[Lcdproc] Handy like input method.

[Marcus Priesch]

Hi Andrew,

thanks, i know the input methods - but lcdproc is so modular that you
even could attach an alphanumeric keypad - at least with the h44780
driver you have the possibility to connect up to 11x5 == 55 keys - which
should definitely be enough for 10 digits and 26 alpha's ;-)

so the question from my point is rather where to put the magic
"multi-function code" inside lcdproc ... 

i see the following problems:

 a) in the config file you must define somehow the various "keys"
    generated by this key - e.g.  KeyMatrix_1_2=2|A|B|C

 b) when using numerical input you have to ignore the "other" keys

 c) when using alphanumerical input you have to 
    - display the currently selected digit
    - switch to the next digit on a successive keypress
    - when the timeout expires (or another key gets pressed) you 
      have to jump to the next character
   
so each part needs it's place in the lcdproc tree ... ?!?!

who decides if a) is the correct notation ? - or should i go ahead with
it and post the patch if i'm ready ???

is there a desgin discussion (based on irc?) about such enhancements ?

i'm planning to add this functionality to the lcdproc repository if
anyone is interested in it - otherwise i can also implement it in my
application - but i thing it's better suited in lcdproc than in the
application talking to lcdproc.

i think 4key input (cursor cross) is ok - at a minimum, but to use
lcdproc also in envirnments where you have more keys and a display -
i.e. any linux embedded device with keys and a simple lcd - we should
also have a solution at hand ;-) 10 numeric keys could be the next
"medium" step to support (out-of-the-box (tm)) ;) 

well ... how to proceed ?

btw: wasnt there an "input" widget in the 0.4.x release ?? - i cant find
the developer doc - the link on the lcdproc page is broken ... :(

btw2: the keypad is part of the inca-ip evaluation board you can get
from infineon ;) - and its 28 keys in total ... ;)

greets,
mexx.
 

On Fri, 2006-05-05 at 07:50 -0700, Andrew Foss wrote:

> Marcus,
> 
> today there's inputs for alpha, numeric and IP addresses, ring lists,
> slider bars, etc.
> 
> The alpha numeric are currently geared toward 4 arrow keys, so each up
> arrow press gives you 0,1,2,3 etc.
> 
> It would be a very simple addition to do a 9 key telephone style pad
> if you have an lcd w/ a 9 button key pad already. Who makes such a
> thing, btw?
> 
> andrew
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: lcdproc-admin@lists.omnipotent.net on behalf of Marcus Priesch
> Sent: Fri 5/5/2006 5:34 AM
> To: LCDproc
> Subject: [Lcdproc] Handy like input method.
> 
> Hi Folks,
> 
> first of all a big thanks to the LCDproc development team ! - its a
> great piece of software !!!
> 
> now for the real fun: i am working on a voip phone with a hd44780
> display. i have managed to port LCDproc to use the display - it's
> connected via a serial port and to read the keys from the proprietary
> hardware ... so far so good ;)
> 
> as with an ip-phone someone occasionally wants to enter alphanumerical
> text - e.g. username / password. I plan to use the input scheme used
> also on mobile phones - i dont know the name for this, but the idea is
> to press for example the digit "2" more times to get the letters "A",
> "B", "C" - i think you all know what i mean ;)
> 
> My thought (and question) now is: is there any ongoing effort in
> LCDproc
> for such an extension, and how and where would it be implemented best
> way.
> 
> i'm using 0.5.0 version of LCDproc ...
> 
> thanks a lot for your effort ;)
> 
> greets,
> mexx.
> 
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