Using the Print Console in VEXcode V5 – VEX Library

The Print Console allows the user to display messages, report sensor values, or to present data from VEXcode V5 projects. The Print Console also allows users to save print outputs as a text file.

The Print Console can also be used to display process information, providing visual cues that enable the user to see what is happening in a VEXcode V5 project at a specific moment in time, thereby making a visual connection between the project and the actions of the V5 Robot.

How to Open the Print Console

VEXcode V5 Toolbar with the Print Console icon highlighted in between the Devices and Help icons.

The Print Console is located in the V5 Monitor Display. To open the Print Console, select the Monitor Display icon next to Help.

Print Console menu is open and shows a blank space for projects to print information and text to.

The Monitor Display will open once selected. The Print Console is at the right side.

How to Use the Print Console in a Project

Look and Draw Blocks that Trigger the Print Console

VEXcode V5 Toolbox with the Print subcategory of blocks shown inside the Looks category.

Specialized Look blocks are used within a VEXcode V5 project in order to trigger the Print Console. These blocks print words, numbers, reported values from variables, a calculation of an operator, or values reported from a sensor or device.

The Help feature in VEXcode V5 provides additional information on these and other programming blocks. See this article for information on how to access the Help feature.

VEXcode V5 Set pen color block with its dropdown menu opened to change the device. The default option is set pen color on Brain, but it can be changed to set on the Console instead.

Note: The [Set pen color] block under the Draw category can also be used in the Print Console by selecting "Console" from the dropdown menu.

Use Look Blocks with the Print Console in a Project

VEXcode V5 Blocks project that reads When started, print Drive Forward on Console, and then set cursor to next row on Console.

Use the Look blocks within a project to print a message, or display data in the Print Console. To use the Print blocks, select the desired Look block and add it to a project. Select "Console" from the dropdown menu.

Note: The [Set Cursor] block must be added after a [Print] block for text to appear in the Print Console.

VEXcode V5 Toolbar with the Download and Run icons highlighted together.

Download the project to the V5 Robot Brain and Select "Run". See this article on downloading and running a project.

Print Console menu is open and shows the printed message Drive Forward.

Once “Run” is selected, the project will run and the “Print” text or programmed values will appear in the Print Console as dictated by the VEXcode V5 project.

Use Draw Blocks with the Print Console in a Project

VEXcode V5 Blocks project that uses Set pen color blocks to print in different colors. The project reads When started, set pen color to red on Console, print RED on Console, and then set cursor to next row on Console. Next, set pen color to green on Console, print GREEN on Console, and then set cursor to next row on Console.

Use the Draw blocks within a project to change the text color in the Print Console. To use the [Set pen color] block, select the [Set pen color] block and add it to a project. Select "Console" from the dropdown menu.

Note: The [Set pen color] block is the only Draw block that can be used in the console.

VEXcode V5 Toolbar with the Download and Run icons highlighted together.

Download the project to the V5 Robot Brain and Select "Run". See this article on downloading and running a project.

Print Console menu is open and shows the printed message RED and then GREEN on the next line. The messages have been printed in their respective colors.

Once “Run” is selected, the project will run and the colored “Print” text or programmed values will appear in the Print Console as dictated by the VEXcode V5 project.

Clear Rows in the Print Console

Print Console menu is open and the Clear button is highlighted below.

There are two ways to clear all information from the Print Console. The first way to completely clear all text is to select the “Clear” button on the bottom left of the Print Console.

VEXcode V5 Blocks project that uses Wait blocks to print messages with delays. The project reads When started, print Hello on Console, set cursor to next row on Console, and then wait 5 seconds. Next, clear all rows on Console, print Goodbye on Console, and then set cursor to next row on Console.

Another way to clear the Print Console is to use the Clear all rows block. Add the Clear all rows block to a project in order to remove all of the lines in the Print Console. In this project, “Hello” will print on the Print Console. After 5 seconds, all rows will be cleared. Then, “Goodbye” will be printed on the Print Console.

Save from the Print Console

Print Console menu is open and the Save button is highlighted below.

It is easy to save information from the Print Console onto your device. Select “Save” on the bottom of the Print Console to save all text as a .txt file.

Saved Print Console text file is shown in the device's Downloads folder.

Once you select the “Save” button, the file will automatically save to the Downloads folder on your device as a .txt file.

Note: The file does not save the printed colors.

Example Projects Using the Print Console

Report Variable Values and Data in a Project

The Print Console can be used to report variable values at discrete moments within a project. Use the Print Console to print the value of “myVariable,” or show how many times the project goes through a loop.

Report Sensing Values and Data in a Project

Thumbnail image for the Clawbot (Drivetrain 2-motor, Inertial) example project.

Note: The project in this article uses the Clawbot (Drivetrain, 2-motor, Inertial) template.

VEXcode V5 Blocks project that uses a Turn block, a while loop, printing blocks, and sensing blocks. The project turns the robot to the right and then prints the current timer in seconds and the drive rotation in degrees values live for 10 seconds.

Print Console is shown with the output messages from the previous project. The messages show the timer and rotation values counting up over time until the timer reaches 10 seconds.

The data captured by the Print Console allows the user to see valuable information about project processes including V5 Robot sensor information. When the Print block is triggered, it can be programmed to display information captured in the moment.

In the following project, the Print Console displays information reported by the V5 Clawbot Inertial Sensor as prescribed by the Look and Sensing blocks within the project. This information includes changes that the Inertial Sensor captures at discrete moments while the project is running: time in seconds and the rotation of the V5 Clawbot in degrees.