rgb led strip help

i just got the rgb 1m strip from radio shack today and its controlled with 12v grd and data. i have the example sketches from radioshack but i just want to control a single segment that i cut of the end and be able to change the colors with a pot and turn it on and off with a push button how do i do this im very confused.

Do you have a Link for us so we can look at the product?

It's a bit confusing. If I understand correctly you can only control the strip in sets of three LEDs. There are 10 sets in a 1m strip.

Each set receives 24 bits. The 1 bits are long (a little more than a microsecond) and the 0 bits are short (about half a microsecond). Looks like the off time is not significant.

Send 24 bits for as many sets as you want to control. I would expect the data to get shifted through so the first bits go to the furthest set and the last bits go to the nearest set.

im just trying to figure out how to control one section of 3 leds to just stay one color and change with a push button or turning a pot and have a off position thats it. can anyone help me with this please. I tried using the switching method but it wont work it only changes on one end of the pot for a small area.

this is what i have so far

/******************** (C) COPYRIGHT 2012 RadioSHack ********************
 * File Name          : strip.pde
 * Author             : TRS
 * Version            : V1.0
 * Date               : 27/04/2012
 * Description        : Main program body
 ********************************************************************************
 * THE PRESENT SOFTWARE WHICH IS FOR GUIDANCE ONLY AIMS AT PROVIDING CUSTOMERS
 * WITH CODING INFORMATION REGARDING THEIR PRODUCTS IN ORDER FOR THEM TO SAVE TIME.
 * AS A RESULT, RS SHALL NOT BE HELD LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT,
 * INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES WITH RESPECT TO ANY CLAIMS ARISING FROM THE
 * CONTENT OF SUCH SOFTWARE AND/OR THE USE MADE BY CUSTOMERS OF THE CODING
 * INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IN CONNECTION WITH THEIR PRODUCTS.
 *******************************************************************************/

#include <avr/pgmspace.h>

// ******** DEBUG ==== should auto config to adapt different mother board *********
//#define DATA_1 (PORTF |=  0X01)    // DATA 1    // for ATMEGA
//#define DATA_0 (PORTF &=  0XFE)    // DATA 0    // for ATMEGA
//#define STRIP_PINOUT DDRF=0xFF  // for ATMEGA
#define DATA_1 (PORTC |=  0X01)    // DATA 1    // for UNO
#define DATA_0 (PORTC &=  0XFE)    // DATA 0    // for UNO
#define STRIP_PINOUT (DDRC=0xFF)    // for UNO

PROGMEM const unsigned long pattern_test_red[10][10]={
  {0x0000ff}

  };

PROGMEM const unsigned long pattern_test_blue[10][10]={
  {0x00ff00}
  };

PROGMEM const unsigned long pattern_test_green[10][10]={
  {0xff0000}
};


const int analogInPin = A1;  // Analog input pin that the potentiometer is attached to



int sensorValue = 0;        // value read from the pot
int outputValue = 0;        // value output for color


// ***********************************************************************************************************
// *
// *                            Power Up Init.
// *
// *
// ***********************************************************************************************************
void setup() {                

  STRIP_PINOUT;        // set output pin - DEBUG: should auto detect which mother board for use

  reset_strip();
  //noInterrupts();

}



// ***********************************************************************************************************
// *
// *                            Main Loop 
// *
// *
// ***********************************************************************************************************
void loop() 
{
  // read the analog in value:
  int sensorValue = analogRead(analogInPin);            
  // map it to the range of 8 colors:
  int outputValue = map(sensorValue, 0, 1023, 0, 3);  
  
  switch (outputValue) {
  //off
    case 0:
   send_1M_pattern(pattern_test_red, 1, 10);
    break;
 //red   
  case 1:
   send_1M_pattern(pattern_test_green, 1, 10);
    break;
 //yellow   
  case 2:
   send_1M_pattern(pattern_test_blue, 1, 10);
    break;
 //green   
  case 3:
   send_1M_pattern(pattern_test_red, 1, 10);
    break;

  }


  

  
  
  
 

  /*
	frame++;
   	if(frame<=10) LEDSTRIP_PATTERN_0();
   	if(10<frame<=20) LEDSTRIP_PATTERN_0();
   	if(20<frame<=30) LEDSTRIP_PATTERN_0();
   	if(frame>30) frame=1;
   */
  //delay(1);
}


/*******************************************************************************
 * Function Name  : send_1M_pattern
 * Description    : Transmit pattern to whole 1 meter strip
 *                  
 * Input          : pointer to ROM pattern; pattern length; frame rate
 *                  
 * Output         : None
 * Return         : None
 *******************************************************************************/
void send_1M_pattern(const unsigned long data[][10], int pattern_no, int frame_rate)
{
  int i=0;
  int j=0;
  uint32_t temp_data;

  for (i=0;i<pattern_no;i++)
  {
    noInterrupts();
    for (j=0;j<10;j++)
    {
      temp_data=pgm_read_dword_near(&data[i][j]);
      send_strip(temp_data);
    }
    interrupts();

    delay(frame_rate);

  }




}


/*******************************************************************************
 * Function Name  : send_strip
 * Description    : Transmit 24 pulse to LED strip
 *                  
 * Input          : 24-bit data for the strip
 *                  
 * Output         : None
 * Return         : None
 *******************************************************************************/
void send_strip(uint32_t data)
{
  int i;
  unsigned long j=0x800000;
  
 
  for (i=0;i<24;i++)
  {
    if (data & j)
    {
      DATA_1;
      __asm__("nop\n\t");
      __asm__("nop\n\t");
      __asm__("nop\n\t");
      __asm__("nop\n\t");
      __asm__("nop\n\t");
      __asm__("nop\n\t");
      __asm__("nop\n\t");
      __asm__("nop\n\t");
      __asm__("nop\n\t");    
      __asm__("nop\n\t");
      __asm__("nop\n\t");
      __asm__("nop\n\t");
      __asm__("nop\n\t");
      __asm__("nop\n\t");
      __asm__("nop\n\t");
      __asm__("nop\n\t");
      __asm__("nop\n\t");
      __asm__("nop\n\t");
      DATA_0;
    }
    else
    {
      DATA_1;
      __asm__("nop\n\t");
      __asm__("nop\n\t");
      __asm__("nop\n\t");
      __asm__("nop\n\t");
      __asm__("nop\n\t");
      __asm__("nop\n\t");
      __asm__("nop\n\t");
      __asm__("nop\n\t");
      __asm__("nop\n\t");    
      DATA_0;
    }

    j>>=1;
  }


  
}

/*******************************************************************************
 * Function Name  : reset_strip
 * Description    : Send reset pulse to reset all color of the strip
 *                  
 * Input          : None
 *                  
 * Output         : None
 * Return         : None
 *******************************************************************************/
void	reset_strip()
{
  DATA_0;
  delayMicroseconds(20);
}

Take a look at this program: RadioShack RGB LED Strip Arduino July 4th 2014 - Pastebin.com
This is too large for this forum - It is as fully functioning UNO program for the RadioShack RGB LED strips, using A0 as the output pin (there is a comment for changing the output pin). There are several patterns added to the "stock" program:
Cylon
Trek Bridge
Red-White-Blue Chaser
Red-White-Blue Building Up

Comments, suggestions, corrections, improvements are most welcome.