Morse Code translator (timer problem)

Question

Hi everyone I need to build a morse code translator program. I have already built a translator using keybord (. and -). Now i want to do with only one key (becouse later i will plug a real morse pad into com port) I need to find out how long I'm pressing a certain key to determined if this is a dash a dot or a space (morse language). Can you help me or even give me some guidance?

Kirtan Patel · Answer

Hi Friend you can Measure millisecond time to check how long the key was pressed :). check my article here in which i shown how to use stopwatch() class to measure time using stopwatch. you have to Declare one Global Instance of StopWatch Class . you need to start StopWatch in Key Down even and Stop the StopWatch at KeyUp Event . to measure the time taken . :) if my answer helps you then check  Do you like this answer  :)

Kosta · Answer

hello friends Once again i need help and some ideas how can i proceed with my program. So far i have fully operated program (thanks to Kirtan) for morse code. The input is any keyboard key program measure time betwen keyup and key down and betwen key up and next keyup. WATCH CODE Now i have the next problem. I have morse pad (its 150 years old modified with com port). It has logical 1 if its pressed and null if not. Now i need to transform my code that the input would be this morse (com) pad. I never programmed with com ports in vb so i haven't got any idea how to start. On my computer is only one com port (COM1). The question is: How can i transform my code to work with com port how can i find the wright input is there any good tutorial (for dummies) that i can learned from it. Thank you in advanced for your help. Imports System.Diagnostics Imports System Imports System.Threading Imports System.TimeSpan Imports System.IO Public Class Form1 Inherits System.Windows.Forms.Form Dim Sw As Stopwatch = New Stopwatch() 'stopwatch for dit and dah Dim Sw1 As Stopwatch = New Stopwatch() ' stopwatch for space beetwen signs Dim cas As Integer 'time for dit and dah Dim cas1 As Integer 'time for space Dim len As Integer Dim key As String Dim znak As String 'sign Dim batch As String 'all text in textbox1 Dim pika As Integer 'dit Dim crta As Integer 'dah Dim presledek As Integer 'space Private Sub Form1_KeyDown(ByVal sender As System.Object ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.KeyEventArgs) Handles MyBase.KeyDown Sw.Start() Sw1.Stop() cas1 = Sw1.Elapsed.TotalMilliseconds 'Label2.Text = Total Miliseconds(MZ)  & Sw1.Elapsed.TotalMilliseconds If cas1 > presledek Then TextBox1.Text = TextBox1.Text +   End If Sw1.Reset() End Sub Private Sub Form1_KeyUp(ByVal sender As System.Object ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.KeyEventArgs) Handles MyBase.KeyUp Sw.Stop() Sw1.Start() 'Label1.Text = Total Miliseconds(MC)  & Sw.Elapsed.TotalMilliseconds cas = Sw.Elapsed.TotalMilliseconds If cas TextBox1.Text = TextBox1.Text + . ElseIf cas > pika And cas TextBox1.Text = TextBox1.Text + - ElseIf cas > crta Then TextBox1.Text = TextBox1.Text +   End If Sw.Reset() End Sub Private Sub zacni_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles start.Click 'vklop branja s tipkovnice Me.KeyPreview = True start.Enabled = False TextBox1.Text =  TextBox2.Text =  TextBox3.Text =  End Sub Private Sub end_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles end.Click Me.KeyPreview = False start.Enabled = True End Sub Private Sub translate_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles translate.Click 'MORSE CODE HERE FOR TRANSLATION End Sub End Class

Kosta · Answer

Oh yes i see it was missing sw. reset :) I manage to imports 2 stopwatch functions and program is so far great Once again thank you

Kirtan Patel · Answer

Friend  there is Lil Problem in Above my provided code here is My Corrected Code which will provide accurate result Imports System.Diagnostics Public Class Form1 Dim Sw As Stopwatch = New Stopwatch() Private Sub Form1_Load( ByVal sender As System.Object ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase .Load Me .KeyPreview = True End Sub Private Sub Form1_KeyDown( ByVal sender As System.Object ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.KeyEventArgs) Handles MyBase .KeyDown Sw.Start() End Sub Private Sub Form1_KeyUp( ByVal sender As System.Object ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.KeyEventArgs) Handles MyBase .KeyUp Sw.Stop() Label1.Text = Total Miliseconds  & Sw.Elapsed.TotalMilliseconds Sw.Reset() End Sub End Class

Kosta · Answer

Thank you kirtan You are lifesavior you saved me from a countless houres of programming this alone. I hope you will helped me once again when i will get in trouble :) Thank you again

Kirtan Patel · Answer

Friend your Code in Vb.net Will be like below .csharpcode .csharpcode pre { font-size: small; color: black; font-family: Consolas Courier New Courier Monospace; background-color: #ffffff; /*white-space: pre;*/ } .csharpcode pre { margin: 0em; } .csharpcode .rem { color: #008000; } .csharpcode .kwrd { color: #0000ff; } .csharpcode .str { color: #006080; } .csharpcode .op { color: #0000c0; } .csharpcode .preproc { color: #cc6633; } .csharpcode .asp { background-color: #ffff00; } .csharpcode .html { color: #800000; } .csharpcode .attr { color: #ff0000; } .csharpcode .alt { background-color: #f4f4f4; width: 100%; margin: 0em; } .csharpcode .lnum { color: #606060; } Imports System.Diagnostics Public Class Form1 Dim sw As Stopwatch Private Sub Form1_Load( ByVal sender As System.Object ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase .Load Me .KeyPreview = True End Sub Private Sub Form1_KeyDown( ByVal sender As System.Object ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.KeyEventArgs) Handles MyBase .KeyDown sw = New Stopwatch() sw.Start() End Sub Private Sub Form1_KeyUp( ByVal sender As System.Object ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.KeyEventArgs) Handles MyBase .KeyUp sw.Stop() Label1.Text = KeyPress time = & sw.Elapsed.TotalMilliseconds End Sub End Class You can Also Do it Like Below Code --------------------------------- Imports System.TimeSpan Public Class Form1 Dim s As Stopwatch Dim start StopTime As Date Private Sub Form1_Load( ByVal sender As System.Object ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase .Load Me .KeyPreview = True End Sub Private Sub Form1_KeyDown( ByVal sender As System.Object ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.KeyEventArgs) Handles MyBase .KeyDown start = Date .Now End Sub Private Sub Form1_KeyUp( ByVal sender As System.Object ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.KeyEventArgs) Handles MyBase .KeyUp StopTime = Date .Now Dim t As TimeSpan = StopTime - start Label1.Text = t.TotalSeconds End Sub End Class

Kosta · Answer

that would do it can you please transform your example so that will work in vb 2008 becouse my knowledge of c is a little rusty. And thank you for the trouble ;)

Kosta · Answer

so far i find this code which helps for keypressing Public Class Form1 Inherits System.Windows.Forms.Form Private Sub Form1_KeyDown(ByVal sender As Object ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.KeyEventArgs) Handles MyBase.KeyDown MsgBox(key down evetn of form  & e.KeyValue &  =  & e.KeyData.ToString) End Sub Private Sub Form1_KeyUp(ByVal sender As Object ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.KeyEventArgs) Handles MyBase.KeyUp MsgBox(key Up evetn of form  & e.KeyValue &  =  & e.KeyData.ToString) End Sub Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load End Sub Private Sub TextBox1_KeyDown(ByVal sender As Object ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.KeyEventArgs) Handles TextBox1.KeyDown MsgBox(key down evetn KEY VALUE= & e.KeyValue &  =  & e.KeyData.ToString) MsgBox(key Up evetn of KEY VALUE= & e.KeyValue &  =  & e.KeyData.ToString) End Sub End Class I don't know how to use timer on this i just want to get elapsedtime like with stopwatch

Sam Hobbs · Answer

A keyboard is not designed to work like that so you might have more difficulties than you expect. I think you need to process the WM_KEYDOWN and WM_KEYUP messages but the problem is that Windows sometimes sends multiple WM_KEYDOWN messages when a key is held down for a specified amount of time. As long as that is not a problem you might have success. For each message that Windows sends there is a time that is the time the message was posted. I don't know how to get that using .Net but I will look for it.