Mac Installation Tips for the LogoChip Desktop Software

The LogoChip Documentation and Software page has links to the LogoChip resources,
the most helpful of which is Getting Started with LogoChips. However, I found the software installation instruction portion of that document somewhat . . .
lacking.

On my PowerMac desktop, the Serial Communications Driver installed smoothly and autodetected my serial port. On my PowerBook notebook, the installation gave an error and didn't autodetect my serial port, so I had to configure it manually.
I was using the same USB serial cable on each.

-- Keith Neufeld

Step 1: Serial Communications Driver

To install the LogoChip Desktop Software on Mac OS X, first you have to install a driver to let LogoChip Desktop access your serial port.

1. Download the Java serial communications driver. This will put a JavaCommInstaller.bin icon on your desktop (or wherever you download to).
2. Double-click that icon; Stuffit Expander should pop up and create a JavaCommInstaller icon (no suffix) on your desktop.
3. Double-click that icon, enter your password for the installer, and click the Install button. It may or may not run cleanly; if it gives you an error that it couldn't locate System Folder, it's probably okay anyway.
4. If you want, you can now delete both the JavaCommInstaller.bin and JavaCommInstaller icons.

Step 2: LogoChip Desktop Software

Next, install the LogoChip Desktop itself.

1. Download the LogoChip Desktop Software installer. This will put a LogoChip2.0-2004-08-10.zip file on your desktop.
2. Double-click that file. Stuffit Expander should pop up briefly and create a LogoChip2.0-2004-08-10 folder on your desktop.
3. Double-click that folder. It should open to show LogoChip.jar and several .txt files.
4. Double-click the LogoChip.jar icon. It should start up a LogoChip Logo console window with a message that says Welcome to LogoChip Logo! and has no error messages. Voila!
5. If you want, you can now delete the LogoChip2.0-2004-08-10.zip file.
6. If you want, you can move the LogoChip2.0-2004-08-10 folder to somewhere else on your computer--just remember that you're going to have to find it every time you want to run LogoChip Desktop.

Step 3: Test the Serial Connection

Finally, make sure your serial connection is configured and working. You won't be able to tell whether it's configured properly until you have a working serial cable hooked up to a working LogoChip.
(This presents a bit of a chicken and egg problem, if you're not sure about your LogoChip and serial cable.) Once you think you have a good connection:

1. Type flash (and hit Return) in the LogoChip console, and the LogoChip's run light should flash.
2. Type ! test-serial (Return), and the LogoChip's serial indicator light should flash.
3. If you get the message logochip not connected., then try manually configuring your serial connection:
   • Type ! print portnames in the console window. You should get output that looks something like /dev/tty.IrDA-IrCOMMch-b /dev/tty.usbserial0 . These are your computer's internal names for your serial ports.
   • Pick the one that looks like it relates to your USB serial cable--in my case, /dev/tty.usbserial0 .
   • Quit your LogoChip console.
   • In your LogoChip2.0-2004-08-10 folder window, edit the config.txt file (which may be listed as just config).
   • Change com-port: default to whatever port name you picked above--in my case, com-port: /dev/tty.usbserial0 .
   • Save the change and quit TextEdit (or whichever editor you're using).
   • Restart the LogoChip console (double-click LogoChip.jar).
   • Retry the flash and ! test-serial tests again.
4. Once you have flashing lights, your serial port is configured and working and you're ready to go!

Step 3.5 If you had trouble in Step 3

If you could not find the portname of your usb <-> serial converter, it could be that you have not yet installed the USB <-> serial driver
If you bought the recommended converter for the class, you will see in apple menu -> about this mac -> more info -> USB -> USB-Serial Controller that the manufacturer is Prolific Technology.
In that case, install this driver

Step 4: Run It!

To run LogoChip Desktop again later, double-click the LogoChip2.0-2004-08-10 folder and double-click the LogoChip.jar icon.