Multiple Panels

harry_aller

Hello, hello, hello!!!

Any recommendations on how to handle two panels, one being a MVP8400 and the other an iPad? Both will have identical layouts and control abilities.

This is the first time I've had a situation where both panels will be identical and therefore would like to optimize my code. I've seen multiple threads related to this issue, but none address the iPad or give a clear answer.

Any advice?

jjames

If the two panels are identical and the code they operate are identical, then using a DEV array could be a very easy solution. Instead of...

button_event[dvTp1,1]
{
 // stuff for the 8400
}

button_event[dviPad,1]
{
 // stuff for the iPad
}

You can simply do something like this:

define_constant
dev dv_tp[] = {dvTp1, dviPad}

define_event
button_event[dv_tp,1]
{
 // This event handles both touch panels
}

Since dv_tp is an array, you can use get_last() on it to figure out which one triggered the event just in case you want to do anything special.

button_event[dv_tp,1]
{
 push:
 {
  stack_var integer index;
  index = get_last(dv_tp);
  
  if(index == 1)
  {
   // Do something for the 8400 only
  }
  else if(index == 2)
  {
   // do something for the iPad only
  }
 }
}

You can send each panels to a specific page by doing something like this:

send_command dv_tp[1],"'PAGE-Welcome 8400'";
send_command dv_tp[2],"'PAGE-Welcome iPAD'";

or if you want to send them both to the same page

send_command dv_tp,"'PAGE-Welcome'";

Hope this helps!

harry_aller

Thanks so much!!! I really appreciate the code samples too.

I had been thinking of going with an array, but some other threads kept talking about virtual panels.

Any reason why I should think about using a virtual panel?

Thanks!!!

jjames

harry_aller wrote: »

Thanks so much!!! I really appreciate the code samples too.

I had been thinking of going with an array, but some other threads kept talking about virtual panels.

Any reason why I should think about using a virtual panel?

Thanks!!!

I highly suggest you do not go the route of virtual panels, as if you ever need to separate them, you'll just find yourself in a rut. I like to maintain expandable, and using virtual panels / combine_devices is not very coder friendly. I think the last time I used a virtual panel was before I had any training.

harry_aller

Sounds good. I'll stick with the array!

THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME!!!