Project 3b - Automatic Morse Generator (Multiple Messages)

What the PC Program Does:
This project is an extension of Project 3a. It has multiple messages and each message is controlled by its own button. The program allows you to enter ONE message in your message in plain text. It then converts your message into morse code and combines it with a PIC file to create a file that can be compiled. The program runs under DOS or in a Command Prompt window.
Using the Program:
For the program to work, the PIC file must be saved using the name BASE.PIC. However, to avoid confusion with the file used in project 3a, the book refers to this file as BASEMULTI.PIC. On this web site, I have provided the PIC file as BASE.PIC and as BASEMULTI.PIC. If you download the file called BASEMULTI.PIC, you must change its name before using it. If you download the file called BASE.PIC, make sure that you do not confuse it with the file for project 3a. The program, MORSE.EXE, is the same in all cases.

Both MORSE.EXE and BASE.PIC must be saved to the same folder (directory). Navigate to that directory and run MORSE.EXE. It will ask you for the name of the file to create. This name is limited to 8 characters plus a three character extension, because the program was designed to run under DOS if necessary. I would recommend that you use .ASM as the extension but you don't have to.
Having created the file, the program then asks for your message. Because some PC characters do not have a morse code equivalent, the program checks your message and tells you how it will encode it. It also tells you of any characters that it counld not encode.

Some morse characters do not have any PC keyboard equivalents so the program allows you to use an equals sign(=) as a break (-...-), a plus sign(+) for End of Message(AR _._._), less than(<) for End of Work(VA ...-.-), greater than(>) for Wait(AS .-...) and hash for Preliminary call(CT -.-.-).
At the end of your message, the keyer normally stops and waits for you to press the button again. To have the message repeat continuously, use a circumflex character(^) at the end of your message but make sure that you insert a space before the circumflex unless you want the last character of you message to be followed immediately by the first character of your message.
The Other Messages:
The messages are numbered from zero to seven. MORSE.EXE will create message number zero. I found that, usually, only one message needs to be changed and the other remain the same for a long time. Currently, message one contains a simple DOT - DOT - DASH - DASH code but the other messages are blank. You will have to create these other messages manually. Write down your messages as DOTs, DASHes, Inter-character SPACES and LONG inter-word spaces. Then open the .PIC file using Notepad or a similar text editor. Find the line that starts XTABLEn, where 'n' is the number of the switch that you want to use in order to generate the message. Now enter your code as CALL and what you want to send. For example, CALL DOT to send a DOT, CALL DASH to send a DASH, CALL XSPACE to send a space (NOTE the letter X before SPACE as the MPASMWin cannot accept the word space on its own), and CALL LONG to send a long space. Each command must be on a separate line and it must have a space or tab before the word CALL. There must also be a space or tab between the word CALL and your command. On the line after your last command type the command CALL LOOP. This will tell the PIC that it's the end of your message and that it should re-read the switches. Once you have completed all of the messages, except for XTABLE without a number, save the notepad file as BASE.PIC.

You can now run MORSE.EXE to add the variable message.
Compiling the PIC Program:
Once the file has been created by MORSE.EXE, it must be compiled and loaded into the PIC.
BASE.PIC has been designed to be compiled using the Microchip assembler (MPASMWin).
Complete Program:
Click on the disk icon to download a file:

Executable Program MORSE.EXE This program creates a single frequency.
PIC Information File BASEMULTI.PIC This program contains the information needed to complete the PIC program. The name must be changed before running MORSE.EXE.
PIC Information File BASE.PIC This is the same as BASEMULTI.PIC but does not need a name change.
Source Code Files:
Click on the disk icon to download the source code file:

Source Code MORSE.C

The source code was written in 'C' and compiled using the Borland C++ Development Suite Version 5.
PIC Files:
PIC Programs Click on the disk icon to go to the PIC Files page.
Other Information:
  • Help, I can't download the PIC files!
    If you have Quicktime installed, the extension PIC may be registered as a Quicktime movie. In that case, right click on the icon and select 'Save target as...' Choose the folder to save the data in and click on the Save button.
  • When I try to download the PIC files I get a message saying that running scripts is dangerous.
    This is the same as previously mentioned. The PIC extension has been registered to another application. You need to save the file and not run it. Simply right click on the icon and select 'Save target as...' Choose the folder to save the data in and click on the Save button.
Errors, Ommissions and Updates: