How Can I Use WinForms and Visual Studio to Read Data from a USB Serial Port Device?

This code should work with a USB to serial port device, and it may also work with your scale. Some of the port settings were found by downloading/installing WinCT (RsCom, RsKey & RsWeight). Then, in the Windows Start menu under A&D WinCT, select either RsCom or RsKey. Using RsCom or RsKey is an easy way to check that your USB cable/connection is working. I used both "RsKey" and "RsCom" with my USB serial device, and it seemed to work.

Create a WinForms project

VS 2017:

Open Visual Studio
Expand Installed
Expand Visual C#
Click Windows Desktop
Select Windows Forms App (.NET Framework)
Specify project name (name: ReadSerialPort)
Click OK

VS 2019:

Open Visual Studio
Click Continue without code
Click File
Select New
Select Project
C# Windows Desktop
Click Windows Forms App (.NET Framework)
Click Next
Specify project name (name: ReadSerialPort)
Click Create

Note: From this point forward, the process is the same for both VS 2017 and VS 2019.

Add class: SerialPortDataReceivedEventArgs

Note: This class will be used with an event that sends the data received from the serial port device to a subscriber.

On VS menu, select Project
Select Add Class (name: SerialPortDataReceivedEventArgs.cs)

SerialPortDataReceivedEventArgs.cs

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;

namespace ReadSerialPort
{
    public delegate void SerialPortDataReceivedEventHandler(object sender, SerialPortDataReceivedEventArgs e);

    public class SerialPortDataReceivedEventArgs : System.EventArgs
    {
        public string Data { get; private set; } = string.Empty;

        public SerialPortDataReceivedEventArgs(string data)
        {
            this.Data = data;
        }
    }
}

Add Reference to System.Management

On VS menu, select Project
Select Add Reference
Expand Assemblies
Check System.Management
Click OK

Add class: ComPorts

On VS menu, select Project
Select Add Class (name: ComPorts.cs)

ComPorts.cs

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;

namespace ReadSerialPort
{
    public class ComPorts
    {
        public List<ComPortInfo> Ports { get; set; } = new List<ComPortInfo>();
    }

    public class ComPortInfo
    {
        public string Name { get; set; }
        public string PortName { get; set; }

        public ComPortInfo()
        {

        }

        public ComPortInfo(string name, string portName)
        {
            this.Name = name;
            this.PortName = portName;
        }
    }
}

Add class: HelperSerialPort

On VS menu, select Project
Select Add Class (name: HelperSerialPort.cs)

HelperSerialPort.cs

//if using .NET 5, install NuGet Package: System.IO.Ports

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using System.IO.Ports;
using System.Diagnostics;
using System.Management;

namespace ReadSerialPort
{

public enum PortBaudRate : int
{
    Baud1200 = 1200,
    Baud2400 = 2400,
    Baud4800 = 4800,
    Baud9600 = 9600,
    Baud14400 = 14400,
    Baud19200 = 19200,
    Baud28800 = 28800,
    Baud38400 = 38400
};

public class HelperSerialPort : IDisposable
{
    public delegate void SerialPortErrorReceivedEventHandler(object sender, SerialErrorReceivedEventArgs e);

    public event SerialPortDataReceivedEventHandler DataReceived;
    public event SerialPortErrorReceivedEventHandler ErrorReceived;

    private string _dataReceived = string.Empty;
    public System.IO.Ports.SerialPort Port { get; private set; }

    public HelperSerialPort()
    {
        //create new instance
        Port = new SerialPort();
    }

    public string Connect(string comPort, PortBaudRate baudRate = PortBaudRate.Baud9600)
    {
        string portName = string.Empty;
        string result = string.Empty;

        if (String.IsNullOrEmpty(comPort))
        {
            System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show("COM port not selected.", "Error - COM Port", System.Windows.Forms.MessageBoxButtons.OK, System.Windows.Forms.MessageBoxIcon.Error);
            return "Error: COM port not selected.";
        }

        try
        {
            if (Port == null)
            {
                //create new instance
                Port = new SerialPort();
            }

            if (!Port.IsOpen)
            {
                Debug.WriteLine("opening port");

                //create new instance
                Port = new SerialPort(comPort);

                //set properties

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