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Flowcode - Getting Started Guide

If you are new to Flowcode, you're in the right place. This document is the definitive guide to get you started with creating and programming with Flowcode 8. Using any of the supported hardware you should finish this course being able to program a variety of interesting and fun examples. The course covers two main sections:

  • In Section 1 we will provide an overview of the Flowcode IDE. How users interact with the environment, add components to the simulation panel and create flowcharts.
  • In Section 2 we will run through three examples which will increase in complexity and teach you how to create microcontroller programs

This course can be used by anyone to see the examples in simulation, however to see the examples play out in hardware, the guide suggests you will require one of the following:

  • Matrix BL0011 PIC programmer and BL0114 combo board.
  • Arduino Uno and Matrix BL0114 combo board.
  • Microchip Xpress board
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Flowcode 8 Examples


Introduction to Microcontroller Programming

This comprehensive course uses Matrix's E-blocks and E-blocks2 hardware systems and contains a series of programming exercises supported by background information for references. This can be used by Arduino or PIC users alike and covers a wide variety of microcontroller basics.

This course is also suitable for delivery of BTEC National, Level 3 in Engineering unit 6: Microcontroller Systems for Engineers.

  • Part 1: Intro to Microcontrollers
  • Part 2: Using E-blocks
  • Part 3: Introduction to Flowcode
  • Part 4: Flowcode - First Program
  • Part 5: Flowcode - Examples
  • Part 6: Programming Exercises
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Flowcode 8 Wiki

The Flowcode 8 Wiki site provides you with a detailed glossary style overview of the aspects of the Flowcode environment broken down into relevant sections to aid in finding the knowledge you require to use Flowcode effectively. Use the Wiki to learn about components, download example Flowcode files or just to learn more about programming principles in general.

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Community Forums

The Matrix forum provides an in-depth community of well established, long-term users of Flowcode and new Flowcode users sharing ideas and solving problems and issues encountered whilst using the software. Regularly attended to and updated by our own Engineers, the forum is one of our most popular support resources.

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Components and feature packs

Flowcode purchasing is modular and users can select the feature packs they wish to utilise. Within each feature pack, are a range of components. This guide helps to explain further what is included in most of the feature packs available when you purchase Flowcode 8, with the exception of C code simulation and test and debugging.

The guide will cover the following topics:

  • Part 1: Free
  • Part 2: Comms A
  • Part 3: Comms B
  • Part 4: Comms C
  • Part 5: Displays
  • Part 6: DSP
  • Part 7: Basic IO
  • Part 8: Sensors
  • Part 9: Mechatronics
  • Part 10: Storage
  • Part 11: Models
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SCADA Getting Started Guide

This getting started guide goes through a quick explanation of how to start a new SCADA project within Flowcode and how to create and deploy the project into a full standalone runtime. It does this by working through some comprehensive examples, using the BBC Weather RSS feed for one.

Below is a breakdown of the sections within the getting started guide:

  • Part 1: Introduction to SCADA
  • Part 2: Matrix SCADA
  • Part 3: Overview of Matrix SCADA application creation
  • Part 4: Creating a Flowcode SCADA application
  • Part 5: Deploying a Matrix SCADA runtime application
  • Part 6: Using Communication Components
  • Part 7: Interfacing industrial sensors
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Using Raspberry Pi with Flowcode

For the first time, Flowcode 8 now supports the use of the Raspberry Pi as a target device. Whether you are working with a Raspberry Pi model 2B(v1.2), 3B or 3B+, it's an intuitive way to program for you, either at home or in the classroom.

This guide takes users through how you set up and execute your programs for the Raspberry Pi. Whilst Flowcode works with the Raspberry Pi as a standalone target, for extra simplicity and ease of use, you might wish to consider the E-blocks2 Raspberry Pi shield and bundles available.

The guide will cover the following topics:

  • Part 1: Setting up the Raspberry Pi
  • Part 2: Configuring the Pi for use with Flowcode
  • Part 3: Creating your first project
  • Part 4: Sample Flowcode project
  • Part 5: Running programs from the Flowcode IDE
  • Part 6: Running programs independantly of Flowcode
  • Part 7: Using Raspberry Pi hardware peripherals
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