Virtual TouchPanels?

mpullin

I'm exploring the possibility of creating a virtual device and having it function like a phantom touchpanel. For instance:

DEFINE_DEVICE

vdvMEDIAPLAY = 35000:1:0
vdvPHANTOMTP = 35001:1:0
DEFINE_MODULE 'AMX_MAX4PLUS_UI' AMX_MAX4Plus_UI3 (vdvMEDIAPLAY,vdvPHANTOMTP,TP_BUTTONS,TP_FIELDS,nUI3_DEFAULT_ZONE,nUI3_DEF_ASPECT,nUI3_DEF_AUDIO,strIP_ADDRESS,UI3_LISTS)

This would allow me to use other people's UI files without having to modify them so that the button definitions fit my interface, or having to change my interface if I need to swap modules. Also, no need to have multiple instances of the module in my code for each touchpanel I have.

Here's the question: can I generate Button_Events on a virtual device?
For instance, if someone pushes 47 one of my real TPs, I want that to push 1 on my phantom TP, which will then cause the desired reaction from the UI Module, in this case the MAX's.

If so, how?

B_Clements

Do it!

I have made this method work with great success.

Use the command DO_PUSH(vdvTP,button_channel)

Example

BUTTON_EVENT[dvTP,47]
{
   PUSH:
   {
      DO_PUSH(vdvPHANTOMTP,1)
   }
}

You can also monitor sent text and page flips.

DATA_EVENT[vdvPHANTOMTP]
{
   COMMAND:
   {
      IF(FIND_STRING(DATA.TEXT,'TEXT',1) OR FIND_STRING(DATA.TEXT,'PAGE',1))
         SEND_COMMAND dvTP,DATA.TEXT
   }
}

Of course you can always store the returned text in an array for later use.

DATA_EVENT[vdvPHANTOMTP]
{
   STACK_VAR nINDEX
   LOCAL_VAR cTEMP_TEXT[30][30]
   COMMAND:
   {
      IF(FIND_STRING(DATA.TEXT,'TEXT',1))
      {
         REMOVE_STRING(DATA.TEXT,'TEXT',1)
         nINDEX = ATOI(REMOVE_STRING(DATA.TEXT,'-',1))
         cTEMP_TEXT[nINDEX] = DATA.TEXT
      }
   }
}

Enjoy!

Thomas Hayes

Yes, it should. My G3 panels allow me to monitor what is going on at the far end.

mpullin

Awesome.

Thanks a lot.

EDIT: You think this would qualify as a tip or trick?

B_Clements

Tip or trick

mpullin wrote:

Thanks a lot.

EDIT: You think this would qualify as a tip or trick?

Sure, but how do we get it moved?

HARMAN_Suzanne Youngblood

All done!!

Thomas Hayes

Yet another example why Suzanne rocks.

P>S> yes I am sucking up, looking for one of those leather jackets or even one like Chip got.

frthomas

What you cannot do, though, is transfer HOLD and RELEASE info. DO_PUSH is a timed thing.

You also cannot simulate online & offline, the way a wireless panel would behave.

Fred

dchristo

frthomas wrote:

What you cannot do, though, is transfer HOLD and RELEASE info. DO_PUSH is a timed thing.

I've never tried it, but wouldn't DO_PUSH_TIMED and DO_RELEASE work for this? In theory, shouldn't the DO_PUSH_TIMED trigger the HOLD event, assuming that the timer for the DO_PUSH exceeds the timer for the HOLD event?

--D

B_Clements

Do_Push - More to it

frthomas wrote:

What you cannot do, though, is transfer HOLD and RELEASE info. DO_PUSH is a timed thing.
Fred

Right you are Dave!

Here are other options to the DO_PUSH statement.

DO_PUSH_TIMED

Similar to DO_PUSH except this one lets you specify the timeout. DO_PUSH defaults to a 0.5s push on a channel before issuing a DO_RELEASE for you (unless another DO_PUSH is executed for the same channel). DO_PUSH_TIMED lets you control the length of time that will pass before the automatic DO_RELEASE is generated. The syntax:

DO_PUSH_TIMED(DEV Device, INTEGER Channel, LONG Timeout)

Parameters:
Device - the device to PUSH.
Channel - the channel to PUSH.
Timeout - the time (in 1/10ths of seconds) that the PUSH shall remain active. If zero is specified as the timeout then the timeout is 0.5s.

If DO_PUSH_TIMED_INFINITE is specified as the timeout then the push never times out. This will allow the simulation of a HOLD.

Make sure you generate a DO_RELEASE.