Debug SAS DLL for testing

[AndyP]

I have uploaded a debug version of the DLL here: http://users.tpg.com.au/adslcmdn/SASEGMTest/debugddl/SASEGM.dll

To use it, rename the existing DLL to something like SASEGM.dll.old and copy the new one into the same directory. The only reason you need to keep the correct version dll is because the windows installer tracks the version or hashcode and will not uninstall the test app fully if it finds different file versions.


OK, there is a few minor changes I have made that will help those having the "01 :" Problem somewhat. I am aware of a few issues still and I will get to them soon.

What was going wrong? Well for a start SAS is by far the worst protocol I have ever used. Its not really suited to multidrop applications, and making it work is a hack. The reason the IGT program works is it takes everything that is read into the serial port and puts it up on the viewing pane, so it cant really multidrop. What I do is poll and VGM and then wait for a response. I read the serial port asynchronously (otherwise the app would hang all the time) then put the responses in a buffer. When the app starts, depending on computer and serial bus speeds I would sometimes get a chirp from and EGM that would be added to the buffer. When I send a poll for meters or whatever, the oldest response is removed from the buffer. OF course I would always be processing the previous response.

So the difference is now, I check for parity error and throw away chirps. I will eventually feed this back to the test app rather than throwing it away. The problem is that there is no way in windows to detect if each byte has a parity error, another reason SAS is not suited to polling via the serial port.

I am still queuing up responses, but I will remove this feature (bug) soon.

I have also adjusted the serial port read timeouts a bit.

The bonus with the debug version of the dll is that you can all use a program called DBMON (might already be installed on your pc) to view the traces of the dll workings. For those who continue to have issues I can look at the trace to try and figure out what is going wrong.

Let me know how you go!

[poppo]

To use it, rename the existing DLL to something like SASEGM.dll.old and copy the new one into the same directory. Let me know how you go!

Did that and got this (screenshot below).

Or are you just supposed to click continue?
Clicking details says this:

See the end of this message for details on invoking
just-in-time (JIT) debugging instead of this dialog box.

************** Exception Text **************
System.DllNotFoundException: Unable to load DLL 'SASEGM.dll': The specified module could not be found. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x8007007E)
   at SASEGMTest.SASEGMWrapper.SAS_Initialise(String commPort)
   at SASEGMTest.Form1.buttonInit_Click(Object sender, EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.OnClick(EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnClick(EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs mevent)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmMouseUp(Message& m, MouseButtons button, Int32 clicks)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ButtonBase.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Button.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)


************** Loaded Assemblies **************
mscorlib
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.3615 (GDR.050727-3600)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.NET/Framework/v2.0.50727/mscorlib.dll
----------------------------------------
SASEGMTest
    Assembly Version: 1.0.0.1
    Win32 Version: 1.0.0.1
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/AP/SASEGMTest/SASEGMTest.exe
----------------------------------------
System.Windows.Forms
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.3053 (netfxsp.050727-3000)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Windows.Forms/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Windows.Forms.dll
----------------------------------------
System
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.3614 (GDR.050727-3600)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/2.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Drawing
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.50727.3053 (netfxsp.050727-3000)
    CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Drawing/2.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Drawing.dll
----------------------------------------

************** JIT Debugging **************
To enable just-in-time (JIT) debugging, the .config file for this
application or computer (machine.config) must have the
jitDebugging value set in the system.windows.forms section.
The application must also be compiled with debugging
enabled.

For example:

<configuration>
    <system.windows.forms jitDebugging="true" />
</configuration>

When JIT debugging is enabled, any unhandled exception
will be sent to the JIT debugger registered on the computer
rather than be handled by this dialog box.

[Tilt]

I'm getting the same error as Poppo too.

[poppo]

And to add, clicking continue does not work. It doesn't do anything at all now. Previously it worked fine for me with either built in serial or USB serial.

[stayouttadabunker]

I'm getting the same error as Poppo too.

Same music I'm afraid....  
Click to enlarge screenshot>>>

[AndyP]

Must have buggered the upload. Let me work on it.

[stayouttadabunker]

Must have buggered the upload. Let me work on it.

NO rush! Take your time....

[AndyP]

Nope, seems to be ok here. The dll you download needs to be in the same directory as SASEGMTest.exe


Stayouttadabunker, i take it yours started up ok? Can you download DBMON.exe (should find it on google somewhere) and save some of the trace for me? dbmon is just a command line program, so you need to run it from a command prompt (make you screen buffer 9999 so we can get some decent data). If you cant find dbmon I will upload a copy soon.

[poppo]

Nope, seems to be ok here. The dll you download needs to be in the same directory as SASEGMTest.exe

It is

[AndyP]

Bizzare. Not sure about that one. I just downloaded it to my dev pc, then put it in the directory where my install was and it works fine. Maybe the debug version needs some other library to make it work. If boredom prevails dependency walker will show this.

I'll see what stayouttadabunker comes back with and take a look at the trace before I put another upload.

[AndyP]

DBMon here if required: http://users.tpg.com.au/adslcmdn/SASEGMTest/debugdll/Dbmon.Exe

[poppo]

If boredom prevails dependency walker will show this.

Didn't have these errors before.

<edit> And I don't have those missing files.

[AndyP]

Yup, thought that may be the case. Not sure how many installed the VC10 runtime, but looks like that is the issue. There is obviously a few more libraries needed for debug builds. Previous version was release build. If your dll was previously working I would leave as is.

The main aim of the debug build was to track down issues.

VC++ 2010 redistributable is here http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=A7B7A05E-6DE6-4D3A-A423-37BF0912DB84

[stayouttadabunker]

andy,
I downloaded the database monitor but the bloody thing completely blackens out
my entire screen with an old square mouse cursor that I can move around but I see nothing.
Is there a way to reduce the screen size of the dbmon.dll?

I cannot copy & paste the screen shot because I'm forced to use Cntrl,Alt & Del to shut it off.
When I do that, I lose the "print screen" save and cannot show you a screen shot.

I petty much get 928 CPL and a bunch of different commands ranging from "Init" to "Stop" ...lol

[AndyP]

andy,
I downloaded the database monitor but the bloody thing completely blackens out
my entire screen with an old square mouse cursor that I can move around but I see nothing.
Is there a way to reduce the screen size of the dbmon.dll?

lol. did you donwload the one I put up? I think IBM has a program called dbmon too, which is for as400 databased! We need the microsoft version, which is actually stands for debug monitor! To get it out of full screen mode hit alt + enter

Also, just start a command prompt (start->run->cmd) and then rund dbmon from that. You wont see any action until you start the test app and hit initialise. To increase the screen buffer click on the c:\ icon top left of the window and choose properties.

[stayouttadabunker]

lol  thanks pardon my computer ineptness...lol

[poppo]

Yup, thought that may be the case. Not sure how many installed the VC10 runtime, but looks like that is the issue.

VC++ 2010 redistributable is here http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=A7B7A05E-6DE6-4D3A-A423-37BF0912DB84

I already had the VC++ 2010 redistributable and still a no go, and don't have those missing files. Even did a repair and same results.

[stayouttadabunker]

dbmon is black and blank.
It's like it's not running even though the Test App is "Initialized"...
Click to enlarge if needed.
I gotta go to bed soon...
see the little clock on the bottom right?
My E.S.T. time here...yawn 
Foster's the late night bird...lol>>>

[AndyP]

wow, its so much easier when visual studio is installed!!! I'll do some reading and see what I can figure out regarding debug tracing. Its definatly time for me to create a virtual machine with no visual studio.

[Tilt]

Same as poppo again here too.  I already had 2010 installed as well.

[stayouttadabunker]

andy,
What do you mean by visual studio...?
A different program?

[poppo]

Not sure if this is the issue, but a quick google turned up this about the missing wer.dll

 'trying to run the debug version of the executable (the VC redist doesn't include the debug version of the VC++ runtime)'

[stayouttadabunker]

I think the "executable" is being the Test App "start" button..or the "Initialize" button.

[AndyP]

andy,
What do you mean by visual studio...?
A different program?

Yup. All the source code is written and compiled using a program called visual studio 2010. When you install it, it installs all the libraries and debug libraries.
Obviously none of the debug libraries are included in the vc redistributable, which now leads me to think you may not be running the latest dll!


I think I can force the installer to include debug libraries, I will have a go.


BTW. Normally when distributing a program, we have a bunch of testers that will install and test it for you, so all the problems get picked up before a release. This is not the case here, I am running solo!

[stayouttadabunker]

BTW. Normally when distributing a program, we have a bunch of testers that will install
and test it for you, so all the problems get picked up before a release.
This is not the case here, I am running solo!

That's where you're wrong dude!
We're with ya every step of the way!! lol