batch file programming LCD's

mosh · 05-16-2002, 12:03 AM

When i start my mp3box i want to write something on the LCD screen.
i'ts running msdos and and when i boot it up i will make a autoexec.bat type of file and make it print on the screen a program selection. What i was wondering if anyone has tryied this, is in batch file programming you can redirect an output to a serial port or paralell port instead of the screen so if i ECHO'ed some text to the Com1 or LPTn port will is print it on the LCD? I can't try this at the moment becasue i don't have one.

or if not can anyone sujest anything else.

by the way anyone wants to know a bit of batch file programming it can be really useful. goto http://www.astalavista.com/code/dos/batch.shtml it's a very nice tut.

magnetik · 05-16-2002, 12:34 AM

you need to locate a little utility called lcdprint.exe. I have seen it floating around a bit, never used it myself personally....

then u can do things like

c:\>lcdprint.exe "Hello you, reading the LCD"

you can't just pipe the output from a DOS ECHO,etc to a printer/serial port and expect some action. its a little more advanced than that.....

izaram · 05-16-2002, 01:22 AM

Here's the page for LCDPrint, it says it will print a text file, dunno about just strings. I can't try it because I don't have an LCD yet.

http://www.geocities.com/SiliconVall...therUtils.html

Someone else in this thread says they have been able to do what you mention (pipe text to com1).

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/show...&threadid=3616

Hope it works. Please post your success/failure because I expect to do something similar.

mosh · 05-16-2002, 05:44 PM

Thnx for that people
much appriciated when i get my LCD I'll try the LCDprint
I'll keep u posted

kaysee · 05-17-2002, 04:23 AM

This is easy to do in a batch file, but only if you've got a serial LCD.

MODE COM1:9600,N,8,1,P
ECHO put your text here >COM1

assuming your serial LCD is configured for 9600 baud.

first line sets up the serial port - type MODE /? from a DOS prompt for more info. Make sure you've wired the LCD up correctly, or you'll get an Abort/Retry/Ignore error.

For a parallel LCD, it's a lot more involved, so LCDPRINT would be the best way to go.

Andrew Chappell · 05-18-2002, 06:04 PM

This is easy to do with LCD Print using simple dos batch commands (old dos skills alert! )

You can use the dos command echo and redirect it to a text file (e.g. c:\out.txt) by using the following lines:

"
echo Congratulations, your lcd is working! > c:\out.txt
lcdprint 378 40 4 c:\out.txt
"

where 378 is your parallel port address and 40 4 is your lcd size

However, this isn't much good to get multiline output (as in on all lines of your lcd). The best way I know to do this is to create individual text files for the lines on your display and then combine them before outputting the combined file to the lcd using lcdprint.

Here is a pretty good way to do this - the example used is for a 40 x 4 display:

"
echo Line 1 of the display > c:\message1.txt
echo Line 2 of the display > c:\message2.txt
echo Line 3 of the display > c:\message3.txt
echo Line 4 of the display > c:\message4.txt
copy c:\message*.txt c:\out.txt /y
lcdprint 378 40 4 c:\out.txt
"

Basically, you prepare each line of your text and send it to an individual filename sharing a common beginning (e.g. message*.txt). The copy command then combines the files including a carriage return at the end of each file, giving you a 4 line text document. You must be sure to add the /y extension on or it will not overwrite c:\out.txt if it already exists. Then, LCDprint is called to output the text to the screen.

Things are so much easier in visual basic...

If you are still stuck then I can send you a dummy batch file e.t.c.

Have Fun

Andrew