LCD plugin supporting more than 70 display types (now with full graphics support!!!) (1 Viewer)

[davidk]

Great work!! is there any chance to have it in a SVN release? I'd really love to have it working for my FIC Spectra with Futaba 1.1 Display (1 row * 7 chars)

I can compile the SVN version for Scaleo E/EV. It should not be a problem.

However, I'm not sure if the current API I'm using will work also for FIC Spectra. Please, try the following test file and let me know, if it works with your display. If yes, I can try to add support for Spectra display as well.

David

 

[andreavb]

I'll try the files and report if they works with FIC Spectra, there are two files in your zip: MyProject.exe and VFD_Control.dll

where do I have to put these two files? is MyProject.exe the exact name of the exe or do I have to rename it to something else?

thank you so much for your support!!

 

[davidk]

I'll try the files and report if they works with FIC Spectra, there are two files in your zip: MyProject.exe and VFD_Control.dll

where do I have to put these two files? is MyProject.exe the exact name of the exe or do I have to rename it to something else?

thank you so much for your support!!

These files are for the testing of the API only. It is not part of MP.
Put it anywhere you like, but both to the same directory. Once you run the exe file, dialog window with few self explanatory buttons should apear. I would expect only the "Small Text" and "Clear" buttons to work, if anything. You have one line display with no custom symbols, so the "Large Text" and "Icons" should not be relevant for your display. Let me know your results.

David

 

[andreavb]

OK, thank you. anyway my display also has icons for TV, DVD, Radio, Rec, Home and Volume and many others...I'll test it and report about my results

it is a Futaba blue display with many icons and a 14 segments - 7 characters display

 

[HrOlsen]

Scaleo E test is working fine

Thanks so much for your fine work, I have just tested the SCALEO E with your test program and it puts text and Icons on the display - it works like a charm !

(I am now trying to get it invoked by the external display plugin - but are having trouble with that plugin - it keep being diabled after a re-start of the configuration program for Mediaportal. I have tried and configured the plugin to a number of different display types - nothing to do with the SCALEO VFD part)

Is anybody able to help me getting the External display plugin enabled or know what is happening ?
The log file shows everything is OK:

2007-03-12 18:14:02.143367 [Debug][Config Main]: ExternalDisplay: Searching type ScaleoEV...
2007-03-12 18:14:02.143367 [Debug][Config Main]: ExternalDisplay: Requested type was found.

Best regards
/Olsen

 

[andreavb]

I have tested it with my FIC Spectra with Futaba 14 segments Display but nothing happens!!

I have tested it with and without original driver installed...it is connected via USB, the Futaba driver is v1.1 and works fine with MCE, what else can I try to do?

 

[davidk]

Thanks so much for your fine work, I have just tested the SCALEO E with your test program and it puts text and Icons on the display - it works like a charm !

(I am now trying to get it invoked by the external display plugin - but are having trouble with that plugin - it keep being diabled after a re-start of the configuration program for Mediaportal. I have tried and configured the plugin to a number of different display types - nothing to do with the SCALEO VFD part)

Is anybody able to help me getting the External display plugin enabled or know what is happening ?
The log file shows everything is OK:

2007-03-12 18:14:02.143367 [Debug][Config Main]: ExternalDisplay: Searching type ScaleoEV...
2007-03-12 18:14:02.143367 [Debug][Config Main]: ExternalDisplay: Requested type was found.

Best regards
/Olsen

Hi Olsen,
Have you tried the original ProcessPlugins.dll file? First try to use the original file with the Debug display driver. Let's see if that will work OK.
My adjusted dll is based on current stable version of MP (0.2.2). If you are using SVN, it can result into strange behavior.
I must admit that we have to thank members of the German MCE community as they made the .NET API for Scaleo I based my code on.
David

 

[davidk]

I have tested it with my FIC Spectra with Futaba 14 segments Display but nothing happens!!

I have tested it with and without original driver installed...it is connected via USB, the Futaba driver is v1.1 and works fine with MCE, what else can I try to do?

That means that the device ID of the display controller is different. The API has to be modfied. Try to find the devide ID(PID) of the HID device in your device manager. The vendor ID(VID) should be 1509 if it is the same vendor as for SCALEO.

Hopefully, this will help. If not, you will have to try the same approach as the German team did; use USB monitor and catch the codes for the controller. Based on these codes API can be made.

David

 

[HrOlsen]

Hi Olsen,
Have you tried the original ProcessPlugins.dll file? First try to use the original file with the Debug display driver. Let's see if that will work OK.
My adjusted dll is based on current stable version of cIf you are using SVN, it can result into strange behavior.
I must admit that we have to thank members of the German MCE community as they made the .NET API for Scaleo I based my code on.
David

Hi David,
I did backup the original ProcessPlugin in the process directory -but I did not realize that this did create a second instance of External display. It now works to begin with: MY TV Home is displayed from the External display plugin of MP 0.2.2.0 on the SCALEO E display - only remark now is that it hangs up MP after the first switching of the GUI. I have noted that a property browser in displayed if I look in WinXP task manager. Is that because it is still a debug version ?

So far it looks good - Any suggestions / ideas is much appreciated

Kind regards

/Olsen

 

[davidk]

Hi David,
Do I misunderstand your suggestion ? - if so please advise:
I have tried the test/debug version with the original ProcessPlugin and using MP 0.2.2.0 - no SVN - and the buttons that you have created to test the different parts of the SCALEO E display just works absolutely fine.
My problem now - for some strange reason - is to get the External display plugin of MP 0.2.2.0 to stay enabled after I have configured it and try to test/or re-configure.
Best regards
/Olsen

Hi Olsen,
My mod has 2 parts: 1) VFD API = VFD_Control.dll, 2) Modified Plug-In = ProcessPlugins.dll.

The driver is included directly in ProcessPlugins.dll and it calls the API in second dll. It is not standard driver solution as for most of other displays. I have done it this way to get access to additional events than originally supported.

So, my point was that the problem can be in my changed ProcessPlugins.dll. Therefore, I suggested to try the External Display plugin with the original unmodified ProcessPlugins.dll to see, if your problem with turning-off will disapear. There is an embeded driver "Debug Form" and if you choose it, all messages will be visible on the screen.

Let me know, if my the problem is with my modified dll or not.
David