Dacta Control Lab Software

[JaBaCaDaBra]

29 minutes ago, Rob Pickering said:

The other software, seemed to exclude Windows 8.1.

Make a small partition on your HD, 500MB is enough
Install MSDos 9,1 and a game called Windows 3.11 for workgroups.
Install your software, it wil work now.

[Bliss]

8 hours ago, Rob Pickering said:

Hello, My name is Rob Pickering, and I am new to this forum. I am hoping that someone may be able to give me some guidance. I have read through all the threads, but can’t quite sort out a solution to my problem.

I have found a Lego Dacta control interface 70909 (year 1992) in my loft, together with plenty of sensors. Unfortunately, I have no software to operate it. I have an hp computer with Windows 8.1 with a RS232 serial interface. I would be grateful if you could tell me:

1. What software I require,

2. Where I can obtain this software,

3. Approximately how much it will cost.

The Lego “Engineer” software looked very good, but unfortunately, it seems to be no longer available. The other software, seemed to exclude Windows 8.1.

Now that I have retired, I would love to get back into technical Lego and to get my grand children involved in it too. Thank you for allowing me to post this on your forum.

You may find some information on the net about alternative to the original software.

For exemple:

https://www.shamlian.net/projects/dacta/  (Provides Links and what seems to be a Dacta.zip that contains what seems to be some Python language stuff) 

The later URL has some interesting links about the reverse engineering of this interface.

One of the links is from Anders Isaksson who also offers a little windows executable to test you interface which I recall having used successfully in the past:  http://www.blockcad.net/dacta/

Another cool software to test your Interface B: https://www.lgauge.com/technic/LEGOInterfaceB/9751.htm

 

I do have the RoboLab software that works on Windows 95 (And MAC) but it seems to be in french only.

 

Other links of interest:

https://www.dajlab.org/jcontrollab.html

 

I also did play around on my own years ago with this interface and used the information provided by others to program some VB.Net stuff that you can still find here: https://app.box.com/shared/xc44rksi2h

 

Yves

Edited November 2, 2021 by Bliss

[legoROBOLAB]

 

Windows xp works with control Lab. Or 2.9.4 robolab... and this works on windows 7. the software and books can be found here...

https://archive.org/details/vintagelegorobotics

You can find robolab in english version 2.9.4 here.

https://archive.org/details/robolab-29

[djm]

On 11/2/2021 at 7:27 AM, Rob Pickering said:

The Lego “Engineer” software looked very good, but unfortunately, it seems to be no longer available. The other software, seemed to exclude Windows 8.1.

A while ago I managed to find a copy of LEGO Engineer using the way back machine.

If you try this link, https://web.archive.org/web/20020724174652/http://amper.ped.muni.cz/~fyzika/, it will take you to a directory. Then navigate to the sub-directory "projekt" and (Google) translate it from Czech into English and click on the link "an archive of freely distributable software". In the first directory there is an executable named "PCinstallLE2.exe". In the sub-directory named "ctrl" there is a zip file called "0CtrlLab.zip". I think (though I could be wrong) that one or both of these files are related to the long since disappeared LEGO Engineer.

David

[Rob Pickering]

May I say a big thank you to all those of you who answered my call for help. So many replies from around the World (and Milky Way west!) make this a truly global group. I now have plenty of leads to follow up and now I hope to make some progress over the winter with my Dacta control unit. More help is, of course, would be most welcome. Please remember that I am a pensioner, and had my formative years in a pre-computer world. I remember buying a slide rule when I entered the school sixth form.

Edited November 4, 2021 by Rob Pickering

[legoROBOLAB]

In this page of this blog you can see all information about the 9751...

https://legoeducacional-umcontributo.blogspot.com/search?q=9751

may have more, but this what i know...

 

[alexGS]

7 hours ago, Rob Pickering said:

May I say a big thank you to all those of you who answered my call for help. So many replies from around the World (and Milky Way west!) make this a truly global group. I now have plenty of leads to follow up and now I hope to make some progress over the winter with my Dacta control unit. More help is, of course, would be most welcome. Please remember that I am a pensioner, and had my formative years in a pre-computer world. I remember buying a slide rule when I entered the school sixth form.

Hello Rob,

There has been much information in this thread above - which I revived recently to add the Macintosh software. However, I think the overall easiest solution to use the Control Lab is the original Windows 95/98 software which you can download from https://archive.org/details/vintagelegorobotics along with the manuals (reference guide etc.) as example files are included.

I think having old hardware is easier than trying to work with alternative software and partitioned/emulated operating systems.

For the correct look and ‘feel’, I bought a 1998 Toshiba laptop last year (came with Windows 2000) and I put Windows 98 on it. This cost me $50. I suggest if you search for ‘Windows 98 laptop’, on your local marketplace website, you’ll find something suitable. You need a 9-pin serial cable of the ‘null modem’ type (perhaps you have the original cable with the interface, but if not, they can still be purchased new from good electronics stores).

The Macintosh software option may cost you a bit more due to the rarity of the hardware, but if you go down this path, Mac OS 9 or earlier will work. The machine needs to have round serial ports, so the iMac is ruled out - the last machine to have serial ports is an early 1998 Powerbook G3. The software does not expand to fill the screen, so something older with a smaller screen will look best. PowerBook 5300, 520c are quite expensive and fragile. There are many other monochrome-only PowerBooks which are cheaper (e.g. 140, 150, 520). Any desktop Mac before the iMac will work. I use an accelerated Amiga (which I happen to have) to emulate a colour Mac. I also have a PowerBook 100 which runs Control Lab fine as well (monochrome).

Brickfactory.info has the instructions for set 9701 if you’re missing them. Click ‘By Number’, then use the drop-down list to find 9700-9799.

Yes, a global effort, I take my setup to LEGO shows here in New Zealand…

Have fun!

-Alex

4 hours ago, legoROBOLAB said:

In this page of this blog you can see all information about the 9751...

https://legoeducacional-umcontributo.blogspot.com/search?q=9751

may have more, but this what i know...

 

This is a great summary, many thanks. My iPhone translated into English for me with no problems. In particular I see the Control Center-based 9702 set instructions there, which I have not seen anywhere else.

-Alex

Edited November 4, 2021 by alexGS

[BatteryPoweredBricks]

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone in this thread for contributing software / information.  This is absolutely a childhood dream come true to be able to use the official Lego Control Lab software to make my own projects.  I was home schooled growing up and educational catalogs were always around the house.  I spent a LOT of time drooling over sets like this.  It's been a blast so far and I'm just getting started
 

 

[BatteryPoweredBricks]

I thought I'd drop this here for anyone curious as to how the original Dacta Control Lab software operated (I'm using the Windows 95 version).  Again, it wouldn't be possible without many of you in this thread for sharing information.  I'd be glad to hear any constructive criticism, I'm sure I made my fair share of mistakes in the video.  It was quite a challenge for me to sync up voice-over, screen-capture, the video of the test pad and it's associated audio together into something cohesive.  But I can say with some confidence it's quite possibly the best video on YouTube on the subject (if not the only)! 

I am intensely curious about any and all information on the Control Lab and it's use in schools.  Don't hesitate to reach out if you have anything you'd like to share. 

 

Here's a picture of the full test pad, some of the light reflections on the tiles make it look like a render

 

[legoROBOLAB]

Congratulations... a very good video summarizing the basic Control Lab possibilities.
Would it be too much to ask for you to share the programs you created for this activity?
Once again, very useful indeed.

 

https://legoeducacional-umcontributo.blogspot.com/search?q=9751

Friend, I had to share your great video on my blog.

Edited June 27, 2022 by legoROBOLAB

[BatteryPoweredBricks]

Thanks @legoROBOLAB

Here is the test file I used in the video.  It's pretty basic, programming was never a first language for me but I get by (Sometimes with the help of my friends).  I've taken a peek at your blog before but I need to make time to look it over more thoroughly.  It looks like there is some really cool stuff on there!  Cheers!

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1t1Pp5VxW0fyfWHYIRMyg-eVRoZ84hzOR?usp=sharing

 

[legoROBOLAB]

Thank you very much for your answer and making your control lab programming available.
I think that, as on the internet, information disappears easily, blogs like mine and videos like yours are a valid contribution to anyone looking for information about LEGO products that had their time in the 90s, long before this century, and the internet globally available..

[evank]

I used Dacta software (set 9700, with an Apple II clone and programmed in BASIC) to control the spark plugs on my life-size Lego V8 engine. Just finished it today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0tipi42d5k&ab_channel=EvanKoblentz

Edited July 29, 2022 by evank

[Mr Jos]

4 hours ago, evank said:

I used Dacta software (set 9700, with an Apple II clone and programmed in BASIC) to control the spark plugs on my life-size Lego V8 engine. Just finished it today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0tipi42d5k&ab_channel=EvanKoblentz

Pure awesomeness! #Drooling

[evank]

2 minutes ago, Mr Jos said:

Pure awesomeness! #Drooling

Thanks! I checked out your Youtube channel -- your creations are amazing.

[1963maniac]

On 9/3/2012 at 11:11 AM, DLuders said:

@ dxb: I received your ZIP file of the Lego Dacta 9751's Control Lab software Version 1, and posted it for others to download here via SkyDrive. Thank you!

THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! Ten years later, it's still a good link!! MANY THANKS DLuders!!!!

[evank]

Most of the Lego software for the 8-bit and 16-bit systems (TC Logo, Lego Lines, Control Lab, etc.) is in the "Vintage Lego Robotics" collection at Archive.org. Most of the manuals are there too.

[Toastie]

3 hours ago, 1963maniac said:

THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! Ten years later, it's still a good link!!

I strongly sense another vintage victim here - it appears as if EB is attracting more and more of such individuals ...

... writing these lines when I just succeeded in running my QBasic program (I made in 2000 to "sign-up" 3 RCX', and then have them listen and respond to two-"byte" LEGO messages) on an IBM XT from 1985. 

It just blew me away, when the XT (slowly) "created the screen" I only saw on emulators since they dumped QBasic ... 

Hope you are having fun with your 9751 Contol Lab!!!

Best,
Thorsten

[1963maniac]

On 11/22/2022 at 12:50 PM, evank said:

Most of the Lego software for the 8-bit and 16-bit systems (TC Logo, Lego Lines, Control Lab, etc.) is in the "Vintage Lego Robotics" collection at Archive.org. Most of the manuals are there too.

Thank You for the info on Archive.org. Wow!!

[alexGS]

53 minutes ago, 1963maniac said:

Thank You for the info on Archive.org. Wow!!

Evan put it there ;)

I’m guessing the software from the link you shared is the same, but maybe I should check. There’s separate versions of Control Lab for DOS and for Windows 95/98. I bought the Macintosh version and Evan put that there too for me.

-Alex

[BatteryPoweredBricks]

Hello fellow Lego DACTA fans!

I just received a comment on one of my videos with a link to this.  I imagine some of you would already know most of the information in the video, but I found it interesting to watch, there's a certain nostalgia with old media like this.  I have more things I want to share on the Control Lab soon when I find the time.  For now enjoy this window into the past!
 

 

[alexGS]

That’s fabulous - thank you :) I will watch the complete video shortly 

I note that on their Macintosh LCII, the Dacta interface doesn’t fill the modest 640x480 screen properly. I guess that’s why I tend to use even older models like the Powerbook 100! I’ll try it on a Classic too…

The advantage of the Windows version, which seems to have come out after that video was made (they’re showing the DOS version), is that the windows can be re-sized and multiple pages displayed at once.

Again, wonderful find - thanks for sharing your viewer’s resource here!

-Alex

Edited December 7, 2022 by alexGS

[evank]

@BatteryPoweredBricks: Nice find!

I have another VHS that's about the Dacta series in general, with Control Lab mentioned around the 12:00 mark. https://archive.org/details/legodactavideo

Edited December 7, 2022 by evank

[BatteryPoweredBricks]

Ohh I'll have to check that out Evan!  I know @hypertalking uploaded one to his channel a while back but unfortunately it was badly damaged (basically audio only for the first half) hopefully we can find a copy of that video in better condition.  With any of this kind of stuff remember to drop a comment for anyone who does contribute.  Without any encouragement they may not take the time to archive or share what they find in the future.  I think you guys know the work involved in transferring from VHS.  I don't have anything super rare like these but I do want to find a good solution for digitizing VHS tapes.

In other news, I've hard at work trying to collect / piece together complete Lego DACTA sets with the boxes and everything.  Guess which one I just completed tonight?
 

 

[legoROBOLAB]

Good morning friends
If you don't mind, I'll put the video on my blog which also tries to have a Lego Dacta STEAM repository.

 

Edited December 8, 2022 by legoROBOLAB