Dashboard Programming

Technical Programming
1

I was just wondering if anyone knows what the 6 user bytes and the user warning, error and command bytes are for. I’ve looked around and I haven’t been able to figure out what they’re used for. If anyone knows what they’re for, I’d really appreciate the help.

BTW, I’m new to these forums so I hope I’m posting this in the right place.

2

The 6 user bytes can be set in the program to be fed back to the Operator Interface. The first user byte (default p1_y) can be viewed on the OI by switching it to user mode. I don’t know any of the details about the error, or warning, or USER CMD bytes.

Welcome to the forums! :slight_smile: Programming is a good place to put a question like this. It also could be put in the Control System Section.

3

Thanks for the information! I’ll be sure to go over the FRC source code to make sure to find out what exactly is being sent back in those user bytes.

4

The USER_BYTEs are viewable via the IFI provided dashboard program on a PC connected to the OI via the dashboard port.

5

I was going to put this in a new thread, but is discussed a little here. Could someone explain how to use the 6 user bytes please(without messing up my pwm outputs)?

6

I believe the user bytes are called by 'user_bytex" where x is 1 to 6. So you use it the same as a pwm, or you can break it up into it’s bits, but I’m not sure how to do that off the top of my head, and I don’t have the program loaded up anywhere to double check quickly.

For example, if you want a user byte to show the analog pressure switch, something like this would work…

user_byte1 = analog_pressure;

Of course, the analog inputs are 10 bits, instead of 8 bits, so that screws you up, and I haven’t found a good way to get around that yet… :-\

7

Here’s an example from our user_routines.c
(make sure you have ifi_aliases.h included)

[edit]Each of these User_Byte1,2,3,4,5,6 are defined in ifi_aliases.h and are all “unsigned char”


User_Byte1 = LeftAmps; 
User_Byte2 = RightAmps;
/* Display the gyro heading byte3 if its negative, byte4 if its positive */
igyrovalue = Gyro_Degrees();
if (igyrovalue > 0)
{
User_Byte3 = 0; 
User_Byte4 = (char) igyrovalue;
}
else
{
User_Byte3 = (char) -igyrovalue; 
User_Byte4 = 0;
}
 
[size=2]User_Byte5 = 99; // Displays "99" on the dashboard program
User_Byte6 = 254; // No particular reason

[/size]

8

Also, user bytes 1 & 2 need “.allbits” They’re special. Check ifi_default.h

9

Thanks! I’ll probably be using this to write some debug code.