Virtual Desktop LCD Display driver

[dperrow]

VirtualLCD allows those with an external colour display to use this as an LCD Smartie device. The program allows the configuration of the background, window size and position, Font colour, size, attributes ad line positions. It is written in C & C++ and is distributed as freeware.

VirtualLCD is a display plugin for LCD Smartie to provide the output as a desktop window. The main use for this is to drive an external additional screen or a small external screen (7 inch type display) which extends the normal desktop. This display can then be used to see what the system is doing without the main monitor being used. E.g. where the main monitor may be an hdtv showing a movie etc. Used in conjunction with mce_dll the display can show Media Centre status information as shown below. Each line of the display (up to 4) can have a different font, font size, font colour and line position using values defined in the configuration file. The screen background is loaded from a jpg file and can be replaced by the user. The screen size and position can also be set. Screen content is defined within LCD Smartie in the normal way. The screen can be saved to a file at pre-configurable intervals (with or without being shown on the desktop) to allow it to be placed on a shared drive for access by a wireles picture frame or a remote machine.

Example screenshots are shown below:

smallpic1.jpg

smallScreen.jpg

smallpic3.jpg

smallpic2.jpg

Full documentation, executables and source for VirtualLCD can be found at:http://virtuallcd.codeplex.com/

Have Fun,
Dave

[nicobo]

I have a problem with bargraph: with this "$Bar(20,100,10)" on the second line it give me the sreenshot.

I think this have to do with custom caracter, or maybe a wrong font.

How did you make the bargraph on the last screenshot.

[img]

screenshot.jpg

[/img]

[dperrow]

Hi nicobo,
This must be a problem with the chosen font having a blank instead of the block character. It works okay on mine. My font for line 2 is set to Bauhaus 93 but it also works on Arial Black on my line 4. The bar graph on the earlier screen shot is generated by mce_dll and not the $Bar function. Let me know if a change in font in the .cfg file fixes it.

[elkulo]

Excellent plugin! I am using a usb mimo monitor 7"and looks beautiful! Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have also problems with the bars (blank instead of the block character), I probe with the Arial Black and Bauhaus 93. Also with the symbols of degrees and plugins that manipulate images.

[dperrow]

Guys,
I need to know which version you are using and what's in your .cfg file pls.

Dave

[dperrow]

Hi there,
I've done some tests and it looks like the $Bar function uses the first four custom characters and the VirtualLCD driver tries to map these to Icons. Also the $Bar function doesn't redefine the characters each time it's used.

One solution is to reset VirtualLCD's character map so it doesn't map any icons. You can do this by adding the line:

ResetCharMap

to the VirtualLCD.cfg file

it's case sensitive and needs to be on a line by it's own.

A better solution would be to define new icons to use for the bar function, which can be done from the .cfg file but would take a bit more time than I have at present.

The way this is done is using these lines in the cfg file (after a ResetCharMap):

IconxxFilename=filename.gif
IconxxChar=aa,bb,cc,dd,ee,ff,gg,hh

where xx is the character number (1->20)
filename.jpg is the name of the icon file in the images folder (size should be 256x256)
aa,bb,cc,dd,ee,ff,gg,hh is the custom character definition which will be replaced by this icon.

use this stuff at your own peril, I haven't tried any of it recently.

Dave

[elkulo]

Hi Dave! Thanks for reply!

Here is my VirtualLCD.cfg:

http://pastebin.com/hhKNy6bP

The version of lcdsmartie I use is 5.4.2.92

I try the solution of ResetCharMap but saw no change at all (only the line).

I will try with the second solution. Where I can get a list of special characters to test the second solution? are only from 1 to 20? is ASCII (or UTF)?

thank you!

Greetings!

[dperrow]

I actually meant which version of virtuallcd are you using?

can you also make sure you don't have anything else being displayed the would use custom chars?

[elkulo]

I have the version 1.1 of virtuallcd, sorry for the mistake!

Yes! I have others plugins using custom chars: picturepg and clockpg

[elkulo]

I tried a new config without picturepg and clockpg with no luck...no other plugins using custom chars either the degrees symbol

[dperrow]

Can you try the attached version. it looks like there's a problem with 1.1 but I haven't found it yet.

VirtualLCD.zip

Let me know how it goes.
Dave

[elkulo]

Hi Dave!

It gave me an error when lunch lcdsmartie with the dll attachment. Here is the screenshot:



And the debug log from VirtualLCD:

http://pastebin.com/zpywCXY3

[dperrow]

That error implies that the program cant open one of the picture files. Probably "images\VirtualLCD.jpg". can you check this file please.

I've modified the program so it puts the name of the file it cant open in the log.

VirtualLCD.zip

Dave

[elkulo]

It's Working!!!

The symbols of degrees and plugins that manipulate images works perfect! And the $Bar function!!!

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!