Visual Basic & C# Automation Books

There are now three books on VB in factory and laboratory automation programming.  We have read these in detail and present a review here.  

by Jeff Weigant, Spiral-bound - 207 pages (February 1, 1999)

This book is for visual basic and factory automation beginners.  Jeff does an excellent job of going through every detail required to write several applications.  He shows how to read and write PLCs using IN-GEAR (we typically use Automated Solutions drivers).  He shows how to use Symbol Factory and the Instrumentation ActiveX Library to spice up your displays.  He shows in detail how to use an Access database (using data controls) and Excel spreadsheet (using DDE).   I wish he had also shown how to use the  Excel object libraries and ADO.  We wish Jeff would write more volumes to get up to a level that we feel most programmers should be at.  We would rate this an excellent introductory book to using VB in factory automation.  

by Thomas Leonik, Paperback & CD-ROM, 386 pages (August 2000)

Do not let the title fool you.  Although the examples are written around home automation it applies just as much to factory and laboratory automation.  The book interfaces to the Allen-Bradley (Rockwell) MicroLogix PLC.  Most interesting in this book, the author shows how to write the communications protocol (DF1?) to talk with the PLC.  We still recommend users to buy an ActiveX control for $500 for 24/7 "industrial" applications -- but for "playing around", demos, and learning how to write serial communications protocols -- this is the book.  The book contains a CD-ROM so the source code is included.  This book shows many general automation topics -- how to do simple animations, log data (please use the File Scripting Object instead), graph data and a lot more.  Another interesting thing is that this book shows how easy it is to use wave files.  Some people hate wave files but we love them.  Instead of sounding an obnoxious horn and having the operator walk over and read a screen -- you simply tell the operator what is wrong.  We would rate this an excellent medium level book. 

by Mark F. Russo, Martin M. Echols, Paperback (May 1999)

This is a good book also but much more  advanced.  These guys spend about 40 pages reviewing how to program in VB and then plunge into objects, DDE, RS-232, TCP/IP using the Winsock control, communicating through files, state machines, parsing, controllers, plotting with MSChart, spreadsheets with MSFlexGrid, and finally graphics.  Very, very good stuff but probably over the heads of many beginning programmers and factory automators. They do provide the source code on-line for download so even beginners and intermediate programmers, if they have patience, can play with the code examples and learn a lot.   Although difficult, most everything in this book are concepts you need to know. 

The only exception we take to this book are for example the graphics they describe.  We don't feel that it is worth the effort to develop, maintain, and support your own graphics (or any other) routines when you can buy the routines elsewhere.  Exceptions are when the routines do not exist, cost more than $750, or require a license for each installation.  Don't let our relatively small dissatisfaction sway your opinion because this book is worth many times it price.  Even if you don't use them, their examples on graphics will help you learn more about vb and automation.  

Other books that are somewhat related

Visual Basic Programmer's Guide to Serial Communications

by Richard Grier, Zane Thomas (Editor), James Shields (Editor), Phounsavan, Paperback - 304 pages (March 1997)

I don't think that I have read this book.  But I do know that it was written by Mabry Software.  Most factory automation applications today do not require programming with the serial port like they did five years ago.  However, we still run into a couple projects a year where this knowledge is helpful.  More impressive from Mabry Software is their internet pack of ActiveX controls.  This will let you do almost anything over the internet (or network) with very little programming.  For example, in my humble opinion, the Microsoft Winsock control built into Visual Basic is lacking.  The socket control from Mabry is more reliable and has better diagnostics, properties, methods, and events.  

Mathematical Algorithms in Visual Basic for Scientists & Engineers

by Namir C. Shammas, paperback & floppy disk, 250 pages, 1996 

Simultaneous linear equations, nonlinear equations, interpolation, differentiation, integration, differential equations, optimization, ANOVA tests, linear regression, multiple and polynomial regression.  

Related Links

• VB for Automation Training Summary
• HTS recommended general VB 6 books
• VB.NET Books
• C# Books
• CE.NET, Pocket PC, Windows Mobile Books
• Other .NET books
• Amazon.com .NET Resource Center

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