Understanding the VEX DEVICE INFO in VS Code for VEX EXP

The DEVICE INFO is a feature of the VEX VS Code Extension. The DEVICE INFO view provides an overview of the connected VEX Device (a VEX Brain or a VEX Controller), which can help us to make sure that the devices are working properly.

Accessing VEX DEVICE INFO in VS Code

  • Launch Visual Studio Code on the computer. Click on the VEX icon on the VS Code Activity Bar.

  • The VEX view will open in the Side Bar. The VEX DEVICE INFO category is in the middle of the VEX view. We can view all the information of the connected VEX Device in this category.

 VEX DEVICE INFO Overview

  • The VEX Device Indicator. 
    The VEX Device Indicator indicates which type of the VEX Device is connected to the VEX VS Code Extension. The VEX Device Indicator is under VEX DEVICE INFO including the icon and the type of the connected VEX Device followed by the Brain name.
    If a VEX Brain is connected, hover the mouse over the VEX Device Indicator, a Battery Medic Icon (V5 only), a Camera Icon, and an Event Log Icon will appear next to it.

    • image5.png Camera Icon - When clicked, the VEX Extension will take a screenshot of the VEX Brain Screen.
      For instructions on taking a screenshot of the VEX Brain Screen in VS Code, please check out this article.
    • image6.png Event Log Icon - When clicked, the VEX Extension will upload the Event Log of the VEX Brain. For helpful information about how to upload the Event Log of the VEX Brain in VS Code, please check out this article.

Note: If a controller is connected to the computer, but does not have a radio link to a brain, no brain name will be displayed next to the Controller Icon.

  • The Brain Category
    The Brain is the top-level category for all the device information related to the Brain.
    The Brain Icon of the Brain category will indicate the following warning messages:

    • VEXos outdated warning. When a VEX Brain’s VEXos version is out of date, the Brain icons turn yellow, and a Warning Message Icon appears next to VEXos under the system subcategory.


      To resolve this warning, hover the mouse over the icon or text of the Brain category. An Up Arrow Icon will appear next to it. Click on the Up Arrow Icon to update the VEXos for the VEX Brain.


      For helpful information about updating VEXos for the VEX Brain, please check out this article.

    • VEX Brain not linked warning. When a VEX Controller is connected to the computer but does not have a radio link to a Brain, the Brain icon will turn yellow, and the text indicates that Brain - not linked.


      To resolve this warning, link the VEX Controller to the VEX Brain. For helpful information about pairing the VEX Controller with the VEX Brain, please check out this article for V5, this article for EXP, and this article for IQ (2nd).
  • The system Category.
    The system is a subcategory of the Brain category. The system subcategory provides information on the Brain’s VEXos version, name, team number, ID, and Python runtime version.


    We can set the name and the team number for the VEX Brain in this section. 
    • Setting the name for the VEX Brain. To set the name for the VEX Brain, hover the mouse over the text of the name information, click the Pencil Icon that appears next to it, and type the new Brain name in the Text Box.
      For helpful information about setting the name of the VEX Brain in VS Code, please check out this article.



    • Setting the team number for the VEX Brain. To set the team number for the VEX Brain, hover the mouse over the text of the team information, click the Pencil Icon that appears next to it, and type the new team number in the Text Box.
      For helpful information about setting the team number for the VEX Brain in VS Code, please check out this article.



  • The serial port Category. 
    The serial port is a subcategory of the Brain Category. The serial port subcategory displays the device path for each serial port available for the VEX Brain.
    Note: The Communication serial port is used to download programs and control the brain functions. The User serial port is used to transfer data between the user app running on the Brain and the host computer connected via USB.

  • The programs Category.
    The programs is a subcategory of the Brain Category. The programs subcategory displays a list of all the user programs downloaded on the VEX Brain.


    We can erase a downloaded program from the VEX Brain or view the detailed program information in this section. 
    • Erasing a downloaded Program. To erase a downloaded program from the VEX Brain, hover the mouse over the text of the selected program item and click the Trashcan Icon that appears next to it.
      Note: Once a program is erased, it can not be recovered. Please be cautious when using this feature.
      For helpful information about erasing a downloaded user program from the VEX Brain in VS Code, please check out this article.

    • Viewing the detailed information of a program. To view the detailed information of a program, click the Expand Icon  image17.png  next to the program list item. Additional information about the downloaded program, such as slot location, filename, language type, file size, and time of download, will be displayed.

      image18.gif
  • The devices Category.
    The devices is a subcategory of the Brain Category. The devices subcategory displays a list of all the devices plugged into the Smart Ports of the VEX Brain and the battery connected to the VEX Brain.


    We can view the detailed information on the connected Smart Port devices in this section. 
    • Viewing the detailed information of a device. To view the detailed information of a Smart Port device, click the Expand Icon next to the device item. Additional information about the connected device, such as the Smart Port number and device type, will be displayed.
      For helpful information about using Smart Ports on the VEX Brain, please check out this article for V5, this article for EXP, and this article for IQ (2nd).

  • The Controller Category
    The Controller is the category for Controller-related device information. When a VEX Controller is connected to the VS Code, the Controller category will display the information of the Controller radio and the Controller USB.


    The Controller Icon of the Controller category will indicate the following messages in the corresponding situation:
    • VEXos outdated warning. When a VEX Controller’s VEXos version is out of date, the Controller icons turn yellow and Warning Message Icons appear next to the radio and usb information.


      To resolve this warning, hover the mouse over the icon or text of the Controller category. An Up Arrow Icon will appear next to it. Click on the Up Arrow Icon to update the VEXos for the VEX Controller.


      For helpful information about updating VEXos for the VEX Controller, please check out this article.

    • VEX Controller linked status. When a VEX Brain is connected to the computer and has a radio link to a Controller, the text of the Controller category will indicate that Controller - linked.

    • VEX Controller not-linked status. When a VEX Brain is connected to the computer but does not have a radio link to a Controller, the text of the Controller category will indicate that Controller - not linked.


      For helpful information about pairing the VEX Controller with the VEX Brain, please check out this article for V5, this article for EXP, and this article for IQ (2nd).

For more information, help, and tips, check out the many resources at VEX Professional Development Plus

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