SAS Host controller DLL. What do you want to see?

[Forrhouse]

I like the older slots. Still like the sound of the money hitting the tray.  Too bad USB couldn't be used.  I know that Windows XP doesn't allow for the use of a USB to Serial adapter that is being used for anything other than for interfacing with a printer. It is in Microsoft's Windows XP code. Don't remember the exact details, but I had to due research on this for a project I was doing. I believe that in Windows Vista and in Windows  7 the was changed to allow for serial conversion that is used for applications other than printer interfacing. Maybe some kind of patch for WIndows XP could be made to resolve this problem.
What else does SAS do? Does it handle progressive jackpot info?  Adding the latest G2S capabilities would be great also. I believe, and correct me if I'm wrong that the latest G2S specs allow for a completely standardized protocall that can communicate with any gaming device regardless of Manufacturer.

[AndyP]

Windows XP can do any serial comms out of a USB to Serial adaptor, the problem is the adaptors themselves. Most dont handle handshaking and parity.

SAS can do jackpots to some degree, i am not 100% sure though as I have not read up on it in any great details. The SAS document is huge, and its not exactly something that you want to sit in bed and read at night!

G2S is a separate protocol altogether. It is essentially an XML based protocol. If you know much about web stuff, its SOAP over HTTP from memory. G2S is next on my agenda. I am actually going to write a whole bunch of libraries for the common protocols. The SAS DLL is just an extension on the library I am writing.

[StatFreak]

I'm thinking that once we have a working DLL and hookup, we could use MSAccess or MySQL as a back end database to generate and store the ticket records and any other interesting machine-specific data that we can poll.

If we code this in C#.NET and/or VB.NET, we could make it a web (browser) based front end app.

[TZtech]

Hello Andy

Would also like to volunteer for testing. Techie that been in the industry for 10 years. I have A PE+ and I games to do testing on.

The S+ and PE+ talk SAS 4 and are EFT capable.
On Igames the games with red menu buttons are EFT and those with Blue/Grey menus are AFT (SAS 6.2)
As far as I know SAS 6.2 is final release for SAS (Andy please correct me here if I am wrong even for us techs in the field any SAS info is very limited)

EFT supports single denom only - AFT supports Mult Denom and from what I have read the method used to collect meter data is much quicker on AFT machines.
What exactly is the difference between bonussing and eft/aft implementation in SAS ?

Its possible to run multiple progressive levels via SAS if the machine support it.

As far as your AVP goes does it have one or two rows of buttons ? Did you recieve a ekey with your machine?. Not a lot of experience on this platform but a customer had a similar issue a while back when they converted a AVP. Most games will look for 2 rows of buttons - 1 Line to select the number of lines covered and the other to select the credits per line. If you have only a single line button deck there is a option in the menu's where you select "Easy bet"which means you will always play on all the lines and can only select credits per line. If you have a ekey you can probably resolve this yourself.

[AndyP]

Hello Andy

Would also like to volunteer for testing. Techie that been in the industry for 10 years. I have A PE+ and I games to do testing on.

The S+ and PE+ talk SAS 4 and are EFT capable.
On Igames the games with red menu buttons are EFT and those with Blue/Grey menus are AFT (SAS 6.2)
As far as I know SAS 6.2 is final release for SAS (Andy please correct me here if I am wrong even for us techs in the field any SAS info is very limited)

As far as I know 6.2 is the final version. Everyone is switching to G2S now.

EFT supports single denom only - AFT supports Mult Denom and from what I have read the method used to collect meter data is much quicker on AFT machines.
What exactly is the difference between bonussing and eft/aft implementation in SAS ?

Bonusing is pretty simple, its just putting credits on machines in a single message. Its not transactional, once the message is received by the machine, the credits are added to the credit meter.

EFT and AFT are both transactional. AFT further enhances the security of the transaction. The documents I have, v6.00 and 6.02 dont have the EFT commands.

Its possible to run multiple progressive levels via SAS if the machine support it.

According to the protocol yes. I have on briefly flicked through it, but it looks pretty standard and inline with some other protocols.

As far as your AVP goes does it have one or two rows of buttons ? Did you recieve a ekey with your machine?. Not a lot of experience on this platform but a customer had a similar issue a while back when they converted a AVP. Most games will look for 2 rows of buttons - 1 Line to select the number of lines covered and the other to select the credits per line. If you have only a single line button deck there is a option in the menu's where you select "Easy bet"which means you will always play on all the lines and can only select credits per line. If you have a ekey you can probably resolve this yourself.

Its 2 rows of keys. I do have an eKey. IGT is sending me a new button panel. Apparently the Australian button panel (BC20) is not compatible with US games. The US button panel is a GL20.

[AndyP]

I am going to make an installer for the DLL and test app today. Only functions at this point are Rom Signature, SAS Version and EGM Serial, and Legacy Bonus. This will give everyone a chance to have a play with it, and get an idea what SAS Versions are out there. Will also help me get some idea of how your machines operate in regards to exceptions generated by certain behavior.

[Magicslots]

thanks for all your hard work to this point AndyP   
This project of yours really has a bunch of us Yanks excited!     

[AndyP]

thanks for all your hard work to this point AndyP   
This project of yours really has a bunch of us Yanks excited!     

My pleasure. Remember you are all just my testers!

 
Please read the following before downloading
This is a test app, and a very early beta DLL. I make no promises about their functionality or operation. I have done no memory or resource leak testing on either at this point, so there is a possibility that using these tools could result in your system crashing. I am providing no formal support for the tools. Use at your own risk.

Other info:
The installer is an MSI. This is the standard Microsoft installer and may require you to download the latest installer tools from Microsoft. I think you will be prompted if this is required.

The test app uses the Microsoft .net framework v2.0. Once again, if this is not installed, I am fairly sure the installer will prompt you to download and install from Microsoft.

The DLL used the Microsoft C Runtime (msvcrt.dll). The DLL requires version 7.0. If you are getting strange errors it might pay to visit Microsoft and download the lastest version of the Visual C++ Redistributable Package, which will contain an up to date version of the CRT.

And the link:
http://users.tpg.com.au/adslcmdn//SASEGMTestInstall.zip


Also. The test app source code (c#) can be found in the program files directory where the app is installed to.

[stayouttadabunker]

Why do I feel like a guinea pig?   

[AndyP]

Why do I feel like a guinea pig?   

Lol. I have to let you all know so no one can come back to me and say your app broke my computer! I have taken care to deal with memory leaks, and I do use secure progamming models, so I doubt there will be any issues. However, like I said I have not done any formal testing. I did install the app on my pc, but I have all the libraries i need so its hard to tell if I have left out any dependencies.

Make sure you report back here if it works, as well as if you have any problems.

[stayouttadabunker]

I'll only be able to try it on my older XP computer in the morning...thanks for letting us try this out Andy!
I give you my results in about 12 hours...

[FORDSBS]

Good luck Bunker. 

[AndyP]

Forgot to add. The test app will only poll a single machine. The DLL can poll multiple machines. The poll rate is 1 second, but I will make this configurable in the next release, and default it to 500ms. I am off on my yacht for the weekend, but I will check in some time tomorrow and hopefully I will see some successes and questions.

[brichter]

Just what I want to do, my job on the weekend! 

I really should get my head examined...

[TZtech]

Brichter
Same here -Spent most of Friday trying to get this http://www.touchtable.se/ talking to a online system. Of course all us techies are doing is loading the patches and reporting back to the engineers in if its working or not which is why I am so interested in learning more about SAS.

AndyP
Numerous K+'s for making this available to the NLG community. It installed fine on my personal laptop. On work laptop i am getting a DLL error. Unfortunately neither has a serial port. My desktop PSU has packed up hope to replace it later today and get program running on that.
On G2S have a look at this companies software - Looks like something that could be very handy for developement - http://www.radblue.com/

All
On the S+ and PE+ there is no RS232 and you will need to use the DCS port - You will need to build some sort of level shifting interface i am trying to get some more details on this.
On S2000 and Game King there is a RS232 port on the comms board as per attached. If anybody needs help with SAS setting for these platforms please post here (Or maybe we should create a new topic for the interfacing and machine settings ?) and I will assist.

Ian

[TZtech]

Hello Andy

Ok the DLL error is due to the Microsoft C runtime as you mentioned. Once I installed this I had no no unhandled exceptions when I initialize the game. Unfortunately I am not able to establish comms with your app. (Hardware is good). I have only used RX, TX and GND. Not sure if you app needs any of the other signals ?

All

The interface harness for the I Game platform (S2000 should be identical) is as follows.

Coms board      - DB9 on computer
1         TX        3       
2         RX        2
3
4
5        Gnd       5

You will need to set your primary SAS to channel 3 in order to talk via comms board.
Regards
Ian

[TZtech]

We have Liftoff 

So this morning decided to see if laptop would work with USB to serial converter attached and we have a winner.
Refer to attached screenshot.

The converter uses the FTDI chipset so If you dont have a serial port on your PC look for a converter with this IC in.
ROM signature did not return any value and legacy Bonus seemed to multiply the value entered by 1000.

PS - This was tested on a 17" I Game with one of the older games installed (State Fair - Red Menu)  - As you can see from the result fro Andy's app this talks SAS 5.
Will repeat testing on SAS 6 theme later this week.


Thanks Again Andy

[Foster]

Do you have to have the machine connected


I kept getting a wierd error on mine like it is not loading something.
I forgot which pin goes to what (I know you have to cross the RX/TX lines (null modem)
What about the other 2 RTS CTS

TZTech the FTDI also works with PSP 2 and 3 for mikohn stuff just be sure to move the com port down to one that psp can match.
I know when the FTDI drivers are first installed it defaults to 3,4,5 as com port number.
In fact I run XP in Oracle(was Sun) VirtualBox virtual machine software and can do PSP 2 or 3 and EasyPro 90B programmer software on Mac OS X Snow Leopard.
 

[TZtech]

Hello Foster

I used RX, TX and Gnd as per previous post for test cable.

The app starts up and initializes without errors with no machine connected on my persoanl laptop and is communicating with machine when connected (I must add that this has the full Visual C express suite loaded)
On my desktop I initially got the error as per attached. Loading the C runtime cleared this up but I dont seem to be getting any comms even though the app seesm to be working fine.
On work laptop I am still getting the error even after I downloaded the C Runtime.

BTW - You should have some freeplay goodies in your email,

Ian

[Foster]

I didnt see the goodies in my email yet.
Scanned both spam or junk folders.

[AndyP]

That DLL error is possible because you are running a shortcut or something to that tune. The DLL name is hardcoded in the c# test app as "SASEGM.dll" with no paths, so perhaps try running the test app from the directory where the dll is stored. It should be under c:\program files\ap\SASDLLTest or whatever I called the test app.


As for no comms, not sure about this one. Do you have access to an oscilloscope to test the signal lines? The way I have implemented it in software is a bit of a hack. Normally you would have a dedicated piece if hardware in between. The hack basically changes the mode of the uart for the first byte of each message, and if it cant change the mode fast enough the machine might see it as a corrupt packet. However considering the poll to get the exceptions is only a single byte, it should receeve something.

[Foster]

On a S2000 with a 504B and Game 363
SAS primary and secondary limited to Channel off, 1, 2
SAS Address set to 001

App runs after installing latest run time library.
No communications from the machine. I may have to try another computer.

[AndyP]

I might have to include some sort of debug output so I can see what is happening. Some machines have a comms analyser built into the service menus, perhaps try that if your machine supports it.

[AndyP]

There is a bug in the test app. The functions using ROM Signature and Serial Number/Version and Legacy Bonus are hardcoded to use poll address 1.

Any c# gurus can use the code included (where the app installed) and change it. Error is in Form1.cs in the button click events. Change the hardcoded 1 to use the pollAddress member variable.

I will fix this in the next build.

PS. I had the app running for 3 days and I cant see any memory or resource leaks yet.

[AndyP]

Folks, I am going to implement all commands in this doc now: http://www.doj.mt.gov/gaming/forms/sasimplementationguide.pdf

Should take me a few days. My time is limited now though. I have had a good run the last week as I have been in between software release (paid stuff) but this will change again soon. I will get as much in now as I can then put up another release.