Re: 4-slot cRIO and default modules
 

That all sounds about right, other than that you could never put the modules wherever you wanted as far as I know. I believe it used to be Analog in 1 and 2 (may have been 1 and 3), Digital in 4 and 6 and solenoid in 7 and 8.

And yes, backward code comparability has not been maintained. All code that specifically referenced slot numbers (other than analog slot 1 which is 1 either way) must be updated to work in order to work with the new libraries and image.

EDIT: Just saw your edit. You must put Analog, Digital, Solenoid in that order in slots 1-3 on either cRIO (solenoid may be omitted). On the 4 slot, the 4th slot can be any module. On the 8 slot the pattern repeats with slots 5-7 with 4 and 8 left empty (any of the "extra" modules may be omitted, but the modules may not be shuffled around).

There's a description of the new paradigm in the C++ Getting Started Guide: http://firstforge.wpi.edu/sf/go/doc1197?nav=1

Re: 4-slot cRIO and default modules
 

I meant "in theory". I am trying to understand the new paradigm, not that I really want to stick 3 analog modules in the cRIO.:)

Re: 4-slot cRIO and default modules
 

So again, just to make sure I understand it correctly. In theory, if I put three analog modules in the 8-slot cRIO, the first one in slot 1, the second one in slot 4 and the third one in slot 5 (I suppose this is still legal :)). I can address them by:
Does it sound right? If so, they should have called it "instance" instead of "moduleNumber".

Re: 4-slot cRIO and default modules
 

Not right. No modules are supported in Slots 4 or 8 of an 8-slot FRC-cRIO.

Re: 4-slot cRIO and default modules
 

You said no modules are supported in slot 4 or 8. Is it because it's not allowed by the rules or is it because the code won't accept anything in slot 4 or 8?

Re: 4-slot cRIO and default modules
 

The code doesn't support it because the hardware (FPGA) doesn't support it.

Re: 4-slot cRIO and default modules
 

Sorry about beating the dead horse but I am just curious about why the cRIO has the extra slot and the FPGA does not support it. It seems to me the extra slot is very useful especially in the 4-slot cRIO. For example, it is quite easy to run out of digital I/O channels with encoders taking 2 channels each, teams may want to stick another digital module in slot 4, for example.
Also RufflesRidge mentioned slot 4 of the 4-slot cRIO can take any modules.

Re: 4-slot cRIO and default modules
 

You can stick whichever module you need in slot-4 of the cRIO FRC II.
The older cRIO FRC I, was just given the 3+0+3+0 pattern as a design choice. We are unlikely to mix the two up.

The FPGA is really full with all it's been given to do.
Excess capacity got sucked up to benefit us in other much more potentially useful ways.

All resources are limited in one way or another.
Engineering is designing and choosing between the optimal tradeoffs for our application.

Re: 4-slot cRIO and default modules
 

You must have grown up only on a Windows machine. Windows only supports (without weird hacks) absolute paths for shortcuts. If you had grown up with Linux you would have used the symbolic links method (relative paths - module numbers not slot numbers). Then the code wouldn't have to be changed :).

Speaking of dead horses...this is just wrong. :deadhorse: LOL

- Bryce

Re: 4-slot cRIO and default modules
 

Actually, I grew up with punch cards and unix :)

Re: 4-slot cRIO and default modules
 

Luxury...

Re: 4-slot cRIO and default modules
 

I hope I don't add to the confusion, but it is worth mentioning that the cRIO FPGA is reprogrammable. In its day job, it can have 8 32-bit digital modules if you like, and it is also possible to compile in a slot manager that will map the slots dynamically and make it truly plug-n-play. But, all of this is dependent on the FPGA, and the FRC FPGA uses fixed slots and has a ton of flexibility in what the pins can do.

Greg McKaskle

Re: 4-slot cRIO and default modules
 

I've never had the fun of programming a machine with switches and push buttons, but some co-workers have shared many a story about entering bootloaders this way (and even more arcane methods).

- Bryce

Re: 4-slot cRIO and default modules
 

I've done that too with the PDP-11.

Greg, we were planning to go with two analogs in slots 1 and 4, and two digitals in slots 2 and 3 on a 4-slot cRIO. We're ordering a 4-slot specifically for that purpose. Are you saying we can't do this. We have no pneumatics this year.

Chris