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View Full Version : Girder for my VFD?



NLS
November 16th, 2004, 09:19 AM
Currently, from the time of myHTPC (which I might return - but that is another issue), I have both Girder and jaLCD loaded.

Girder IS NOT USED for VFD display though yet. Yes I have the plugin and tested it ok, but I don't use it.

jaLCD used to be used a display displaying these:

- A screen with time and date for a while.
- A screen with some info about winamp song if it was playing.
- A screen displaying IN A BAR my hard disk's space, plus system uptime.

(I would love to do more but didn't have the time, always solving something with myHTPC instead - or in fact using it)

The VFD is a 16x2 parallel port one.

Now, I played just a bit with C.Mee. I made it work for jaLCD, but not for Girder (didn't work, I dunno why - I am probably missing something since Girder itself CAN use the VFD - if jaLCD is shut down).

Anyway the thing is... can I use Girder for the same functionality at least? Skip using jaLCD at all?

In other words can I make Girder itself (without ruining my group-switching GML)... either with the help of Meedio or not... show date, time, swap to a screen with uptime and a BAR with disk space and swap to more info? (probably given from meedio)

Can Girder alone do this?
I have no problem keeping jaLCD, the problem is that even if I want to display one single string from Girder (for example when I switch on a group), I cannot do it with jaLCD running. Also, I never found a way to automaticaly keep screens for a while, swap after a while, skip them and use another instead when something happens (a media file playing) etc.

Help?

Promixis
November 16th, 2004, 09:32 AM
Yes, download LCD Master from the Program Definitions Area.

NLS
November 16th, 2004, 10:05 AM
LCD Master needs Girder 3.3 or am I wrong?

Is there any (maybe older?) version tha can be used with 3.2.9?

Marsupial
November 16th, 2004, 11:38 AM
you should be able to use the LCD plugin with your device, but its hardwork without LCD master to display "screens"...

up to you.

NLS
November 16th, 2004, 02:38 PM
after all LCD Master looked like a pretty much dedicated solution - in other words my existing (group switching) GML would be very hard to embed anyway

we'll see

if both programs (Girder and jaLCD) coulrd "share" the parallel port, things would be better

(can it be done?)

Promixis
November 16th, 2004, 02:39 PM
No they cannot share.

LCD Master should work with most existing groups.

Marsupial
November 17th, 2004, 11:37 AM
The reason they couldn't share is that they both reserve the LPT port address...

therefore, you could manage to

1- turn off the LCD plugin
2- open the foreigh application (JALCD)

to use the soft, and

1- turn off the soft
2- reenable the plguin

to get back to the Girder-driven LCD.

But its a pain in the rear end, while you have more control using girder and LCD-Master