beugel@cs.vu.nl (Beugel BJ) (08/31/88)
Hello, A friend of mine wants to read data from an RS-232 port and load them into a Lotus 1-2-3 worksheet while he is working on that same worksheet. In other words Lotus 1-2-3 should accept data from the RS-232 port just as if they were typed at the keyboard. Data which are really typed at the keyboard however, should also be accepted, so redirection of input will not do the job. Possibly the data from the RS-232 will have to be converted. He would be really happy if the data from the RS-232 could be appended at the bottom of the worksheet or inserted before the top. Data coming in from the RS-232 should get priority over data typed at the keyboard. Does anyone know if this can be done. If so any pointers and suggestions on how to go about it, will be greatly appreciated. If anyone is quite certain that it cannot be done, please let me know too. Maybe someone knows of a feasible alternative. Please mail any responses. If there is enough interest in this subject I will post a summary. Thank you very much in advance, Berend Jan Beugel (beugel@cs.vu.nl).
kevinc@auvax.UUCP (Kevin "auric" Crocker) (09/03/88)
In article <1330@solo8.cs.vu.nl>, beugel@cs.vu.nl (Beugel BJ) writes: > > A friend of mine wants to read data from an RS-232 port and load them > into a Lotus 1-2-3 worksheet while he is working on that same worksheet. > Berend Jan Beugel (beugel@cs.vu.nl). Berend, I have not mailed because our mailer is brain dead at the moment, SORRY, to the net if you feel this is inappropriate. Caveat: I have not used this product, just read the hype sheet. Lotus has a product called Lotus MEasure that is supposed to do the very thing. Without asking for copyright approval here is the poop: "Lotus Measure (TM) frees you from becoming the bottleneck in data collection. Because with Lotus Measure, the hardware and software can do the job easily for you. Lotus Measure Seamlessly moves data from measurement hardware directly into 1-2-3 or symphony in realtime, for immediate display, analysis, and storage. The result? No more retyping data. .... Lotus Measure can set up and control instruments. Then collect data, using the IEEE-488 or RS-232-C interface busses. Or acquire and convert data from sensors using A/D boards. ... Lotus Measure supports instruments that are fully compatible with the IEEE-488 and RS-232-C communications busses. You can even combine instruments using both busses within the same application. RS-232-C If you have an instrument capable of serial communications, you can plug it directly into COM1 or COM2 on your PC and use Lotus Measure to transmit commands and receive data directly in a 1-2-3 or Symphony spreadsheet. ... System Requirements IBM: PC, XT, AT, PC 286 Hewlett-PAckard Vectra (R) PC Compaq: Portable, Deskpro 286. Dos 2.0 or higher. Minimum 512K memory. (640K recommended). Hercules(R) Graphics Card, IBM Color Graphics Adapter, IBM Enhanced Graphics Adapter. Software Requirements Lotus 1-2-3-, Release 2.0 or higher. Supported Interfaces National Instruments(TM) GPIB-PCII and GPIB-PCIIA, Hewlett-PAckard HP-IB, IBM GPIB Adapter, IOtech GP488A, Capital Equipment(TM) PC-488, Scientific Solutions IEEE-488LM; RS-232-C asynchronous port configurable as COM1 or COM2; MetraByte(R) DAS-16 and DAS-16F, IBM Game Control Adapter." Hope this helps and is useful. Kevin Crocker