Arduino Diecimila Board Access Inside Windows 32 Bit DEMO. (Python recipe) by Barry Walker

ActiveState Code (http://code.activestate.com/recipes/577648/)

# Arduino-Windows2x.py

#
# DEMO Arduino Diecimila Board and below, serial access, using standard
# Python and Windows 32 bit installs.

#

# This is an experimental idea only to test the Arduino Diecimila

# development board under Python 2.2.x to 2.6.x; (assume Python 2.6.x).

# (It is assumed that the Python install uses the default folders.)

# This working idea is copyright, (C)2008, B.Walker, G0LCU.

#
# Pyserial is NOT needed AT ALL for this to work.
#

# NOW issued entirely as Public Domain. You may do with it as you please...

#

# Copy this 'Arduino-Windows2x.py' file into the 'C:\Python26\Lib\' folder

# and you will be ready to roll... ;-)

#

# To run type:-

# >>> execfile("C:\\Python26\\Lib\\Arduino-Windows2x.py")<RETURN/ENTER>

# OR......

# >>> import Arduino-Windows2x<RETURN/ENTER>

#
# And away you go...
#

# Press ~Ctrl C~ to QUIT, OR, set input to maximum of 5V, i.e. 255.



# Do any imports as required.

import os



# Start off with a basic cleared screen...

os.system('CLS')



# The program proper.

def main():

	print

	print '       Arduino Diecimila Dev Board access demonsration Python 2.x.x code.'

	print '               Original idea copyright, (C)2008, B.Walker, G0LCU.'

	print '                             Press ~Ctrl C~ to QUIT.'

	print



	# This is set up for my COM(n) port on this old P IV machine.

	# You WILL have to change it to suit the COM port number generated

	# by your particular machine. For example just change my COM5: to

	# your COMx: number in the lines below using a simple text editor.

	os.system("MODE COM5: BAUD=1200 PARITY=N DATA=8 STOP=1 to=on")



	while 1:

		# Open up a channel for USB/Serial reading on the Arduino board.

		pointer = open('COM5:', 'rb', 2)



		# Transfer an 8 bit number into `mybyte`.

		mybyte = str(pointer.read(1))



		# Immediately close the channel.

		pointer.close()



		# Place a wire link between ANALOG IN 0 and Gnd.

		# Replace the wire link between ANALOG IN 0 and 3V3.

		# Replace the wire link between ANALOG IN 0 and 5V.

		# Watch the values change.



		# Print the decimal value on screen.

		print 'Decimal value at Arduino ADC Port0 is:-',ord(mybyte),'.    '



		# Ensure one safe getout when running!

		if mybyte == chr(255): break



main()



# End of DEMO...

# Enjoy finding simple solutions to often very difficult problems... ;o)