Difference between revisions of "Exercise - Using Component Macros"

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(Replaced content with "For an excellent introduction guide, we recommend [https://www.flowcode.co.uk/education/ Introduction to microcontroller programming]")
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Component macros are sections of code that have been written to support the components included with Flowcode 6.<br />
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For an excellent introduction guide, we recommend [https://www.flowcode.co.uk/education/ Introduction to microcontroller programming]
They take all the effort out of using these components.<br />
 
This exercise uses them to control a particularly complicated, but very common device, the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD).<br />
 
In this case, it uses a LCD to display elapsed time.
 
 
 
 
 
__TOC__
 
 
 
==The core sequence==
 
The flowchart sequence for the elapsed time will be:
 
: Check if the switch is pressed.
 
:: If it isn't, go back to the beginning.
 
:: If it is:
 
::: initialize the LCD;
 
::: display the text "Elapsed time";
 
::: initialize the time;
 
::: display the time
 
::: wait for one second;
 
::: increment the time;
 
::: display the new time;
 
::: loop back and repeat this process.
 
 
 
 
 
==Set up the flowchart==
 
* Open Flowcode, and set up the new flowchart as described in [[Exercise - Creating Your First Flowchart|Creating Your First Flowchart]].
 
 
 
 
 
==Create the core sequence==
 
* Locate the 'LCD' inside the 'Outputs' toolbox in the [[Tools and Views#1) Icons Toolbar|Icons toolbar]].
 
:* Hover over the image to the left of the 'LCD' label, and click on the down-arrow that appears.
 
:* Click on the 'Add to system panel' option to select it.
 
:* Zoom in until the LCD image is big enough to read.(See [[System Panel]] for information on how to zoom.)
 
[[File:gen_exerciseUsingCompMacros_compmacprops_01.png|300px|right]]
 
* Click and drag an infinite loop between the 'BEGIN' and 'END' icons.
 
* Inside the loop:
 
 
 
:* Click and drag a 'Component macro' icon.[[File:Btn_Component_Macro.gif|30px]]
 
 
 
::* Double click on it to open the dialogue box, so that you can configure it.
 
::: The program 'knows' which components you have added to the System or Dashboard panel, and modifies the list of available commands accordingly.
 
::: Under 'Components', the LCD will be listed, and underneath it the list of commands.
 
::* Scroll down to the bottom of the list and click on the 'Start' command.
 
::* Rename the 'Display name' as "Start the LCD".
 
::* Click on 'OK'.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
[[File:gen_exerciseUsingCompMacros_compmacprops2_01.png|300px|right]]
 
:* Click and drag a second 'Component macro' icon just below the first.
 
::* Double click on it to open the dialogue box.
 
::* Scroll down to the 'PrintString' command and click on it.
 
::* Rename the 'Display name' as "Elapsed time".
 
::* In the 'Expression' box, type "Elapsed time" (making sure you include the quotation marks "".)
 
::* Click on 'OK'.
 

Latest revision as of 13:23, 25 April 2023

For an excellent introduction guide, we recommend Introduction to microcontroller programming