SmartDashboard problems

[JohnGaby]

I am trying to print messages to the SmartDashboard. I am following the instructions here:

https://wpilib.screenstepslive.com/s/4485/m/26401/l/255407-getting-started-with-the-smartdashboard

The problem is that I have 3 computers, one running Windows 7 and two running Windows 8.1. On the Windows 7 computer, everything seems to work as described. However on the Windows 8.1 computers, I cannot seem to get the SmartDashbord to work.

On the Windows 8.1 machines, if I choose C++ as the Dashboard Type from the Driver Station, the SmartDashboard window does not open (as it does when running Windows 7). I can start the SmartDashboard manually, but it never seems to connect to the robot.

I have tried setting the SmartDashboard as the default using the instructions here:

https://wpilib.screenstepslive.com/s/4485/m/24192/l/290135?data-resolve-url=true&data-manual-id=24192

but that does not work on either of the Windows 8.1 computers (although it does work on the Windows 7 one).

Now I don't know that Windows 8.1 is actually the cause of the problem here, but it is the major difference between the machine that works and the machines that do not.

Does anyone have any idea why this is not working and how to fix it?

Thanks.

[orangelight]

Did check the firewall on both computers?

[SuperBK]

Maybe try the full path to java.exe, or make sure that java is in the path, and if that there is not another version of java installed.

[slibert]

Did check the firewall on both computers?

Just to echo this, we had a confirmed problem yesterday on two windows 7 driver station computers we built that had macafee firewall installed. We could click on the driver station UI once, then after that it would not respond to mouse events any more - even though the status display was working fine.

After we disabled the firewall, it all began working.....

[JohnGaby]

Thanks for your suggestions. I turned off the firewall, but that did not help. However, I was finally able to configure it so that the default dashboard was the SmartDashbord, and it now launches when I start the Driver Station, and seems to work.

I have one other question. I do not seem to be able to write items to the SmartDashboard when operating in 'Test' mode (it only works in Autonomous, Teleop, and Practice). When I switch to 'Test', the SmartDashboard goes blank, and does not display any of my data. Is there a reason for this?

Thanks much for all your help.

[TFleig78]

I have one other question. I do not seem to be able to write items to the SmartDashboard when operating in 'Test' mode (it only works in Autonomous, Teleop, and Practice). When I switch to 'Test', the SmartDashboard goes blank, and does not display any of my data. Is there a reason for this?

Which language are you using?
If you use Java (or C++ I think) and the command based robot, the subsystems should come up onto the Smartdashboard when in test mode. You can see sensor/motor values for each subsystem. More details here:

https://wpilib.screenstepslive.com/s/4485/m/26401/l/255405-enabling-test-mode-livewindow

Also one other thing I noticed is that if you have two computers connected to the robot at the same time, and they are both running SmartDashboard, the info will only display on one computer.

[JohnGaby]

Thanks for the link. I don't suppose there is any way to turn off that behavior?

[leeboy1312]

"Thanks for your suggestions. I turned off the firewall, but that did not help. However, I was finally able to configure it so that the default dashboard was the SmartDashbord, and it now launches when I start the Driver Station, and seems to work."


How where you able to get the SmartDashboard to launch with the driver station? We are having the same issue.

[JohnGaby]

Did you follow the directions here:

https://wpilib.screenstepslive.com/s/4485/m/24192/l/290135?data-resolve-url=true&data-manual-id=24192

I had done that before and it didn't seem to work, but I tried it again, and was able to finally get it to work. Pay particular attention to the need for the double backslashes in the path. Also, if 'java' is not in your path, you need to provide the full path for it.