Language - Python Windows Visual Studio

Language - Python Windows with Visual Studio Welcome to using Phidgets with Python! By using Python, you will have access to the complete Phidget22 API, including events. Visual Studio is an IDE provided by Microsoft that can be used to develop code in a wide variety of programming languages, including Python.

Install Phidget Drivers for Windows

Before getting started with the guides below, ensure you have the following components installed on your machine:

1. You will need the Phidgets Windows Drivers
2. You will need a version of Python installed on your machine (2.7 and 3.6+ are compatible with Phidgets).

The recommended way to install the Phidget22 Python module is using the PIP package manager.

Python versions 2.7.9+ and 3.4+ include PIP by default.

To install the Phidget22 Python module with PIP, simply open the Command Prompt (press the Windows key and search for "cmd"), and enter the command:

python -m pip install Phidget22

To install the Phidget22 libraries to a specific Python version, you can use the Python Windows Launcher from the Command Prompt as follows (replace -X.X with your Python version, e.g. -2.7 or -3.6):

py -X.X -m pip install Phidget22

To install the Phidget22 Python module without PIP, you will need to download the Phidget22 Python module.

After unpacking the Phidget22 Python module, open the Command Prompt (press the Windows key and search for "cmd") Locate the folder where you downloaded the Python module and enter the following command:

python setup.py install

This will build the module and install the Python module files into your site-packages directory.

Use Our Examples

One of the best ways to start programming with Phidgets is to use our example code as a guide. Before we get started, make sure you have read how to install the Phidget Python module section above. You will also need to download Microsoft Visual Studio if you have not already.

Now that you have Python and the Phidget Python module installed, as well as Visual Studio, select an example that will work with your Phidget:

• Python Examples

Next, create a new Python project:

Delete the Python file that was generated with the project:

Add the example you just downloaded by right-clicking on the project and adding an existing item:

Be sure to add PhidgetHelperFunctions.py in the same way.

Select the example as the startup file:

Ensure that your Python environment is the same as the version you have installed. Enter the following command to view your Python version if you are unsure:

python -V

You can view/edit your Python environment under the Python Environments tab:

You should now have the example up and running for your device. Your next step is to look at the Editing the Examples section below for information about the example and important concepts for programming Phidgets. This would be a good time to play around with the device and experiment with some of its functionality.

Editing the Examples

To get our example code to run in a custom application, simply remove the calls to AskForDeviceParameters and PrintEventDescriptions, and hard-code the addressing parameters for your application.

If you are unsure what values to use for the addressing parameters, check the Finding The Addressing Information page.

For instance:

channelInfo = AskForDeviceParameters(ch)
        
ch.setDeviceSerialNumber(channelInfo.deviceSerialNumber)
ch.setHubPort(channelInfo.hubPort)
ch.setIsHubPortDevice(channelInfo.isHubPortDevice)
ch.setChannel(channelInfo.channel)   
        
if(channelInfo.netInfo.isRemote):
    ch.setIsRemote(channelInfo.netInfo.isRemote)
    if(channelInfo.netInfo.serverDiscovery):
        Net.enableServerDiscovery(PhidgetServerType.PHIDGETSERVER_DEVICEREMOTE)
    else:
        Net.addServer("Server", channelInfo.netInfo.hostname,
            channelInfo.netInfo.port, channelInfo.netInfo.password, 0)

Might become:

ch.setDeviceSerialNumber(370114)
ch.setHubPort(2)
ch.setIsHubPortDevice(1)

Notice that you can leave out any parameter not relevant to your application for simplicity.

You can then manipulate the rest of the code as your application requires. A more in-depth description of programming with Phidgets can be found in our guide on Phidget Programming Basics.

Setting Up a New Project

When you are building a project from scratch, or adding Phidget functionality to an existing project, you'll need to configure your development environment to properly link the Phidget Python library.

To start, create a new Python project:

Then open the Python file that was generated with the project.

To include the Phidget Python library, add the following imports to your code:

from Phidget22.PhidgetException import *
from Phidget22.Phidget import *

Then, you will also have to import the class for your particular Phidget. For example, you would include the following line for a DigitalInput:

from Phidget22.Devices.DigitalInput import *

The project now has access to Phidgets.

What's Next?

Now that you have set up Phidgets to work with your programming environment, we recommend you read our guide on Phidget Programming Basics to learn the fundamentals of programming with Phidgets.