v1.4.0 changes, ui updated, new functionality, better theme handling

Author: mcagriaksoy

README.md

@@ -38,20 +38,13 @@ The COM port tool is compatible with:
 [![OS - Linux](https://img.shields.io/badge/OS-Linux-blue?logo=linux&logoColor=white)](https://www.linux.org/ "Go to Linux homepage")
 [![OS - Windows](https://img.shields.io/badge/OS-Windows-blue?logo=windows&logoColor=white)](https://www.microsoft.com/ "Go to Microsoft homepage")
 
-To use the tool, follow these steps:
-First of all, please ensure that you installed dependencies already.
+1. Run the program.
+2. Select a serial port and configure parameters.
+3. Start communication using the **Start** button.
+4. Send or receive data as needed.
+5. Save received data or clear buffers using the respective buttons.
 
-```
-python main.py
-```
-
-Then the project can be run with:
-
-```
-pip install -r requirements.txt
-```
-
-![Project SS](https://github.com/mcagriaksoy/Serial-Communication-GUI-Program/blob/master/img/Screenshot_v2024_07_2.jpg)
+![Project SS](https://github.com/mcagriaksoy/Serial-Communication-GUI-Program/blob/master/img/Screenshot_v2025_04.jpg)
 
 If you encounter any problems while using the COM port tool, try these solutions:
 
@@ -62,9 +55,9 @@ If you have any questions or feedback, please contact me.
 
 ## Dependencies
 
-[![PyQt - >= 6.0](https://img.shields.io/badge/PyQt->_6.0-2ea44f)](https://wiki.python.org/moin/PyQt)
-[![PyQt_sip - >= 13.0](https://img.shields.io/badge/PyQt_sip->_13.0-2ea44f)](https://pypi.org/project/PyQt6-sip/)
-[![PySerial - >= 3.0](https://img.shields.io/badge/PyQt->_3.0-2ea44f)](https://pypi.org/project/pyserial/)
+[![PySide - >= 6.0](https://img.shields.io/badge/PySide->_6.0-2ea44f)](https://wiki.python.org/moin/PySide)
+[![PySide_sip - >= 13.0](https://img.shields.io/badge/PySide_sip->_13.0-2ea44f)](https://pypi.org/project/PySide6-sip/)
+[![PySerial - >= 3.0](https://img.shields.io/badge/PySide->_3.0-2ea44f)](https://pypi.org/project/pyserial/)
 
 <h2>Documentation</h2>
 <div align="center">
@@ -79,6 +72,21 @@ pyinstaller --noconfirm --onefile --windowed --icon "ui/icon.ico" "src/main.py"
 
 ```
 
+## Changes
+
+### V1.4.0 - 2025 Update
+
+Feature: Added basic_view_enabled and advanced_view_enabled methods to toggle UI layouts visibility.
+Implemented start_loop and stop_loop for managing serial communication with threading.
+Added on_save_txt_button_clicked to save received data to a .txt file.
+
+Improvement: Enhanced error handling for serial communication and worker threads.
+Added visual feedback for serial port selection and connection status.
+
+Bug Fix: Fixed UI responsiveness during active serial communication.
+
+Refactor: Organized serial communication logic into reusable methods.
+
 </div>
 <h2>License</h2>
 Released under <a href="/LICENSE">GNU General Public License v3.0</a> by <a href="https://github.com/mcagriaksoy">@mcagriaksoy</a>.

img/Screenshot_v2024_07_2.jpg

@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@
 
 __author__ = 'Mehmet Cagri Aksoy - github.com/mcagriaksoy'
 __annotations__ = 'AFCOM - Serial Communication GUI Program'
-__version__ = '2024.12'
+__version__ = '2025 - 1.4.0.0'
 __license__ = 'JGPLv3'
-__status__ = 'Research'
+__status__ = 'Development'
 
 # IMPORTS
 from os import path, system
@@ -42,8 +42,20 @@
 SERIAL_DEVICE = Serial()
 PORTS = []
 is_serial_port_established = False
-nightModeEnabled = False
-simpleViewEnabled = False
+
+from winreg import OpenKey, HKEY_CURRENT_USER, QueryValueEx, ConnectRegistry, KEY_READ, KEY_WOW64_64KEY
+
+def is_windows_dark_mode(self):
+ try:
+ registry = ConnectRegistry(None, HKEY_CURRENT_USER)
+ registry_key = OpenKey(registry, r'Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize')
+ value, _ = QueryValueEx(registry_key, 'AppsUseLightTheme')
+ return value == 0 # 0 means dark mode is enabled
+ except WindowsError:
+ return False
+
+# simpleViewEnabled = False
+
 
 def get_serial_port():
  """ Lists serial port names
@@ -102,6 +114,7 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
  def __init__(self):
  """ Initialize Main Window """
  super(MainWindow, self).__init__()
+
  if PROGRAM_TYPE_DEBUG:
 
  file_path = path.join("ui/main_window.ui")
@@ -117,6 +130,10 @@ def __init__(self):
  print("UI File Found!")
  self.ui= Ui_main_window()
  self.ui.setupUi(self)
+ 
+ if (is_windows_dark_mode(self)):
+ print("Windows Dark Mode is enabled!")
+ # todo add dark mode support for the UI
 
  PORTS = get_serial_port()
 
@@ -125,7 +142,7 @@ def __init__(self):
 
  self.ui.start_button.clicked.connect(self.start_loop)
  self.ui.refresh_button.clicked.connect(self.refresh_port)
-
+ '''
  self.ui.command_edit_1.clicked.connect(self.command1)
  self.ui.command_edit_2.clicked.connect(self.command2)
  self.ui.command_edit_3.clicked.connect(self.command3)
@@ -135,49 +152,50 @@ def __init__(self):
  self.ui.saved_command_2.clicked.connect(self.move_command2_to_text)
  self.ui.saved_command_3.clicked.connect(self.move_command3_to_text)
  self.ui.saved_command_4.clicked.connect(self.move_command4_to_text)
+ '''
 
- self.ui.clear_buffer_button.clicked.connect(self.clear_buffer)
+ # When actionClear_Cache is triggered, clear the buffer
+ self.ui.actionClear_Cache.triggered.connect(self.clear_buffer)
 
- self.ui.night_mode.clicked.connect(self.night_mode_clicked)
- self.ui.view_change.clicked.connect(self.view_changes)
+ self.ui.actionBasic_View.triggered.connect(self.basic_view_enabled)
+ self.ui.actionAdvanced_View.triggered.connect(self.advanced_view_enabled)
+ #self.ui.clear_buffer_button.clicked.connect(self.clear_buffer)
 
- self.ui.port_comboBox.addItems(PORTS)
+ # self.ui.view_change.clicked.connect(self.view_changes)
 
+ self.ui.port_comboBox.addItems(PORTS)
  self.ui.send_button.clicked.connect(self.on_send_data_button_clicked)
 
- self.ui.end_button.clicked.connect(self.on_end_button_clicked)
+ def basic_view_enabled(self):
+ """ Hide specific layouts in the UI for basic view """
+ # Hide all widgets in the verticalLayout_config
+ for i in range(self.ui.verticalLayout_config.count()):
+ widget = self.ui.verticalLayout_config.itemAt(i).widget()
+ if widget:
+ widget.setVisible(False)
+
+ # Optionally, hide all widgets in the formLayout_config
+ for i in range(self.ui.formLayout_config.count()):
+ widget = self.ui.formLayout_config.itemAt(i).widget()
+ if widget:
+ widget.setVisible(False)
 
- def view_changes(self):
- """ Change the window size """
- global simpleViewEnabled
- # Change the window size
- if simpleViewEnabled == False:
- self.resize(726, 580)
- self.ui.view_change.setText(">>")
- simpleViewEnabled = True
- else:
- self.resize(929, 580)
- self.ui.view_change.setText("<<")
- simpleViewEnabled = False
-
- def night_mode_clicked(self):
- """ Night Mode """
- #define static variable
- global nightModeEnabled
-
- # Invert all colors
- if nightModeEnabled == False:
- self.setStyleSheet("background-color: #2C2F33; color: #FFFFFF;")
- self.ui.night_mode.setText("🌘 Day Mode")
- self.ui.tabWidget.setStyleSheet("QWidget { background-color: #2C2F33; color: #FFFFFF; } QTabBar::tab { background: #2C2F33; color: #FFFFFF; }")
- nightModeEnabled = True
- else:
- self.setStyleSheet("background-color: #FFFFFF; color: #000000;")
- self.ui.night_mode.setText("🌘 Night Mode")
- self.ui.tabWidget.setStyleSheet("QWidget { background-color: #FFFFFF; color: #000000; } QTabBar::tab { background: #FFFFFF; color: #000000; }")
- nightModeEnabled = False
- 
+ def advanced_view_enabled(self):
+ """ Show specific layouts in the UI for advanced view """
+ # Show all widgets in the verticalLayout_config
+ for i in range(self.ui.verticalLayout_config.count()):
+ widget = self.ui.verticalLayout_config.itemAt(i).widget()
+ if widget:
+ widget.setVisible(True)
+
+ # Optionally, show all widgets in the formLayout_config
+ for i in range(self.ui.formLayout_config.count()):
+ widget = self.ui.formLayout_config.itemAt(i).widget()
+ if widget:
+ widget.setVisible(True)
 
+ 
+ '''
  def command1(self):
  """ Open the text input popup to save command for button 1 """
  self.command_edit(1)
@@ -228,7 +246,7 @@ def move_command4_to_text(self):
  """ Move the saved command to the text box """
  self.ui.send_data_text.setText(self.ui.saved_command_4.text())
  self.on_send_data_button_clicked()
-
+ '''
  def refresh_port(self):
  """ Refresh the serial port list """
  PORTS = get_serial_port()
@@ -318,10 +336,20 @@ def start_loop(self):
  return
 
  global is_serial_port_established
+
+ if (is_serial_port_established == True):
+ is_serial_port_established = False
+ self.on_end_button_clicked()
+ self.ui.start_button.setText("START")
+ return
+
  is_serial_port_established = True
+ # change start_button to stop button
+ self.ui.start_button.setText("STOP")
+
  try:
  self.worker = Worker() # a new worker to perform those tasks
- self.thread = QThread() # a new thread to run our background tasks in
+ self.thread = QThread()  # a new thread to run our background tasks in
  # move the worker into the thread, do this first before connecting the signals
  self.worker.moveToThread(self.thread)
  # begin our worker object's loop when the thread starts running
@@ -337,6 +365,8 @@ def start_loop(self):
  self.thread.finished.connect(self.thread.deleteLater)
  # start the thread
  self.thread.start()
+
+
  except RuntimeError:
  self.print_message_on_screen("Exception in Worker Thread!")
 
@@ -347,12 +377,12 @@ def stop_loop(self):
  # Disconnect the serial port and close it
  SERIAL_DEVICE.close()
 
- 
  def clear_buffer(self):
  """ Clear the buffer """
  self.ui.data_textEdit.clear()
  self.ui.send_data_text.clear()
 
+
  def read_data_from_thread(self, serial_data):
  """ Write the result to the text edit box"""
  # self.ui.data_textEdit.append("{}".format(i))
@@ -423,5 +453,4 @@ def start_ui_design():
  """ Start the UI Design """
  app = QApplication(argv) # Create an instance
  window_object = MainWindow() # Create an instance of our class
- window_object.show()
  exit(app.exec())