This commit introduces a complete, user-friendly Tkinter GUI for the …

.gitignore

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+# Build results
+bin/
+obj/
+*.exe
+*.dll
+*.pdb
+
+# VS temporary files
+.vs/
+*.suo
+*.user
+*.userosscache
+*.sln.docstates
+
+# VS Code workspace
+.vscode/
+
+# Backup and cache
+*.cache
+*.dbmdl
+*.bak
+*.log
+*.tlog
+
+# Project-specific
+*.ncb
+*.sdf
+*.opensdf
+*.VC.db
+
+# Others you mentioned
+*.dtbcache.v2
+*.futdcache.v2
+*.suo
+*.DocumentLayout*
+*.metadata.*
+*.projects.*
+*.strings.*
+M18Batte.C072E897.Up2Date
+TempPE/
+
+# System
+__pycache__/
+runtimes/
+System.IO.Ports.dll
+System.Management.dll

AppSettings.cs

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+using System;
+using System.IO;
+using System.Text.Json;
+
+namespace M18BatteryInfo
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Persists user configurable paths for the Python executable and m18.py script. Paths are stored
+    /// in a JSON file under the user's application data folder so they survive app restarts without
+    /// requiring registry edits or manual config tweaks.
+    /// </summary>
+    public class AppSettings
+    {
+        public string PythonExecutablePath { get; set; } = "python";
+        public string ScriptPath { get; set; } = Path.Combine(AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory, "m18.py");
+
+        private static string SettingsFilePath =>
+            Path.Combine(Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ApplicationData), "M18BatteryInfo", "settings.json");
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Load persisted settings from disk. If the file is missing or unreadable, defaults are
+        /// returned and a new settings file will be written the next time <see cref="Save"/> is called.
+        /// </summary>
+        public static AppSettings Load()
+        {
+            try
+            {
+                if (File.Exists(SettingsFilePath))
+                {
+                    var json = File.ReadAllText(SettingsFilePath);
+                    var settings = JsonSerializer.Deserialize<AppSettings>(json);
+                    if (settings != null)
+                    {
+                        return settings;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            catch
+            {
+                // If the file is malformed, fall back to defaults without throwing to keep the UI usable.
+            }
+
+            return new AppSettings();
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Persist the current settings to disk, creating the directory if needed.
+        /// </summary>
+        public void Save()
+        {
+            var directory = Path.GetDirectoryName(SettingsFilePath);
+            if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(directory) && !Directory.Exists(directory))
+            {
+                Directory.CreateDirectory(directory);
+            }
+
+            var json = JsonSerializer.Serialize(this, new JsonSerializerOptions { WriteIndented = true });
+            File.WriteAllText(SettingsFilePath, json);
+        }
+    }
+}

Help Contents.txt

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+Functions:
+             DIAGNOSTICS:
+             m.health() - print simple health report on battery
+             m.read_id() - print labelled and formatted diagnostics
+             m.read_id(output="raw") - print in spreadsheet format
+             m.submit_form() - prompts for manual inputs and submits battery diagnostics data
+
+             m.help() - this message
+             m.adv_help() - advanced help
+
+             exit() - end program
+
+Advanced functions:
+             m.read_all() - print all known bytes in 0x01 command
+             m.read_all_spreadsheet() - print bytes in spreadsheet format
+
+             CHARGING SIMULATION:
+             m.simulate() - simulate charging comms
+             m.simulate_for(t) - simulate for t seconds
+             m.high_for(t) - bring J2 high for t sec, then idle
+
+             m.write_message(message) - write ascii string to 0x0023 register (20 chars)
+
+             Debug:
+             m.PRINT_TX = True - boolean to enable TX messages
+             m.PRINT_RX = True - boolean to enable RX messages
+             m.txrx_print(bool) - set PRINT_TX & RX to bool
+             m.txrx_save_and_set(bool) - save PRINT_TX & RX state, then set both to bool
+             m.txrx_restore() - restore PRINT_TX & RX to saved values
+             m.brute(addr_msb, addr_lsb)
+             m.full_brute(start, stop, len) - check registers from 'start' to 'stop'. look for 'len' bytes
+             m.debug(addr_msb, addr_lsb, len, rsp_len) - send reset() then cmd() to battery
+             m.try_cmd(cmd, addr_h, addr_l, len) - try 'cmd' at [addr_h addr_l] with 'len' bytes
+
+             Internal:
+             m.high() - bring J2 pin high (20V)
+             m.idle() - pull J2 pin low (0V)
+             m.reset() - send 0xAA to battery. Return true if battery replies wih 0xAA
+             m.get_snapchat() - request 'snapchat' from battery (0x61)
+             m.configure() - send 'configure' message (0x60, charger parameters)
+             m.calibrate() - calibration/interrupt command (0x55)
+             m.keepalive() - send charge current request (0x62)
+
+
+
+
+@echo off
+
+echo ***************************************************
+echo ** Runs m18.py with spreadsheet output and       **
+echo ** copies to clipboard. You will not see output, **
+echo ** just a completion message. Then you can       **
+echo ** 'ctrl+v' into a spreadsheet                   **
+echo **                                               **
+echo ** THIS WILL TAKE ~10 SECONDS                    **
+echo **                                               **
+echo ** RIGHT-CLICK AND EDIT .BAT FILE.               **
+echo ** CHANGE "--port COM5" to where your adapter is **
+echo ** (you can delete this message)                 **
+echo ***************************************************
+
+python.exe .\m18.py --ss --port COM5 | clip.exe
+
+echo:  
+echo ***************************************************
+echo ** Finished. Now use 'ctrl+v' to paste           **
+echo ** diagnostics output into spreadsheet           **
+echo **                                               **
+echo ** If you get errors, you must edit this batch   **
+echo ** file to have the correct port. You may also   **
+echo ** have hardware issues. See github              **
+echo ***************************************************
+
+cmd /k
+
+
+
+
+:: RECOMMEND RUNNING m18_idle.bat BEFORE CONNECTING TO BATTERY
+:: Gives simple health report of M18 batteries
+:: Add "--port COM5" (or whatever your port is) to avoid
+:: having to enter it everytime
+
+@echo off
+echo ***************************************************
+echo ** RIGHT-CLICK AND EDIT .BAT FILE.               **
+echo ** ADD "--port COM5" to command                  **
+echo ** (or whatever port your serial adapter is on)  **
+echo ** (you can delete this message                  **
+echo ***************************************************
+
+python.exe .\m18.py --health
+cmd /k
+
+
+
+
+
+:: Puts serial adapter TX in idle (low = <1V)
+:: This prevents false charge count increases
+
+@echo off
+
+echo ***************************************************
+echo ** RIGHT-CLICK AND EDIT .BAT FILE.               **
+echo ** ADD "--port COM5" to command                  **
+echo ** (or whatever port your serial adapter is on)  **
+echo ** (you can delete this message                  **
+echo ***************************************************
+
+python.exe .\m18.py --idle
+cmd /k
+
+
+
+
+:: RECOMMEND RUNNING m18_idle.bat BEFORE CONNECTING TO BATTERY
+:: Runs script in interactive mode
+:: All functions available
+
+python.exe .\m18.py