c# Lua code examples

[Devon Custard]

Anyone out there willing to share some of there C# LUA interface code? Im looking to interface some stepper motors and 7 segment LEDs to values being exported from DCS:World A10C.

 

Im stuck at first principles, i.e. how the hell do i start, and would really appreciate browsing over someones experiences to get me started.

 

Thanks in advance

[Joe Kurr]

The easiest way is to write a TCP listener in C#, and connect to that from lua.

 

Here's a snippet from my export.lua:

 

function InitExport()
package.path = package.path .. ";.\\LuaSocket\\?.lua"
package.cpath = package.cpath .. ";.\\LuaSocket\\?.dll"

   socket = require("socket")
   host = "localhost"
   port = 10309
   connection = socket.try(socket.connect(host, port))
   connection:setoption("tcp-nodelay", true)
   socket.try(connection:send("start"))
end

 

My C# application listens on port 10309, and initializes all output signals when it receives "start".

 

Since my lua code was originally written for FC2, the below code might need changes in order to work for you. IIRC LoGetMechInfo() only works for FC2 / FC3 aircraft, and not the DCS modules.

 

function ExportCockpitData()
if LoGetMechInfo() then
	local RawGearStatus = LoGetMechInfo().gear.value
	local RawFlapStatus = LoGetMechInfo().flaps.value
	local RawBrakeStatus = LoGetMechInfo().speedbrakes.value
	--[[
		RawGearStatus == 1 --> Gear Down
		RawGearStatus == 0 --> Gear Up
		RawGearStatus > 0 < 1 --> Gear Retracting / Extending
	--]]
	local GearWarning = (RawGearStatus > 0 and RawGearStatus < 1) and 1 or 0
	local GearStatus = (RawGearStatus > 0.5 and GearWarning == 0) and 1 or 0
	local FlapStatus = (RawFlapStatus > 0.5) and 1 or 0
	local BrakeStatus = (RawBrakeStatus > 0.5) and 1 or 0
	local FodStatus = ((LoGetMechInfo().gear.main.left.rod + LoGetMechInfo().gear.main.right.rod) / 2 > 0) and 1 or 0
	local MasterWarning = LoGetMCPState().MasterWarning and 1 or 0
	
	local returnString = string.format("leds %d%d%d%d%d%d%d%d\n", 0, 0, MasterWarning, GearWarning, BrakeStatus, FodStatus, FlapStatus, GearStatus)

	if connection then
		socket.try(connection:send(returnString))
	end
end
end

 

The important bit for you is the "if connection then ... " block.

This will send the data in returnString to the C# application.

 

Finally, I let the application know I'm done flying and close the connection when the mission ends:

 

function EndExport()
   if connection then
	socket.try(connection:send("--\n"))
	connection:close()
   end
end

 

Finally, here's a bit of C# code for the TCP listener.

I call this function from a new thread, so it runs in the background and keeps the user interface of the application responsive.

 

void ListenForClients() {
TcpListener listener = new TcpListener(IPAddress.Loopback, 10309);
listener.Start();
while (keepListening)
{
	Socket socketForClient = listener.AcceptSocket();
	if (socketForClient.Connected)
	{
		NetworkStream stream = new NetworkStream(socketForClient);
		StreamWriter writer = new StreamWriter(stream);
		StreamReader reader = new StreamReader(stream);
		try
		{
			string line = keepListening ? reader.ReadLine() : "--";
			while (line != "--")
			{
				// Handle your client requests here
				
				line = keepListening ? reader.ReadLine() : "--";
			}
		}
		catch (Exception ex)
		{
			Console.Error.WriteLine(" !! -- " + ex.Message);
		}
		reader.Close();
		writer.Close();
		socketForClient.Close();

	}
}
}

 

Hope this helps.

[Devon Custard]

Joe youre a legend. Thanks! Will have a crack at that today when i get home.

[TigersharkBAS]

DC...might be worth some exploration in the Warthog Wiki? Under Concepts?