-1; // get preset from button name ("presetX")
                        url=urls[preset];
                }
                strcpy(proxy,gtk_entry_get_text(GTK_ENTRY(GetWidget("proxyurl")))); // get proxy server
                // open URL in a new thread (so that main thread is free)
                cthread=g_thread_create(OpenURL,url,FALSE,NULL);
        }
}

void ProxyDirectToggled(GtkToggleButton *obj, gpointer data)
{
        if (obj->active)
                BASS_SetConfigPtr(BASS_CONFIG_NET_PROXY,NULL); // disable proxy
        else
                BASS_SetConfigPtr(BASS_CONFIG_NET_PROXY,proxy); // enable proxy
}

int main(int argc, char* argv[])
{
        g_thread_init(NULL);
        gdk_threads_init();
        gtk_init(&argc,&argv);

        // check the correct BASS was loaded
        if (HIWORD(BASS_GetVersion())!=BASSVERSION) {
                Error("An incorrect version of BASS was loaded");
                return 0;
        }

        // initialize default output device
        if (!BASS_Init(-1,44100,0,NULL,NULL)) {
                Error("Can't initialize device");
                return 0;
        }

        BASS_SetConfig(BASS_CONFIG_NET_PLAYLIST,1); // enable playlist processing
        BASS_SetConfig(BASS_CONFIG_NET_PREBUF,0); // minimize automatic pre-buffering, so we can do it (and display it) instead
        BASS_SetConfigPtr(BASS_CONFIG_NET_PROXY,proxy); // setup proxy server location

        // initialize GUI
        glade=glade_xml_new(GLADE_PATH"netradio.glade",NULL,NULL);
        if (!glade) return 0;
        win=GetWidget("window1");
        if (!win) return 0;
        glade_xml_signal_autoconnect(glade);

        gdk_threads_enter();
        gtk_main();
        gdk_threads_leave();

        BASS_Free();

    return 0;
}

---

I know I should add some function like this to open serial port:

Code:

---

    #include <stdio.h>  /* Standard input/output definitions */
    #include <string.h>  /* String function definitions */
    #include <unistd.h>  /* UNIX standard function definitions */
    #include <fcntl.h>  /* File control definitions */
    #include <errno.h>  /* Error number definitions */
    #include <termios.h> /* POSIX terminal control definitions */

    /*
    * 'open_port()' - Open serial port 1.
    *
    * Returns the file descriptor on success or -1 on error.
    */

    int main;
    open_port(void)
    {
      int fd; /* File descriptor for the port */


      fd = open("/dev/ttyS0", O_RDWR | O_NOCTTY | O_NDELAY);
      if (fd == -1)
      {
      /*
        * Could not open the port.
        */

        perror("open_port: Unable to open /dev/ttyS0 - ");
      }
      else
        fcntl(fd, F_SETFL, 0);
          return (fd);
    }

---

Plus something more to write to serial port and read from it. I found something about kbhit command, but it seems to be on some special library that's got something complicated about it. I guess it would be too much to expect somebody to give me the edited version of the code, but any information, links, hints or wisdom sharing will be appreciated.

Your not going to get much help from anyone, by posting lines and lines of code you found somewhere and saying little more than "it's not working for me".
We need to know very specifically what isn't working, how would otherwise expect it to, etc.. How can we help you, if you don't even know what's going on you yourself?

I guess you misunderstood me. The code for the internet radio tuner works perfectly. I just need to edit it so i'd be able to control and see the output via RS232.
The question is very easy. Maybe even too easy for such forum. How should I edit this code?
Help me with syntax (what do the "void", "main" and similar commands mean? How is the function created, where do I put it, how do I call and address it). Internet is full of tutorials, but the ones I tried were worthless, so maybe you could help me find something or just answer the question.
I also need help to find required functions to send output to RS232 (this should be some kind of loop which would output character by character) and control it using RS232 keypad.
I hope I made the question understandable. If not, feel free to complain, I'll try to explain it in some other way.

> So when I connect my serial LCD and keypad to computer RS232
So do you have the spec's for this device? Say a link.

Before you try to use this inside the existing program, you need to make a prototype code so you can see exactly what to do.

That is, you need two programs which basically do

Code:

---

int main ( ) {
  char *msg = "hello";
  // a bit of code here, which results in "hello" displayed on the LCD
  return 0;
}

---

Code:

---

int main ( ) {
  char ch;
  // a bit of code here, which reads a char from the keypad
  printf("Got char %d(%c) from the keypad\n", ch, ch );
  return 0;
}

---

When you know how to do these things, the next steps will be a lot easier.

Ok, it was a good advice. I get less error messages, when making small program, so it gives hope someday everything may work :) I started on LCD program. I managed to build something that looks like a program code:

Code:

---

#include <stdio.h>  /* Standard input/output definitions */
    #include <string.h>  /* String function definitions */
    #include <unistd.h>  /* UNIX standard function definitions */
    #include <fcntl.h>  /* File control definitions */
    #include <errno.h>  /* Error number definitions */
    #include <termios.h> /* POSIX terminal control definitions */

   

        int main ( ) {
  char *msg = "hello";
  open_port();
  write(fd, msg);        // 13 line
return 0;
}
        void write(int fd, char msg) {  // 16 line
        int *n = 0;
        n = write(fd, msg);    // 18 line.  "hello" displayed on the LCD
    if (n < 0)
      fputs("write() of 4 bytes failed!\n", stderr); 

}
    /*
    * 'open_port()' - Open serial port 1.
    *
    * Returns the file descriptor on success or -1 on error.
    */
    int
    open_port(void)
    {
      int fd; /* File descriptor for the port */


      fd = open("/dev/ttyS0", O_RDWR | O_NOCTTY | O_NDELAY);
      if (fd == -1)
      {
      /*
        * Could not open the port.
        */

        perror("open_port: Unable to open /dev/ttyS0 - ");
      }
      else
        fcntl(fd, F_SETFL, 0);
          return (fd);
    }

---

When i try to make it i get errors:

output.c: In function ‘main’:
output.c:13: error: ‘fd’ undeclared (first use in this function)
output.c:13: error: (Each undeclared identifier is reported only once
output.c:13: error: for each function it appears in.)
output.c:13: error: too few arguments to function ‘write’
output.c: At top level:
output.c:16: error: conflicting types for ‘write’
/usr/include/unistd.h:363: note: previous declaration of ‘write’ was here
output.c: In function ‘write’:
output.c:18: error: void value not ignored as it ought to be

So how come the 'fd' variable is undeclared? It should have a value sent from open-port function. Am I wrong?

How do I address the 'write' function?

And i don't get the last error..

The fd in open_port() is only local to that function.

You return a value, so in main, you should also have

Code:

---

int fd = open_port();
if ( fd > 0 ) {
    write(fd, msg);       
}

---

Also, you need to concentrate on indentation as well.
SourceForge.net: Indentation - cpwiki

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by peikis

Code:

---

        void write(int fd, char msg) {  // 16 line
        int *n = 0;
        n = write(fd, msg);    // 18 line.  "hello" displayed on the LCD
    if (n < 0)
      fputs("write() of 4 bytes failed!\n", stderr); 

}

---

---

You include write() already (from unistd.h), so you can't declare it again, your function needs a new name. Also, the value you read from write(), isn't int* (which is a pointer to an int), it returns just plain int.