[SOLVED] Calling Functions from a 3rd party DLL

[andybiochem]

Hi,

I posted a thread while ago here where I was trying to call functions from a .net dll

Since then I have found what looks to be a working dll, which of course I still need help with because I'm useless.

I decided to create a new thread, rather than continue the old one, to prevent confusion with the other dll I was using...hope that's ok.

A quick summary of what I'm trying to do...

I bought two of these USB HID thermometers to aid in my homebrewing conquests. However, the software the manufacturer supplies is terrible. I'm trying to figure out how to communicate directly with the HID device to get it to return a temperature value.

Having found a list of the functions contained in the dll here, I'm trying to call them from AI to see what happens. So far I have got:

#cs
// Imported functions for the HID TEMPer device

public static extern int EMyDetectDevice(long myhwnd);
public static extern void EMySetCurrentDev(int nCurDev)
public static extern bool EMyInitConfig(bool dOrc);
public static extern double EMyReadTemp(bool flag);

Note: the above code is Copyright © Bjoern Boettcher 2008 ( http://utac.n4rf.net (dead) -or- http://www.alsgh.com/utac/ )
and is covered by GNU GPL (copy available here http://www.gnu.org/licenses/ )

#ce



$a = DllCall("HidFTDll.dll","int","EMyDetectDevice")
ConsoleWrite(@error & " " & $a[0] & @CRLF)

$a = DllCall("HidFTDll.dll","ptr","EMySetCurrentDev")
ConsoleWrite(@error & " " & $a[0] & @CRLF)

$a = DllCall("HidFTDll.dll","boolean","EMyInitConfig")
ConsoleWrite(@error & " " & $a[0] & @CRLF)

$a = DllCall("HidFTDll.dll","double","EMyReadTemp")
ConsoleWrite(@error & " " & $a[0] & @CRLF)

Which prints in the console:

0 1

0 0x004A5920

0 0

0 888

Calling the functions in any other way causes AI to crash (i.e. I can't send the boolean parameter for EMyReadTemp etc)

The first func "EMyDetectDevice" simply returns the number of devices attached (plugging in another, it changes to 2)

The second func looks like it's returning a handle perhaps?

Heaven knows what 888 is? DegC perhaps? It is quite warm in here!

Anyway, I guess my question is, is there anything obviously wrong with my dll calls? Is there anything in the returns that looks like it may be useable data?

I know this is a long shot, and I almost ready to give up on this, but I thought the collective genius here may be able to shed a little more light.

Also, I'd post the dll, but it's probably no use if you don't have the temperature device.

Thanks in advance!

Edited February 5, 2010 by andybiochem

[Mat]

does this contain anything relevant?

http://www.autoitscript.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=109211

[ProgAndy]

I think, you should use cdecl-calling convention:

#cs
// Imported functions for the HID TEMPer device

public static extern int EMyDetectDevice(long myhwnd);
public static extern void EMySetCurrentDev(int nCurDev)
public static extern bool EMyInitConfig(bool dOrc);
public static extern double EMyReadTemp(bool flag);

#ce

$ghHidFTDll = DLLOpen("HidFTDll.dll")

$a = DllCall($ghHidFTDll,"int:cdecl","EMyDetectDevice", 'long', $myhwnd)
ConsoleWrite(@error & " " & $a[0] & @CRLF)

$a = DllCall($ghHidFTDll,"none:cdecl","EMySetCurrentDev", 'int', $nCurDev)
ConsoleWrite(@error & " " & $a[0] & @CRLF)

$a = DllCall($ghHidFTDll,"bool:cdecl","EMyInitConfig", 'bool', $dOrc)
ConsoleWrite(@error & " " & $a[0] & @CRLF)

$a = DllCall($ghHidFTDll,"double:cdecl","EMyReadTemp", 'bool', $flag)
ConsoleWrite(@error & " " & $a[0] & @CRLF)

[Mat]

I was right first time! Thats a first

Why don't you make your own temperature device? All you need is a thermistor and a little electrical thingy to read the resistance (here?), you can then send the data to the computer using the com ports. It would be quite a fun project (if low level programming is your thing), and you can then use Martins com UDF to read the data. Simple eh?

[andybiochem]

I think, you should use cdecl-calling convention:

...code etc...

OH MY F****** LORD! The unit just flashed and returned:

0 1

0

0 1

0 -100

It's still nonsense (although it has gotten suddenly colder), but IT FLASHED!!!!!

WOW thanks!!!

I'll post back after a bit of experimenting.

Oh, just out of interest, what does cdecl do? [EDIT] nm, I've just read through Mat's link. Cheers!

Edited February 1, 2010 by andybiochem

[ProgAndy]

cdecl is a calling convention, just like stdcall wich is used by default.

[andybiochem]

Ok, the new dll convention works great!!

This:

$ghHidFTDll = DLLOpen("HidFTDll.dll")

$a = DllCall($ghHidFTDll,"int:cdecl","EMyDetectDevice", 'long', 0)
ConsoleWrite(@error & " " & $a[0] & @CRLF)

;----- read device 1 ------
$a = DllCall($ghHidFTDll,"none:cdecl","EMySetCurrentDev", 'int', 0)
ConsoleWrite(@error & " " & $a[0] & @CRLF)
$a = DllCall($ghHidFTDll,"double:cdecl","EMyReadTemp", 'bool', True)
ConsoleWrite(@error & " " & $a[0] & @CRLF)

;----- read device 2 -----
$a = DllCall($ghHidFTDll,"none:cdecl","EMySetCurrentDev", 'int', 1)
ConsoleWrite(@error & " " & $a[0] & @CRLF)
$a = DllCall($ghHidFTDll,"double:cdecl","EMyReadTemp", 'bool', True)
ConsoleWrite(@error & " " & $a[0] & @CRLF)

Gives this:

0 2

0

0 30.9375

0

0 20.5

One unit is in my hand, and the other in a glass of tap water. Temperatures look ok!

I'll add this to the program I wrote, and I'll post it in examples later.

Seriously, thanks a lot for this...it's been driving me mad!

[wysocki]

Also, I'd post the dll, but it's probably no use if you don't have the temperature device.

I may need a copy of your dll, I got one off the links you've posted above but the script has problems. I only have one device plugged in so I commented out the read device 2, but here's what I got when I ran it (BTW: @error is "1" and $a is just "0"). Any ideas?

0 1

0

C:\Apps\Misc\GetTemp.au3 (10) : ==> Subscript used with non-Array variable.:

ConsoleWrite(@error & " " & $a[0] & @CRLF)

ConsoleWrite(@error & " " & $a^ ERROR

Edited March 26, 2010 by wysocki

[andybiochem]

0 1

0

C:\Apps\Misc\GetTemp.au3 (10) : ==> Subscript used with non-Array variable.:

ConsoleWrite(@error & " " & $a[0] & @CRLF)

ConsoleWrite(@error & " " & $a^ ERROR

How old is your Temper device? It seems that units bought pre mid-2009-ish use a serial-to-usb interface, whereas newer units use a HID interface. This script is designed to use the HID interface DLL.

It's a bit odd that the DLL returns the correct number of devices i.e. "0 1", but then fails on the EMyReadTemp.

Try downloading the software in the link here.

...and use the DLL in there. That's the version I use.

If you have further problems, it's probably better that you post in that thread too - I rarely check the 'problems' forum for replies to my previous posts (once they're solved at least).

Let me know how you get on!

Edited March 26, 2010 by andybiochem

[ustix]

Andy you are the best man, who i have ever heard about! I needed this little script only, and i couldn't get it from anywhere! And now I found it! This helps me a lot!