Decimal point in a 7SegLED

[ksor]

I dont want to use the decimal point but it HAS to bee connected for the unit to work.

Where shall I connect it to - I haven't got a bit on no port left

Best regards

[Benj]

Im pretty sure the decimal point doesn't have to be connected for a 7seg display to work. What unit are you describing and what is its connections.

[ksor]

I have just disconnected DP in LED7Seg10 and moved the other connections "1 up" to get RB0 free for a switch - RB0 intr incrementing a COUNTER and then just showing the COUNTER on the LED7Seg10.

When I start I get an MsgBox that there's one or more pins not connected to the processor and that it may not function as exspected.

If I just connect the DP to one of the other bit - say RB7 - then it runs but the 7. segment is NOT working.

PS: I only have the DEMO version !

KS

[Benj]

Ah i see your point what your getting is just a warning that a pin is disconnected. Flowcode should continue to compile after you have clicked ok on both of the warning dialogues that pop up.

[ksor]

NO - se my corrections in the last posting.

KS

[Mark]

Hi,

I think an easy solution to the problem is to assign the decimal point to an ouput line that is already in use. I tried putting it to RB6 and the code compiled OK. Obviously you will then need to decide whether the point is to be always on, always off or changes to accomodate the specific character to be displayed (eg if char=8 then decpoint=1, if char=1 the decpoint=0 etc) (yes this is messy but should solve your problem).

However, the underlying issue is the, in my view, unecessary use by flowcode of an important pin, RB0, for mundane display driving (7seg or LCD) and its hard wiring in the PIC3 dev board.

Hope this helps.

It is also worth considereing that chip cost does not change much with increased pins so upgrading to a, say, 16F876 or 16FF877 (if you are not already there) should solve any pin shortage problem.

[ksor]

The point is NOT for ME to changing chip - it's for YOU to correct an error before I wanna go into FlowCode.

I'm just searching you know - and I have found enough NOT to go for FlowCode at the current state.

I'll see you in version 10 I think.

KS

[Mark]

My apologies, looks like I struck a nerve there.

Sorry, I am not part of the Flowcode team.

If you do not like coding 'tricks' then consider moving away from using PICs and Arizone Microchip altogether, by example you would be surely most put out by the way PIC Kit 1 is put together and the way many application notes work.

Personally I think Flowcode is excellent, whilst also looking forward to Flocode 10

[ksor]

NO NO MY apologi here - I thought you WERE part of the FlowCode staff - I'm so sorry !!

I'm just searching for a quicker way to program my PICs than ASM - orgh !

I fell over FlowCode and HERE IT IS - I thought, so I downloaded the DEMO version - but Oh my God - in 1-3 hours I found:

1) You can't just leave the decimal point disconnected - it HAS to be connected to a port !

2) you can only use 7SegLED with common ANODE - it costs 3 times as much as common cathodes do - and the common terminal HAS to be connedted to a PORT - why not just PLUS ?

... so I'm very much afraid what I can come up in the long run !

How is your relation to the "FlowCode-company" - a freind, a user or ... ?

My apologies and BEST REGARDS
KS

[Steve]

Hello Ksor,

Please direct all anger at me!!!

Yes - Flowcode (just like everything else in life) is not the perfect tool for all people in all situations. But it will get better, and has been getting better, by the suggestions and bug reports we receive from users in this forum.

Your feedback is essential to us and will help us improve. To answer your specific points:

1) You can't just leave the decimal point disconnected - it HAS to be connected to a port !

I think this is a very simple thing for us to fix. If it is, then it will be fixed in the imminent release version of Flowcode v3.

2) you can only use 7SegLED with common ANODE - it costs 3 times as much as common cathodes do - and the common terminal HAS to be connedted to a PORT - why not just PLUS ?

This might be a little more tricky to produce an immediate fix for, but it should not be too difficult. What I suspect will happen is that we will add an option for the 7seg components to be either common-cathode or common-anode. That together with the fix to (1) above will greatly improve the 7seg capabilities of Flowcode.

We're very happy with the improvements made in Flowcode v3 - and a big thanks goes out to many of our v2 users for their suggestions and help. But we also know that there are many opportunities to make it better, and I know it is via the feedback and suggestions of our existing v3 users that will make v3.1, v4, and indeed v10 better and better, and more suitable for their needs.

[ksor]

I thak you for your reply and I will shurely watch the development of FlowCode - because the idea is just right.

If yuo can garantie that the things will be solved in V3 then I'm going into FlowCode !

Best regards
KS, Denmark

[ksor]

Hello Ksor,

Please direct all anger at me!!!

1) You can't just leave the decimal point disconnected - it HAS to be connected to a port !

I think this is a very simple thing for us to fix. If it is, then it will be fixed in the imminent release version of Flowcode v3.

I have now installed V3.2.1.38 and the PROBLEM IS STILL THERE - the DP has to bee connected for the 7seg-component to work !

Can that be true ?

[Steve]

To work around this problem, you should be able to connect "SegmentDP" to the same pin as "Segment A" in the component connections window.

The simulation will *not* work correctly (the top horizontal segment will always be off) but the program should work fine when downloaded to the PICmicro.

Note that when using the "ShowDigit" macro, make sure the "DecimalPoint" parameter is set to zero.