[WINDOWS] Add native LCD and VFD display support to XBMC for Windows source code?

SScorpio, a well thought true, well formulated request could do wonders wrt extending the httpapi

Hi
Im using an origenae usb VFD controlled by irtrans software and it works ok with LCD smartie.

Andy

Is there something that I would need to enter into the "Startup Parameters" to indicate that the Futaba VFD is connected via USB? The default parameter is LPT1.

Just select you display under display settings plugin.
I think that allows lcd smartie to talk to your display via the drivers for your display.

I select Irtrans plugin and localhost and thats it.
When I installed Irtrans software for my display it asked me what type of display I had eg com parallel or usb.

Andy

andye26 Wrote:Just select you display under display settings plugin.
I think that allows lcd smartie to talk to your display via the drivers for your display.

I select Irtrans plugin and localhost and thats it.
When I installed Irtrans software for my display it asked me what type of display I had eg com parallel or usb.

Andy

Under the display plugin, that currently reads "FutabaVFD_LCD.dll" does this have to match the actual windows driver that is install on my machine, or is this just a lcdsmartie dll file?

DragonFly Wrote:SScorpio, what kind of LCD/VFD are you actually using?

The topic starter uses a Hiper VFD, which (I think) is a Futaba DM-140GINK, the same used in my SCALEO E. However this VFD is controlled through USB and LCDsmartie only supports Parallel or Serial interfaces as far as I can figure out............

I'm using a Samsung VFD that uses the IRTrans sofware. I did a little more searching and it appears that the DM-140GINK is not supported by LCD Smartie http://forums.lcdsmartie.org/viewtopic.p...ght=futaba

Supposedly Mediaportal supports the Dm-140GINK; however, the documentation from the company regarding the VFD is severely lacking.

It would be possible to request a plugin be developed: http://forums.lcdsmartie.org/viewforum.php?f=3

indy5 Wrote:Under the display plugin, that currently reads "FutabaVFD_LCD.dll" does this have to match the actual windows driver that is install on my machine, or is this just a lcdsmartie dll file?

That is the LCD Smartie plugin. If you have a Futaba.dll or FutabaVFD.dll you could try copying it to the display directory of LCD Smartie. When I was originally trying to get the iMon Software working I had to copy the DLL there.

Swifty Wrote:Maybe we are looking at this the wrong way round for LCD/VFD under windows..
Instead of getting 3rd party applications and then hoping they have support for X,Y,Z display - Couldn't we create a fake MSAS and feed it XBMC info?

That way any LCD/VFD that supports windows media center (I'm guessing most peoples displays in their HTPC's case) would work with its native windows driver..

MSAS - http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa468224.aspx

At this point, and in relation to the original poster's question in this thread, should we be pursuing a different avenue? I think this is a great idea to try and make use of Windows' built in support for displaying information outlined above. If any of the devs out there believe this is doable, I will submit a ticket for a feature request.

indy5 Wrote:At this point, and in relation to the original poster's question in this thread, should we be pursuing a different avenue? I think this is a great idea to try and make use of Windows' built in support for displaying information outlined above. If any of the devs out there believe this is doable, I will submit a ticket for a feature request.

I second that MSAS support would be better than trying to use 3rd party software, I was just trying to get something working for myself and though tit would also work for other people for the time being.

I did a little research on a MSAS emulator and I found a discussion on the SageTV forums. Jere who does ShowAnalyzer started on a project to develop a SageTV MSAS emulator. He has his C++ source posted if anyone wants to see them and try to see if they can get anything working.

http://www.dragonglobal.org/download/ Scroll to the bottom of the page and look for SageMCEDisplay.

I just opened a ticket, to see if anyone is interested in developing this...

http://trac.xbmc.org/ticket/6497