Character LCD Support HD44780/Crystalfontz

**phil.45** · 01-21-2003, 02:40 AM

Ok, after some testing last night, I can confirm that HD44780 is 100% possible , and coming to a MediaEngine near you. Crystalfontz is almost certainly definate as well. I am waiting for Carcomp to release the next version, which I will add character support to.

The idea is to allow full control of MediaEngine using a char LCD. Basically, that means you will be able to navigate menus and playlists, and view current song info, mirroring what is happening on the full screen interface. Because, at least initially, an option to customise what is displayed on the char lcd will not be implemented, I need to hear as many ideas on how each screen should be handled so we all get something we will find useful.

I would suggest the best way to do this is with an example. State screen size when you post, ie 20 x 4.
So, for my display, a 16x2, when I am listening to MP3's, I would expect to see something like:

|Songname-Artist.| This line scrolling
|03:35....Track.4|

(I have used a period to indicate a space)

**felix99** · 01-21-2003, 03:49 AM

in the feature request subject you said direct port acces unter NT OS is not possible - it is ! with a port driver which is ditributed with al HD44780 software - file is port95nt.exe

so my feature request

- like you said song time tec. so classic basic info

a cool thing would be that i can navigate on charlcd throug the menues and go straight to playlist for music. because normally on short trips i do not put my TFT because of bad guys running around and i t takes to much time to take it out of box - put it n and 5 min later get it back in box

so a playlist display should be cool - like markus zehnders winampplugin. or bedder Titi's mod of marcus's plugin -http://www.poulpy.com/lcdplugin

- equalizer , playlist on charlcd , and the main menue options of Media engine

Felix

**phil.45** · 01-21-2003, 04:00 AM

I think probably the best way to approach the MP3 player part is that when it is playing an MP3 you get the usual song title, time etc, then as soon as you navigate the current playlist to select a different song, the display will use the full display to show as much of the current playlist as possible, then when you select a song or after a few seconds of input being idle, it returns to the mp3 info again. As for the other sections, they will mirror the info you see on the TFT, so full control will be possible without looking at the TFT if you want.

**felix99** · 01-21-2003, 05:07 AM

you explained what i wanted

sorry for my confuse explanations - I juste woke up and my mind is still not 100% available

**djmjr** · 01-21-2003, 09:00 AM

I have a 24x2 screen, and in addition to the information in your display, I would like to have the option of selecting a countdown mode for track time.
Considering my current lack of a TFT, this enhancement is great news!

**phil.45** · 01-21-2003, 09:07 AM

How convenient, mediaengine already counts down the track time.

**CrazyLittle** · 01-21-2003, 03:18 PM

I'm using a Crystalfontz 4x20
so:

|12345678901234567890|
/--------------------\
|>Song Title.........|
|Artist Name.........|
|00:00/00:00..S:Y R:N|
|T#1234/1234..VOL:100|
\--------------------/

Where:
> is the play status (playing/paused/stopped)
00:00/00:00 is song position/total time
S: is Shuffle (y/n)
R: is Repeat (y/n)
T# is track number / total tracks in playlist
VOL: is volume

And in Zhender's plugin, I was going to have the vis plugin take over the bottom two lines when active. (since it crashes, that kinda rules it out.)

**phil.45** · 01-24-2003, 08:46 AM

Is anyone out there wanting to use this with a 1 line display? Can we have a vote on it, cause Id rather not support single line displays if I can get away with it, and make it a minimum requirment that you have 2 lines or more. Feedback please!

**CrazyLittle** · 01-24-2003, 12:44 PM

I don't really see what you could do with a 1 line display. Perhaps it could be a future implementation, but I bet you can get away with not putting it in at the moment.