Exercise - Configuring Icons and Variables - Revision history

MartinW at 15:34, 14 December 2023

2023-12-14T15:34:37Z

MartinW at 15:30, 14 December 2023

2023-12-14T15:30:05Z

MartinW: Replaced content with "For an excellent introduction guide, we recommend [https://www.flowcode.co.uk/education/ Introduction to microcontroller programming]"

2023-04-25T13:12:04Z

Replaced content with "For an excellent introduction guide, we recommend [https://www.flowcode.co.uk/education/ Introduction to microcontroller programming]"

BenR at 14:27, 13 March 2014

2014-03-13T14:27:39Z

JonnyW: XML import

2014-01-16T15:59:05Z

XML import

ReeceL: /* What next */

2013-09-20T15:30:45Z

What next

ReeceL at 10:25, 20 September 2013

2013-09-20T10:25:33Z

ReeceL at 10:19, 20 September 2013

2013-09-20T10:19:43Z

ReeceL at 09:12, 19 September 2013

2013-09-19T09:12:37Z

ReeceL at 08:55, 19 September 2013

2013-09-19T08:55:35Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:34, 14 December 2023
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−	For an excellent introduction guide, we recommend [https://www.matrixtsl.com/learning/]	+	For an excellent introduction guide, we recommend Introduction to microcontroller programming CP4375 which can be found at https://www.matrixtsl.com/learning/

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:30, 14 December 2023
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−	For an excellent introduction guide, we recommend [https://www.~~flowcode~~.~~co.uk~~/~~education~~/ ~~Introduction to microcontroller programming~~]	+	For an excellent introduction guide, we recommend [https://www.matrixtsl.com/learning/]

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:12, 25 April 2023
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−	~~<sidebar>Sidebar: Flowcode Exercises:Ex1</sidebar>~~	+	For an excellent introduction guide, we recommend [https://www.flowcode.co.uk/education/ Introduction to microcontroller programming]
−	~~This exercise assumes that you have already built the Flowcode flowchart described in the exercise [[Exercise - Creating a Flowchart\|Creating a Flowchart]].<br />~~
−	~~To set up and program the flowchart you must configure the icons and variables to create an effective and functioning process.<br />~~
−	~~This will prepare the program to interact with components connected to the specific ports.~~
−
−
−	~~__TOC__~~
−
−
−	~~==Load the Flowcode flowchart==~~
−	* Open the flowchart, called 'Lamp1.fcf' which you created in the exercise [[Exercise - Creating a Flowchart\|Creating a Flowchart]].
−	:(For ~~help with this, see the article [[Opening~~ an ~~Existing Flowchart]])~~
−	~~: The System Panel and Panel Properties should be visible. If not, use the [[View]] menu to select them.~~
−
−
−	~~==Program the sequence==~~
−
−	~~Now that the flowchart icons are correctly set up~~, we ~~need to program them to carry out the following process:~~
−	~~:Check if the switch is pressed.~~
−	~~::If it isn't, go back to the beginning.~~
−	~~::If it is:~~
−	~~:::Switch on the lamp;~~
−	~~:::Wait for 10 seconds;~~
−	~~:::Switch off the lamp;~~
−	~~:::Go back to the beginning.~~
−
−	~~It takes such a short time for the microcontroller to carry this out, that we don't need to worry whether the switch latches on or not.~~
−
−
−	~~==Program the input==~~
−	~~:* Double click on the~~ [~~[Input Icon Properties\|Input icon]].~~
−	:~~: This opens the 'Properties: Input' dialogue box, allowing you to configure the way the program treats information from the switch~~.
−	~~:: This information will be contained in a variable called 'switch'~~.
−
−	~~::* Click on the down arrow at the right-hand end of the 'Variable:' box to open the variables dialogue box~~.
−	~~::* Hover to the left of the 'Variables' label and click on the down arrow that appears.~~
−	~~::* Click on the 'Add new' option to open the 'Create a New Variable' dialogue box.~~
−
−	~~::* [[Creating Variables\|Create a new variable]] named "switch" with initial value "0" and description "Copies the state of the switch"~~
−	~~::* Leave the 'Variable type:' as 'Byte'.~~
−	~~::: (For more information about variables, see [[Creating Variables]] and [[Variable Types]].~~
−	~~::: (The resulting dialogue box is shown opposite.)~~
−	~~[[File:Exercise_Configuring_Icons_and_Variables_Input_Properties.png\|250px\|right]]~~
−
−
−	~~:* Finish configuring the input properties as follows:~~
−	~~::* Change the 'Display name:' to "Read the switch".~~
−	~~::* In the 'Variable:' box, type the name of the variable you created "switch".~~
−	~~::* Leave the 'Port:' as PORT A.~~
−	~~::* Select to 'Input from:' 'Single Bit' and choose bit 0.~~
−	~~::: (The resulting dialogue box is shown opposite.)~~
−
−	~~[[File:Exercise_Configuring_Icons_and_Variables_New_Variable.png\|250px\|right]]~~
−
−	~~: Set up like this, the program monitors the state of the switch, which will be connected to bit 0 of Port A of the microcontroller.~~
−	~~: When the program looks at the input switch if it is pressed, the variable 'switch' contains logic 1. If unpressed, it contains logic 0.~~
−
−
−	~~==Check the Switch==~~
−	:* Double click on the [[Decision Icon Properties\|Decision icon]] to open the configuration dialogue box, and then: [[File:Exercise_Configuring_Icons_and_Variables_Decision_Properties.png\|250px\|right]]
−	~~::* Rename it "Switch pressed?".~~
−	~~::* In the 'If:' box, type "switch=1".~~
−	~~::* Leave the 'Swap Yes and No' box unchecked.~~
−	~~::* Click on 'OK'.~~
−
−	~~: This will cause the program to perform what is known as a conditional branch.~~
−	~~: The subsequent course of the program depends on the outcome of the condition specified in the 'Decision' icon.~~
−	~~: In this case, it depends on whether or not the variable 'switch' = 1.~~
−	~~: If it is, the program follows the 'Yes' route. If not, it follows the 'No' route.~~
−
−
−	~~==Control the Lamp==~~
−	~~: The 'No' branch is easy to set up. All we want is that the program returns to the beginning (taken care of by the 'Loop' icon.)~~
−	~~: No further configuration is needed.~~
−	~~[[File:Exercise_Configuring_Icons_and_Variables_Output_Properties_01.png\|250px\|right]]~~
−
−	~~:* Double click the [[Output Icon Properties\|Output icon]]~~ to ~~open the configuration dialogue box, and then:~~
−	~~::* Change the 'Display name:' to "Switch on".~~
−	~~::* In the 'Variable or value:' box, type value "1".~~
−	~~::* Change the 'Port:' to PORT B.~~
−	~~::* Select to 'Output to: 'Single Bit' and choose bit 0.~~
−	~~::* Click on 'OK'.~~
−	~~::: (The resulting dialogue box is shown opposite.)~~
−
−	~~: The effect of this icon is to send a logic 1 signal (high voltage) to the lamp, connected to Port B, bit 0 of the~~ microcontroller.
−	~~: This turns on the lamp.~~
−
−
−	~~: Now, we tackle the requirement that it stays on for ten seconds and then goes off.~~
−	~~[[File:Exercise_Configuring_Icons_and_Variables_Delay_Properties.png\|250px\|right~~]]
−	* Drag and drop a [[Delay Icon Properties\|Delay icon]] after the 'Output' icon.
−	~~:* Double click on it to open the configuration dialogue box, and then:~~
−	~~::* Change the 'Display name:' to "For 10 seconds".~~
−	~~::* Change the 'Delay value:' to '10'.~~
−	~~::* Change the unit to 'seconds'.~~
−	~~::* Click on 'OK'.~~
−	~~::: (The resulting dialogue box is shown opposite.)~~
−	~~[[File:Exercise_Configuring_Icons_and_Variables_Output_Properties_02.png\|250px\|right]]~~
−
−
−	~~: Finally, we need to turn off the lamp, after the ten second delay.~~
−	* Double click on the second 'Output' icon to allow you to configure it.
−	~~:* Rename it "Switch off", and configure it to deliver value "0" to single bit 0 of Port B.~~
−	~~:: (The resulting dialogue box is shown opposite.)~~
−
−
−
−	~~You should now [[Saving a Flowchart\|save the flowchart]] as "Lamp1.fcf", and [[Closing Flowcode\|close Flowcode]].~~
−
−
−	~~==Download the exercise==~~
−	~~You can download the file created by this exercise and open it in Flowcode to identify errors in your program/file or you could also download the file to skip to the next exercise.~~
−
−	*To download the file, click on the link below and then either:
−	~~:*Click on the file name.~~
−	~~:*Right click the file name and select 'Save link as...' or 'Save target as...' (depending on your browser).~~
−
−	~~:::{{Fcfile\|Exercise - Configuring Icons and Variables.fcfx\|Exercise - Configuring Icons and Variables}}~~
−
−
−	~~==What next?==~~
−	~~The next step is to add the switch and lamp to the flowchart. This is covered in the exercise [[Exercise - Adding Devices to a Program\|Adding Devices to a Program]].~~

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-<sidebar>Sidebar: Controlling Electronic Devices With Flowcode</sidebar>
+<sidebar>Sidebar: Flowcode Exercises:Ex1</sidebar>
 This exercise assumes that you have already built the Flowcode flowchart described in the exercise [[Exercise - Creating a Flowchart|Creating a Flowchart]].<br />
 To set up and program the flowchart you must configure the icons and variables to create an effective and functioning process.<br />

@@ Line 116: / Line 116: @@
 :*Right click the file name and select 'Save link as...' or 'Save target as...' (depending on your browser).
-:::[[File:Exercise - Configuring Icons and Variables.fcfx]]
+:::{{Fcfile|Exercise - Configuring Icons and Variables.fcfx|Exercise - Configuring Icons and Variables}}
 ==What next?==
 The next step is to add the switch and lamp to the flowchart. This is covered in the exercise [[Exercise - Adding Devices to a Program|Adding Devices to a Program]].

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:30, 20 September 2013
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−	==What next==	+	==What next?==
	The next step is to add the switch and lamp to the flowchart. This is covered in the exercise [[Exercise - Adding Devices to a Program\|Adding Devices to a Program]].		The next step is to add the switch and lamp to the flowchart. This is covered in the exercise [[Exercise - Adding Devices to a Program\|Adding Devices to a Program]].

@@ Line 112: / Line 112: @@
 You can download the file created by this exercise and open it in Flowcode to identify errors in your program/file or you could also download the file to skip to the next exercise.
-Download the file by clicking on the file link below and then right clicking on the link and selecting 'Save link as...' or 'Save target as...' (depending on your browser).
+*To download the file, click on the link below and then either:
-:[[File:Exercise - Configuring Icons and Variables.fcf]]
+:[[File:Exercise - Configuring Icons and Variables.fcfx]]
 ==What next==
 The next step is to add the switch and lamp to the flowchart. This is covered in the exercise [[Exercise - Adding Devices to a Program|Adding Devices to a Program]].