Downloading software for the Piface Digital problems

Hi,

there is a link to a prepared OS image containing the necessary software in the PiFace "Getting Started Guide". It's on page 1.

Might be the easiest solution if you do not have any networking capabilities on your pi.

Frederick

Hi,

I downloaded http:/pi.cs.man.acuk/download, and it turned out to be 2 files.

2012-10-28-wheezy-raspbian-PiFaced.img , 1,9 Gb, and

2012-10-28-wheezy-raspbian-PiFaced.sha1, 1 Kb

I tried first to replace the original Raspberry NOOBS files with those two, but that did not work at all.

I then tried to program a SD card with the Raspberry NOOBS files and then copy the PiFace files on top of them

Then  I tried the Raspberry Pi and it seemed OK. I then tried to write a small program, and compiled it. I took the program in "Simple Python example" and compiled it. The error code was "No module named pifio.pface"

Thanks for your reply!

Ake

I bought my piface when it first came out and the original software was one module.  It has since been released with the functions spread over several modules.  I'm not sure which you have got.

My Python programs use this line to include the piface code:

     import piface.pfio as pfio

and then refer to it as (eg):

     pfio.digital_write(7, 1)     # turn on led 7

To find where the module is installed you can enter this from the command line or Terminal window:

     python

     import piface, os

     print os.path.dirname(piface.__file__)

In my case the result was:

     /usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/piface

You wrote "pifio.pface" in your problem description - was that a mistake in the text or is that what is in your program?

Hi there again,

The Raspberry Pi board is made in the UK. I dowloaded the latest software, so it cannot be that old.

But I believe that this Pi software does not have the software tools to run the PiFace Digital board.

If I try your code,

I get

ImportError: no module named piface

So I believe that there has to be a file that is linked in some way to the Pi software to make the piface run.

I have to rush of for a party, so I cannot try your examples in detail.

Thanks for your interest!

Åke

The standard NOOBS or other images will most likely not support the PiFace by default.

As stated in the documentation linked earlier, there are two ways of getting th ePiFace to work:
* use a prepared image which you can write to your SD card (using "dd" in Linux/Mac or "Win 32 disk imager" in Windows). See http://www.raspberrypi.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/quick-start-guide-v2_1.pdf on how to prepare your SD card.
* using network connectivity of the pi, download the necessary packages by following the steps in the "piface get started guide": http://www.element14.com/community/docs/DOC-53057/l/piface-get-started-guide

Frederick

Hi,

I have exactly the same problem as Ake, I downloaded the software both digitalio and emulator. The emulator works for a while and then freezes. when I try to write a small test script and started off with "import piface.pfio" i get an error message "no module named piface.pfio"

Where is it stored and why dont your instructions work? I only managed to get the emulator to load by making it python3 although I am using version 2.7.3. If I try  using "python_digital_emulator it says " no module"

I have to say that this is the worst documented accessory for pi I have come across and even the picture of the emulator isn't up to date!!

Hi,

I have exactly the same problem as Ake, I downloaded the software both digitalio and emulator. The emulator works for a while and then freezes. when I try to write a small test script and started off with "import piface.pfio" i get an error message "no module named piface.pfio"

Where is it stored and why dont your instructions work? I only managed to get the emulator to load by making it python3 although I am using version 2.7.3. If I try  using "python_digital_emulator it says " no module"

I have to say that this is the worst documented accessory for pi I have come across and even the picture of the emulator isn't up to date!!