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Welcome to KSTerm!
Serial Communication Terminal
KSTerm is meant for the technician or hobbyist, working with Serial Communication, from a Windows PC; both with RS-232 and TTL devices such as: micro-controllers, IOT, sensing/logging equipment, Automation devices, AV equipment, etc..
The heart of KSTerm, is available in a pair of code modules for VB6 to handle integrated serial communications:
- KSCom232.cls & UART_KS.bas - work is ongoing to adapt to VBA.
These are turn-Key code, to drop into your project and add Serial Communication.
If you have matching version numbers, then KSTerm can help you validate how well the code can work for your application.
KSTerm does not handle anything Internet related.
For that there are a number of very good freeware Terminal programs available.
KSTerm Functions Include:
- Transmit & Receive Serial communication from a Windows Computer
- Easily Send/Read non-printing characters as well
e.g. Watch for Null-character, or see if lines end with CR & LF or just LF.
- Build and send strings with non-printing characters.
- Simulate commands to test serial based equipment.
- Send/Read ASCII - Characters, Hex, Decimal.
(Or just change view between the three)That includes non-printing characters.
- Communicate directly with Windows to configure / verify port settings -
-->in more detail than almost any of us could want. - Built-in Command Line (DOS) terminal to communicate with the Windows OS
Switch between Serial Terminal "com:" and Command Line "dos:" with those commands!
- Auto detect all available Serial Ports (If it's in-use it's not available...)
Defaults to detecting 1-24, but configurable to test up to 255
- Auto-saves/restores Settings from last session (per Windows-User)
- Session save-as Text File.
With sent text displayed on receive screen or not.
- Many configuration options to display/hide elements, customize colors etc.
Extra Monitor window allows a second screen to become a Readout display for incoming Serial communication.
Originally added for my Pinewood Derby project (using a TeensyUSB):
Allowing everyone to watch race results in real-time on a big monitor!
For the more Experienced Users:
By Sending Direct API Calls to the Windows OS:
- Watch and/or directly control the full set of DB-9 indicator pins
DCD, DTR, DSR, RTS, CTS, Ring.
- Configure available built-in COM Port settings
(your equipment may not be able to use them, but, hey, we can set them anyway!)(UART speed (BAUD), Handshaking, Flow-Control, Break)
- COM Port control handled directly by Windows API calls
Auto-scan for all available COM Ports
- Full access to MODE functions.
For the Super Nerds:
Bitwise control of the DCB!
I tend to learn from doing, and building code projects to test what I learn. Between this help file and the comments in the code, there is a wealth of information about UARTS, TTY, and Serial Ports. Particularly as regards Microsoft's API's. So if you tend to be self-taught, KSTerm can help with what you are doing, but also help you learn about how it all works!
So, here's the catch, I trust you to be, "on your honor."
I learned a lot from others on the web and I'm happy to pay-it-forward so others can learn from my work.
But, If you are making money using my work, the honest thing to do is send a little my way!
Buy me a coffee or a beer, or send a donation to help me keep this project going!
Or, if your company could use some training sessions on how to customize MS Office with VBA, pass my name along!
Live Classroom sessions or Webinars:
www.CyberTamer.com