Book Review

 

 

Automating Science and Engineering Laboratories with Visual Basic

Mark F. Russo & Martin M. Echols

John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 1999

ISBN 0-471-25493-2

  

Visual Basic from Microsoft Corp., has taken the main stage in program development for engineering and scientific applications. This has been particularly fuelled by Visual Basic 6.0, which incorporates a significant number of advancements over earlier versions, including the ability to compile the program into native code. The primary focus of a typical engineer or a scientist is not the software development but the application of computers to theoretical & experimental problem solving. This concept is well understood and is propagated throughout the book by the authors, who are engaged in laboratory automation in industry.

 

The book is spread into four major parts consisting of 26 short chapters. The first part provides an introduction to the concept of objects, events, and controls in Visual Basic. The newcomer is introduced to the Integrated IDE environment and object oriented programming in Visual Basic. This coverage is relatively brief, as the book is not intended as another book on Visual Basic programming but on its application to laboratory automation.

 

Part two of the book deals with communication and is perhaps the main strength of the book. It covers dynamic data exchange, RS-232 communication and TCP/IP networking. The basics of RS-232 communication (still the most popular method of computer communication) are explained. It is followed by details of using Visual Basic controls (objects) for setting up RS-232 communication. Similar approach is taken to explain the TCP/IP networking. Following a brief explanation of the internet protocol, it guides the reader to the development of client/server programming.

 

Part three reinforces the Visual Basic object oriented programming for monitoring remote instruments. It explains the implementation of state machine in Visual basic, leading to the development of device controllers for monitoring remote instruments through MSComm and Winsock. The last part of the book covers plotting and graphic displays. Details of MSChart for plotting scientific data are well covered through examples. It also covers the development of simple virtual instruments such as a rotary knob for control setting and a thermometer for temperature indication. All the programs listed in the book are available for downloading through a number of sites. Overall, it is an excellent book for a budding or even a practicing engineer.

                                                               

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