Ledtriks Software Update

[Johns2007]

I am by no means a professional programmer but I'm attempting to design software to allow Ledtriks to countdown. There are two areas where I am getting stuck:

1) How to convert the selected font into the bitmapped image that gets sent out to the port.

2) I haven't sat down to decode what signals the ledtriks chips need to drive the board so if anyone has knowledge of the port output requirements and timings, please let me know.

If anyone is willing to share their knowledge of the driver-end of the software. I'm offering my time and knowledge to do the rest.

Attached file is what I have so far.

PS The program works so far. Select a holiday in "Count Down to:" and then "Count In:" and then click "Start" the output is at the bottom of the window and it updates in real time.
It will change to Hours, Minutes and then Seconds as it gets to the last day of the count.
I'm working on message scrolling now.

Thanks,

John

[Johns2007]

Updated file tonight. Scrolling now works. Increased size of output text. Fixed several bugs. Created some new bugs to fix tomorrow.

[Josh]

looks pretty good
I noticed that your scroll speed is reverse what you would think. 100 is slow and 1 is fast

also maybe make it so you can customize text

[WildWillie]

Great job! Keep up the good work!

[surfersteve]

I would love to assist in this project if you need the help. I think you should expand upon this a little bit and incorporate message capability and possibly graphic animation ability as well. Id be willing to help in any way. We def need someone to comment on data protocal that the controllers use for communication.

[ben]

I would love to assist in this project if you need the help. I think you should expand upon this a little bit and incorporate message capability and possibly graphic animation ability as well. Id be willing to help in any way. We def need someone to comment on data protocal that the controllers use for communication.

ok, I cannot help much but I would like to weigh in. I think you should talk to KC and see if you to can work together to get it into Vixen and work with the LEDtricks outputs. I really think this has a nice look to it for a nice plugin.

Ben

[Johns2007]

OK, Scroll Speed fixed (inverted). Thanks Josh.

Surfer Steve, Do you know anything about Visual Basic?
I need someone to figure out how to take the characters from the selected font and convert it into a bitmap that is 16 pixels high (ledtriks row height) and then store it in an array. If anyone has any idea, let me know... I'm still researching.
I will take any help anyone can give in any way. As far as expanding the program, my goal was to get this running correctly first and then expand upon it once it's functional. I am nervous about making claims that I may or may not be able to follow through on. I wouldn't want to get everyone's hopes up and then let you down.

I also don't have a problem sharing the code, but my concern it that we will wind up with several versions from people working on this and each one going in a different direction. That's why I'm starting in April, so we can get it working and debugged by fall.

Ben, the problems I see with making it a vixen plugin are:

a) I don't think Vixen can run Ledtriks and Vixen Sequence at the same time.
So I need to run two computer regardless. (I would love it if Vixen could run Ledtriks and a sequence at the same time because then you could display "Now playing" information on the ledtriks about the sequence as it's running.

b) I'm not a professional programmer and as it stands now, I just have to figure out how to output the correct information to the port to drive the ledtriks. If I made this as a plugin, I would also have to figure out how to make it work within Vixen's framework.

I have no problem giving the code to KC and having him add it to Vixen so it can be called up from within the program. I've already PM'd him but haven't heard back.

[ben]

OK, Scroll Speed fixed (inverted). Thanks Josh.

Surfer Steve, Do you know anything about Visual Basic?
I need someone to figure out how to take the characters from the selected font and convert it into a bitmap that is 16 pixels high (ledtriks row height) and then store it in an array. If anyone has any idea, let me know... I'm still researching.
I will take any help anyone can give in any way. As far as expanding the program, my goal was to get this running correctly first and then expand upon it once it's functional. I am nervous about making claims that I may or may not be able to follow through on. I wouldn't want to get everyone's hopes up and then let you down.

I also don't have a problem sharing the code, but my concern it that we will wind up with several versions from people working on this and each one going in a different direction. That's why I'm starting in April, so we can get it working and debugged by fall.

Ben, the problems I see with making it a vixen plugin are:

a) I don't think Vixen can run Ledtriks and Vixen Sequence at the same time.
So I need to run two computer regardless. (I would love it if Vixen could run Ledtriks and a sequence at the same time because then you could display "Now playing" information on the ledtriks about the sequence as it's running.

b) I'm not a professional programmer and as it stands now, I just have to figure out how to output the correct information to the port to drive the ledtriks. If I made this as a plugin, I would also have to figure out how to make it work within Vixen's framework.

I have no problem giving the code to KC and having him add it to Vixen so it can be called up from within the program. I've already PM'd him but haven't heard back.

I think that is something KC is or needs to work on. Getting Vixen to run LED tricks and a sequence. I mean thats not a problem for me since I have 2 comps.

[Johns2007]

Added customizable text.

[dmcole]

Johns2007:

Great application so far.

If it were mine to do, I would add an option to the counting radio buttons called Days, hours, minutes, seconds that would produce text that said

206 days, 6 hours, 15 minutes and 37 seconds

depending upon the day, hour, minute and second, of course.

Best of luck.

\dmc

[surfersteve]

I have a bit of experience with VB and will go to work on it. What version of VB are you using. I hope its not on the .net platform. I agree with Johns2007 last comment. I will look into that as well. I will bring some equip home tomorrow to see if I can decipher the output protocol

[kiwichristmas]

Hi John, here are some Vixen script samples for you, based on a ledtriks
setup of 1 panel wide, 2 panels high.

Cheers
Kiwichristmas

[Johns2007]

Thanks for the files.

[surfersteve]

John2007,
I am still here, and still on board. Its been a super nice weekend and will be a nice week, wife has had me devote all my attention to yard work and cleanup. Will be leaving on vacation thurs for a week, so I probably wont get much done with any coding. I will have a laptop with me and will steal time when possible.

[Johns2007]

Steve,
No Rush,
We have to xmas.
John

[klanger]

Steve,
No Rush,
We have to xmas.
John


HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA .


Kev.

[surfersteve]

Till Christmas, crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My Christmas started already! Starting off behind the 8 ball is never a good thing. Hmmmmm let see, if I win the lotto, I wont have to work anymore so I can devote all my time to my Holiday lighting fetish, and have pretty much unlimited funds. But would I pay someone else to do it, or buy commercial off the shelf equip? NOT A CHANCE. DIY is way to much fun. Gotta go, Mega Millions is calling my name. If I win ill take everyone to Bronners :)

[Johns2007]

Did some more work last night.

[Josh]

John, looks good
Why no down scroll? :P

No, really though, i noticed that the ALL button wont work? it selects, but i get no display?

[Johns2007]

To be honest. I got rid of the "Right" Scroll and didn't even think of down. I can add it easily enough.

[Johns2007]

Now with "Down" Scroll. How about diagonal scroll?

[Josh]

Hey, i was just razzing you about down... but if you really want a fully functional stand alone program. I think diagonal, and "bouncing" would be very useful.

Is it just my machine, or id the All function now work? when i check it, nothing displays.

Also just noticing that you don't have to check the box for custom text, if you just type it, and then start, it will work. But once you select a holiday, THEN you have to select custom text to get it to display.

John, i hope you don't think im annoying, Just pointing out things I see :D

[Johns2007]

Yeah, It's a work in progress. I only posted it now so that we could get suggestions on what users want. There are a few things that don't work yet. It doesn't even output to the printer port yet and I'm still working on the best way to convert the fonts to bitmaps.

[Johns2007]

Here's another version with more bells and whistles. Still developing the diagonal scrolls and will fix the horizontal scroll so that the computer determines the length of the message and scrolls it across correctly.

[Josh]

John, it is looking great. Wish i knew programming...
Thanks for the hard work, now hopefully i can get a LEDtrix built soon

[rlilly]

Johns2007,

The custom message seems to be limited to 20 or so characters. And the scroll speed is limited to 100.

I really like what your doing here. I was thinking about doing something similar so I could utilize an embedded PC I happen to have to drive the LEDtriks from with in the panel.

[shocker]

Any update on the software when will it be able to control the ledtrik?

[Johns2007]

I've been busy with yardwork and my job. We're expecting rain this weekend and if we get it, I'll have some time to work on this a little more. I'm also working through the output part of the program now so you won't see much in the way of chages to the interface. I want to get the thing functional to see if VB.net is even fast enough to run the display. If it isn't, I'll be porting it over to a faster language. I've also been in contact with KC who was very helpful, and recommended turning this into a plug-in for vixen. I still can't wrap my brain around how to set it up as a plug-in though.
John

[shocker]

ok thanks for the update, and keep up the good work it is appreciate!!!

[Johns2007]

Just a quick note to let you know that I'm not dead. I broke my leg at the beginning of May, (tripped over some junk in the garage) and ended up with a titanium rod in my tibia. After the surgery I mentioned to the surgeon that my foot looked "crooked" and was told that it was because the muscles in my leg were relaxed and once I had physical therapy, everything would be fine. At my six week follow-up my doctor finally admitted that my foot was crooked and I had to have surgery again to re-break my leg and straighten my foot. Once I get off the percoset pain killers, I will dig out the programming notes and see if I can finish the program.

[Ronp]

Thats what you get at the RI medical center lol

[daviddth]

Hope you get better soon :)

[Johns2007]

I should have just fixed it myself like I do with everything else.

[rstehle]

. After the surgery I mentioned to the surgeon that my foot looked "crooked" and was told that it was because the muscles in my leg were relaxed and once I had physical therapy, everything would be fine. At my six week follow-up my doctor finally admitted that my foot was crooked and I had to have surgery again to re-break my leg and straighten my foot.

Before you do anything else, you ought to go and kick that doctor's A _ _ for making you foot crooked in the first place!! LOL ;)
( I know you are thinking about it.......)