Writting code in VB to control a LCD?

Dr.Sparkle · 09-12-2001, 03:35 PM

Does anyone know how to do it? I know vb, but have no clue how to do it? Know of any tutorials? Or dll's that can be used with vb to work with lcds?

darkwingduck · 09-12-2001, 04:11 PM

I assume you mean a Character base lcd, these can be controlled two ways either by parallel port or by serial port. VB doesnt really allow you to utilize the parallel port. It may be possible to do it by api calls i'm not sure. The only true way is serial but it will require that you put a small controller to handle the serial inputs (i can remeber where i saw it but it is doable).

Your best shoot will be using a dll to handle the parallel communication, however my experience is that very few of the people that has made this type of code will make it available, however i know there is at least one, because i messed around with it.
However i wanted to do a bit more than the dll was able to handle (i wanted to use inputs on the parallele port, but reaction times where just to high)

i have one of the few available dlls, but i cant remember where i found it. i have two names you can search for directio01.dll and ximp. i believe this is the name of the site, i dont know where it is located but try searching for ximp, if you cant find it ill try'n make it avail to you

Dr.Sparkle · 09-12-2001, 07:32 PM

Yea, I figured I was going to have to go through some kind of DLL.. I'll se if I can find it, thanks..

Aaron Cake · 09-13-2001, 09:14 AM

See http://www.aaroncake.net/electronics/vblpt.htm for parallel port stuff.

mtmsol · 09-13-2001, 12:11 PM

If you do decide to go serial, check out this link. Haven't tried it myself, but it looks interesting.

Dr.Sparkle · 09-13-2001, 02:37 PM

Thanks you two, I think thoes are exactly what I needed..

moxnix · 09-13-2001, 02:40 PM

if it is a serial LCD let me know since I have done quite a bit of programming in VB for the serial LCD display for winamp.

Dr.Sparkle · 09-13-2001, 03:03 PM

I am hoping to use serial, since it's faster correc..

Any help would be great. I was going to write my own media player also, to include everything I need.

mp31500 · 09-13-2001, 07:27 PM

I wrote a VB app to control winamp and use an LCD class module to display info on the LCD when winamp doesn't have control of it (ie.. in car ripping) It's been awhile ago but the web site in the source is www.mscar.cjb.net I think you also need a dll (WIN95IO.dll) to control the lpt port. I don't think it works on NT or 2000 but I'm running it on 98 with no problems. Let me know if you need more info.

Dan · 09-17-2001, 04:45 AM

I wrote the LCD CLASS in vb to control a parallel port lcd (it works in win95/98) you can download from http://homepage.oninet.pt/400mjj/download.htm

The mscar system is almost finish.

Aaron Cake · 09-17-2001, 01:38 PM

Instead of controlling WinAmp, you may want to consider controlling Media Player through it's COM object. This is what I have done for my player, and it works very well and is very stable. Not very draining on sysem resources either. And you don't need "plugins", because you are basically custom writing the player to your specifications.

Dr.Sparkle · 09-17-2001, 08:26 PM

I am going to write a custom player anyway. And have the LCD stuff built in.

I just need to find a low resources audio coontrol now..

Also, I will try that VB object, thanks.. Is it fast though?

Dr.Sparkle · 09-17-2001, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dan:
<STRONG>I wrote the LCD CLASS in vb to control a parallel port lcd (it works in win95/98) you can download from http://homepage.oninet.pt/400mjj/download.htm

The mscar system is almost finish.</STRONG>

If it is possable, you think I could get the source of your package? Or maybe we can talk about this? Maybe I can help you out some? My icq# is 36232576 and email is drsparkle@zdnetonebox.com

Contact me.. Either way, cause I might need some help with yous module..