Hi-
I am in the processing of making my code run faster and smoother as I have several sections of identical code in my program because I can not pass the values of variables up the chain. So, I am trying to create some threads that only run when a key is pressed or when a mouse is clicked...Would it be more efficient to create a thread or something else? Also how would I go about adding the conditional part? In the example below I believe I would alter the run() command but so far I have been unsuccessful in my attempts.

1. class TxtChange extends Thread {
                 boolean active;//running status
                 PApplet p;// to run serial ports as well
              
                 TxtChange() {//initial setting
                   active = false;
                 }
              
                 void start() {//start command
                   active = true;
                   super.start();
                 }
              
                 void run () {//to keep running this makes a loop how to get conditional
                     while(true){
                       if(active){
                        
                           execute();
                        
                       }else
                       break;
                     }
                  
                 }
              
                 TxtChange(PApplet p) {
                   this.p = p;      // store the reference to PApplet           
                   active = false;
                 }
              
                 void execute() {// what it does
                    if(keyPressed){
                      if (mouseX>=406 && mouseX<=586 && mouseY>=45 && mouseY<=70){
                        if(key==BACKSPACE){
                          Additional = Additional.substring(0, Additional.length()-1);
                        }
                        else if(key==DELETE){
                          Additional = "";
                        }
                        else if(keyCode != SHIFT && keyCode != CONTROL && keyCode != ALT){
                          Additional = Additional + key;
                        }
                      }
                      else if (mouseX>=113 && mouseX<=293 && mouseY>=45 && mouseY<=70){
                        if(key==BACKSPACE){
                          Commandt = Commandt.substring(0, Commandt.length()-1);
                        }
                        else if(key==DELETE){
                          Commandt = "";
                        }
                        else if(keyCode != SHIFT && keyCode != CONTROL && keyCode != ALT){
                          Commandt = Commandt + key;
                        }
                      }
                    }             
                  delay(80);//need to pause to not take all the processor memory
                 }
              
                 boolean isActive() {// no clue
                   return active;
                 }
              
                 void quit() {//how to end it
                   active = false;
                   interrupt();
                 }
               }

So I have input coming in from a GUI therefore the number I need is coming in as a string. I need to then save it as a long variable to do the character transforms or what ever it is called then save the result as chars to send to an array list to send over a serial port.

Section of code Im dealing with:

1.         unsigned long time= long(Additional);//taking in the GUI data
           unsigned char b1, b2, b3, b4;//the multiple bytes set up as char for reasons unknown to me
2.         b1= time>>24;
           b2= time>>16;
           b3= time>>8;
           b4= time & 0xff;
3.         hexadd.add(b1,b2,b3,b4);

So I am splitting data that comes in from a serial port and saving each piece as a separate part of the array. Later in the code I reference parts of the array that I saved. The array's length is either 1 or 12. When the length is 1 I can't reference the array for my display leading to errors, so I am trying to set it to catch the errors and force that part of the array to exist.

Below is the code I am trying to use and I keep getting unexpected '{' as an error....

1.  try {
       text(Authourize[int(dataTypes[3])], 135, 50, 80, 25);//textboxes and choose the correct auth code
     }
     catch(ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException e) {//catches if most sent but 3= number not in array
       dataTypes={"0","0","0","0"};
     }
     catch(NullPointerException e) {//catches if not enough sent ie 3 DNE
       dataTypes={"0","0","0","0"};
     }

Would someone clarify how a thread operates for me in preferably these specific aspects:

Can a thread be looped or run as a loop without being repeatedly called in the draw function? If so how?

If not, then would calling the thread again in draw cause timing issues eventually, such as if the draw finishes and calls the other thread before the thread has finished processing and executing the first set of instructions?

I am working on a GUI that asynchronously reads from a port but I keep getting the buffer stuck so I am trying to find out where the hitch is.

Thank you for your time -
Adrienne Rector

Does Processing include the ability to write Strings to serial ports? I am working on a GUI that reads from the port fine but as soon as I try to write the data 1. doesnt always actually make it to the port and execute and 2. clogs up the buffer preventing me from reading again even if I read and print what is clogging the buffer(for some reason the command I sent)  it still refuses to read from the serial port...

This is my first program in this language and I have experience with only matlab and visual basic before this so I am trying to learn... but I keep getting stuck...

Thank you in advance so much!!!

So Im working on a GUI which reads and writes to a serial port, and everything works fine till I write to the port. Following that the GUI no longer updates the serial read. Even if I close the GUI and re-open it the GUI still refuses to read/display data until I go to the terminal and clear the buffer through that. Is there a method to check if the information is being actually written or if the program is still reading so I can find my errors?

Oh I have no clue if this makes a difference but fedora machine but running everything on a server which I think is also running some sort of linux, the serial device is on the server not my machine.

Below is a copy of my code with the GUI aspects mostly removed as well as some other things that do not relate to the serial communication process directly

This is my first program in this language and I have only worked with visual basic and matlab before this so any help or explanations is greatly appreciated!!!

1. 
   import processing.serial.*;
   
   Serial myPort;
   
   String Commandt = "--------";
   String Additional = "---.- ";
   
   String command= "";
   
   void setup(){
   ...
     myPort = new Serial(this, "/dev/ttyS0", 9600);
     String empty= myPort.readString();
     myPort.clear();
     println(empty);
   //  myPort.write("2d56!GETSTATUS");
   }
   
   String[] dataTypes= {"0","0","0","0"};
   String data="--";
   
   void draw(){
    
    
    
     if (myPort.available()>0){
       String inBuffer=myPort.readStringUntil('\n');//collects the data
       
     if (inBuffer != null) {//sends data to text label if new data
       data=inBuffer;
       dataTypes= splitTokens(inBuffer," ");//splits to spaces to deal with in chunks, 3rd = # of auth code
       myPort.clear();
     }else{
       data=data;
     }
   }
    
    text(data,250,200);//display data read     
   }//END VOID DRAW
   
   void mouseClicked() {
     if (mouseX>=210 && mouseX<=290 && mouseY>=100 && mouseY<=130){//button pressing deals with mouse location
        
         String fauthourize=trim(Authourize[int(dataTypes[3])].substring(2,Authourize[int(dataTypes[3])].length()));//trims length and spaces
        
         Commandt= trim(Commandt).toUpperCase();//format texts
         Additional= trim(Additional).toUpperCase();
        
         char go = 'y';//preset to send
        
         if (Commandt.equals("RESTART")){//allows only exact commands to pass and be sent also helps format commands(additional)
            Additional="";
            go = 'y';
         }else if(Commandt.equals("SETTIME")){
            go = 'y';
            Additional= " " + Additional;
         }else if (Commandt.equals("GETSTATUS")){
           go = 'y'; 
           Additional= "";
         }else{//prevent corruption
            Additional="";
            Commandt="";    
            go ='n';
          }
           
         String command = fauthourize + "!" + Commandt + Additional+'\n';//concatenate the command
        
       if (go == 'y'){//sends command if correct
        myPort.write(command);
        myPort.clear();}
       
       redraw();//re-enter loop to continue...?
       
       }
   }

Is there a problem with trying to send a string through the serial object? I didnt see str's listed as a type when looking up write...

So I am trying to set up my serial object but before just to make sure it is connected I test it with print(Serial.list());
What is printed out is as follows:

WARNING:  RXTX Version mismatch
    Jar version = RXTX-2.2pre1
    native lib Version = RXTX-2.2pre2
check_group_uucp(): error testing lock file creation Error details:Permission deniedcheck_lock_status: No permission to create lock file.
please see: How can I use Lock Files with rxtx? in INSTALL
check_group_uucp(): error testing lock file creation Error details:Permission deniedcheck_lock_status: No permission to create lock file.
please see: How can I use Lock Files with rxtx? in INSTALL
check_group_uucp(): error testing lock file creation Error details:Permission deniedcheck_lock_status: No permission to create lock file.
please see: How can I use Lock Files with rxtx? in INSTALL
check_group_uucp(): error testing lock file creation Error details:Permission deniedcheck_lock_status: No permission to create lock file.
please see: How can I use Lock Files with rxtx? in INSTALL
check_group_uucp(): error testing lock file creation Error details:Permission deniedcheck_lock_status: No permission to create lock file.
please see: How can I use Lock Files with rxtx? in INSTALL
check_group_uucp(): error testing lock file creation Error details:Permission deniedcheck_lock_status: No permission to create lock file.
please see: How can I use Lock Files with rxtx? in INSTALL
check_group_uucp(): error testing lock file creation Error details:Permission deniedcheck_lock_status: No permission to create lock file.
please see: How can I use Lock Files with rxtx? in INSTALL
check_group_uucp(): error testing lock file creation Error details:Permission deniedcheck_lock_status: No permission to create lock file.
please see: How can I use Lock Files with rxtx? in INSTALL
check_group_uucp(): error testing lock file creation Error details:Permission deniedcheck_lock_status: No permission to create lock file.
please see: How can I use Lock Files with rxtx? in INSTALL
check_group_uucp(): error testing lock file creation Error details:Permission deniedcheck_lock_status: No permission to create lock file.
please see: How can I use Lock Files with rxtx? in INSTALL
check_group_uucp(): error testing lock file creation Error details:Permission deniedcheck_lock_status: No permission to create lock file.
please see: How can I use Lock Files with rxtx? in INSTALL
check_group_uucp(): error testing lock file creation Error details:Permission deniedcheck_lock_status: No permission to create lock file.
please see: How can I use Lock Files with rxtx? in INSTALL
check_group_uucp(): error testing lock file creation Error details:Permission deniedcheck_lock_status: No permission to create lock file.
please see: How can I use Lock Files with rxtx? in INSTALL
check_group_uucp(): error testing lock file creation Error details:Permission deniedcheck_lock_status: No permission to create lock file.
please see: How can I use Lock Files with rxtx? in INSTALL
check_group_uucp(): error testing lock file creation Error details:Permission deniedcheck_lock_status: No permission to create lock file.
please see: How can I use Lock Files with rxtx? in INSTALL
check_group_uucp(): error testing lock file creation Error details:Permission deniedcheck_lock_status: No permission to create lock file.
please see: How can I use Lock Files with rxtx? in INSTALL
[Ljava.lang.String;@d1e233

The first three lines and last line are white all else red

What does this mean? I continued trying to just assign the port with Serial myPort; then myPort = new Serial(this,Serial.list()[0],9600); . Later on all I have to do is write to the port.

I am not directly connected to this port as I am accessing the file which is on the server and not my computer, the port on the server is dev/ttyS0 (yes, I'm on a Linux system, fedora), is there a way to use that instead of the Serial.list()?

Thanks-
Adie