Port console

The port console (Debug & Console Porte) is a panel that shows a real-time log of all communication activity and lets you send manual commands to the ports. It is the primary tool for hardware debugging and diagnostics.

Note: the port console is a technical tool, so its texts are always in Italian, whatever the interface language. Below, the Italian labels are followed by their meaning in brackets.

Opening and closing the console

Press Ctrl+Shift+C in the start window or in the main editor to show or hide the console. It opens as a floating window and can be docked to the window edges.

Debug flags

The upper section contains the flags that control what is printed in the log:

Flag	Description
DBG	Internal debug messages (very verbose, for developers).
INF	General informational messages (port open/close, playback start/stop).
WRN	Non-critical warnings (port already open, orphaned element, etc.).
ERR	Errors (connection failed, invalid frame, exception).
Dry-run (no TX reale)	When enabled, commands are built but not transmitted on the serial ports. Ideal for testing animations without connected hardware.
Log I/O	Shows every binary frame transmitted and received on the ports.
Log Timeline	Shows playback engine details: cursor position, active segments, generated commands.
Verbose	Increases general log verbosity.

Porte seriali (Serial ports)

Control	Function
Porta (Port)	Selects the port to operate on: first those configured in the domain, then the serial ports detected on the PC and not yet used by the domain, marked "porta del PC" (e.g. `COM3 — Arduino Mega 2560`).
Aggiorna (Refresh)	Reloads the port list. Use it after plugging in a board while the console is open.
Connetti (Connect)	Manually opens the selected port without starting playback.
Disconnetti (Disconnect)	Closes the selected port.
Timestamp	Adds the time at the start of each log line.

The Aiuto (Help) button next to Pulisci (Clear), or the F1 key, opens this page.

Comandi (Commands)

The Comandi section lets you send predefined commands on the active port:

Command list: choose the command. Available commands include DEIMOS diagnostics (firmware version, ping, verbose log), positioning a bus servo or a PWM servo (direct pin or PCA9685), driving a switch, controlling the D5S player (play, stop, status) and system commands (open/clear log file).
Parameters: if the command needs them, the field is enabled and shows the expected parameters in grey, separated by spaces (e.g. pin gradi(0-180), where gradi = degrees).
Invia (Send; or Enter in the parameters field): transmits the command.

Typical use: select a port, press Connetti, then send a positioning command to a servo to check that it responds correctly before creating the animation.

Log porte (Port log)

The text panel at the bottom shows all messages filtered by the active flags and auto-scrolls to the bottom. The Pulisci (Clear) button empties the displayed log; the ? button opens this help page.