Unable to re-start a function after it has been stopped

[cabrunco]

Dear all (and especially Martin, if available), I am working on a GUI that reads the signals from a gas flow meter (ProFLow 6000, by Restek). In the manual of the device, there are the instructions for how to read the signal using a computer via comm ports. I can do it using the CommMG.au3 UDF by Martin, it works fine. However, I am trying to make a GUI in which there are 2 buttons: start and stop, the start button starts the reading of the comm port signal, and the stop button stops it. I did this following the tutorial available on https://www.autoitscript.com/wiki/Interrupting_a_running_function , more specifically the first example for GUI message loop mode that employs GUIRegisterMsg as a way to enable a function to stop another. It works, the start function is stopped by the stop button. However, if I try to start again, it does not work. I press the start button and nothing happens.

I must say that this only happens if I use a function to read the comm port. For other kinds of functions, for example, reading the computer clock, there is no problem, after stopping I can re-start again.

My question is: how to make it possible to re-start the reading function for the Comm port once it was stopped using the GUIRegisterMsg?

Below goes my code (sorry, it is my first time and I am not sure of the best way of pasting it here). If includes also the clock button that can be used to test the stopping process (it should work). 

 

 

#include "commMG.au3"

#include <GUIConstantsEx.au3>

#include <ColorConstants.au3>

#include <StaticConstants.au3>

#include <WindowsConstants.au3>

 

Local $FlowMeterPort

Local $PortError

 

$Interrupt_flag = 0

 

$FlowMeter = GUICreate("Flow meter reader", 200, 160, 500, 200)

 

$Reading = GUICtrlCreateLabel("",20,40,120,18)

GUICtrlSetBkColor($Reading,$COLOR_WHITE)

$Start = GUICtrlCreateButton("Start", 20, 60, 50, 20)

$Stop = GUICtrlCreateButton("Stop", 20, 80, 50, 20)

$Clock = GUICtrlCreateButton("Clock", 20, 100, 50, 20)

 

 

$FlowMeterPort = InputBox("Flow meter reader","Welcome to the flow meter reader! Please type in the number of the COM port connecting the computer to the flow meter. If you do not know, go to Control Panel, Hardware settings, and try to find it among the listed COM ports.")

 

GUISetState()

GUIRegisterMsg($WM_COMMAND, "FlowMeter_WM_COMMAND")

 

While 1

Switch GUIGetMsg()

Case $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE

Exit

Case $Start

_CommSetPort($FlowMeterPort, $PortError, 115200, 8, 0, 1, 2)

$Interrupt_flag = 0

While $Interrupt_flag = 0

$FlowMeterReading = _CommReadString(100)

GUICtrlSetData($Reading,$FlowMeterReading)

WEnd

Case $Clock

$Interrupt_flag = 0

While $Interrupt_flag = 0

GUICtrlSetData($Reading,@HOUR & @MIN & @SEC)

WEnd

EndSwitch

WEnd

 

Func FlowMeter_WM_COMMAND($hWnd, $Msg, $wParam, $lParam)

If BitAND($wParam, 0x0000FFFF) = $Stop Then $Interrupt_flag = 1

EndFunc

 

 

Func _CommReadString($TimeSpan)

Local $Reading

$Start = TimerInit()

$End = 0

$ReadStep = 0

While $End < $TimeSpan

$Reading = $Reading & _Commgetstring()

$End = TimerDiff($Start)

If $Reading <> '' Then

$ReadStep = $ReadStep + 1

EndIf

If $ReadStep > 100 Then $End = $TimeSpan

Sleep(0)

WEnd

Return $Reading

EndFunc ;==>_CommReadString

Edited August 20, 2015 by cabrunco