[2005] need help to read data from com port for rfid reader

[kerryduan]

Hi, i need help on how to start coding to read data from a RFID reader thru com port. i'm new to vb and i'm not sure how to start coding.

Thus anyone can help me on how to go about coding the reading of data from the reader and updating the data up to database? what is the reference i need to add? etc...

I'm using VB 2005 and MS SQL 2005.


Thanks!

[stanav]

You can use the System.IO.Ports.SerialPort class included in .net 2.0 framework to communicate with your RFID. The first thing you should do is go to MSDN library and read the documentation for this class.
Once you have the communication between the rfid and your app done, now you're looking at upload the data to a database... You can use ADO.Net for this... There are plenty of tutorials on ADO.Net floating around on the Internet, read some of them and try to do it yourself... if you still have problems, you can post a specific question here...

[kerryduan]

Hi,
I've tried using the follow code (code1) to try to read from the RFID reader thru serial port and display it in a textbox but nothing happen.

code1

Public Class Form1
    Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
        Try
            With port1
                .PortName = "Com1"
                .BaudRate = 115200
                .Parity = Parity.None
                .DataBits = 8
                .StopBits = StopBits.Two
                .ReadTimeout = -1
            End With
            port1.Open()
            MsgBox("com1 ok!")
        Catch ex As Exception
            MsgBox(ex.ToString)
        End Try
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub port1_DataReceived(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.IO.Ports.SerialDataReceivedEventArgs) Handles port1.DataReceived
        Me.TextBox1.Invoke(New AddItemDelegate(AddressOf AddItem), New Object() {})
    End Sub
 
    Private Delegate Sub AddItemDelegate()
 
    Private Sub AddItem()
        Dim itm As String = Me.port1.ReadByte()
        Me.TextBox1.Text = itm
    End Sub
End Class

from the command guide that comes with the reader, inside stated that for a "inventorised command" i need to send:
command
# of bytes 1
description 0xF1

in the source code they provided in vb6, the command is used is as following:

Private Sub Gen2Inventorised_Click(ByVal eventSender As System.Object, ByVal eventArgs As System.EventArgs) Handles Gen2Inventorised.Click
    Dim Code(0) As Byte
        
    If InventorisedFlag = False Then
        If (ReadStatus = False) Then ' The button is not activated
            If (MSComm1.PortOpen = True) Then ' Check if com port is opened
                Gen2Inventorised.Text = "Stop" ' Change the display to Stop
                Gen2_RFOnOff.Text = "RF Off"
                ReadStatus = True
                InventorisedFlag = True
                Code(0) = 241
                MSComm1.Output = VB6.CopyArray(Code)
                Else
                MsgBox("Com Port not Selected") ' Display com port not selected
                End If
            Else
                Gen2Inventorised.Text = "Stop"
                InventorisedFlag = True
                Code(0) = 241
                MSComm1.Output = VB6.CopyArray(Code)
            End If
    Else
            Gen2Inventorised.Text = "Inventorised" ' Change the display to Stop
            InventorisedFlag = False
            Code(0) = 244
            MSComm1.Output = VB6.CopyArray(Code)
    End If
End Sub

[kerryduan]

Can someone help me how i shd code in vb 2005 using the system.io.ports
i'm totally clueless on how to start.
Thanks!
if u guys need to see the codes for MSComm1, i can paste the code in here too.
thanks again!