HIDmaker Software Framework

Extending the programs that HIDmaker generates is easy with the HIDmaker Software Framework.

Peripheral Side: Convenient Variables & Functions

In the peripheral side programs, HIDmaker creates a conveniently sized variable for each data item you define. For example, suppose you specified a data item named MyVar whose size is 5 bits. This 5 bit size is the number of bits that are transferred to or from the PC over the USB cable. To make your programming easier, the peripheral side program generated by HIDmaker will provide you with an 8-bit variable named MyVar.

When you are ready to send this item from the peripheral to the PC, call the PackData( ) routine to automatically extract the least significant 5 bits of MyVar and place these bits in the correct part of the correct packet of the USB HID report. An UnpackData( ) routine is also available for unpacking data that comes from the PC to the peripheral.

PC Side: Intelligent Objects

The HIDmaker Software Framework includes a group of software objects that work together in your PC program to provide a natural, easy to use, yet powerful way to access data in your USB HID peripheral device. This software framework is designed to work with any modern object-oriented language compiler on the PC. Currently, HIDmaker generates programs that use the HIDmaker Software Framework in Visual Basic 6, Delphi 5-7, and C++ Builder 5-6.

In addition to the object class that represents the main window or "form" of your PC program (which is custom generated for each new project), the HIDmaker Software Framework provides the following classes:

• THidDev, a class that represents your HID peripheral device, which may contain multiple USB Interfaces. This class is custom-generated by HIDmaker for each new project.
• TOneHidVar, a class that represents one single USB HID data item or Variable, with all its attributes. The THidVars (device) class actually contains multiple objects of class TOneHidVar: one for each data variable contained in the device. The TOneHidVar class definition remains the same for all variables in all HIDmaker projects.
• HIDagent, or its ActiveX counterpart HIDagentX, is the low-level "engine" that does all the hard work of opening HID devices, accessing HID data items, and packing and unpacking Reports for you.

The true power of the HIDmaker Software Framework can be seen by how easy and natural it makes the tasks you need to do (Visual Basic syntax shown):

Set the value of a HID variable:

MyDevice.AVariable.UnscaledValue = 5

Pack this variable into its Report and send it to the device:

Call SendOutputReportA()

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