Arduino - serial communication Visual Studio

This article will show how to make serial communication between Arduino and Visual Studio C++ through COM (UART) port


Harware needed:
1. Arduino Pro Mini https://amzn.to/2xy4yFn
2. UART PCB https://amzn.to/2we150O
3. Computer (installed Visual Studio)

(1) Arduino will sent data to Visual Studio program:

(2) Visual Studio program will send data to Arduino. Arduino received it, then feed it back to Visual Studio program


Overview steps:
1. Hardware connection
2. Arduino program
3. Visual Studio program


1. Hardware connection





2. Arduino program
Make a program for Arduino. At start up, Arduino will send a string (a sentence) in every 0.5sec. This will stop until User send data (string) to Arduino, then Arduino will send it back to User. In this case, User is Visual Studio program (in part 3)

The code can be download at here - Google share
String mySt;
char myChar = 0;
int i=0;

void setup() {
  // start serial port at 9600 bps:
  Serial.begin(9600);
  while (!Serial) {
    ; // wait for serial port to connect. Needed for native USB port only
  }

  establishContact();  // send a byte to establish contact until receiver responds
}

void loop() {
  if (Serial.available() > 0) {
    myChar = Serial.read();
    mySt +=myChar;  //receive string from Computer
  }
  if ((mySt.length() >0)&(!Serial.available())) {
    Serial.print(mySt); //Print received string to Computer
    mySt="";
  }
}
void establishContact() {
  while (Serial.available() <= 0) {
    Serial.print("Arduino send: ");
    Serial.println(i);  //Print increasing value to Computer
    i+=1;
    delay(500);
  }
}

3. Visual Studio porgram
Make a window application -> save it

Add button, textbox, label to the Form( taken from Toolbox in the left):

Click on button, textbox, label to see Properties on Toolbox in the right. Remember the name of each item for program in latter section.

Add component "serial Port" and "timer"

Also see properties to know the name each item. Remember to rename "serialPort1" -> "Portname" to COM-Port of Arduino (this case is COM4)

Programming works:
The whole code of Visual Studio program can be downloaded at here - Google share
(1) Double click to Form1 -> input following code.
Meaning: open (Arduino) COM-Port
               start timer1
private: System::Void Form1_Load(System::Object^  sender, System::EventArgs^  e) {
serialPort1->Open();
timer1->Start();
}

(2) Double click to Button1 -> input following code
Meaning: send string from textBox1 to (Arduino) COM-Port
private: System::Void button1_Click(System::Object^  sender, System::EventArgs^  e) {
serialPort1->WriteLine(textBox1->Text);
}

(3) Double click to timer1 -> input following code
Meaning: every time timer1 is tick (it will tick every 0.1s -> setting in "Interval" of Properties of timer1), label1 will update information.
private: System::Void timer1_Tick(System::Object^  sender, System::EventArgs^  e) {
label1->Text=mStr;
}

(4) Click to serialPort1 -> see at Properties toolbox -> click at "Event" icon -> double click at "DataReceived"
Then, input following code.
Meaning: read COM-Port data at every time receiving -> save it to "mStr"
private: System::Void serialPort1_DataReceived(System::Object^  sender, System::IO::Ports::SerialDataReceivedEventArgs^  e) {
mStr=serialPort1->ReadLine();
}


Auxiliary code:
(1) Meaning: when Form1 is close -> close COM-Port, and stop timer1
~Form1()
{
if (components)
{
delete components;
}
serialPort1->Close();
timer1->Stop();
}


(2) Meaning: make global variable "mStr"
private:
/// <summary>
/// Required designer variable.
String^ mStr;
/// </summary>


After all, click icon "Local Window Debugger" to build and run program

If every thing run smoothly, a window form will appear (note: Arduino should connected to Computer through COM4 with program as in Step2)

At result (1): Form1 will show result from Arduino
At result (2): Form1 will sent data to Arduino, then receive it after Arduino sending.









22 comments:

  1. yes! This is wonderful. I try'd this with a blanc universal app, but this seems to work differently.

    I was thinking if I use a universal app, I could use both my computer and my tablet to connect with arduino. Do you know how to do this

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sorry. I have never try this. To communicate with tablet, you can use ESP12E which has wifi connection

    ReplyDelete
  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you very much ur the best
    i hope to see more projects done by you
    you teach better than anyone

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, your comment encourage me to do more.
      Please share my blog if you think it's helpful other. I will try to do more project

      Delete
  5. good job !!! do you know how to interface with labview?

    ReplyDelete
  6. why appeared?
    unable to start program.
    Debug\windowsformsaplication3.exe.
    help me sir.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Did you install Visual Studio 2012 into your computer? the program windowsformsaplication3.exe need those environment to run

      Delete
  7. I am glad that I found this. Thank you giving tutorial. I have a question to ask. Is it possible to send parameters from arduino via esp8266 and let visual studio receive it via internet? Btw the project that I do is based IoT.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you for this wonderful project. I have a question, is it possible to extract the data points of the generated graph in .csv file? Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. sure, i will make this kind project. Please wait, i will post it here.

      Delete

  9. hello and tried to reproduce the project made by you but I have problems with the visual study without error of sale

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi. Please learn to make application with Visual Studio step by step. Then make application like this. Error is case by case, debug is also a skill needed for programmer

      Delete
  10. Wow, this is fascinating reading. I am glad I found this and got to read it. Great job on this content. I liked it a lot. Thanks for the great and unique info. https://kissenglishcenter.com/cau-giao-tiep-tieng-anh-thong-dung/

    ReplyDelete
  11. excuse me, whare i get the visual studio software?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. please search on Google. Normally, this software should be purchased

      Delete
  12. Hi, looks to be a needed example for many of use using Arduino's. THANKS.

    Visual Studio Community 2019 is a free version of Visual Studio, but the Com code you
    describe to be entered in SerialPort1> DataReceived is Flagged as an Error "private: System::Void serialPort1_DataReceived(System::Object^ sender, System::IO::Ports::SerialDataReceivedEventArgs^ e) {
    mStr=serialPort1->ReadLine();
    }

    ERROR REPORT from VS
    Property value is not valid, then this is the Details.

    'private: System::Void serialPort1_DataReceived(System::Object^ sender, System::IO::Ports::SerialDataReceivedEventArgs^ e) {' is not a valid identifier.

    Any help available on this

    ReplyDelete
  13. Visual Studio 2019 Error

    Severity Code Description Project File Line Suppression State
    Error LNK1104 cannot open file 'MSVCURTD.LIB' WindowsFormsApplication3

    ReplyDelete