Still need help with COM port code...

temens

New Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2015
Messages
19
I have written the code necessary for my user form to place data from my text fields into the excel sheet where I want it, but I have to use a piece of third party software to open the com port connection to my reader/scanner and place the data in my text fields. I am a novice with <acronym title="visual basic for applications" style="border-width: 0px 0px 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); cursor: help; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 21.1355648040772px; background-color: rgb(250, 250, 250);">VBA</acronym> and am not familiar with com port communication code. I've searched and searched for something that will let me just receive from the com port when some data is sent, but I can't get anything I've found to work. Here is what I'm working with:

I have an RFID scanner connected to COM 4 through a USB-to-Serial Bridge
My scanner can send a 15-character number, and a date/time separated by tabs
My device operates with: 9600 baud, 8-bits, no parity, 1 stop bit, RTS/CTS flow control

I do not need to write to the com port, only receive the data when an RFID is scanned. I would like to open communication with the port to receive data on TextField Enter.

Can someone please help me with this. If I could just get some code that will let me receive from the port and place the data in a cell on the sheet, I could take it from there. Thanks for the help.
 

Excel Facts

When they said...
When they said you are going to "Excel at life", they meant you "will be doing Excel your whole life".
I don't have a solution to offer, but I did find several by searching for...
Excel VBA com port receive site:www.mrexcel.com
 
Upvote 0
This is exactly how to do it, create a new module in the Visual Basic editor in excel and paste in the following code. These functions allow you to read and write to the serial port;

Code:
Option Explicit

'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'
' This VB module is a collection of routines to perform serial port I/O without
' using the Microsoft Comm Control component.  This module uses the Windows API
' to perform the overlapped I/O operations necessary for serial communications.
'
' The routine can handle up to 4 serial ports which are identified with a
' Port ID.
'
' All routines (with the exception of CommRead and CommWrite) return an error
' code or 0 if no error occurs.  The routine CommGetError can be used to get
' the complete error message.
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' Public Constants
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

' Output Control Lines (CommSetLine)
Const LINE_BREAK = 1
Const LINE_DTR = 2
Const LINE_RTS = 3

' Input Control Lines  (CommGetLine)
Const LINE_CTS = &H10&
Const LINE_DSR = &H20&
Const LINE_RING = &H40&
Const LINE_RLSD = &H80&
Const LINE_CD = &H80&

'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' System Constants
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Private Const ERROR_IO_INCOMPLETE = 996&
Private Const ERROR_IO_PENDING = 997
Private Const GENERIC_READ = &H80000000
Private Const GENERIC_WRITE = &H40000000
Private Const FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL = &H80
Private Const FILE_FLAG_OVERLAPPED = &H40000000
Private Const FORMAT_MESSAGE_FROM_SYSTEM = &H1000
Private Const OPEN_EXISTING = 3

' COMM Functions
Private Const MS_CTS_ON = &H10&
Private Const MS_DSR_ON = &H20&
Private Const MS_RING_ON = &H40&
Private Const MS_RLSD_ON = &H80&
Private Const PURGE_RXABORT = &H2
Private Const PURGE_RXCLEAR = &H8
Private Const PURGE_TXABORT = &H1
Private Const PURGE_TXCLEAR = &H4

' COMM Escape Functions
Private Const CLRBREAK = 9
Private Const CLRDTR = 6
Private Const CLRRTS = 4
Private Const SETBREAK = 8
Private Const SETDTR = 5
Private Const SETRTS = 3

'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' System Structures
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Private Type COMSTAT
        fBitFields As Long ' See Comment in Win32API.Txt
        cbInQue As Long
        cbOutQue As Long
End Type

Private Type COMMTIMEOUTS
        ReadIntervalTimeout As Long
        ReadTotalTimeoutMultiplier As Long
        ReadTotalTimeoutConstant As Long
        WriteTotalTimeoutMultiplier As Long
        WriteTotalTimeoutConstant As Long
End Type

'
' The DCB structure defines the control setting for a serial
' communications device.
'
Private Type DCB
        DCBlength As Long
        BaudRate As Long
        fBitFields As Long ' See Comments in Win32API.Txt
        wReserved As Integer
        XonLim As Integer
        XoffLim As Integer
        ByteSize As Byte
        Parity As Byte
        StopBits As Byte
        XonChar As Byte
        XoffChar As Byte
        ErrorChar As Byte
        EofChar As Byte
        EvtChar As Byte
        wReserved1 As Integer 'Reserved; Do Not Use
End Type

Private Type OVERLAPPED
        Internal As Long
        InternalHigh As Long
        offset As Long
        OffsetHigh As Long
        hEvent As Long
End Type

Private Type SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES
        nLength As Long
        lpSecurityDescriptor As Long
        bInheritHandle As Long
End Type

'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' System Functions
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'
' Fills a specified DCB structure with values specified in
' a device-control string.
'
Private Declare Function BuildCommDCB Lib "kernel32" Alias "BuildCommDCBA" _
    (ByVal lpDef As String, lpDCB As DCB) As Long
'
' Retrieves information about a communications error and reports
' the current status of a communications device. The function is
' called when a communications error occurs, and it clears the
' device's error flag to enable additional input and output
' (I/O) operations.
'
Private Declare Function ClearCommError Lib "kernel32" _
    (ByVal hFile As Long, lpErrors As Long, lpStat As COMSTAT) As Long
'
' Closes an open communications device or file handle.
'
Private Declare Function CloseHandle Lib "kernel32" (ByVal hObject As Long) As Long
'
' Creates or opens a communications resource and returns a handle
' that can be used to access the resource.
'
Private Declare Function CreateFile Lib "kernel32" Alias "CreateFileA" _
    (ByVal lpFileName As String, ByVal dwDesiredAccess As Long, _
    ByVal dwShareMode As Long, lpSecurityAttributes As Any, _
    ByVal dwCreationDisposition As Long, ByVal dwFlagsAndAttributes As Long, _
    ByVal hTemplateFile As Long) As Long
'
' Directs a specified communications device to perform a function.
'
Private Declare Function EscapeCommFunction Lib "kernel32" _
    (ByVal nCid As Long, ByVal nFunc As Long) As Long
'
' Formats a message string such as an error string returned
' by anoher function.
'
Private Declare Function FormatMessage Lib "kernel32" Alias "FormatMessageA" _
    (ByVal dwFlags As Long, lpSource As Any, ByVal dwMessageId As Long, _
    ByVal dwLanguageId As Long, ByVal lpBuffer As String, ByVal nSize As Long, _
    Arguments As Long) As Long
'
' Retrieves modem control-register values.
'
Private Declare Function GetCommModemStatus Lib "kernel32" _
    (ByVal hFile As Long, lpModemStat As Long) As Long
'
' Retrieves the current control settings for a specified
' communications device.
'
Private Declare Function GetCommState Lib "kernel32" _
    (ByVal nCid As Long, lpDCB As DCB) As Long
'
' Retrieves the calling thread's last-error code value.
'
Private Declare Function GetLastError Lib "kernel32" () As Long
'
' Retrieves the results of an overlapped operation on the
' specified file, named pipe, or communications device.
'
Private Declare Function GetOverlappedResult Lib "kernel32" _
    (ByVal hFile As Long, lpOverlapped As OVERLAPPED, _
    lpNumberOfBytesTransferred As Long, ByVal bWait As Long) As Long
'
' Discards all characters from the output or input buffer of a
' specified communications resource. It can also terminate
' pending read or write operations on the resource.
'
Private Declare Function PurgeComm Lib "kernel32" _
    (ByVal hFile As Long, ByVal dwFlags As Long) As Long
'
' Reads data from a file, starting at the position indicated by the
' file pointer. After the read operation has been completed, the
' file pointer is adjusted by the number of bytes actually read,
' unless the file handle is created with the overlapped attribute.
' If the file handle is created for overlapped input and output
' (I/O), the application must adjust the position of the file pointer
' after the read operation.
'
Private Declare Function ReadFile Lib "kernel32" _
    (ByVal hFile As Long, ByVal lpBuffer As String, _
    ByVal nNumberOfBytesToRead As Long, ByRef lpNumberOfBytesRead As Long, _
    lpOverlapped As OVERLAPPED) As Long
'
' Configures a communications device according to the specifications
' in a device-control block (a DCB structure). The function
' reinitializes all hardware and control settings, but it does not
' empty output or input queues.
'
Private Declare Function SetCommState Lib "kernel32" _
    (ByVal hCommDev As Long, lpDCB As DCB) As Long
'
' Sets the time-out parameters for all read and write operations on a
' specified communications device.
'
Private Declare Function SetCommTimeouts Lib "kernel32" _
    (ByVal hFile As Long, lpCommTimeouts As COMMTIMEOUTS) As Long
'
' Initializes the communications parameters for a specified
' communications device.
'
Private Declare Function SetupComm Lib "kernel32" _
    (ByVal hFile As Long, ByVal dwInQueue As Long, ByVal dwOutQueue As Long) As Long
'
' Writes data to a file and is designed for both synchronous and a
' synchronous operation. The function starts writing data to the file
' at the position indicated by the file pointer. After the write
' operation has been completed, the file pointer is adjusted by the
' number of bytes actually written, except when the file is opened with
' FILE_FLAG_OVERLAPPED. If the file handle was created for overlapped
' input and output (I/O), the application must adjust the position of
' the file pointer after the write operation is finished.
'
Private Declare Function WriteFile Lib "kernel32" _
    (ByVal hFile As Long, ByVal lpBuffer As String, _
    ByVal nNumberOfBytesToWrite As Long, lpNumberOfBytesWritten As Long, _
    lpOverlapped As OVERLAPPED) As Long


Private Declare Sub AppSleep Lib "kernel32" Alias "Sleep" (ByVal dwMilliseconds As Long)
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' Program Constants
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Private Const MAX_PORTS = 4

'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' Program Structures
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Private Type COMM_ERROR
    lngErrorCode As Long
    strFunction As String
    strErrorMessage As String
End Type

Private Type COMM_PORT
    lngHandle As Long
    blnPortOpen As Boolean
    udtDCB As DCB
End Type

 

'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' Program Storage
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Private udtCommOverlap As OVERLAPPED
Private udtCommError As COMM_ERROR
Private udtPorts(1 To MAX_PORTS) As COMM_PORT
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' GetSystemMessage - Gets system error text for the specified error code.
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Function GetSystemMessage(lngErrorCode As Long) As String
Dim intPos As Integer
Dim strMessage As String, strMsgBuff As String * 256

    Call FormatMessage(FORMAT_MESSAGE_FROM_SYSTEM, 0, lngErrorCode, 0, strMsgBuff, 255, 0)

    intPos = InStr(1, strMsgBuff, vbNullChar)
    If intPos > 0 Then
        strMessage = Trim$(Left$(strMsgBuff, intPos - 1))
    Else
        strMessage = Trim$(strMsgBuff)
    End If
    
    GetSystemMessage = strMessage
    
End Function
Public Function PauseApp(PauseInSeconds As Long)
    
    Call AppSleep(PauseInSeconds * 1000)
    
End Function

'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' CommOpen - Opens/Initializes serial port.
'
'
' Parameters:
'   intPortID   - Port ID used when port was opened.
'   strPort     - COM port name. (COM1, COM2, COM3, COM4)
'   strSettings - Communication settings.
'                 Example: "baud=9600 parity=N data=8 stop=1"
'
' Returns:
'   Error Code  - 0 = No Error.
'
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Function CommOpen(intPortID As Integer, strPort As String, _
    strSettings As String) As Long
    
Dim lngStatus       As Long
Dim udtCommTimeOuts As COMMTIMEOUTS

    On Error GoTo Routine_Error
    
    ' See if port already in use.
    If udtPorts(intPortID).blnPortOpen Then
        lngStatus = -1
        With udtCommError
            .lngErrorCode = lngStatus
            .strFunction = "CommOpen"
            .strErrorMessage = "Port in use."
        End With
        
        GoTo Routine_Exit
    End If

    ' Open serial port.
    udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle = CreateFile(strPort, GENERIC_READ Or _
        GENERIC_WRITE, 0, ByVal 0&, OPEN_EXISTING, FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL, 0)

    If udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle = -1 Then
        lngStatus = SetCommError("CommOpen (CreateFile)")
        GoTo Routine_Exit
    End If

    udtPorts(intPortID).blnPortOpen = True

    ' Setup device buffers (1K each).
    lngStatus = SetupComm(udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle, 1024, 1024)
    
    If lngStatus = 0 Then
        lngStatus = SetCommError("CommOpen (SetupComm)")
        GoTo Routine_Exit
    End If

    ' Purge buffers.
    lngStatus = PurgeComm(udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle, PURGE_TXABORT Or _
        PURGE_RXABORT Or PURGE_TXCLEAR Or PURGE_RXCLEAR)

    If lngStatus = 0 Then
        lngStatus = SetCommError("CommOpen (PurgeComm)")
        GoTo Routine_Exit
    End If

    ' Set serial port timeouts.
    With udtCommTimeOuts
        .ReadIntervalTimeout = -1
        .ReadTotalTimeoutMultiplier = 0
        .ReadTotalTimeoutConstant = 1000
        .WriteTotalTimeoutMultiplier = 0
        .WriteTotalTimeoutMultiplier = 1000
    End With

    lngStatus = SetCommTimeouts(udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle, udtCommTimeOuts)

    If lngStatus = 0 Then
        lngStatus = SetCommError("CommOpen (SetCommTimeouts)")
        GoTo Routine_Exit
    End If

    ' Get the current state (DCB).
    lngStatus = GetCommState(udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle, _
        udtPorts(intPortID).udtDCB)

    If lngStatus = 0 Then
        lngStatus = SetCommError("CommOpen (GetCommState)")
        GoTo Routine_Exit
    End If

    ' Modify the DCB to reflect the desired settings.
    lngStatus = BuildCommDCB(strSettings, udtPorts(intPortID).udtDCB)

    If lngStatus = 0 Then
        lngStatus = SetCommError("CommOpen (BuildCommDCB)")
        GoTo Routine_Exit
    End If

    ' Set the new state.
    lngStatus = SetCommState(udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle, _
        udtPorts(intPortID).udtDCB)

    If lngStatus = 0 Then
        lngStatus = SetCommError("CommOpen (SetCommState)")
        GoTo Routine_Exit
    End If

    lngStatus = 0

Routine_Exit:
    CommOpen = lngStatus
    Exit Function

Routine_Error:
    lngStatus = Err.Number
    With udtCommError
        .lngErrorCode = lngStatus
        .strFunction = "CommOpen"
        .strErrorMessage = Err.Description
    End With
    Resume Routine_Exit
End Function


Private Function SetCommError(strFunction As String) As Long
    
    With udtCommError
        .lngErrorCode = Err.LastDllError
        .strFunction = strFunction
        .strErrorMessage = GetSystemMessage(.lngErrorCode)
        SetCommError = .lngErrorCode
    End With
    
End Function

Private Function SetCommErrorEx(strFunction As String, lngHnd As Long) As Long
Dim lngErrorFlags As Long
Dim udtCommStat As COMSTAT
    
    With udtCommError
        .lngErrorCode = GetLastError
        .strFunction = strFunction
        .strErrorMessage = GetSystemMessage(.lngErrorCode)
    
        Call ClearCommError(lngHnd, lngErrorFlags, udtCommStat)
    
        .strErrorMessage = .strErrorMessage & "  COMM Error Flags = " & _
                Hex$(lngErrorFlags)
        
        SetCommErrorEx = .lngErrorCode
    End With
    
End Function

'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' CommSet - Modifies the serial port settings.
'
' Parameters:
'   intPortID   - Port ID used when port was opened.
'   strSettings - Communication settings.
'                 Example: "baud=9600 parity=N data=8 stop=1"
'
' Returns:
'   Error Code  - 0 = No Error.
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Function CommSet(intPortID As Integer, strSettings As String) As Long
    
Dim lngStatus As Long
    
    On Error GoTo Routine_Error

    lngStatus = GetCommState(udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle, _
        udtPorts(intPortID).udtDCB)

    If lngStatus = 0 Then
        lngStatus = SetCommError("CommSet (GetCommState)")
        GoTo Routine_Exit
    End If

    lngStatus = BuildCommDCB(strSettings, udtPorts(intPortID).udtDCB)

    If lngStatus = 0 Then
        lngStatus = SetCommError("CommSet (BuildCommDCB)")
        GoTo Routine_Exit
    End If

    lngStatus = SetCommState(udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle, _
        udtPorts(intPortID).udtDCB)

    If lngStatus = 0 Then
        lngStatus = SetCommError("CommSet (SetCommState)")
        GoTo Routine_Exit
    End If

    lngStatus = 0

Routine_Exit:
    CommSet = lngStatus
    Exit Function

Routine_Error:
    lngStatus = Err.Number
    With udtCommError
        .lngErrorCode = lngStatus
        .strFunction = "CommSet"
        .strErrorMessage = Err.Description
    End With
    Resume Routine_Exit
End Function

'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' CommClose - Close the serial port.
'
' Parameters:
'   intPortID   - Port ID used when port was opened.
'
' Returns:
'   Error Code  - 0 = No Error.
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Function CommClose(intPortID As Integer) As Long
    
Dim lngStatus As Long
    
    On Error GoTo Routine_Error

    If udtPorts(intPortID).blnPortOpen Then
        lngStatus = CloseHandle(udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle)
    
        If lngStatus = 0 Then
            lngStatus = SetCommError("CommClose (CloseHandle)")
            GoTo Routine_Exit
        End If
    
        udtPorts(intPortID).blnPortOpen = False
    End If

    lngStatus = 0

Routine_Exit:
    CommClose = lngStatus
    Exit Function

Routine_Error:
    lngStatus = Err.Number
    With udtCommError
        .lngErrorCode = lngStatus
        .strFunction = "CommClose"
        .strErrorMessage = Err.Description
    End With
    Resume Routine_Exit
End Function

'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' CommFlush - Flush the send and receive serial port buffers.
'
' Parameters:
'   intPortID   - Port ID used when port was opened.
'
' Returns:
'   Error Code  - 0 = No Error.
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Function CommFlush(intPortID As Integer) As Long
    
Dim lngStatus As Long
    
    On Error GoTo Routine_Error

    lngStatus = PurgeComm(udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle, PURGE_TXABORT Or _
        PURGE_RXABORT Or PURGE_TXCLEAR Or PURGE_RXCLEAR)

    If lngStatus = 0 Then
        lngStatus = SetCommError("CommFlush (PurgeComm)")
        GoTo Routine_Exit
    End If

    lngStatus = 0

Routine_Exit:
    CommFlush = lngStatus
    Exit Function

Routine_Error:
    lngStatus = Err.Number
    With udtCommError
        .lngErrorCode = lngStatus
        .strFunction = "CommFlush"
        .strErrorMessage = Err.Description
    End With
    Resume Routine_Exit
End Function

'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' CommRead - Read serial port input buffer.
'
' Parameters:
'   intPortID   - Port ID used when port was opened.
'   strData     - Data buffer.
'   lngSize     - Maximum number of bytes to be read.
'
' Returns:
'   Error Code  - 0 = No Error.
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Function CommRead(intPortID As Integer, strData As String, _
    lngSize As Long) As Long

Dim lngStatus As Long
Dim lngRdSize As Long, lngBytesRead As Long
Dim lngRdStatus As Long, strRdBuffer As String * 1024
Dim lngErrorFlags As Long, udtCommStat As COMSTAT
    
    On Error GoTo Routine_Error

    strData = ""
    lngBytesRead = 0
    DoEvents
    
    ' Clear any previous errors and get current status.
    lngStatus = ClearCommError(udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle, lngErrorFlags, _
        udtCommStat)

    If lngStatus = 0 Then
        lngBytesRead = -1
        lngStatus = SetCommError("CommRead (ClearCommError)")
        GoTo Routine_Exit
    End If
        
    If udtCommStat.cbInQue > 0 Then
        If udtCommStat.cbInQue > lngSize Then
            lngRdSize = udtCommStat.cbInQue
        Else
            lngRdSize = lngSize
        End If
    Else
        lngRdSize = 0
    End If

    If lngRdSize Then
        lngRdStatus = ReadFile(udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle, strRdBuffer, _
            lngRdSize, lngBytesRead, udtCommOverlap)

        If lngRdStatus = 0 Then
            lngStatus = GetLastError
            If lngStatus = ERROR_IO_PENDING Then
                ' Wait for read to complete.
                ' This function will timeout according to the
                ' COMMTIMEOUTS.ReadTotalTimeoutConstant variable.
                ' Every time it times out, check for port errors.

                ' Loop until operation is complete.
                While GetOverlappedResult(udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle, _
                    udtCommOverlap, lngBytesRead, True) = 0
                                    
                    lngStatus = GetLastError
                                        
                    If lngStatus = ERROR_IO_INCOMPLETE Then
                        lngBytesRead = -1
                        lngStatus = SetCommErrorEx( _
                            "CommRead (GetOverlappedResult)", _
                            udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle)
                        GoTo Routine_Exit
                    End If
                Wend
            Else
                ' Some other error occurred.
                lngBytesRead = -1
                lngStatus = SetCommErrorEx("CommRead (ReadFile)", _
                    udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle)
                GoTo Routine_Exit
            
            End If
        End If
    
        strData = Left$(strRdBuffer, lngBytesRead)
    End If

Routine_Exit:
    CommRead = lngBytesRead
    Exit Function

Routine_Error:
    lngBytesRead = -1
    lngStatus = Err.Number
    With udtCommError
        .lngErrorCode = lngStatus
        .strFunction = "CommRead"
        .strErrorMessage = Err.Description
    End With
    Resume Routine_Exit
End Function

'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' CommWrite - Output data to the serial port.
'
' Parameters:
'   intPortID   - Port ID used when port was opened.
'   strData     - Data to be transmitted.
'
' Returns:
'   Error Code  - 0 = No Error.
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Function CommWrite(intPortID As Integer, strData As String) As Long
    
Dim i As Integer
Dim lngStatus As Long, lngSize As Long
Dim lngWrSize As Long, lngWrStatus As Long
    
    On Error GoTo Routine_Error
    
    ' Get the length of the data.
    lngSize = Len(strData)

    ' Output the data.
    lngWrStatus = WriteFile(udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle, strData, lngSize, _
        lngWrSize, udtCommOverlap)

    ' Note that normally the following code will not execute because the driver
    ' caches write operations. Small I/O requests (up to several thousand bytes)
    ' will normally be accepted immediately and WriteFile will return true even
    ' though an overlapped operation was specified.
        
    DoEvents
    
    If lngWrStatus = 0 Then
        lngStatus = GetLastError
        If lngStatus = 0 Then
            GoTo Routine_Exit
        ElseIf lngStatus = ERROR_IO_PENDING Then
            ' We should wait for the completion of the write operation so we know
            ' if it worked or not.
            '
            ' This is only one way to do this. It might be beneficial to place the
            ' writing operation in a separate thread so that blocking on completion
            ' will not negatively affect the responsiveness of the UI.
            '
            ' If the write takes long enough to complete, this function will timeout
            ' according to the CommTimeOuts.WriteTotalTimeoutConstant variable.
            ' At that time we can check for errors and then wait some more.

            ' Loop until operation is complete.
            While GetOverlappedResult(udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle, _
                udtCommOverlap, lngWrSize, True) = 0
                                
                lngStatus = GetLastError
                                    
                If lngStatus = ERROR_IO_INCOMPLETE Then
                    lngStatus = SetCommErrorEx( _
                        "CommWrite (GetOverlappedResult)", _
                        udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle)
                    GoTo Routine_Exit
                End If
            Wend
        Else
            ' Some other error occurred.
            lngWrSize = -1
                    
            lngStatus = SetCommErrorEx("CommWrite (WriteFile)", _
                udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle)
            GoTo Routine_Exit
        
        End If
    End If
    
    For i = 1 To 10
        DoEvents
    Next
    
Routine_Exit:
    CommWrite = lngWrSize
    Exit Function

Routine_Error:
    lngStatus = Err.Number
    With udtCommError
        .lngErrorCode = lngStatus
        .strFunction = "CommWrite"
        .strErrorMessage = Err.Description
    End With
    Resume Routine_Exit
End Function

'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' CommGetLine - Get the state of selected serial port control lines.
'
' Parameters:
'   intPortID   - Port ID used when port was opened.
'   intLine     - Serial port line. CTS, DSR, RING, RLSD (CD)
'   blnState    - Returns state of line (Cleared or Set).
'
' Returns:
'   Error Code  - 0 = No Error.
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Function CommGetLine(intPortID As Integer, intLine As Integer, _
   blnState As Boolean) As Long
    
Dim lngStatus As Long
Dim lngComStatus As Long, lngModemStatus As Long
    
    On Error GoTo Routine_Error

    lngStatus = GetCommModemStatus(udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle, lngModemStatus)

    If lngStatus = 0 Then
        lngStatus = SetCommError("CommReadCD (GetCommModemStatus)")
        GoTo Routine_Exit
    End If

    If (lngModemStatus And intLine) Then
        blnState = True
    Else
        blnState = False
    End If
        
    lngStatus = 0
        
Routine_Exit:
    CommGetLine = lngStatus
    Exit Function

Routine_Error:
    lngStatus = Err.Number
    With udtCommError
        .lngErrorCode = lngStatus
        .strFunction = "CommReadCD"
        .strErrorMessage = Err.Description
    End With
    Resume Routine_Exit
End Function

'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' CommSetLine - Set the state of selected serial port control lines.
'
' Parameters:
'   intPortID   - Port ID used when port was opened.
'   intLine     - Serial port line. BREAK, DTR, RTS
'                 Note: BREAK actually sets or clears a "break" condition on
'                 the transmit data line.
'   blnState    - Sets the state of line (Cleared or Set).
'
' Returns:
'   Error Code  - 0 = No Error.
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Function CommSetLine(intPortID As Integer, intLine As Integer, _
   blnState As Boolean) As Long
   
Dim lngStatus As Long
Dim lngNewState As Long
    
    On Error GoTo Routine_Error
    
    If intLine = LINE_BREAK Then
        If blnState Then
            lngNewState = SETBREAK
        Else
            lngNewState = CLRBREAK
        End If
    
    ElseIf intLine = LINE_DTR Then
        If blnState Then
            lngNewState = SETDTR
        Else
            lngNewState = CLRDTR
        End If
    
    ElseIf intLine = LINE_RTS Then
        If blnState Then
            lngNewState = SETRTS
        Else
            lngNewState = CLRRTS
        End If
    End If

    lngStatus = EscapeCommFunction(udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle, lngNewState)

    If lngStatus = 0 Then
        lngStatus = SetCommError("CommSetLine (EscapeCommFunction)")
        GoTo Routine_Exit
    End If

    lngStatus = 0
        
Routine_Exit:
    CommSetLine = lngStatus
    Exit Function

Routine_Error:
    lngStatus = Err.Number
    With udtCommError
        .lngErrorCode = lngStatus
        .strFunction = "CommSetLine"
        .strErrorMessage = Err.Description
    End With
    Resume Routine_Exit
End Function



'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' CommGetError - Get the last serial port error message.
'
' Parameters:
'   strMessage  - Error message from last serial port error.
'
' Returns:
'   Error Code  - Last serial port error code.
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Function CommGetError(strMessage As String) As Long
    
    With udtCommError
        CommGetError = .lngErrorCode
        strMessage = "Error (" & CStr(.lngErrorCode) & "): " & .strFunction & _
            " - " & .strErrorMessage
    End With
    
End Function


' File Exists Function

Public Function FileFolderExists(strFullPath As String) As Boolean
'Author       : Ken Puls (www.excelguru.ca)
'Macro Purpose: Check if a file or folder exists
    On Error GoTo EarlyExit
    If Not Dir(strFullPath, vbDirectory) = vbNullString Then FileFolderExists = True
    
EarlyExit:
    On Error GoTo 0
    
End Function


In your code (a different module or sheet for neatness), to open a serial port the following code is used;


Code:
intPortID = 1
lngStatus = CommOpen(intPortID, "COM" & CStr(intPortID), _
                "baud=19200 parity=O data=8 stop=1")


where you'll need to put the correct port information for your serialport settings (baud, parity, data, stop). The intPortID is the serial port number ( serial 1, serial 2 .... etc)

To read the port, the following code is used. You'll have to declae the variables strData and strDataComplete as strings before using them in the code below;

Code:
 strData = ""
        strDataComplete = ""
        Do While True ' Loop until serial port is read
            Sleep 100
            lngStatus = CommRead(intPortID, strData, 69) 'Fav number 69 is the max data length you want read, change to suite
            Sleep 100
                            
            If lngStatus = 0 Then
               'Keep polling to see if serial has data
            ElseIf lngStatus <> 0 Then
                strDataComplete = strDataComplete & strData 'Concatenate data together 
            End If
                    
            If lngStatus = 0 And strDataComplete <> "" Then
                Exit Do    ' Exit loop when all data is read
            End If
            
        Loop


The variable strDataComplete will contain all the data from the serial port for that send.

To use the sleep function call, please add the following code to the top of your module;

Code:
#If VBA7 Then
    Public Declare PtrSafe Sub Sleep Lib "kernel32" (ByVal dwMilliseconds As LongPtr) 'For 64 Bit Systems
#Else
    Public Declare Sub Sleep Lib "kernel32" (ByVal dwMilliseconds As Long) 'For 32 Bit Systems
#End If

The sleep delay was used to reduce tying up the cpu when polling the serial port. This is optional.

There are other functions you can use to write or get error states from the serial port which I have not needed to do. If so, just checkout the functions in the first code listing, I've not used them so cannot comment.

Good Luck

PS. The serial port code was made by some author which I can not remember, so I apologise for that and if someone else can give credit to him/her, please do so!
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
Hello sir,
It took me long way to search what I need, and then lead me to your post. I urgently need some help as I try to record some data from a USB GPS device, which shown under Port COM#8.

You are very kind to leave these codes for people to share. But as a beginer, I turely dont know how to use the code to capture the data. Would you be able to provide any kind of details as how to create this worksheet?

Much appreciated!
This is exactly how to do it, create a new module in the Visual Basic editor in excel and paste in the following code. These functions allow you to read and write to the serial port;

Code:
Option Explicit

'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'
' This VB module is a collection of routines to perform serial port I/O without
' using the Microsoft Comm Control component.  This module uses the Windows API
' to perform the overlapped I/O operations necessary for serial communications.
'
' The routine can handle up to 4 serial ports which are identified with a
' Port ID.
'
' All routines (with the exception of CommRead and CommWrite) return an error
' code or 0 if no error occurs.  The routine CommGetError can be used to get
' the complete error message.
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' Public Constants
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

' Output Control Lines (CommSetLine)
Const LINE_BREAK = 1
Const LINE_DTR = 2
Const LINE_RTS = 3

' Input Control Lines  (CommGetLine)
Const LINE_CTS = &H10&
Const LINE_DSR = &H20&
Const LINE_RING = &H40&
Const LINE_RLSD = &H80&
Const LINE_CD = &H80&

'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' System Constants
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Private Const ERROR_IO_INCOMPLETE = 996&
Private Const ERROR_IO_PENDING = 997
Private Const GENERIC_READ = &H80000000
Private Const GENERIC_WRITE = &H40000000
Private Const FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL = &H80
Private Const FILE_FLAG_OVERLAPPED = &H40000000
Private Const FORMAT_MESSAGE_FROM_SYSTEM = &H1000
Private Const OPEN_EXISTING = 3

' COMM Functions
Private Const MS_CTS_ON = &H10&
Private Const MS_DSR_ON = &H20&
Private Const MS_RING_ON = &H40&
Private Const MS_RLSD_ON = &H80&
Private Const PURGE_RXABORT = &H2
Private Const PURGE_RXCLEAR = &H8
Private Const PURGE_TXABORT = &H1
Private Const PURGE_TXCLEAR = &H4

' COMM Escape Functions
Private Const CLRBREAK = 9
Private Const CLRDTR = 6
Private Const CLRRTS = 4
Private Const SETBREAK = 8
Private Const SETDTR = 5
Private Const SETRTS = 3

'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' System Structures
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Private Type COMSTAT
        fBitFields As Long ' See Comment in Win32API.Txt
        cbInQue As Long
        cbOutQue As Long
End Type

Private Type COMMTIMEOUTS
        ReadIntervalTimeout As Long
        ReadTotalTimeoutMultiplier As Long
        ReadTotalTimeoutConstant As Long
        WriteTotalTimeoutMultiplier As Long
        WriteTotalTimeoutConstant As Long
End Type

'
' The DCB structure defines the control setting for a serial
' communications device.
'
Private Type DCB
        DCBlength As Long
        BaudRate As Long
        fBitFields As Long ' See Comments in Win32API.Txt
        wReserved As Integer
        XonLim As Integer
        XoffLim As Integer
        ByteSize As Byte
        Parity As Byte
        StopBits As Byte
        XonChar As Byte
        XoffChar As Byte
        ErrorChar As Byte
        EofChar As Byte
        EvtChar As Byte
        wReserved1 As Integer 'Reserved; Do Not Use
End Type

Private Type OVERLAPPED
        Internal As Long
        InternalHigh As Long
        offset As Long
        OffsetHigh As Long
        hEvent As Long
End Type

Private Type SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES
        nLength As Long
        lpSecurityDescriptor As Long
        bInheritHandle As Long
End Type

'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' System Functions
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'
' Fills a specified DCB structure with values specified in
' a device-control string.
'
Private Declare Function BuildCommDCB Lib "kernel32" Alias "BuildCommDCBA" _
    (ByVal lpDef As String, lpDCB As DCB) As Long
'
' Retrieves information about a communications error and reports
' the current status of a communications device. The function is
' called when a communications error occurs, and it clears the
' device's error flag to enable additional input and output
' (I/O) operations.
'
Private Declare Function ClearCommError Lib "kernel32" _
    (ByVal hFile As Long, lpErrors As Long, lpStat As COMSTAT) As Long
'
' Closes an open communications device or file handle.
'
Private Declare Function CloseHandle Lib "kernel32" (ByVal hObject As Long) As Long
'
' Creates or opens a communications resource and returns a handle
' that can be used to access the resource.
'
Private Declare Function CreateFile Lib "kernel32" Alias "CreateFileA" _
    (ByVal lpFileName As String, ByVal dwDesiredAccess As Long, _
    ByVal dwShareMode As Long, lpSecurityAttributes As Any, _
    ByVal dwCreationDisposition As Long, ByVal dwFlagsAndAttributes As Long, _
    ByVal hTemplateFile As Long) As Long
'
' Directs a specified communications device to perform a function.
'
Private Declare Function EscapeCommFunction Lib "kernel32" _
    (ByVal nCid As Long, ByVal nFunc As Long) As Long
'
' Formats a message string such as an error string returned
' by anoher function.
'
Private Declare Function FormatMessage Lib "kernel32" Alias "FormatMessageA" _
    (ByVal dwFlags As Long, lpSource As Any, ByVal dwMessageId As Long, _
    ByVal dwLanguageId As Long, ByVal lpBuffer As String, ByVal nSize As Long, _
    Arguments As Long) As Long
'
' Retrieves modem control-register values.
'
Private Declare Function GetCommModemStatus Lib "kernel32" _
    (ByVal hFile As Long, lpModemStat As Long) As Long
'
' Retrieves the current control settings for a specified
' communications device.
'
Private Declare Function GetCommState Lib "kernel32" _
    (ByVal nCid As Long, lpDCB As DCB) As Long
'
' Retrieves the calling thread's last-error code value.
'
Private Declare Function GetLastError Lib "kernel32" () As Long
'
' Retrieves the results of an overlapped operation on the
' specified file, named pipe, or communications device.
'
Private Declare Function GetOverlappedResult Lib "kernel32" _
    (ByVal hFile As Long, lpOverlapped As OVERLAPPED, _
    lpNumberOfBytesTransferred As Long, ByVal bWait As Long) As Long
'
' Discards all characters from the output or input buffer of a
' specified communications resource. It can also terminate
' pending read or write operations on the resource.
'
Private Declare Function PurgeComm Lib "kernel32" _
    (ByVal hFile As Long, ByVal dwFlags As Long) As Long
'
' Reads data from a file, starting at the position indicated by the
' file pointer. After the read operation has been completed, the
' file pointer is adjusted by the number of bytes actually read,
' unless the file handle is created with the overlapped attribute.
' If the file handle is created for overlapped input and output
' (I/O), the application must adjust the position of the file pointer
' after the read operation.
'
Private Declare Function ReadFile Lib "kernel32" _
    (ByVal hFile As Long, ByVal lpBuffer As String, _
    ByVal nNumberOfBytesToRead As Long, ByRef lpNumberOfBytesRead As Long, _
    lpOverlapped As OVERLAPPED) As Long
'
' Configures a communications device according to the specifications
' in a device-control block (a DCB structure). The function
' reinitializes all hardware and control settings, but it does not
' empty output or input queues.
'
Private Declare Function SetCommState Lib "kernel32" _
    (ByVal hCommDev As Long, lpDCB As DCB) As Long
'
' Sets the time-out parameters for all read and write operations on a
' specified communications device.
'
Private Declare Function SetCommTimeouts Lib "kernel32" _
    (ByVal hFile As Long, lpCommTimeouts As COMMTIMEOUTS) As Long
'
' Initializes the communications parameters for a specified
' communications device.
'
Private Declare Function SetupComm Lib "kernel32" _
    (ByVal hFile As Long, ByVal dwInQueue As Long, ByVal dwOutQueue As Long) As Long
'
' Writes data to a file and is designed for both synchronous and a
' synchronous operation. The function starts writing data to the file
' at the position indicated by the file pointer. After the write
' operation has been completed, the file pointer is adjusted by the
' number of bytes actually written, except when the file is opened with
' FILE_FLAG_OVERLAPPED. If the file handle was created for overlapped
' input and output (I/O), the application must adjust the position of
' the file pointer after the write operation is finished.
'
Private Declare Function WriteFile Lib "kernel32" _
    (ByVal hFile As Long, ByVal lpBuffer As String, _
    ByVal nNumberOfBytesToWrite As Long, lpNumberOfBytesWritten As Long, _
    lpOverlapped As OVERLAPPED) As Long


Private Declare Sub AppSleep Lib "kernel32" Alias "Sleep" (ByVal dwMilliseconds As Long)
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' Program Constants
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Private Const MAX_PORTS = 4

'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' Program Structures
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Private Type COMM_ERROR
    lngErrorCode As Long
    strFunction As String
    strErrorMessage As String
End Type

Private Type COMM_PORT
    lngHandle As Long
    blnPortOpen As Boolean
    udtDCB As DCB
End Type

 

'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' Program Storage
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Private udtCommOverlap As OVERLAPPED
Private udtCommError As COMM_ERROR
Private udtPorts(1 To MAX_PORTS) As COMM_PORT
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' GetSystemMessage - Gets system error text for the specified error code.
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Function GetSystemMessage(lngErrorCode As Long) As String
Dim intPos As Integer
Dim strMessage As String, strMsgBuff As String * 256

    Call FormatMessage(FORMAT_MESSAGE_FROM_SYSTEM, 0, lngErrorCode, 0, strMsgBuff, 255, 0)

    intPos = InStr(1, strMsgBuff, vbNullChar)
    If intPos > 0 Then
        strMessage = Trim$(Left$(strMsgBuff, intPos - 1))
    Else
        strMessage = Trim$(strMsgBuff)
    End If
    
    GetSystemMessage = strMessage
    
End Function
Public Function PauseApp(PauseInSeconds As Long)
    
    Call AppSleep(PauseInSeconds * 1000)
    
End Function

'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' CommOpen - Opens/Initializes serial port.
'
'
' Parameters:
'   intPortID   - Port ID used when port was opened.
'   strPort     - COM port name. (COM1, COM2, COM3, COM4)
'   strSettings - Communication settings.
'                 Example: "baud=9600 parity=N data=8 stop=1"
'
' Returns:
'   Error Code  - 0 = No Error.
'
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Function CommOpen(intPortID As Integer, strPort As String, _
    strSettings As String) As Long
    
Dim lngStatus       As Long
Dim udtCommTimeOuts As COMMTIMEOUTS

    On Error GoTo Routine_Error
    
    ' See if port already in use.
    If udtPorts(intPortID).blnPortOpen Then
        lngStatus = -1
        With udtCommError
            .lngErrorCode = lngStatus
            .strFunction = "CommOpen"
            .strErrorMessage = "Port in use."
        End With
        
        GoTo Routine_Exit
    End If

    ' Open serial port.
    udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle = CreateFile(strPort, GENERIC_READ Or _
        GENERIC_WRITE, 0, ByVal 0&, OPEN_EXISTING, FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL, 0)

    If udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle = -1 Then
        lngStatus = SetCommError("CommOpen (CreateFile)")
        GoTo Routine_Exit
    End If

    udtPorts(intPortID).blnPortOpen = True

    ' Setup device buffers (1K each).
    lngStatus = SetupComm(udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle, 1024, 1024)
    
    If lngStatus = 0 Then
        lngStatus = SetCommError("CommOpen (SetupComm)")
        GoTo Routine_Exit
    End If

    ' Purge buffers.
    lngStatus = PurgeComm(udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle, PURGE_TXABORT Or _
        PURGE_RXABORT Or PURGE_TXCLEAR Or PURGE_RXCLEAR)

    If lngStatus = 0 Then
        lngStatus = SetCommError("CommOpen (PurgeComm)")
        GoTo Routine_Exit
    End If

    ' Set serial port timeouts.
    With udtCommTimeOuts
        .ReadIntervalTimeout = -1
        .ReadTotalTimeoutMultiplier = 0
        .ReadTotalTimeoutConstant = 1000
        .WriteTotalTimeoutMultiplier = 0
        .WriteTotalTimeoutMultiplier = 1000
    End With

    lngStatus = SetCommTimeouts(udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle, udtCommTimeOuts)

    If lngStatus = 0 Then
        lngStatus = SetCommError("CommOpen (SetCommTimeouts)")
        GoTo Routine_Exit
    End If

    ' Get the current state (DCB).
    lngStatus = GetCommState(udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle, _
        udtPorts(intPortID).udtDCB)

    If lngStatus = 0 Then
        lngStatus = SetCommError("CommOpen (GetCommState)")
        GoTo Routine_Exit
    End If

    ' Modify the DCB to reflect the desired settings.
    lngStatus = BuildCommDCB(strSettings, udtPorts(intPortID).udtDCB)

    If lngStatus = 0 Then
        lngStatus = SetCommError("CommOpen (BuildCommDCB)")
        GoTo Routine_Exit
    End If

    ' Set the new state.
    lngStatus = SetCommState(udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle, _
        udtPorts(intPortID).udtDCB)

    If lngStatus = 0 Then
        lngStatus = SetCommError("CommOpen (SetCommState)")
        GoTo Routine_Exit
    End If

    lngStatus = 0

Routine_Exit:
    CommOpen = lngStatus
    Exit Function

Routine_Error:
    lngStatus = Err.Number
    With udtCommError
        .lngErrorCode = lngStatus
        .strFunction = "CommOpen"
        .strErrorMessage = Err.Description
    End With
    Resume Routine_Exit
End Function


Private Function SetCommError(strFunction As String) As Long
    
    With udtCommError
        .lngErrorCode = Err.LastDllError
        .strFunction = strFunction
        .strErrorMessage = GetSystemMessage(.lngErrorCode)
        SetCommError = .lngErrorCode
    End With
    
End Function

Private Function SetCommErrorEx(strFunction As String, lngHnd As Long) As Long
Dim lngErrorFlags As Long
Dim udtCommStat As COMSTAT
    
    With udtCommError
        .lngErrorCode = GetLastError
        .strFunction = strFunction
        .strErrorMessage = GetSystemMessage(.lngErrorCode)
    
        Call ClearCommError(lngHnd, lngErrorFlags, udtCommStat)
    
        .strErrorMessage = .strErrorMessage & "  COMM Error Flags = " & _
                Hex$(lngErrorFlags)
        
        SetCommErrorEx = .lngErrorCode
    End With
    
End Function

'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' CommSet - Modifies the serial port settings.
'
' Parameters:
'   intPortID   - Port ID used when port was opened.
'   strSettings - Communication settings.
'                 Example: "baud=9600 parity=N data=8 stop=1"
'
' Returns:
'   Error Code  - 0 = No Error.
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Function CommSet(intPortID As Integer, strSettings As String) As Long
    
Dim lngStatus As Long
    
    On Error GoTo Routine_Error

    lngStatus = GetCommState(udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle, _
        udtPorts(intPortID).udtDCB)

    If lngStatus = 0 Then
        lngStatus = SetCommError("CommSet (GetCommState)")
        GoTo Routine_Exit
    End If

    lngStatus = BuildCommDCB(strSettings, udtPorts(intPortID).udtDCB)

    If lngStatus = 0 Then
        lngStatus = SetCommError("CommSet (BuildCommDCB)")
        GoTo Routine_Exit
    End If

    lngStatus = SetCommState(udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle, _
        udtPorts(intPortID).udtDCB)

    If lngStatus = 0 Then
        lngStatus = SetCommError("CommSet (SetCommState)")
        GoTo Routine_Exit
    End If

    lngStatus = 0

Routine_Exit:
    CommSet = lngStatus
    Exit Function

Routine_Error:
    lngStatus = Err.Number
    With udtCommError
        .lngErrorCode = lngStatus
        .strFunction = "CommSet"
        .strErrorMessage = Err.Description
    End With
    Resume Routine_Exit
End Function

'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' CommClose - Close the serial port.
'
' Parameters:
'   intPortID   - Port ID used when port was opened.
'
' Returns:
'   Error Code  - 0 = No Error.
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Function CommClose(intPortID As Integer) As Long
    
Dim lngStatus As Long
    
    On Error GoTo Routine_Error

    If udtPorts(intPortID).blnPortOpen Then
        lngStatus = CloseHandle(udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle)
    
        If lngStatus = 0 Then
            lngStatus = SetCommError("CommClose (CloseHandle)")
            GoTo Routine_Exit
        End If
    
        udtPorts(intPortID).blnPortOpen = False
    End If

    lngStatus = 0

Routine_Exit:
    CommClose = lngStatus
    Exit Function

Routine_Error:
    lngStatus = Err.Number
    With udtCommError
        .lngErrorCode = lngStatus
        .strFunction = "CommClose"
        .strErrorMessage = Err.Description
    End With
    Resume Routine_Exit
End Function

'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' CommFlush - Flush the send and receive serial port buffers.
'
' Parameters:
'   intPortID   - Port ID used when port was opened.
'
' Returns:
'   Error Code  - 0 = No Error.
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Function CommFlush(intPortID As Integer) As Long
    
Dim lngStatus As Long
    
    On Error GoTo Routine_Error

    lngStatus = PurgeComm(udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle, PURGE_TXABORT Or _
        PURGE_RXABORT Or PURGE_TXCLEAR Or PURGE_RXCLEAR)

    If lngStatus = 0 Then
        lngStatus = SetCommError("CommFlush (PurgeComm)")
        GoTo Routine_Exit
    End If

    lngStatus = 0

Routine_Exit:
    CommFlush = lngStatus
    Exit Function

Routine_Error:
    lngStatus = Err.Number
    With udtCommError
        .lngErrorCode = lngStatus
        .strFunction = "CommFlush"
        .strErrorMessage = Err.Description
    End With
    Resume Routine_Exit
End Function

'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' CommRead - Read serial port input buffer.
'
' Parameters:
'   intPortID   - Port ID used when port was opened.
'   strData     - Data buffer.
'   lngSize     - Maximum number of bytes to be read.
'
' Returns:
'   Error Code  - 0 = No Error.
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Function CommRead(intPortID As Integer, strData As String, _
    lngSize As Long) As Long

Dim lngStatus As Long
Dim lngRdSize As Long, lngBytesRead As Long
Dim lngRdStatus As Long, strRdBuffer As String * 1024
Dim lngErrorFlags As Long, udtCommStat As COMSTAT
    
    On Error GoTo Routine_Error

    strData = ""
    lngBytesRead = 0
    DoEvents
    
    ' Clear any previous errors and get current status.
    lngStatus = ClearCommError(udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle, lngErrorFlags, _
        udtCommStat)

    If lngStatus = 0 Then
        lngBytesRead = -1
        lngStatus = SetCommError("CommRead (ClearCommError)")
        GoTo Routine_Exit
    End If
        
    If udtCommStat.cbInQue > 0 Then
        If udtCommStat.cbInQue > lngSize Then
            lngRdSize = udtCommStat.cbInQue
        Else
            lngRdSize = lngSize
        End If
    Else
        lngRdSize = 0
    End If

    If lngRdSize Then
        lngRdStatus = ReadFile(udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle, strRdBuffer, _
            lngRdSize, lngBytesRead, udtCommOverlap)

        If lngRdStatus = 0 Then
            lngStatus = GetLastError
            If lngStatus = ERROR_IO_PENDING Then
                ' Wait for read to complete.
                ' This function will timeout according to the
                ' COMMTIMEOUTS.ReadTotalTimeoutConstant variable.
                ' Every time it times out, check for port errors.

                ' Loop until operation is complete.
                While GetOverlappedResult(udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle, _
                    udtCommOverlap, lngBytesRead, True) = 0
                                    
                    lngStatus = GetLastError
                                        
                    If lngStatus = ERROR_IO_INCOMPLETE Then
                        lngBytesRead = -1
                        lngStatus = SetCommErrorEx( _
                            "CommRead (GetOverlappedResult)", _
                            udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle)
                        GoTo Routine_Exit
                    End If
                Wend
            Else
                ' Some other error occurred.
                lngBytesRead = -1
                lngStatus = SetCommErrorEx("CommRead (ReadFile)", _
                    udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle)
                GoTo Routine_Exit
            
            End If
        End If
    
        strData = Left$(strRdBuffer, lngBytesRead)
    End If

Routine_Exit:
    CommRead = lngBytesRead
    Exit Function

Routine_Error:
    lngBytesRead = -1
    lngStatus = Err.Number
    With udtCommError
        .lngErrorCode = lngStatus
        .strFunction = "CommRead"
        .strErrorMessage = Err.Description
    End With
    Resume Routine_Exit
End Function

'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' CommWrite - Output data to the serial port.
'
' Parameters:
'   intPortID   - Port ID used when port was opened.
'   strData     - Data to be transmitted.
'
' Returns:
'   Error Code  - 0 = No Error.
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Function CommWrite(intPortID As Integer, strData As String) As Long
    
Dim i As Integer
Dim lngStatus As Long, lngSize As Long
Dim lngWrSize As Long, lngWrStatus As Long
    
    On Error GoTo Routine_Error
    
    ' Get the length of the data.
    lngSize = Len(strData)

    ' Output the data.
    lngWrStatus = WriteFile(udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle, strData, lngSize, _
        lngWrSize, udtCommOverlap)

    ' Note that normally the following code will not execute because the driver
    ' caches write operations. Small I/O requests (up to several thousand bytes)
    ' will normally be accepted immediately and WriteFile will return true even
    ' though an overlapped operation was specified.
        
    DoEvents
    
    If lngWrStatus = 0 Then
        lngStatus = GetLastError
        If lngStatus = 0 Then
            GoTo Routine_Exit
        ElseIf lngStatus = ERROR_IO_PENDING Then
            ' We should wait for the completion of the write operation so we know
            ' if it worked or not.
            '
            ' This is only one way to do this. It might be beneficial to place the
            ' writing operation in a separate thread so that blocking on completion
            ' will not negatively affect the responsiveness of the UI.
            '
            ' If the write takes long enough to complete, this function will timeout
            ' according to the CommTimeOuts.WriteTotalTimeoutConstant variable.
            ' At that time we can check for errors and then wait some more.

            ' Loop until operation is complete.
            While GetOverlappedResult(udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle, _
                udtCommOverlap, lngWrSize, True) = 0
                                
                lngStatus = GetLastError
                                    
                If lngStatus = ERROR_IO_INCOMPLETE Then
                    lngStatus = SetCommErrorEx( _
                        "CommWrite (GetOverlappedResult)", _
                        udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle)
                    GoTo Routine_Exit
                End If
            Wend
        Else
            ' Some other error occurred.
            lngWrSize = -1
                    
            lngStatus = SetCommErrorEx("CommWrite (WriteFile)", _
                udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle)
            GoTo Routine_Exit
        
        End If
    End If
    
    For i = 1 To 10
        DoEvents
    Next
    
Routine_Exit:
    CommWrite = lngWrSize
    Exit Function

Routine_Error:
    lngStatus = Err.Number
    With udtCommError
        .lngErrorCode = lngStatus
        .strFunction = "CommWrite"
        .strErrorMessage = Err.Description
    End With
    Resume Routine_Exit
End Function

'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' CommGetLine - Get the state of selected serial port control lines.
'
' Parameters:
'   intPortID   - Port ID used when port was opened.
'   intLine     - Serial port line. CTS, DSR, RING, RLSD (CD)
'   blnState    - Returns state of line (Cleared or Set).
'
' Returns:
'   Error Code  - 0 = No Error.
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Function CommGetLine(intPortID As Integer, intLine As Integer, _
   blnState As Boolean) As Long
    
Dim lngStatus As Long
Dim lngComStatus As Long, lngModemStatus As Long
    
    On Error GoTo Routine_Error

    lngStatus = GetCommModemStatus(udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle, lngModemStatus)

    If lngStatus = 0 Then
        lngStatus = SetCommError("CommReadCD (GetCommModemStatus)")
        GoTo Routine_Exit
    End If

    If (lngModemStatus And intLine) Then
        blnState = True
    Else
        blnState = False
    End If
        
    lngStatus = 0
        
Routine_Exit:
    CommGetLine = lngStatus
    Exit Function

Routine_Error:
    lngStatus = Err.Number
    With udtCommError
        .lngErrorCode = lngStatus
        .strFunction = "CommReadCD"
        .strErrorMessage = Err.Description
    End With
    Resume Routine_Exit
End Function

'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' CommSetLine - Set the state of selected serial port control lines.
'
' Parameters:
'   intPortID   - Port ID used when port was opened.
'   intLine     - Serial port line. BREAK, DTR, RTS
'                 Note: BREAK actually sets or clears a "break" condition on
'                 the transmit data line.
'   blnState    - Sets the state of line (Cleared or Set).
'
' Returns:
'   Error Code  - 0 = No Error.
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Function CommSetLine(intPortID As Integer, intLine As Integer, _
   blnState As Boolean) As Long
   
Dim lngStatus As Long
Dim lngNewState As Long
    
    On Error GoTo Routine_Error
    
    If intLine = LINE_BREAK Then
        If blnState Then
            lngNewState = SETBREAK
        Else
            lngNewState = CLRBREAK
        End If
    
    ElseIf intLine = LINE_DTR Then
        If blnState Then
            lngNewState = SETDTR
        Else
            lngNewState = CLRDTR
        End If
    
    ElseIf intLine = LINE_RTS Then
        If blnState Then
            lngNewState = SETRTS
        Else
            lngNewState = CLRRTS
        End If
    End If

    lngStatus = EscapeCommFunction(udtPorts(intPortID).lngHandle, lngNewState)

    If lngStatus = 0 Then
        lngStatus = SetCommError("CommSetLine (EscapeCommFunction)")
        GoTo Routine_Exit
    End If

    lngStatus = 0
        
Routine_Exit:
    CommSetLine = lngStatus
    Exit Function

Routine_Error:
    lngStatus = Err.Number
    With udtCommError
        .lngErrorCode = lngStatus
        .strFunction = "CommSetLine"
        .strErrorMessage = Err.Description
    End With
    Resume Routine_Exit
End Function



'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' CommGetError - Get the last serial port error message.
'
' Parameters:
'   strMessage  - Error message from last serial port error.
'
' Returns:
'   Error Code  - Last serial port error code.
'-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Function CommGetError(strMessage As String) As Long
    
    With udtCommError
        CommGetError = .lngErrorCode
        strMessage = "Error (" & CStr(.lngErrorCode) & "): " & .strFunction & _
            " - " & .strErrorMessage
    End With
    
End Function


' File Exists Function

Public Function FileFolderExists(strFullPath As String) As Boolean
'Author       : Ken Puls (www.excelguru.ca)
'Macro Purpose: Check if a file or folder exists
    On Error GoTo EarlyExit
    If Not Dir(strFullPath, vbDirectory) = vbNullString Then FileFolderExists = True
    
EarlyExit:
    On Error GoTo 0
    
End Function


In your code (a different module or sheet for neatness), to open a serial port the following code is used;


Code:
intPortID = 1
lngStatus = CommOpen(intPortID, "COM" & CStr(intPortID), _
                "baud=19200 parity=O data=8 stop=1")


where you'll need to put the correct port information for your serialport settings (baud, parity, data, stop). The intPortID is the serial port number ( serial 1, serial 2 .... etc)

To read the port, the following code is used. You'll have to declae the variables strData and strDataComplete as strings before using them in the code below;

Code:
 strData = ""
        strDataComplete = ""
        Do While True ' Loop until serial port is read
            Sleep 100
            lngStatus = CommRead(intPortID, strData, 69) 'Fav number 69 is the max data length you want read, change to suite
            Sleep 100
                            
            If lngStatus = 0 Then
               'Keep polling to see if serial has data
            ElseIf lngStatus <> 0 Then
                strDataComplete = strDataComplete & strData 'Concatenate data together 
            End If
                    
            If lngStatus = 0 And strDataComplete <> "" Then
                Exit Do    ' Exit loop when all data is read
            End If
            
        Loop


The variable strDataComplete will contain all the data from the serial port for that send.

To use the sleep function call, please add the following code to the top of your module;

Code:
#If VBA7 Then
    Public Declare PtrSafe Sub Sleep Lib "kernel32" (ByVal dwMilliseconds As LongPtr) 'For 64 Bit Systems
#Else
    Public Declare Sub Sleep Lib "kernel32" (ByVal dwMilliseconds As Long) 'For 32 Bit Systems
#End If

The sleep delay was used to reduce tying up the cpu when polling the serial port. This is optional.

There are other functions you can use to write or get error states from the serial port which I have not needed to do. If so, just checkout the functions in the first code listing, I've not used them so cannot comment.

Good Luck

PS. The serial port code was made by some author which I can not remember, so I apologise for that and if someone else can give credit to him/her, please do so!
 
Upvote 0
Hello sir,
It took me long way to search what I need, and then lead me to your post. I urgently need some help as I try to record some data from a USB GPS device, which shown under Port COM#8.

You are very kind to leave these codes for people to share. But as a beginer, I turely dont know how to use the code to capture the data. Would you be able to provide any kind of details as how to create this worksheet?

Much appreciated!

I'm sorry, Sir. You will have to reply directly to BrianChingDog ​in the post. He is the one who posted the code on my post. I do not have the expertise to help you.
 
Upvote 0

Forum statistics

Threads
1,215,343
Messages
6,124,400
Members
449,156
Latest member
LSchleppi

We've detected that you are using an adblocker.

We have a great community of people providing Excel help here, but the hosting costs are enormous. You can help keep this site running by allowing ads on MrExcel.com.
Allow Ads at MrExcel

Which adblocker are you using?

Disable AdBlock

Follow these easy steps to disable AdBlock

1)Click on the icon in the browser’s toolbar.
2)Click on the icon in the browser’s toolbar.
2)Click on the "Pause on this site" option.
Go back

Disable AdBlock Plus

Follow these easy steps to disable AdBlock Plus

1)Click on the icon in the browser’s toolbar.
2)Click on the toggle to disable it for "mrexcel.com".
Go back

Disable uBlock Origin

Follow these easy steps to disable uBlock Origin

1)Click on the icon in the browser’s toolbar.
2)Click on the "Power" button.
3)Click on the "Refresh" button.
Go back

Disable uBlock

Follow these easy steps to disable uBlock

1)Click on the icon in the browser’s toolbar.
2)Click on the "Power" button.
3)Click on the "Refresh" button.
Go back
Back
Top