Product manual
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1130_0_Product_Manual - March 26, 2010 8:07 AM
Testing Using Mac OS X
Click on System Preferences >> Phidgets (under Other) to activate the Preference Pane•
Make sure that the Phidget InterfaceKit 8/8/8 is properly attached.•
Double Click on Phidget InterfaceKit 8/8/8 in the Phidget Preference Pane to bring up the InterfaceKit-Full •
example. This example will function in a similar way as the Windows version, but note that it does not include an
Advanced Sensor Display.
Programming a Phidget
Phidgets’ philosophy is that you do not have to be an electrical engineer in order to do projects that use devices
like sensors, motors, motor controllers, and interface boards. All you need to know is how to program. We have
developed a complete set of Application Programming Interfaces (API) that are supported for Windows, Mac OS X,
and Linux. When it comes to languages, we support VB6, VB.NET, C#.NET, C, C++, Flash 9, Flex, Java, LabVIEW,
Python, Max/MSP, and Cocoa.
Code Samples
We have written sample programs to illustrate how the APIs are used.
Due to the large number of languages and devices we support, we cannot provide examples in every language for
every Phidget. Some of the examples are very minimal, and other examples will have a full-featured GUI allowing
all the functionality of the device to be explored. Most developers start by modifying existing examples until they
have an understanding of the architecture.
Go to www.phidgets.com >> Programming to see if there are code samples written for your device. Find the
language you want to use and click on the magnifying glass besides “Code Sample”. You will get a list of all the
devices for which we wrote code samples in that language.
IfthisisyourrsttimewritingaprogramtocontrolaPhidget,youshouldreadtheGettingStartedGuideforthe
language you are planning to use.
Coding for your Sensor
Phidget analog sensors do not have their own API, but instead their output is a voltage that is converted to a digital
value and accessed through the SensorValue properties and events on a PhidgetInterfaceKit. It is not possible to
programmatically identify which sensor is attached to the Analog Input. Your application will need to apply any
formulas from this manual to the SensorValue to translate it into usable data.
See the PhidgetInterfaceKit product manual for an overview of its API and a description of our architecture.