# Socket Messaging with Robot Studio?

**URL:** <https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/t/socket-messaging-with-robot-studio/3088>\
**Category:** RobotStudio\
**Created:** [October 7, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/t/socket-messaging-with-robot-studio/3088 "2009-10-07T16:28:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![tbaumg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tbaumg](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/u/tbaumg)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/t/socket-messaging-with-robot-studio/3088/1 "2009-10-07T16:28:05Z")

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Is it possible to use the TCP/IP Socket communication (SocketSend, SocketRecieve, etc.) commands to test my RAPID code using RobotStudio? I would like to simulate my program and use the Ethernet port on my laptop computer to actually test the Ethernet communications (before we get the real robot controllers in).

Thanks,

Toby

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**Author:** ![Niklas\_Skoglund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@Niklas\_Skoglund](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/u/Niklas_Skoglund)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 10:12am UTC](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/t/socket-messaging-with-robot-studio/3088/2 "2009-10-08T10:12:22Z")

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Hi Toby,

it is possible to communicate with the Virtual Controller using socket messages.  
There is no special support in RobotStudio to send the commands, so you have to use a separate client to send the commands to the VC, or write an Add-In that uses the .NET socket classes.

I have used the program “Connecting Sockets” to send socket commands to a VC on one PC, from another PC.  
[http://www.brothersoft.com/connecting-sockets-11024.html](http://www.brothersoft.com/connecting-sockets-11024.html)

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**Author:** ![tbaumg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tbaumg](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/u/tbaumg)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 4:27pm UTC](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/t/socket-messaging-with-robot-studio/3088/3 "2009-10-08T16:27:30Z")

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Thanks for the quick response. I just downloaded the Connecting Sockets program, I also have a LabView application I wrote a while back to transmit socket messages to/from a real robot.

How do I setup/change the IP address of the Virtual Controller? (I think that is my problem). In the system info of the Virtual FlexPendant the IP settings for the LAN are all blank.

Thanks

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**Author:** ![Niklas\_Skoglund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@Niklas\_Skoglund](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/u/Niklas_Skoglund)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 4:50pm UTC](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/t/socket-messaging-with-robot-studio/3088/4 "2009-10-08T16:50:52Z")

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The VC has IP 127.0.0.1 as it is running on your local PC.

Try specifying that IP from the Socket program.

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**Author:** ![tbaumg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tbaumg](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/u/tbaumg)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 5:13pm UTC](https://tech-community.robotics.abb.com/t/socket-messaging-with-robot-studio/3088/5 "2009-10-08T17:13:07Z")

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Ok, that makes sense. It’s working now. Thank you!