Help a newbie with a dll call

[Andywpg]

I'm new to this, so be gentle.

To start, I have read the dllcall tutorial on the forums, but its not helping.

I am trying to call a dll and having trouble. The dll is "super4.dll" and here is the description of the function I want to use from the manufacturers website:

*****start dll description*****

int32_t SetRelays(char* relayBoard, uint8_t mask, uint8_t set)

Set or un-set the relays.

The first 4 bits of the 'mask' determines which relays will be affected:

1 = relay will be affected

0 = leave alone (don't change)

'set' determines whether the relay will be switched on or switched off.

1 = relay on

0 = relay off.

example: To control relay 1 and 3 and leave relay 2 and 4 unchanged, mask = 5 (0101)

Returns:

The state of the relays after the action.

0 to 15:

first 4 bits represent the relay states.

1 = relay is on.

0 = relay is off.

A negative number indicates an error:

-1 invalid relay board string (board not found)

-2 DLL function not loaded (FTD2XX.DLL not found)

-3 Invalid bit mask (must be 0 to 15)

-4 Undefined error

*****end dll description*****

For the life of me, I can't get this to work! Could someone please help and show me how I should format the dll call in AutoIt? As an example, I have been trying to set relay 1, and the name of the board is "virprint"

I would be forever grateful!

Thanks

Andy

Edited February 25, 2010 by Andywpg

[martin]

The deal is - first perhaps you could show what you've tried, then we'll show you ours.

[Andywpg]

The deal is - first perhaps you could show what you've tried, then we'll show you ours.

Here are a few of them:

DllCall("super4.dll,"int","int32_t SetRelays","char*","virprint","uint8_t",1,"uint8_t",1)

DllCall("super4.dll","int","SetRelays","virprint","mask",1,"set",1)

DllCall("super4.dll",$retval,"int32_t SetRelays","virprint","uint8_t",1,"uint8_t",1) where $retval was in a statement earlier DIM $retval = 0

DllCall("c:\autoit\super4.dll","none","int32_t SetRelays","char*","virprint","uint8_t",1,"uint8_t",1)

And various other combinations - can't quite remember them all right now.

I really have tried lots of them, just getting frustrated, that's all.

Thanks,

Andy

Edited February 25, 2010 by Andywpg

[martin]

Here are a few of them:

DllCall("super4.dll,"int","int32_t SetRelays","char*","virprint","uint8_t",1,"uint8_t",1)

DllCall("super4.dll","int","SetRelays","virprint","mask",1,"set",1)

DllCall("super4.dll",$retval,"int32_t SetRelays","virprint","uint8_t",1,"uint8_t",1) where $retval was in a statement earlier DIM $retval = 0

DllCall("c:\autoit\super4.dll","none","int32_t SetRelays","char*","virprint","uint8_t",1,"uint8_t",1)

And various other combinations - can't quite remember them all right now.

I really have tried lots of them, just getting frustrated, that's all.

Thanks,

Andy

Try

DllCall("super4.dll","int", "SetRelays","str","virprint","byte",1,"byte",1)

[Andywpg]

Try

DllCall("super4.dll","int", "SetRelays","str","virprint","byte",1,"byte",1)

GENIUS!!! It worked! Thanks SO much!!

Andy

[martin]

GENIUS!!! It worked! Thanks SO much!!

Andy

No genius but a little understanding is needed.

The parameters are (in this order)

"super4.dll" = the dll of course

"int" = what you expect the dll function to return. Int32 is presumably a 32 bit integer which is "int" in AutoIt

"SetRelays" = the name of the function to call

"str" = the type of first parameter required by the function. In C char* is simply "str" in AutoIt.

"virprint" = the name of the board

"byte" = the type of the second parameter. Int8 I assume is an 8 bit int which is simply a byte.

1 = second parameter value

"byte" = third parameter type

1 = third parameter value.

I'm glad it worked.

I'm interested to know what the board is you are controlling. If it is sold as a standard part can you tell me?

EDIT: I didn't notice before, so welcome to the AutoIt forums Andy

Edited February 25, 2010 by martin

[Andywpg]

I'm interested to know what the board is you are controlling. If it is sold as a standard part can you tell me?

It is a USB relay board called the Super4 made by a company called TcTec. Very cool little unit.

We are using it as output relays to control functions in a fire alarm panel while we are testing. The software was all created with AutoIt.

The boards are about $60 canadian and available at:

TcTec

Thanks again for the help!

Andy