Configurable firmata does not compile 'out of the box' about arduino

[ntruchsess]

Did you replace the content of library-directory 'Firmata', or did you put the code in a different location?
Directory-structure has to look like this, otherwise the IDE doesn't resolve the Files in utility-dir:
/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.h
/libraries/Firmata/Firmata.cpp
/libraries/Firmata/utility/DigitalInputFirmata.h
/libraries/Firmata/utility/DigitalInputFirmata.cpp
...

[KevinGrandon]

That's exactly how I have my directory structured.

It appears that it's able to include Firmata.h, but can't pull in any of the utility classes - even though the folder is there. Perhaps this could be a bug with Arduino proper?

[soundanalogous]

I'm not having any issues with the latest version of ConfigurableFirmata in Arduino 1.5.2 running on OS X10.8.4.

Note that the file path in Arduino 1.5.2 is different from previous version.

If you're using an AVR-based Arduino: arduino.app/Contents/Resources/Java/hardware/arduino/avr/libraries/Firmata/ (replacing the existing version)

If you're using an Arduino Due:
arduino.app/Contents/Resources/Java/hardware/arduino/sam/libraries/Firmata/ (you'll need to add Firmata here)

You'll know you have Firmata installed in the correct location in Arduino 1.5.2 when you can browse to File -> Examples -> Firmata -> ConfigurableFirmata

[KevinGrandon]

Sounds like I'm doing something wrong. Thanks for the info guys, if I find anything I'll let you know. Closing this for now.

[soundanalogous]

Please let me know if you continue to have this issue. I'd like to get ConfigurableFirmata to a stable state so we can roll it into the master branch so all feedback is helpful.

[KevinGrandon]

@soundanalogous - It appears that I was able to get the configurable branch to compile fine on firmata 1.0.5 using the same steps. Perhaps there is a strange bug in 1.5.0+. (I suppose that is still in beta). Thanks!

[soundanalogous]

should still work in 1.5.2. Difference between 1.0.5 and 1.5.2 is that in 1.5.2 you need to replace Firmata in:

hardware/avr/libraries/Firmata rather than libraries/Firmata. The difference is the addition of hardware/avr and hardware/sam/ in Arduino 1.5.2. The old path still exists in Arduino 1.5.2 as well, but if copy Firmata there it will not work. It needs to be in the hardware directory path for the appropriate architecture.

[computersarecool]

I am getting the exact set of error messages as the original poster. I am running Arduino 1.0.5 and downloaded the ConfigurableFirmata zip file today.
I have tried installing Firmata to libraries/Firmata
I have tried "adding" the library through the IDE.
I have tried them individually and at the same time.
Every time I get the same error message. Any support would be greatly appreciated.

[soundanalogous]

Did you replace the contents of Arduino.app/Contents/Resources/Java/libraries/Firmata/ (the exact file path varies by OS but it should be within the Arduino application)? Note that this is a different location there where you add 3rd party libraries (Documents/Arduino/libraries/).

"adding" the library through the IDE will not work because Firmata is not a 3rd party library, it's part of the Arduino application.

[computersarecool]

Yes, I am sorry I forgot to add that I also dragged the folder to Arduino.app/Contents/Resources/Java/libraries/Firmata/

When I download from this source, https://github.com/firmata/arduino/tree/configurable (I download the Zip)
I then Unzip the file, this gives me a folder entitled: arduino-configurable
I then Change the folder name to Firmata, and replace the folder that already resides in Arduino.app/Contents/Resources/Java/libraries/Firmata/
To load the configurable Firmata I then go to Examples, Firmata in the IDE and try to load that way.

All to no avail...Any hints would be great.

[soundanalogous]

Did you delete the Firmata folder that may have ended up in Documents/Arduino/libraries/ when you tried to add via the IDE?

The error you are seeing is indicating that the Firmata library is not found. The Arduino application is not picking it up even though you've copied it to the correct directory. I'm assuming you've restarted the Arduino app after moving the library into the application.

I'm running OS X 10.8.4 and am unable to reproduce this issue in either Arduino 1.0.5 or Arduino 1.5.3.

I just went through the following process to be sure:

1. Download clean copy of Arduino 1.0.5
2. Download arduino-configurable.zip
3. Rename anrduino-configurable folder to Firmata
4. Replace existing Firmata library in Arduino application
5. Open Arduino application
6. Open File -> Examples -> Firmata -> ConfigurableFirmata
7. Compile (no errors)

[computersarecool]

Okay, I found my issue. I needed a Teensy board to communicate on pins 7-8 (Serial3) and so I reserved them by editing the boards.h file in Firmata. I then saved this as Teensy_Firmata, so that all of my boards running Firmata would not have pins 7 and 8 reserved. (This folder was in the documents folder, under the name Teensy_Firmata). Once I deleted that, it worked (thanks for your help).

However, can you give me any advice on how I could reinstate my edited Firmata folder (or the best way to have two boards.h files on my system so that I can use my teensy with the old Firmata too?)

Thanks for your help.

[soundanalogous]

I'm not sure why you had to edit boards.h. It should already support the Teensy series boards. If you're trying to use Firmata with a different serial port on a Teensy or other board you simply need to modify the StandardFirmata or ConfigurableFirmata sketch (whichever you are using). You can rename it to ConfigurableFirmataSerial3 or something and save the sketch to your Documents/Arduino/ folder. That way you don't need 2 separate versions of the Firmata library, only 2 different versions of the ConfigurableFirmata sketch.

Where you see Firmata.begin(57600) in StandardFirmata or ConfigurableFirmata, change to this:

Serial3.begin(57600);
// Firmata will now use Serial3
Firmata.begin(Serial3);

[computersarecool]

Thank you for this information. I am using a BT module, which was communicating over serial 3, and when I asked Paul (Stoffregen) he suggested editing the boards.h to make sure that Firmata did not use those pins. It sounds like this is unnecessary?

Also (because you have been a big help) could you tell me the best way to find out about Firmata? I have read the entire wiki etc. but I cant seem to find out what the different variations do. What, for instance, is new about Configurable Firmata and why the people from maxuino are using it.

[soundanalogous]

To ignore pins 7 & 8 you can do this (if you're using the configurable branch):

// firmata will ignore pins 7 and 8
Firmata.setPinMode(7, IGNORE);
Firmata.setPinMode(8, IGNORE);

Serial3.begin(57600);
// Firmata will now use Serial3
Firmata.begin(Serial3);

maxuino is using Configurable Firmata for it's stepper motor support. ConfigurableFirmata is still beta. It should be considered unstable. Any code not in the Firmata master branch is unstable. However it's good that people are using ConfigurableFirmata since that gives me a change to get any bug reports before it eventually gets merged into the master branch.

ConfigurableFirmata is not well documented. I only have so much time but it's on my list of things to do. The basic idea was to break up the functionality of StandardFirmata into individual feature classes (you'll see these in the utility directory). Norbert Truchsess took on this task. ConfigurableFirmata enables us to add far more features than StandardFirmata would be able to support (at least on a board with little SRAM such as the Arduino Uno). The long term goal is to create a web service where you can select features to include and it will generate an Arduino .ino file for you to download. Currently you have to comment out features in the ConfigurableFirmata sketch that you do not need. I highly recommend doing this (especially commenting out the includes for OneWire and FirmataScheduler if you are not using these - you likely are not in case you are unsure). That will save you some SRAM.

[computersarecool]

Hi Jeff,
I posted the last few questions about Configurable Firmata. I wanted to say
thanks for all your help.
I really appreciate your look and I took a glance at your site which is
real nice. One thing did catch my eye, your blog post on wireless Firmata
communication. I have just begun reading wireless sensor networks, but I
have an overarching question:

I am wondering if there is a way that I can communicate wirelessly between
two arduino boards that both have Firmata uploaded. Right now, I control
Maxuino using a bluetooth module and either a teensy or an arduino board.
I want to find a way so that the pins I set hi or the analog readings on
this board are reflected on another board, wirelessly. So I could, for
instance, have the pins on one board controlling a toy's DC motors, and
then when I set the pins on my other board HI or Low, that would be
reflected on the toy controlling board. It would be great to be able to do
this in Firmata and I would appreciate any help you could provide.

Thanks,
Willy Nolan

[computersarecool]

Wow. Thanks for another great answer and help.

[Onde]

Hello to everyone
I'm trying to use ArduinoUno+easyboard+ Stepper Motor – NEMA-17 – 48mm – 42BYGHM809

I followed these steps.
I'm running OS X 10.6.8 with Arduino 1.0.5

Download clean copy of Arduino 1.0.5
Download arduino-configurable.zip
Rename anrduino-configurable folder to Firmata
Replace existing Firmata library in Arduino application
Open Arduino application
Open File -> Examples -> Firmata -> ConfigurableFirmata
Compile (no errors)

then I uploaded ConfigurableFirmata to arduinoUno.

I opened the maxuino.maxhelp and finally WORKS WELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THANKS

[henryghmjm]

Hello,
I am using Arduino Uno board and running on Microsoft Windows 7

I already followed these steps:

Download the arduino-configurable.zip
Copy all the arduino-configurable.zip file
Paste it into c:/Program Files (x86)/Arduino/libraries/Firmata
Replace any existing file with the arduino-configurable.zip

then i open the Arduino Application

The result is that the Firmata is in black color instead of orange
The Question is: is it working?
The upload process -> is successful tough..