
THINGS GATEWAY	beta4

Introduction
The system is composed by an Arduino sketch that sends formatted strings to a Windows app.
The formatted strings can contain info for:
* data representing in Excel
* csv file writing
* email sending (tipically for alarms)
* series and chart tracking (Excel indipendent)
* GPS dashboard with dynamic Google map
See examples in the Arduino sketch and modify them as you need.
The app can record the strings in a Stream file for further replay at different speeds.

Arduino Setup
* open and compile the sketch Arduino_Things.ino in your Arduino projects	(you can see output strings thru the serial monitor, set 115200)

Run ThingsGateway
* go to Documents\ThingsGateway dir
* run ThingsGateway.exe and define your parameters in Config tab (defaults should work correctly except SMTP parameters)
* Example.xls is a ready example with a chart
* Stream.txt and GPSStream.txt are examples for the Stream feature

Known Limits
* the realtime Excel charts slow down the update process

Next Features
* webcam control to take pics syncronized with measures and alarms
* data sending over TCP and UDP
* MQTT architecture to make ecosystems of things

Important Tip
While a workbook is automatically updated Things Gateway locks Excel for user actions, this is due to a Microsoft library limit.
See the Modify flag:  when its checked you can modify the workbook while the automatic update is suspended and data are retained in a buffer,
when  the flag is unchecked the automatic update is restored and buffered data are shown.
No Excel or machine reboot is required, after Thing Gateway closing Excel should work as usual. Things Gateway doesnt use Excel macros.

This is a beta version of a new product, if you find a bug or if you want to be informed about updates please write to roberto.valgolio@gmail.com

Enjoy yourself
