XI_interface
Overview
This software is intented to communicate with a Casio (tm)
calculator under Linux. It allows you to transfer what ever you want
in both directions. That is to say, you can transfer programs,
pictures, matrix, screenshots, variables, ....
You can use it
with all Casio CFX-xxxxGT series, GRAPHxx series, and maybe GRAPH100
and Algebra Fx2 (untested).
My program generate and uses .cat file format. This format was
created by Casio for the software FA122 and FA123 (software to
communicate with your Casio calculator under windoze). Excepts if
there is a bug in my program, the files I generate are 100%
compatibles with FA123 (and FA122).
My program has quite more
features than casio sofware, for example, you can automatically
generate a zip file containing a text image of the programs; you can
see and import pictures, ....
As for the hardware, my program is able to use all of the hardware I
have ever seen, that is to say: FA-122 and FA-123 hardware,
FX-interface hardware, home made hardware using a MAX232, ...
Screenshots
Interesting parts & technical parts
The software is made in C. It uses GTK toolkit for the GUI
(graphical user interface). I can successfully compile it since the
mandrake 7.2 (but it may also work with previous versions).
It uses the serial port.
You will find complete Casio protocol in the doc directory.
Sources file detail:
interfaceGTK.c: all GUI stuff & main() function
conversion.c: all conversion's functions (.cat files opening and
creating, ...)
emission.c: prepare for sending datas to the calculator
reception.c: prepare to display datas from the calculator
LectEcrPort.c: functions to make easyer conversing with the
calculator
PortSerie.c: low level serial port access functions
The short story
I have created this software because I needed to reboot under
windoze to use my Casio calculator.
Cyril Septseault helped me to use the serial port in june 2000. I
developped the software during october and november month of year
2000.
Docs, links and thanks
Please see README file (in english).
The doc directory contains interesting informations but in french
:-(
a_lire.txt: general stuff about how to install, ...
communications.txt: few informations about the serial port.
format_casio.txt: very important file, it describes complete Casio
protocol.
Very interesting site about serial communication procedure:
http://www.tsys.freeserve.co.uk/casio/ (also contains CaS: a text
mode communication program). This site has helped me a lot!
How to install
There is to way to install the software: either you chose the .rpm
file, this is a binnary version of my sofware, that is to say it
includes the executable; or you chose the .tar.gz file, which
contains sources files and what ever you need to make an executable.
If you chose a .rpm file:
Try to chose a .rpm corresponding with you distribution version.
To install it, simply start your file brother, and click on the
.rpm file you have downloaded. It should install itself.
You can install if from a console: start by login you as root. Then
go in the correct directory, and type: "rpm -ivh
<name_of_the_file.rpm>" (without the " and without
<>).
If there are some dependencies problems, this is generally because
my software uses a library which is not present in you system. So
you can either try to install this library using your installation
CD, or try a different .rpm file (if there is one), or try the
.tar.gz file (generally the best solution).
Start a console.
Type "tar zxvf <name_of_the_file.tar.gz>" (without
the " and without <>), this will uncompress the files in
the directory <name_of_the_file>. Then go in this directory.
Type "./configure", the configure script is going to tell
you if all is ok for installing the software.
Then type "make", this is going to compile the program,
and create an executable file.
At last, type "make install", this is going to install
the executable file in /usr/local/bin directory.
You can now launch the software by typing XI_interface or
/usr/local/bin/XI_interface (try both).
Note that if you want to export pictures in others formats than ppm,
you will need ppmtoxxx utilities (like ppmtogif, ...).
VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: with a recent distribution (>=mandrake
8 series), GTK doesn't allow anymore files which are SETUID. That is
to say, you need to run the program as root.
Download
Known bugs and notes
with a recent distribution (>=mandrake 8 series), GTK doesn't
allow anymore files which are SETUID (needed to access to the serial
port). That is to say, you need to run the program as root.
See README file for more details.
The program is one of my thirst program, and is not very stable!
Pictures display doesn't work as expected: colors are not corrects.
The program is all in french. But if there is lot of interest, I
could traduce it in english. So don't hesitate to mail me! (see
below).
I have stopped the developpement of this program, because I don't
use my calculator anymore. But feel free to continue the
developpement, the program is under GPL licence.
Contacts
