ActiveX Serial Port control... RS-232 ... ?

[aidmm]

I have a digital scale with an LCD screen. It also has an RS-232 port (for Postage Metering). Here's my dilema... I know nothing of RS-232. I've used ActiveX controls before, but the demo version of the Serial Port ActiveX I'm trying to understand has led me to believe I need to learn about the way Serial data is transmitted/received. If someone who knows this type of stuff can point me in the right direction I would be most grateful!

thanks.

[Joshtek]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RS232 has an overview and some links.

[aidmm]

Thanks, Joshtek.

I just read over the wiki. My brain is on standby now, but I think it's starting to make some sense. From what I read, it seems that it doesn't transmit actual text, but just 1's and 0's... does this mean to receive text (or numbers) I'll need to use some sort of Binary function?

[neat_Kliker2]

i dont know much either but serial uses binary but the motherboard or serial card will convert that into text and is sent at a certain speed (baud rate) because obvesly you cant send a letter in electricity, it is either on or off. if AJ / John Avison still used these forms he would tell you alot more, he recently made a PHP controlled door opener using a serial port, external power supply and a mosfet or transistor

[aidmm]

I guess the first step is getting the data read in MMF... then I'll try to do something with the data....

[neat_Kliker2]

MMF 1.5 had the serial port object by 3EE

[aidmm]

I can't find the 3EE Serial object on any site. I've reinstalled MMF1.5 and tried using the Com-Port object, but it seems that this object is just for sending data, not receiving data (which I need).