All of this software is provided by Sheepdog Software (tm).
While all of these do require external hardware, many of them lead to tutorials you can profit from without ever actually building the device discussed.
Click on short description to go to details and download buttons.
- Programs marked 'D' are DOS programs, but they will run under Windows!
- Programs marked 'M' use a Dallas MicroLan.
Site Map
What's NewSearch
N.B.: The search engine just looks through the web site for the words you enter. It cannot answer "Which program is fastest?"
Individual descriptions and download buttons start here
===
DE49-PicPgBuilder... Continually updates a webpage, to show images from dynamic sources.
Do you have new images of some kind arising from time to time? Perhaps jpgs arriving on an FTP server from IP cameras... and you want to manage that stream of images, and keep a webpage updated with the latest images from the cameras... or other sources? I did, so I wrote DE49-PicPgBuilder.
You can usually see its fruits at My IP camera images gallery. All of that done with free software, an old PC, the service of Dyn.com, DE49... and quite a lot of work, I must admit. Apologies for the quality of the images... I didn't want to pay for expensive cameras.
DE49-PicPgBuilder has its own webpage, with further details and a download button. You can use it for free, forever, in the demo mode which only allows one image, but which is the same as the full Vers ion in every other way. You only tweak an ini file to upgrade. No reinstall needed.
This is newly added... if you encounter any download problems, please try again in a little while, I'm still installing, testing. Should be done within an hour of this appearing, but can't promise. Other items here are well established, and should download easily
===
TCP/IP Client...
If you are ready to "play" with TCP/IP client server programming, this may be helpful to you.
I have created a server in an Arduino. That server will respond to specific codes, either turning and LED on the server on or off, or sending a reading from an analog port back to the client.
The point is NOT to turn the LED on and off... that, and the reading of the analog port, are just "stand ins" for whatever you want to do with a server of your devising.
Getting started with client / server work is rather "chicken and egg" challenged. You can't test your server without a client, and you can't test your client without a server. I hope that the material I have made available will help you get started. Use either of the halves I have provided "as is", and tinker with the other half, building up your experience until you are able to do more!
Most features free. You can even test the external hardware for the "not free" part without first buying a license key.
This program allows you to turn individual pins of a parallel port on or off... even if you use Windows XP... and probably Vista, too, but I haven't tested it there.
Five pins are controlled by setting or clearing ticks in checkboxes.
One pin is set aside for a bit which can be turned on or off by clicking buttons in the program's control panel, or according to a time schedule.
The final two pins are set aside for controlling something like curtains, which can be opened or closed with a motor. Like the previous pin, this can happen because you click on a button, or by a time schedule.
The link below tells you more, especially about the "open/ close" device, and it gives you the button for downloading the program.
Do you have someplace where there's a PC with always-on broadband that you would like to be able to check up on remotely, from any internet terminal in the world?
If you access the link below, it will tell you more about a system that I use, which will cost you nothing. (Beyond the bought-for-other-reasons-anyway broadband connection). A Windows 98 PC is adequate.
While this isn't something that sets up as easily as my other programs, it offers much more!
The program can access 1-Wire temperature sensing chips, but it can also be useful even without a MicroLan. (Used that way, no extra hardware is needed.)
This program graphs the outputs from a 1-Wire 8 bit digital i/o chip. The chip is capable of input and output, but this program only addresses the chip's input capabilities.
For more information, visit the page about DS041, this program, where you will find the download button.
This is newly added... if you encounter any download problems, please try again in a little while, I'm still installing, testing. Should be done within an hour of this appearing, but can't promise. Other items here are well established, and SHOULD download
A .DLL to report state of DS2405.
If you have this little bit of code in the right folder, then other programs can easily check the state of a DS2405 (1 bit digital input).
There's much more information about how it all works in the text file in the zip.
Eric Vickery, at Hobby Boards, does a nice little PIR interfaced to MicroLans via a DS2405.
Ideal for classroom use, this puts a large (user adjustable) display on the screen showing how long something took. You can either simply use a joystick- press "Fire 1" to start stopwatch, "Fire 2" to stop it, or, if you have but a little expertise, you can wire your own electronics to the joystick port.
I have used the program successfully with a USB joystick. I can't, I hope you understand, guarantee that it will work with every USB joystick out there. It should always work with an "old fashioned", "proper" joystick interface. (The 15 pin D connector type)
The program is unusual for Sheepdog Software in that it does not come in any demo Vers ion. You cannot run it until you have a registration key, and you don't get a key until you pay. You can access the help file, but that tells you little more than you see here. You get a registration key by negotiation: Send a message about your intended use (private use, in your home -> site license for a uniVers ity with 10,000 students. An option that lets you use in a school for modest cost: "Licensed for use when [named person] is in the room.")
It is also unusual in that it is "ragged"... I can't promise you a quick response to a request for a registration key... but I will try to do my best. But if you need something that "just works", real fast... look elsewhere. Sorry. But it will be cheap for the first few people willing to work with me!
This program has only one timing channel. A variation which could time several events, all from a common start time, could probably be produced without too much trouble. Get in touch if you want to buy the single channel Vers ion first, but are interested in having me put in the time to do a multi channel Vers ion.
Another possible enhancement is to make the program record readings to a machine readable file. The program could certainly be modified to allow you to start and stop the clock with a key, as well as with the joystick's fire buttons. I just forgot to include that when I wrote it! I will add that if any registered user requests it.
Because the program operates through Windows, there are sundry degradations of the timer's accuracy. I am confident that it times AT LEAST to the nearest tenth of a second, but I could be wrong. Please get in touch if you could run some tests for me comparing the timing by my program, and by a dedicated timer, using shared, hardwired electronic "start" and "stop" signals? I'd be willing to "pay" you with an enhanced Vers ion of the program... but not much more, sorry! A good project for a keen pupil?
Click here to download. It is in a self-extracting zip (SEZ) file, created with WinZip 8. The SEZ will (only) unzip and save the files it contains. You should save it to your disc, log off the internet, check it for viruses and then run it. It asks what folder you want the files in.
Problem downloading, etc? Please report, quote:A#AV. 'Email me' buttons at top and bottom.
This program was written to demonstrate the strengths of the AAG 1-Wire input/ output board, the TAI8558. (See www.aag.com.mx for details.)
Even if you don't want to purchase the system, if you are interested in computer moderated sensing and control, the discussion in the .pdf may be of interest.
The system implements a basic burglar / fire alarm system. At the same time, it interfaces (quite simply) with the heating (or air conditioning) systems in the protected premises, adjusting the money spent based on whether the premises are occupied or not.
This program is not typical of Sheepdog Software products in that it requires you to obtain some other hardware and software before it will run, total cost about $140.
Click here to download the exe file.It is supplied as a self-extracting zip (SEZ) file, created with WinZip 8. The SEZ will (only) unzip and save the files it contains. You should save it to your disc, log off the internet, check it for viruses and then run it. It asks what folder you want the files in.
Click here to download the sourcecode. It is supplied a self-extracting zip (SEZ) file, created with WinZip 8. The SEZ will (only) unzip and save the files it contains. You should save it to your disc, log off the internet, check it for viruses and then run it. It asks what folder you want the files in.
The program's help file is included in both of the SEZs.
Problem downloading, etc? Please report, quote:A#AW. 'Email me' buttons at top and bottom.
The parallel port can control things other than printers. If you want to be able to turn individual parallel port bits on and off, this is what you need. If in doubt: Don't try to hook something up yourself- you can damage your computer or start fires. (There's more on parallel port projects at my page on that topic.)
In its present, simple, form, you are welcome to use Bit Control... free for your own use. Please at least tell me how you get on with it, though??
The program has a button for each parallel port bit. Click the button to toggle the bit.
This program requires a little "special" hardware that you'll have to supply yourself. How special? Anything that when plugged into a parallel port and switches something else on/ off depending on what data has been sent to the parallel port will do. If in doubt: Don't try to hook something up yourself- you can damage your computer or start fires. (There's more on parallel port projects at my page on that topic.)
If you can manage that hardware requirement, you are welcome to my On/Off program... free for your own use. Please at least tell me how you get on with it, though??
When it is running, even if you can't see the monitor (e.g. it is warming up out of a snooze) with single keys whatever is controlled by the parallel port can be switched on, off, on-for-10-minutes (after which it turns off again), on-for-20, on-for-30, etc, or on for a preset time (1 sec-99 hours). When you can see the screen, you can change the preset time. (You can even do that without seeing the screen if you are good at these things!)
(This won't work on Windows NT or 2000 or XP.. but SheepdogCurtainCloser (up page) will!)
Your thoughts on the site would be welcome! PLEASE report any difficulties with downloading the material or its use?? I promise I won't think you are silly... and will APPRECIATE any trouble you take to help me see where my instructions are not clear. (I have been known to send free registered Vers ions to people!) The most common question: 'Why won't the program work in my Macintosh?' Answer: 'These programs are all only for Windows or MS-DOS.'
Looking for email, domain registration, or web site hosting? If you visit 1&1's site from here, it helps me. They host my website, and I wouldn't put this link up for them if I wasn't happy with their service. They offer things for the beginner and the corporation.
Ad from page's editor: Yes.. I do enjoy compiling these things for you. I hope they are helpful. However... this doesn't pay my bills!!! Sheepdog Software (tm) is supposed to help do that, so if you found this stuff useful, (and you run a Windows or MS-DOS PC) please visit my freeware and shareware page, download something, and circulate it for me? Links on your page to this page would also be appreciated!
Page tested for compliance with INDUSTRY (not MS-only) standards, using the free, publicly accessible validator at validator.w3.org. Mostly passes. There were two "unknown attributes" in Google+ button code. Sigh.
AND tested for
Why does this page cause a script to run? Because of the Google panels, and the code for the search button. Also, I have my web-traffic monitored for me by eXTReMe tracker. They offer a free tracker. If you want to try one, check out their site. Why do I mention the script? Be sure you know all you need to about spyware.
Page tested for compliance with INDUSTRY (not MS-only) standards, using the free, publicly accessible validator at validator.w3.org. Mostly passes. There were two "unknown attributes" in Google+ button code. Sigh.
