TArtLCD

TArtLCD - simple nonvisual Delphi component to control text LCD displays.
It uses dll drivers for LCD Smartie program so TArtLCD can be used to control wide range of LCD displays from within yours Delphi application.
The distribution of TArtLCD contains demo dll and VirtualLCD program to test TArtLCD functionality without hardware display.

Properties:

property DriverName : string; - Driver name provided by dll.

property Usage : string; - The usage text describes the main driver parameters and how they are assembled in the parameter string (syntax indications).

property DefaultParameters : string; - Returns the driver default parameters.

property CustomChar : TCustomChars; - Contains values of custom (CGRAM) characters of LCD display. By default TArtLCD uses 176,158,131,132,133,134,135,136 for the CGRAM characters because it allowed the on screen font to display certain characters. Most LCD displays use either 0-7 (with a duplicate at 8-15) or 128-135. So TArtLCD asks driver for what values to use and stores them in CustomChar property.

TCustomChars = array[0..7] of char;

Published properties:

property DLLName : string; - Driver dll file name. Set it before Init call.

property SizeX : integer; - Width of LCD display in characters that TArtLCD believes the display to be. Set it before Init call.

property SizeY : integer; - Height of LCD display in characters that TArtLCD believes the display to be. Set it before Init call.

property StartParam : string; - Startap parameters for driver. Set it before Init call.

property PosX : integer; - Zero based horizontal coordinate where the cursor position for the next display command.

property PosY : integer; - Zero based vertical coordinate where the cursor position for the next display command.

property Contrast : byte; - Sets/gets current contrast of LCD display. Default is 128;

property Brightness : byte; - Sets/gets current brightness of LCD display. Default is 128;

property BackLight : boolean; - Sets/gets the backlighting.

Methods:

function Init : boolean; - Initializes LCD display with current parameters. DLLName, SizeX, SizeY, StartParam should by properly specified. Returns true on success.

procedure Done; - Sets LCD display in standby mode.

procedure SetPosition(x,y:integer); - Sets cursor position for the next display command.

procedure SetCustomChar(const char:byte; bitmap : TCharBitmap); - Defines custom char (CGRAM) for the display. First parameter is 0 to 7, and second one is an array of 8 bytes that define the custom character. Please note that when defining custom characters, only the least significant five bits are effective (5x8 char).

TCharBitmap = array[0..7] of char;

procedure Write(s:string); - Writes string at the current cursor position.

procedure WriteXY(x,y:byte;s:string); - Writes string at the specified cursor position.

function ReadKey : char; - This function attempts to read a keypad attached to the LCD. This is a polled function, not an interrupt driven function. If no key is pressed exception of EArtLCDException type is raised.

procedure SetGPO(GPO : byte; GPOOn : boolean); - Updates General Purpose Output (GPO). Supported by Matrix Orbital displays. First parameter is which GPO to set, second parameter sets on or off state.

procedure SetFan(T1,T2 : byte); - Updates fan controller. Supported by Matrix Orbital displays.

Artem Parlyuk, e-mail:info@artsoft.name, http://artsoft.name

LCD Smartie is software for Windows that you can use to show lots of different types of information on your LCD/VFD.

IMPORTANT - READ CAREFULLY

This license and disclaimer statement constitutes a legal agreement ("License Agreement") between you (either as an individual or a single entity) and Artem Parlyuk (the "Author"), for this software product in this particular case TArtLCD Delphi component ("Software"), including any software, media, and accompanying on-line or printed documentation.

BY DOWNLOADING, INSTALLING, COPYING, OR OTHERWISE USING THE SOFTWARE, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY ALL OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS LICENSE AND DISCLAIMER AGREEMENT. If you do not agree with the terms and conditions of this agreement, you must promptly cease all use of the software and destroy all copies of this software and all of its component parts in your possession or under your control.

This Software is owned by Author and is protected by copyright law and international copyright treaty.

This Software is freeware. You are granted the permission to use Software in your own applications for private or commercial purposes, provided your software contains the copyright notice "TArtLCD Delphi component Copyright (c) by Artem Parlyuk" and link to the Author site (http://artsoft.name) and Author e-mail (mailto:info@artsoft.name) .

You can freely distribute copies of the main archive as long as no alterations are made to the contents and no charge is raised except a reasonable fee for distributing costs. You may not remove copyright notices from copies of the Software. You may not claim this Software as written by anyone but Author, Artem Parlyuk.

The author has taken all possible care to ensure the software is error-free, however the author disavows any potential liability arising from any use of the software. This software is provided "as is" and without any warranties expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, implied warranties of fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. You expressly acknowledge and agree that use of the Software is at your sole risk.

In no event shall the author be liable for any damages whatsoever (including, without limitation, damages for loss of business profits, business interruption, loss of business information, or other pecuniary loss) arising out of the use of or inability to use this software or documentation, even if the author has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

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