LCD Clock and Text sensor node with new V_TEXT

[NiklasO]

@Qu3Uk said:

@NiklasO I have something similar running on MYS 2.0 and can paste the code. I'm using a 4x1 display and using V_VAR-1-4 to send each line over.
If that's useful to you I can post it.

Yes please. I ported to 2.0 late yesterday and it works ok. I have 4 lines, 20 chars.

[AWI]

@Marc-Olivier-Chaubet Can you post a little more information (the sketch)?

The text seems to be arriving at the node. So first check if the information comes in on serial (Serial.print(....)).
And next: is your display working? just print something it in the local sketch.

[Qu3Uk]

@NiklasO

Here is it.

// Enable debug prints to serial monitor
//#define MY_DEBUG

//#define MY_NODE_ID 200
#define MY_SENSOR_ID 1

// Enable and select radio type attached
#define MY_RADIO_NRF24
//#define MY_RADIO_RFM69

// Enable repeater functionality for this node
#define MY_REPEATER_FEATURE

// LCD includes
#include <Wire.h> 
#include <LiquidCrystal_I2C.h>

// MYS includes
#include <SPI.h>
#include <MySensors.h>

#define LCD_ON 1  // GPIO value to write to turn on attached relay
#define LCD_OFF 0 // GPIO value to write to turn off attached relay

LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(0x3f, 20, 4); //0x3f is the LCD address.
String LINE_BLANK = "                    ";

void before() {
}

void setup() {
  // Set off  LCD module
  lcd.begin (); 
  lcd.backlight();

  lcd.setCursor(0, 0); //
  lcd.print("Ready!"); // We expect the controller to remove this from display.
}

void presentation()
{
  // Send the sketch version information to the gateway and Controller
  sendSketchInfo("LCD Display", "1.0");

  present(MY_SENSOR_ID, S_INFO);
}


void loop()
{
  // extra processing if required.
}

void receive(const MyMessage &message) {
  // We only expect one type of message from controller. But we better check anyway.
  if (message.type == V_STATUS) {
    // Use V_STATUS to turn on/off the LCD display
    // if supported by LCD.
  }

  // temp string, probably don't need this.
  if (message.type == V_VAR1) {
    writeScreen(0, message.data);
  }

  if (message.type == V_VAR2) {
    writeScreen(1, message.data);
  }

  if (message.type == V_VAR3) {
    writeScreen(2, message.data);
  }

  if (message.type == V_VAR4) {
    writeScreen(3, message.data);
  }
}

void writeScreen(int line, String text)
{
  // Trim whitespace from incoming text.
  text.trim();

  // Remove anything over 20 char in text.
  if(text.length() > 19)
  {
      text.remove(20);
  }
  
  // Clear the line
  lcd.setCursor(0, line);
  lcd.print(LINE_BLANK);

  // Set Line
  lcd.setCursor(0, line);
  lcd.print(text);
}

[Marc-Olivier Chaubet]

Hi AWI,
Yes my display is working, i can see the date and "Line 1 - First....."

I think what i send is not correct....0_o
This is from the serial monitor

read: 0-20-49 s=9,c=1,t=16,pt=0,l=4,sg=0:test

Should it be something like this

read: 0-20-49 s=9,c=1,t=16,pt=0,l=4,sg=0:Line1=test

this is the sketch.

/*
 PROJECT: MySensors / LCD display for text from controller
 PROGRAMMER: AWI
 DATE: september 8, 2015/ last update: september 8, 2015
 FILE: AWI_LCD_49.ino
 LICENSE: Public domain

 Hardware: tbd ..MYS Ceech - ATmega328p board w/ NRF24l01
    and MySensors 1.5 ()
        
Special:
    MySensors - Development (as of sept 2015)
    
SUMMARY:
    display time & 2 lines of text from Controller Text sensors
*/

#include <MyMessage.h>
#include <MySensor.h>                       // Mysensor network
#include <SPI.h>
#include <LiquidCrystal_I2C.h>
#include <Time.h>                           //http://playground.arduino.cc/Code/Time
#include <Wire.h>                           

// uncomment if you are using the DEVELOPMENT version with V_TEXT & V_INFO defined (better to use development MyMessage.h)
const byte V_TEXT = 47 ;                  // values taken from development edition MyMessage.h
const byte S_INFO = 36 ;

const byte nodeId = 49 ;                    // MySensors fixed node id
const byte LCD1_CHILD = 8 ;                 // LCD line 1
const byte LCD2_CHILD = 9 ;                 // LCD line 2

char lastLCD1[21] = "Line1 - first   ";     // define & init before first receive
char lastLCD2[21] = "Line2 - second  ";

boolean timeReceived = false ;
// timers for loop delays
unsigned long lastUpdate=0, lastRequest=0, lastDisplay=0;
int display_no = 0 ;                        // current display

// *** Definition and initialisation
// define the MySensor network
MyTransportNRF24 transport(9,10);           // Sensoduino (8,7) Ceech board, 3.3v (7,8)  (pin default 9,10)
MySensor gw(transport);  

// Initialize messages for sensor network
MyMessage textMsg(0, V_TEXT);
//                    addr, en,rw,rs,d4,d5,d6,d7,bl,blpol
LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(0x27, 2, 1, 0, 4, 5, 6, 7, 3, POSITIVE);  // Set the LCD I2C address

// OPTIONAL: Custom characters for display - Units)
byte heart[8] = { B00000, B01010, B11111, B11111, B01110, B00100, B00000, B00000};

void setup(void){
    //Serial in Sensor network = 115200
    gw.begin(incomingMessage, nodeId);                  // this node is 49 fixed 
    //Send the sensor node sketch version information to the gateway
    gw.sendSketchInfo("AWI_LCD text 49", "1.1");
    gw.present(LCD1_CHILD, S_INFO, "LCD_line1");        // new S_type 20150905 (not know by domoticz)
    gw.present(LCD2_CHILD, S_INFO, "LCD_line2");
    gw.send(textMsg.setSensor(LCD1_CHILD).set("-"));    // initialize the V_TEXT at controller for sensor to none (trick for Domoticz)
    gw.send(textMsg.setSensor(LCD2_CHILD).set("-"));        

    // Initializations
    gw.requestTime(receiveTime);                        // get the time from controller (handled by receiveTime)
    
    // ** LCD display **
    Wire.begin();                                       // I2C
    lcd.begin(16, 2);                                   // LCD 2 lines * 16 char.
    lcd.setBacklight(HIGH);
    lcd.setCursor(0, 0);
    lcd.createChar(1, heart);

    // lcd.write(byte(0)); // write units
}

void loop(void){
    // timer for loop delays
    unsigned long now = millis();
    gw.process() ;
    // If no time has been received yet, request it every 10 second from controller
    // When time has been received, request update every hour
    if ((!timeReceived && (now-lastRequest > 10*1000)) ||   
        (now-lastRequest > 3600000UL)){                 // request update every hour to keep in sync
       // Request time from controller. 
       Serial.println("requesting time");
       timeReceived = false;
       gw.requestTime(receiveTime);  
       lastRequest = now;
        }
    // Change display and update sensors every 5 seconds (default = 5000)
    if (now-lastDisplay > 5000){
        lastDisplay = now;
        gw.request(LCD1_CHILD, V_TEXT, 0);                  // request new values from controller
        gw.request(LCD2_CHILD, V_TEXT, 0);                ;// request new values from controller
        // change display 
        display_no++;
            if (display_no >= 2){ // wrap for number of different displays for second line
            display_no = 0;
            }
        }
    // Update display every second
    if (now-lastUpdate > 1000) {
        LCD_local_display();
        lastUpdate = now;
        }
    }

// This is called when a new time value was received
void receiveTime(unsigned long controllerTime) {
    Serial.print("Time value received: ");
    Serial.println(controllerTime);
    setTime(controllerTime);                            // time from controller
    timeReceived = true;
    }

// This is called when a message is received 
void incomingMessage(const MyMessage &message) {
    if (message.type==V_TEXT) {                         // Text messages only
     // Write some debug info
     Serial.print("Message: "); Serial.print(message.sensor); Serial.print(", Message: "); Serial.println(message.getString());
    if (message.sensor == LCD1_CHILD ) {
        snprintf(lastLCD1, sizeof(lastLCD1), "%16s", message.getString());  // load text into LCD string
        }
    else if (message.sensor == LCD2_CHILD){
        snprintf(lastLCD2, sizeof(lastLCD2), "%16s", message.getString());
        }
    } 
}

void LCD_local_display(void){
// take car of LCD display information
    char buf[17]; // temp buffer for max 16 char display
    // start with location & time on first line
    snprintf(buf, sizeof buf, "%02d:%02d:%02d %02d-%02d", hour(), minute(), second(), day(), month());
    lcd.setCursor(0, 0);
    lcd.print(buf);
    lcd.setCursor(0, 1);
    if (display_no == 0){
      lcd.print(lastLCD1);                          // second line is text value from controller
    } else {                                        // display == 2
      lcd.print(lastLCD2);
    }
}

Thxs

[AWI]

@Marc-Olivier-Chaubet You should be receiving the TEXT value coming from the controller. Is node showing other information on serial?

// This is called when a message is received 
void incomingMessage(const MyMessage &message) {
     // Write some debug info
     Serial.print("Message: "); Serial.print(message.sensor); Serial.print(", Message: "); Serial.println(message.getString());
    if (message.type==V_TEXT) {                         // Text messages only
     // Write some debug info
     Serial.print("Text Message: "); Serial.print(message.sensor); Serial.print(", Message: "); Serial.println(message.getString());
    if (message.sensor == LCD1_CHILD ) {
        snprintf(lastLCD1, sizeof(lastLCD1), "%16s", message.getString());  // load text into LCD string
        }
    else if (message.sensor == LCD2_CHILD){
        snprintf(lastLCD2, sizeof(lastLCD2), "%16s", message.getString());
        }
    } 
}

In incomingmessage routing add a print statement to show which messages are coming in (see above).

[Marc-Olivier Chaubet]

Hi,
I've change this line with "!=" and it work. but i dont undestand why....?

void incomingMessage(const MyMessage &message) {
    if (message.type!=V_TEXT) {                         // Text messages only

[AWI]

@Marc-Olivier-Chaubet A closer look at what happens on you seria outputl:

• on the first 2 lines there are 2 requests for values from your controller. The "t=47' indicates that the type is V_TEXT.
• on the the third line you receive a value with payload "test". however the 't=16' indicates that this is a V_TRIPPED value. (see Serial Protocol).

So there is something completely wrong. What is your controller and does it show the right types of sensors?

[user1306]

@Qu3Uk

thank you very much for sharing your code.
sorry this might be simple but i'm not sure how do you send text to the display? How do you update V_VAR1 in domoticz?

thanks

[NiklasO]

This is my test code. Not optimized, just testing. I have just started to play with arduino (got my first ever this month) so I can't say I know what I am doing. ;) Made som changes in the code below, not tested yet. It compiles, guess that's good. ;)

I have commented out stuff related to line1 because that is always showing the time and date, in code, from GW/controller. Enable if you want to control all 4 lines from Domoticz.

Update display by using the domoticz api:
json.htm?type=command&param=udevice&idx=XXXX&nvalue=0&svalue=Banana
Replace XXXX with the IDX for each of the 3 lines. You'll see it when adding the 3 text devices in Domoticz. Then use the Event-system in Domoticz to add Lua-script to update the display as example in this thread.

//Credits: https://forum.mysensors.org/topic/1957/lcd-clock-and-text-sensor-node-with-new-v_text

//Soft signing.
//#define MY_SIGNING_SOFT
//#define MY_SIGNING_REQUEST_SIGNATURES
//#define MY_SIGNING_SOFT_RANDOMSEED_PIN 7

#define MY_RADIO_NRF24
#define MY_REPEATER_FEATURE
#define MY_DEBUG

#include <TimeLib.h>
#include <Wire.h>
#include <LiquidCrystal_I2C.h>
#include <SPI.h>
#include <MySensors.h>

//char lastLCD1[21] = "Line1"; //Line 1 always showing current time
char lastLCD2[21] = "Line2";
char lastLCD3[21] = "Line3";
char lastLCD4[21] = "Line4";

//20 whitespace characters used to clear your LCD line before printing to it.
//Change to fit your LCD. Don't forget to change number of chars in the writeScreen function if needed.
String LINE_BLANK = "                    ";

boolean timeReceived = false ;
unsigned long lastUpdate = 0, lastRequest = 0, lastDisplay = 0;

//const byte LCD1_CHILD = 1;                          // Child ID for LCD line 1
const byte LCD2_CHILD = 2;                          // Child ID for LCD line 2
const byte LCD3_CHILD = 3;                          // Child ID for LCD line 3
const byte LCD4_CHILD = 4;                          // Child ID for LCD line 4

MyMessage textMsg(0, V_TEXT);

// Initialize display. Google the correct settings for your display.
// The follwoing setting should work for the recommended display in the MySensors "shop".
LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(0x27, 2, 1, 0, 4, 5, 6, 7, 3, POSITIVE);

void before() {
  Wire.begin();                                       // I2C.
  lcd.begin(20, 4);                                   // LCD with 20 chars, 4 lines.
  lcd.setBacklight(HIGH);                             // Make sure backlight is on.
  writeScreen(0, "Waiting for GW...");                // Print initial text before contact with GW.                 
}

void setup(void)
{
  Serial.begin(115200);                               // Start serial.
  requestTime();                                      // Request time from controller.
}

void presentation()  {

  sendSketchInfo("Domoticz LCD", "1.0");                    // Send the sketch version information to the gateway and Controller

  //present(LCD1_CHILD, S_INFO, "LCD_line1");
  //wait(500);
  present(LCD2_CHILD, S_INFO, "LCD_line2");
  wait(500);
  present(LCD3_CHILD, S_INFO, "LCD_line3");
  wait(500);
  present(LCD4_CHILD, S_INFO, "LCD_line4");
  wait(500);
  //send(textMsg.setSensor(LCD1_CHILD).set("-"));      // initialize the V_TEXT at controller for sensor to none (trick for Domoticz)
  send(textMsg.setSensor(LCD2_CHILD).set("-"));
  send(textMsg.setSensor(LCD3_CHILD).set("-"));
  send(textMsg.setSensor(LCD4_CHILD).set("-"));
}

void loop()     {
  // timer for loop delays
  unsigned long now = millis();
  // If no time has been received yet, request it every 10 second from controller
  // When time has been received, request update every hour
  if ((!timeReceived && (now - lastRequest > 10 * 1000)) ||
      (now - lastRequest > 3600000UL)) {              // request update from GW every hour to keep in sync
    // Request time from controller.
    Serial.println("Requesting time...");
    timeReceived = false;
    requestTime();
    lastRequest = now;
  }

  // Update sensors every 5 seconds
  if (now - lastDisplay > 5000) {
    lastDisplay = now;
    //request(LCD1_CHILD, V_TEXT, 0);                  // request new values from controller
    request(LCD2_CHILD, V_TEXT, 0);                  // request new values from controller
    request(LCD3_CHILD, V_TEXT, 0);                  // request new values from controller
    request(LCD4_CHILD, V_TEXT, 0);                  // request new values from controller
  }

  // Update LCD time every second
  if (now - lastUpdate > 1000) {
    LCD_time();
    lastUpdate = now;
  }
}

// This is called when a message is received
void receive(const MyMessage &message) {
  if (message.type == V_TEXT) {                       // Text messages only
    Serial.print("Message: "); Serial.print(message.sensor); Serial.print(", Message: "); Serial.println(message.getString());     // Write some debug info
    //if (message.sensor == LCD1_CHILD) {
    //  writeScreen(0, message.data);
    //}

// Don't forget to change "if" to "else if" when controlling all 4 lines:
    if (message.sensor == LCD2_CHILD) {
      writeScreen(1, message.data);
    }
    else if (message.sensor == LCD3_CHILD) {
      writeScreen(2, message.data);
    }
    else if (message.sensor == LCD4_CHILD) {
      writeScreen(3, message.data);
    }
  }
}

void receiveTime(unsigned long ts) {
  setTime(ts);
  timeReceived = true;
}

void LCD_time(void) {
  lcd.setCursor(0, 0);
  if (timeReceived) {
    lcd.print(year());
    lcd.print("-");
    printDigits(month());
    lcd.print("-");
    printDigits(day());
    lcd.print("     ");
    printDigits(hour());
    lcd.print(":");
    printDigits(minute());
  } else {
    writeScreen(0, "Waiting for time...");
  }
}

void printDigits(int digits) {
//add leading 0 if digit = 0-9
  if (digits < 10)
    lcd.print('0');
  lcd.print(digits);
}

void writeScreen(int line, String text)
{
  // Remove anything over 20 char in text.
  if (text.length() > 19)
  {
    text.remove(20);
  }

  // Clear the line
  lcd.setCursor(0, line);
  lcd.print(LINE_BLANK);

  // Set Line
  lcd.setCursor(0, line);
  lcd.print(text);
}

[AWI]

@user1306 V_VAR1 in Domoticz can not be updated or changed in Domotics (Blockly/ Lua/ Json, etc.). It's can only be used to store and retrieve values from MySensors. You should use V_TEXT as in the original example.

[user1306]

thanks guy for the help,
what i'm trying to do, is send text to the display (16x2) using both lines (dont really need the time on top), and attach a 4 button keypad on it. then have these buttons sends commands (on.off) to Domoticz which will trigger Event and send that data/text back to the display.
if i manage to figure it out i'll post my code.

[Anduril]

Is there a limitation in text length? I plan to use a bigger display and want to maybe send strings with 30+ chars. Is it impossible (maybe then split this into two strings) or is it internally seperated in 2 messages (as nrf-payload is 32 byte - 7 byte MySensors-header)?

[AWI]

@Anduril The text length is limited to the maximum payload size. So I guess you need to do some tweaking ;)

[sellier]

Re: LCD Clock and Text sensor node with new V_TEXT
Hello ,
I have done the same exercise also with the LCD 4*20 and use the same program. It is great.
It works but only I have the first line with the date.
The lines 2,3,4 are empty.
In Domoticz my V_TEXT are created and filled in.
It seems that I can not read correctly the information LCD_line2, LCD_line3,LCD_line4


we can see that on the line READ , the text is V_TEXT but nothing is received.
Why ?

Thanks