software for custom guages, etc. - Page 2

Ravant · 06-18-2004, 10:48 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by infinkc

heres a pic of the data that i can sample at the moment, its only been tested on an 98 audi a4 so far. Any other suggestions on what to add to the program besides the virtual dash?

That's actually very nice! Some cars have 2 02 sensors, however. Could you add a second option for that? Also - will there be options for N/A cars, Turboed Cars, Supercharged cars, and N02? (It'd be cool to have the computer throw the N02 switch.) Also - oil pressure and oil temperature. I know, I'm demanding, I'm sorry. Actually - I was planning on doing a project like this myself. What's that programmed in, VB?

Nico3k · 06-19-2004, 01:13 PM

I originally started my own VB project on OBD, but stopped because I didn't have enough time.

If anyone needs any help in their projects, PM me. I can do basically ANYTHING in visual basics. I can also do any graphics related things you could want.

We need to have a good OBD solution that everyone can use and whoever needs help let me know.

As another member stated, right now the best solution is probably to use visualbasics OCX for OBD2 and OCX for Flash since that would make the graphics part very easy.

BoraXP · 06-20-2004, 07:17 PM

how is the refresh time?
is it real time?

Magnezium · 06-21-2004, 01:34 AM

Sorry. Been out of the state for a LONG time... I just got back... infinkc... It's not a module. Do you have flash? I can build the flash gui pretty fast. Just draw in Paint what you'd like it to look like (just a very general drawing for positioning and stuff) and I'll get to work on it.

antimatter · 06-21-2004, 01:37 AM

So i have been thinking about this for a while. Is there any progress on this. I don't have mu ODBII scanner module yet but intend to get it within the next 3 months and would like to creat some custom gauges. All the ones i have seen are very functional but not slick or flashy

Magnezium · 06-21-2004, 01:40 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Nico3k

I originally started my own VB project on OBD, but stopped because I didn't have enough time.

If anyone needs any help in their projects, PM me. I can do basically ANYTHING in visual basics. I can also do any graphics related things you could want.

We need to have a good OBD solution that everyone can use and whoever needs help let me know.

As another member stated, right now the best solution is probably to use visualbasics OCX for OBD2 and OCX for Flash since that would make the graphics part very easy.

I totally agree. I think with the right programming, and flash work, we can make changing the gui on the cluster easy and responsive. I was imagining using a access file to store the pictures in for the flash to pull up and load. Or we can use a ini or txt to store locations of pictures for flash to load. This way we can EASILY customize the display. Also, we can add coordiate points for where each pic is placed on the flash stage. So it would be a one time load up and customizing is made just that much more simple. I can do it... Anyone else in?

Mg

Magnezium · 06-21-2004, 01:45 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by antimatter

So i have been thinking about this for a while. Is there any progress on this. I don't have mu ODBII scanner module yet but intend to get it within the next 3 months and would like to creat some custom gauges. All the ones i have seen are very functional but not slick or flashy

Seriously, if you want it to look good, there needs to be a bit of real artwork that will go into it. I'm not very good at drawing, but I'm REALLY good at putting things together and making things work. If you can get the pics, I can put them together. Animated pics work too. Anything can be animated... In order to make one flash gauge, you need 2 seperate pictures: You need 1 gauge background with the numbers and all that, and then you need a needle. If you get these, then you need a cluster background. So you have your guages and cluster background. I picture all the guages having needles with a digital readout in the middle or under them.

That would look slick.

Exo · 06-22-2004, 07:31 PM

I too would love to have a slick looking dial set as all the software I have seen so far is functional but very dull! Thats the one thing which is putting me off getting the interface.

Try taking a look at (www.flashsim.com) they seem to have some nice dials etc, a few of which you can download for free.

I don't have ODBII yet so I couldn't do any testing but I do have a bit of VB experience.

Mray · 06-22-2004, 08:09 PM

You can also download Free Scan which has guages as well but works with OBDI PCMs.

http://www.andywhittaker.com/ecu/ecu_software.htm

99bravada · 06-23-2004, 11:11 PM

I am a graphic artist and integrator and work with Flash and Flash Studio Pro almost daily... if you need any help with the graphics let me know...... has anyone tried doing this with Flash Studio Pro? It can read and write to the serial port and the ELM is serial interface... PM me if you need any help with the graphics... also, why not keep it all vector-based, or do a loadMovie to load in a .swf or .jpg if you would like to have an image.

superart · 07-01-2004, 12:09 PM

Have any of you tried using LabVIEW?

It is used for designing data aquisition systems mainly for industrial and academic research applications.

It has somewhat of a steep learning curve, but it is designed for data aquisition and display, which is what we need.

It wont make super shiny flashy dials like in flash, but they look verry nice and "industrial".

Also, it offers a lot more in terms of graphing and data manipulation, and can write to a spreadsheet, so you can save your data.

heres some examples. of what it can do:
http://www.ni.com/labview/express_demos.htm

http://zone.ni.com/devzone/conceptd....A?opendocument

Here is a good article about scanning ECUs with LabVIEW:
http://zone.ni.com/devzone/conceptd....B?opendocument

god_of_cpu · 07-01-2004, 12:55 PM

Ow labview hurts my pocketbook. It starts at $1000.00 and thats without hardware.

superart · 07-01-2004, 01:00 PM

True, but some people get it for free throuigh their school or job.

I get mine from my school, which has a site licence.

heypachuco · 07-02-2004, 09:12 AM

True, but there are probably more of us that do not get it for free....

superart · 07-02-2004, 12:56 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by heypachuco

True, but there are probably more of us that do not get it for free....

I know. I'm just saying, in the unlikely event that some people on this forum do have access to it, it is a wonderfull tool that is perfect for the job and shouldn't be overlooked.

For me, perdonally, its much more accessible than flash or flash studio pro, which were mentioned earlier.

I will try to make a preliminary mock-up tonight, and will try to post it.