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Programmable LCD Display

By the power of programmable blocks we are finally able to start doing a little bit more complex things with the lights. This one, as the title says, displays text using spotlights.

BREAKING NEWS
Raster version available here with images and video playing capabilities.


- Display any alphanumeric text and some special characters (.,:;?!-_+*/)
- Practically unlimited amount of letters (the only limit is the programmable block quota)
- Highly configurable (can be rotated, mirrored, colored or shuffled as you wish)
- Can handle multiple displays on the same ship (with both same or different content)


- A bit hard to set up (you'll need to rename every single pixel - TODO: fix it, that's possible in theory) Fixed, see the new method below.


New method:

Pick a blueprint for large or small ships, and follow the instructions on the other page. You will also need the LCD extender script, and we recommend you to read the old method too if you want to fully understand the system behind.

Old method:

First you'll need to pick a name for your screen. LCD is the default, but you can change it, and if you want different content on different displays while using the same ship, you will need different names. Then set up some spotlights, each letter needs 25 of them. The tricky part comes here: name them. There is a guide on image #4 and #5, the name must be (or at least start with) the screen name, exactly one space (not tested with more, probably won't work), the letter ID (starting from 1), another space, and the pixel ID, as you can see on image #5. If you want additional info in the name, insert a tailing space, and then you're probably free. (Not tested, but works in theory.)

Example: LCD 3 21 Anycommentshere withspacesofcourseimjustlazy
This one is a part of the screen called "LCD", and the 21st (top right) pixel of letter 3. Anything else is ignored by the code.

To use the screen, you will need a programmable block with this script. Set the parameters according to image #3. Each programmable block sets one text on one screen (distinguished by the name you picked), if you want multiple texts, use multiple prog. blocks. You can clear the screen with a message full of spaces, or just turning off the lights.


The system is case-sensitive and not yet contains lowercase letters. Please use full uppercase in your text.


There is a string in the code that contains the letters, and an array of strings with the actual display information. Each one is a 25 letters long string that tells the 25 pixels that they should glow or shouldn't. These are in order, that's important, and the array has an additional string for unknown characters. If you want to add your own letters (lowercase, russian, chinese, klingon, anything), you can modify it, but keep the array and the string synchronized, unless it won't work well.

Licensed under GNU GPL by the Mjölnir Space Syndicate (MSS). You can create deviate works, but if you publish it, you'll need to do it under the same (or a compatible) license, and you can't sell it. Therefore you can also use it without any fees or whatever. Basically. In case of doubt please check the original license. (And don't use C4, you're not a Mythbuster.)

/*
If you find silly faults in the code, and know how to fix them, please, share with me. That's my first day with C#. (Well, technically the second, it's 00:48 here...)
*/



GetBlocksOfType changed to SearchBlocksOfName. Result: better optimization (longer text) and support for any type of blocks. Seriously, you can now make a screen out of doors if you are tricky enough or just read the next line:
(Timer - enable all doors, close them, run script, open doors - the script will turn off some, and those will not open)
2015-01-02 11:10 CET