Many problems with programs that used to work

Hi,

I am having troubles recently. Programs that used to work ok are now behaving strangely, like certain lines of code being ignored, or so it seems. I may have only changed a pause time or something simple, but when compiled no longer work as expected. This started (though may be a coincidence) when I moved to windows 7 at work, PBP V2.5 did not seem to work, so I upgraded to PBP3, but still having problems. Here is an example.

Code:

---

goto start
pulse:
while pulseon = 1
high pulses
pauseus 100
low pulses
pauseus 100
wend
return

start:
if coil1 = 1 then
thy1 = 1
thy2 = 0
thy3 = 0
thy4 = 0
endif

if coil2 = 1 then
thy1 = 0
thy2 = 1
thy3 = 0
thy4 = 0
endif

if coil3 = 1 then
thy1 = 0
thy2 = 0
thy3 = 1
thy4 = 0
endif

if coil4 = 1 then
thy1 = 0
thy2 = 0
thy3 = 0
thy4 = 1
endif

if pulseon = 1 then gosub pulse

goto start

---

Now no matter which coil input is high, and when pulseon is low all the program will do is switch on thy1, and continually run the pulse subroutine.
Here is another:

Code:

---

if lastgun = 3 then goto jmp3  'if it was last to be used then no need to
                                          'send settings or change relays
high coil3    ;switch on channel 3 relay
low coil1    ;swirch off all others
low coil2
low coil4
'load channel 3 settings ready to be sent to main card
let ivalue = current3
let tvalue = time3
let gvalue = gas3
let scvalue = sctime3
gosub sendmain ' send the values
pause 150
jmp3:  'jump to here if this was last gun used
let lastgun = 3 'set last gun flag

---

Here the first line is always ignored, all of the rest of this quite large program works fine, and these programs used to work fine.
I have tried changing chips, and PCBs so I know it cant be hardware faults, or blown chips.
Anyone have any ideas?

Regards
Bob.:confused:

Hi, Bob

one of PBP3 main changes is the CONFIG section change ...

so, if you had shown us a FULL listing, probably we could have helped you some more ...

BTW, I do not see any initialization section nor ... is "omission" decided by you ???

Alain

Whenever I see several HIGH/LOW etc in a row I suspect Read-Modify-Write issue.
Try inserting a Pause 10 between each row and see what happends. Also make sure you have analog functions (ADC and comparator) disabled on all pins since they will otherwise interfere.
If it doesn't seem to help please also let us know which chip you're using.

/Henrik.

Hi, Henrik

I suppose you meant :

Code:

---

if coil1 = 1 then
thy1 = 1
thy2 = 0
thy3 = 0
thy4 = 0
endif

---

because there are no RMW issue when using HIGH and LOW ( as they include a TRIS command that takes some time ) ... tested "in live" with 3.5 µF loads ;) ...

Alain

I meant those too.
I know HIGH/LOW includes the clearing the TRIS-bit and that it's less likely to get a RMW-issue using it. I probably wouldn't go so far to say that RMW is non existent though since it depends on the load and, obviously, on the clock frequency. What frequency did you run at when you tried a 3.5uF capacitve load? RMW-issues also exists (with and without HIGH/LOW) when the pin(s) isn't properly configured for digital I/O.

/Henrik.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HenrikOlsson

. What frequency did you run at when you tried a 3.5uF capacitve load? /Henrik.

---

not more than 32 Mhz with a 16F628 and 80 Mhz with 18F chips ( NOT using LAT ! ) ... yess ! I made some hard overclocking tests ..

Alain

Well, in that case I stand corrected - for now... :-)

/Henrik.

Hi,

Thank you for your help. I will post the full code.

Code:

---

#config
 __config _HS_OSC & _WDT_ON & _PWRTE_ON & _BOREN_ON & _CP_ON & _LVP_OFF
#ENDCONFIG

data @1,200,0,200,0,200,0,200,0,50,0,50,0,50,0,50,0
data @17,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,30,0,30,0,30,0,30,0,0
define OSC 20

asm
    BSF    STATUS, RP0 ;SELECT BANK 1
    MOVLW  0x06        ;A/D channels all digital
    MOVWF  ADCON1
    MOVLW  0x07        ;PORT B = 00000111
    MOVWF  TRISB
    MOVLW  0xEF        ;PORT C = 11101111
    MOVWF  TRISC
    MOVLW  0x0F        ;PORT D = 00001111
    MOVWF  TRISD
    MOVLW  0x07        ;PORT E = 111
    MOVWF  TRISE
    BCF    STATUS, RP0 ;SELECT BANK 0   
ENDASM   

spare      var portb.0
coilin      var portb.1
contact    var portb.2
pulseon    var portb.3
coil1      var portb.4
coil2      var portb.5
coil3      var portb.6
coil4      var portb.7
sw4        var portc.0
sw3        var portc.1
sw2        var portc.2
sw1        var portc.3
trigout    var portc.4
trigger4    var portd.0
trigger3    var portd.1
trigger2    var portd.2
trigger1    var portd.3
led1        var portd.4
led2        var portd.5
led3        var portd.6
led4        var portd.7
clock      var porte.0
dout        var porte.1
send        var porte.2

current1    var word
current2    var word
current3    var word
current4    var word
time1      var word
time2      var word
time3      var word
time4      var word
gas1        var word
gas2        var word
gas3        var word
gas4        var word
sctime1    var word
sctime2    var word
sctime3    var word
sctime4    var word
packet      var word
index      var word
ivalue      var word
tvalue      var word
gvalue      var word
scvalue    var word
machinetype var word
lastgun    var byte
let lastgun = 0
GOSUB readvalues
GOTO MAIN

writevalues1:          'write gun 1 values to memory
write 1, ivalue.lowbyte
write 2, ivalue.highbyte
write 9, tvalue.lowbyte
write 10, tvalue.highbyte
write 17, gvalue.lowbyte
write 18, gvalue.highbyte
write 25, scvalue.lowbyte
write 26, scvalue.highbyte
return
writevalues2:          'write gun 2 values to memory
write 3, ivalue.lowbyte
write 4, ivalue.highbyte
write 11, tvalue.lowbyte
write 12, tvalue.highbyte
write 19, gvalue.lowbyte
write 20, gvalue.highbyte
write 27, scvalue.lowbyte
write 28, scvalue.highbyte
return
writevalues3:          'write gun 3 values to memory
write 5, ivalue.lowbyte
write 6, ivalue.highbyte
write 13, tvalue.lowbyte
write 14, tvalue.highbyte
write 21, gvalue.lowbyte
write 22, gvalue.highbyte
write 29, scvalue.lowbyte
write 30, scvalue.highbyte
return
writevalues4:          'write gun 4 values to memory
write 7, ivalue.lowbyte
write 8, ivalue.highbyte
write 15, tvalue.lowbyte
write 16, tvalue.highbyte
write 23, gvalue.lowbyte
write 24, gvalue.highbyte
write 31, scvalue.lowbyte
write 32, scvalue.highbyte
return

readvalues:
read 1, current1.lowbyte
read 2, current1.highbyte
read 3, current2.lowbyte
read 4, current2.highbyte
read 5, current3.lowbyte
read 6, current3.highbyte
read 7, current4.lowbyte
read 8, current4.highbyte
read 9, time1.lowbyte
read 10, time1.highbyte
read 11, time2.lowbyte
read 12, time2.highbyte
read 13, time3.lowbyte
read 14, time3.highbyte
read 15, time4.lowbyte
read 16, time4.highbyte
read 17, gas1.lowbyte
read 18, gas1.highbyte
read 19, gas2.lowbyte
read 20, gas2.highbyte
read 21, gas3.lowbyte
read 22, gas3.highbyte
read 23, gas4.lowbyte
read 24, gas4.highbyte
read 25, sctime1.lowbyte
read 26, sctime1.highbyte
read 27, sctime2.lowbyte
read 28, sctime2.highbyte
read 29, sctime3.lowbyte
read 30, sctime3.highbyte
read 31, sctime4.lowbyte
read 32, sctime4.highbyte
READ 33, MACHINETYPE.LOWBYTE
READ 34, MACHINETYPE.HIGHBYTE
return

sendmain:
low clock
low dout
low send
let packet = ivalue
high send
pause 50
gosub sout
low send
pause 10
let packet = tvalue
high send
pause 10
gosub sout
low send
pause 10
let packet = gvalue
high send
pause 10
gosub sout
low send
pause 10
let packet = scvalue
high send
pause 10
gosub sout
low send
pause 10
let packet = machinetype
high send
pause 10
gosub sout
low send
pause 5
input send
input clock
input dout
return

sout:
for index = 0 to 15
dout = packet.0[index]
pause 5
high clock
pause 5
low clock
pause 5
next index
low dout
return

weld1: 'welding routine for gun1
'check if it is a good trigger signal
pause 10
if trigger1 = 1 then return
pause 10
if trigger1 = 1 then return
'check to see if gun1 was last to be uesd
if lastgun = 1 then goto jmp1  'if it was last to be used then no need to
                                'send settings or change relays
high coil1    ;switch on channel 1 relay
low coil2    ;swirch off all others
low coil3
low coil4
'load channel 1 settings ready to be sent to main card
let ivalue = current1
let tvalue = time1
let gvalue = gas1
let scvalue = sctime1
gosub sendmain ' send the values
pause 150
jmp1:  'jump to here if this was last gun used
let lastgun = 1 'set last gun flag
high pulseon
pause 150
high trigout
pause 100
low trigout
pause gas1
pause time1
pause sctime1
asm
JMPA    BTFSC  _coilin    ;wait for coil to go low
        GOTO    JMPA
JMPB    BTFSC  _contact    ;wait for break in contact
        GOTO    JMPB
endasm
low pulseon
pause 600
return

weld2: 'welding routine for gun2
'check if it is a good trigger signal
pause 10
if trigger2 = 1 then return
pause 10
if trigger2 = 1 then return
'check to see if gun2 was last to be uesd
if lastgun = 2 then goto jmp2  'if it was last to be used then no need to
                                'send settings or change relays
high coil2    ;switch on channel 2 relay
low coil1    ;swirch off all others
low coil3
low coil4
'load channel 2 settings ready to be sent to main card
let ivalue = current2
let tvalue = time2
let gvalue = gas2
let scvalue = sctime2
gosub sendmain ' send the values
pause 150
jmp2:  'jump to here if this was last gun used
let lastgun = 2 'set last gun flag
high pulseon
pause 150
high trigout
pause 100
low trigout
pause gas2
pause time2
pause sctime2
asm
JMPC    BTFSC  _coilin    ;wait for coil to go low
        GOTO    JMPC
JMPD    BTFSC  _contact    ;wait for break in contact
        GOTO    JMPD
endasm
low pulseon
pause 600 
return

weld3: 'welding routine for gun3
'check if it is a good trigger signal
pause 10
if trigger3 = 1 then return
pause 10
if trigger3 = 1 then return
'check to see if gun3 was last to be uesd
if lastgun = 3 then goto jmp3  'if it was last to be used then no need to
                                'send settings or change relays
high coil3    ;switch on channel 3 relay
low coil1    ;swirch off all others
low coil2
low coil4
'load channel 3 settings ready to be sent to main card
let ivalue = current3
let tvalue = time3
let gvalue = gas3
let scvalue = sctime3
gosub sendmain ' send the values
pause 150
jmp3:  'jump to here if this was last gun used
let lastgun = 3 'set last gun flag
high pulseon
pause 150
high trigout
pause 100
low trigout
pause gas3
pause time3
pause sctime3
asm
JMPE    BTFSC  _coilin    ;wait for coil to go low
        GOTO    JMPE
JMPF    BTFSC  _contact    ;wait for break in contact
        GOTO    JMPF
endasm   
low pulseon
pause 600
return 

weld4: 'welding routine for gun4
'check if it is a good trigger signal
pause 10
if trigger4 = 1 then return
pause 10
if trigger4 = 1 then return
'check to see if gun4 was last to be uesd
if lastgun = 4 then goto jmp4  'if it was last to be used then no need to
                                'send settings or change relays
high coil4    ;switch on channel 4 relay
low coil1    ;swirch off all others
low coil2
low coil3
'load channel 4 settings ready to be sent to main card
let ivalue = current4
let tvalue = time4
let gvalue = gas4
let scvalue = sctime4
gosub sendmain ' send the values
pause 150
jmp4:  'jump to here if this was last gun used
let lastgun = 4 'set last gun flag
high pulseon
pause 150
high trigout
pause 100
low trigout
pause gas4
pause time4
pause sctime4
asm
JMPG    BTFSC  _coilin    ;wait for coil to go low
        GOTO    JMPG
JMPH    BTFSC  _contact    ;wait for break in contact
        GOTO    JMPH
endasm   
low pulseon
pause 600
return

settings:
'test switches & light the ones that need to be on
if sw1 = 0 then
high led1
else
low led1
endif
if sw2 = 0 then
high led2
else
low led2
endif
if sw3 = 0 then
high led3
else
low led3
endif
if sw4 = 0 then
high led4
else
low led4
endif
'if all switches are off (high) then turn off leds, and return
if (sw1 = 1) and (sw2 = 1) and (sw3 = 1) and (sw4 = 1) then
low led1
low led2
low led3
low led4
return
endif
if send = 1 then gosub readin
goto settings

rcv:  'routine to receive packets of information
for index = 0 to 15
while clock = 0
wend
packet.0[index] = dout
while clock = 1
wend
next index
return

readin:
pause 1
if send = 0 then return
pause 1
if send = 0 then return
pause 1
if send = 0 then return
pause 1
if send = 0 then return
pause 1
if send = 0 then return
pause 1
if send = 0 then return
gosub rcv
let ivalue = packet
let packet = 0
ASm
JMPI    BTFSC  _send  ;Wait for send to go low
        GOTO    JMPI
JMPJ    BTFSS  _send  ;Wait for send to go high
        GOTO    JMPJ
ENDASM       
gosub rcv
let tvalue = packet
let packet = 0
ASm
JMPK    BTFSC  _send  ;Wait for send to go low
        GOTO    JMPK
JMPL    BTFSS  _send  ;Wait for send to go high
        GOTO    JMPL
ENDASM 
gosub rcv
let gvalue = packet
let packet = 0
ASm
JMPM    BTFSC  _send  ;Wait for send to go low
        GOTO    JMPM
JMPN    BTFSS  _send  ;Wait for send to go high
        GOTO    JMPN
ENDASM 
gosub rcv
let scvalue = packet
let packet = 0
ASm
JMPO    BTFSC  _send  ;Wait for send to go low
        GOTO    JMPO
JMPP    BTFSS  _send  ;Wait for send to go high
        GOTO    JMPP
ENDASM 
gosub rcv
let machinetype = packet
let packet = 0
ASM
JMPQ    BTFSC  _send  ;Wait for send to go low
        GOTO    JMPQ
ENDASM       
'we have received values from front PCB, now need to store any that
'have switches set
if led1 = 1 then gosub writevalues1
if led2 = 1 then gosub writevalues2
if led3 = 1 then gosub writevalues3
if led4 = 1 then gosub writevalues4
write 33, machinetype.lowbyte
write 34, machinetype.highbyte
return

main:
'first check for any trigger signals
if trigger1 = 0 then gosub weld1
if trigger2 = 0 then gosub weld2
if trigger3 = 0 then gosub weld3
if trigger4 = 0 then gosub weld4
'now check if any settings switches are on
if (sw1 = 0) or (sw2 = 0) or (sw3 = 0) or (sw4 = 0) then gosub settings
'switch on led of last used gun
if lastgun = 1 then
high led1
low led2
low led3
low led4
endif
if lastgun = 2 then
low led1
high led2
low led3
low led4
endif
if lastgun = 3 then
low led1
low led2
high led3
low led4
endif
if lastgun = 4 then
low led1
low led2
low led3
high led4
endif
goto main
end

---

I'm not sure if this will help, as I said the program did work fine, before Windows 7, and PBP3. Though I am not certain that this is the cause. My development time is short and fragmented with months going by without looking at a project. This makes it hard to keep track of what stage I was at, and what exactly I was doing when I encountered a problem.

The problem with this program is in the 4 weld subroutines. The If lastgun statements (in bold type) are always ignored, or rather if you keep pressing the trigger on one gun the lastgun flag is not set to a number, so the next time pressing the trigger the code i want to skip is always executed.

Regards
Bob.

When I get unexpected results like this, I test pieces of logic one by one.

I'd start with just blinking a led in simplest loop possible; just to be sure pic timing and configs are correct. With timing you can verify easily, like:

LOOP:
pin=1
pause 1000
pin=0
pause 1000
goto LOOP

Robert

Hi,

Thanks for your replies. I have now solved the problem, but still cant explain why it was behaving as it was.
Turns out that I had added some code that had not been tested, before being broken off the project for some months.

asm
JMPA BTFSC _coilin ;wait for coil to go low
GOTO JMPA
JMPB BTFSC _contact ;wait for break in contact
GOTO JMPB
endasm

They should have been BTFSS. Though how the program was still running and not getting stuck there is a mystery to me. I think it may have been some issue that caused the pic to do a brown out reset each time it went through a weld routine.

Anyways now I have everything working like a dream the project has been scrapped, so sorry for wasting all of your time.

Kind regards
Bob.