Can widget configuration commands be sent directly to App from a file.txt?

enniom

GUI-O_Widget_Setup.Apr8.23.txt

Hello,

I've developed a BioFuels Distillation training simulator. The widget configuration commands are included in the attached file. I would like to share some feedback:

Once the widgets are set up, the I/O and response to the App is very easy, intuitive and provide terrific functionality. Good work!
One problem however, is that these widget commands occupy a significant amount of memory in the microcontroller. This seems inefficient.

One thought was to save the commands in a *.txt file, have the microcontroller read and send them to the GUI-O App. (Unfortunately, I was not able to get the EXTF command to respond clearly to requests to read a specific and complete line from the file.)

A second, time-consuming and somewhat frustrating task was placing the widgets in the desired location on each of the 5 screens.

While the GUI-O Designer is helpful, unfortunately it too needed a significant amount of time to find the correct locations.

Since the mobile phone is always connected to the Designer App, would it be possible to have the user move the widgets on the screen (to the desired location) and have Designer save the setting in a file.txt?

Nonetheless, GOOD WORK.

E

kl3m3n

@enniom Hi!

Thank you, I appreciate the feedback
Generally, I agree with you. You could store the initialization commands to EEPROM / FLASH and keep RAM clean?
There was a bug with EXTF object (versions below 1.0.42) when reading lines... Please try with version 1.0.42 and above.

Regarding the .txt initialization file - this is actually a good idea. Microcontroller could just request initialization based on the pre-defined initialization file that resides on the Android device side.
I will think on this a bit more, but it seems a good feature (I will let you know about this...).

I agree with you. It would be easier to use dragging to position elements. I would not implement this on the GUI-O application side, but rather as a part of the GUI-O designer. Basically a canvas where one can place and arrange widgets and the changes are reflected on the Android device (if connected). What do you think?

Best regards,
kl3m3n

enniom

@kl3m3n said in Can widget configuration commands be sent directly to App from a file.txt?:

Regarding the .txt initialization file - this is actually a good idea. Microcontroller could just request initialization based on the pre-defined initialization file that resides on the Android device side.
I will think on this a bit more, but it seems a good feature (I will let you know about this...).

YES .... This is exactly what I had in mind.

Something similar to consider, although minor, could be showing info from the mobile phone directly onto a widget. For example at the moment, to show the actual time, the uC has to receive it from the RTC, then echo it back to a widget. I could see a widget that's configured to show the time directly -without the round trip.

Regarding moving the widgets on the screen with Designer, as long as the final config can be saved as an unencrypted (*.txt) file, that should be fine. I had in mind something like PowerPoint but much simpler.

Let me know if you need help with beta testing.

E

kl3m3n

@enniom Hi.

Sorry for getting back to you with delay.

I am thinking on the best way to include the ".txt" initialization file in the current GUI-O scheme / logic. But it seems that this is a feature I want to add as an option to GUI-O.

@enniom said in Can widget configuration commands be sent directly to App from a file.txt?:

Something similar to consider, although minor, could be showing info from the mobile phone directly onto a widget. For example at the moment, to show the actual time, the uC has to receive it from the RTC, then echo it back to a widget. I could see a widget that's configured to show the time directly -without the round trip.

While I understand your suggestion, it would violate the GUI-O principle of operation. I am not a fan of exceptions as they increase the overall complexity.

@enniom said in Can widget configuration commands be sent directly to App from a file.txt?:

Regarding moving the widgets on the screen with Designer, as long as the final config can be saved as an unencrypted (*.txt) file, that should be fine. I had in mind something like PowerPoint but much simpler.

This is probably the most time consuming feature. I will not add drag / drop functionality to GUI-O application (as this also violates the principle of operation), but I could add this feature to GUI-O designer. I will need to "copy" the widget building framework that is implemented in GUI-O application.

@enniom said in Can widget configuration commands be sent directly to App from a file.txt?:

Let me know if you need help with beta testing.

Thank you - I will let you know! Much appreciated!

Regards,
kl3m3n

kl3m3n

@enniom Hi,

newest GUI-O application version (v1.0.46) now supports initializing GUI from a file, located on the Android device.

Also, newest GUI-O designer (v0.0.9) supports transferring the commands to the Android device. You can also do this manually.

You can check the newest GUI-O manual (under Initialize from file request section) for further explanation.

I will appreciate any feedback.

Best regards,
kl3m3n

enniom

Thank you kl3m3n.

I will test and post my reply asap.

kl3m3n

@enniom Note that there is also a tutorial for this:

https://forum.gui-o.com/topic/139/episode-16-initializing-gui-from-file

Best regards,
kl3m3n

enniom

THANK-you kl3m3n.

The changes to designer significantly reduce development time, and the @fileinit command moves configuration commands to the Android device and out of the microcontroller flash memory.

Great work. E.

kl3m3n

@enniom Thank you.