In Desperate Need of Help With a While Statement

Hey guys. I'm having some trouble adding a "While" statement to run a loop. The way the program works now is sending a HIGH to turn on a LED. I am trying to alter the code to run my WS2812 LED strip. That is why I am trying to add a While loop. When pin 4 is HIGH I want the While loop to run my LED strip. Basiclly its going to be used as an ON/OFF to run my LED strip.

I appreciate any help you can give me. I already have over 40 hours into this project and its driving me insane. Thank you

Here is a snippet of the code I tried to alter

case 4:
    pinMode(4, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(4, pin_value);   
 while (pin_value == HIGH) {
    }
    
     {
    static uint8_t hue = 0;
    for (int px = NUM_LEDS - 1; px > 0; px--)
      {
        leds[px] = leds[px - 1];
      }
    leds[0] = CHSV(hue++, 255, 255);
    FastLED.show();
    delay(10);
  }
    
        
    // add your code here 
    break;
  case 3:
    pinMode(3, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(3, pin_value);         
    // add your code here 
    break;
  case 2:
    pinMode(2, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(2, pin_value); 
    // add your code here       
    break;      
    // default: 
    // if nothing else matches, do the default
    // default is optional
  } 
}

Here is the whole code, but I'm actually only trying to change the way Pin 4 acts, for now

/*
 PROJECT: ArduDroid 
 PROGRAMMER: Hazim Bitar (techbitar at gmail dot com)
 DATE: Oct 31, 2013
 FILE: ardudroid.ino
 LICENSE: Public domain
*/

#include "FastLED.h"

#define NUM_LEDS 30
#define DATA_PIN 4


#define START_CMD_CHAR '*'
#define END_CMD_CHAR '#'
#define DIV_CMD_CHAR '|'
#define CMD_DIGITALWRITE 10
#define CMD_ANALOGWRITE 11
#define CMD_TEXT 12
#define CMD_READ_ARDUDROID 13
#define MAX_COMMAND 20  // max command number code. used for error checking.
#define MIN_COMMAND 10  // minimum command number code. used for error checking. 
#define IN_STRING_LENGHT 40
#define MAX_ANALOGWRITE 255
#define PIN_HIGH 3
#define PIN_LOW 2

String inText;
CRGB leds[NUM_LEDS];

void setup() {
      FastLED.addLeds<WS2812B, DATA_PIN, GRB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);

  Serial.begin(9600);
  Serial.println("ArduDroid 0.12 Alpha by TechBitar (2013)");
  Serial.flush();
  
}

void loop()
{
  Serial.flush();
  int ard_command = 0;
  int pin_num = 0;
  int pin_value = 0;

  char get_char = ' ';  //read serial

  // wait for incoming data
  if (Serial.available() < 1) return; // if serial empty, return to loop().

  // parse incoming command start flag 
  get_char = Serial.read();
  if (get_char != START_CMD_CHAR) return; // if no command start flag, return to loop().

  // parse incoming command type
  ard_command = Serial.parseInt(); // read the command
  
  // parse incoming pin# and value  
  pin_num = Serial.parseInt(); // read the pin
  pin_value = Serial.parseInt();  // read the value

  // 1) GET TEXT COMMAND FROM ARDUDROID
  if (ard_command == CMD_TEXT){   
    inText =""; //clears variable for new input   
    while (Serial.available())  {
      char c = Serial.read();  //gets one byte from serial buffer
      delay(5);
      if (c == END_CMD_CHAR) { // if we the complete string has been read
        // add your code here
        break;
      }              
      else {
        if (c !=  DIV_CMD_CHAR) {
          inText += c; 
          delay(5);
        }
      }
    }
  }

  // 2) GET digitalWrite DATA FROM ARDUDROID
  if (ard_command == CMD_DIGITALWRITE){  
    if (pin_value == PIN_LOW) pin_value = LOW;
    else if (pin_value == PIN_HIGH) pin_value = HIGH;
   
    else return; // error in pin value. return. 
    set_digitalwrite( pin_num,  pin_value);  // Uncomment this function if you wish to use 
    return;  // return from start of loop()
  }

  // 3) GET analogWrite DATA FROM ARDUDROID
  if (ard_command == CMD_ANALOGWRITE) {  
    analogWrite(  pin_num, pin_value ); 
    // add your code here
    return;  // Done. return to loop();
  }

  // 4) SEND DATA TO ARDUDROID
  if (ard_command == CMD_READ_ARDUDROID) { 
    // char send_to_android[] = "Place your text here." ;
    // Serial.println(send_to_android);   // Example: Sending text
    Serial.print(" Analog 0 = "); 
    Serial.println(analogRead(A0));  // Example: Read and send Analog pin value to Arduino
    return;  // Done. return to loop();
  }
}

// 2a) select the requested pin# for DigitalWrite action
void set_digitalwrite(int pin_num, int pin_value)
{
  switch (pin_num) {
  case 13:
    pinMode(13, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(13, pin_value);  
    // add your code here      
    break;
  case 12:
    pinMode(12, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(12, pin_value);   
    // add your code here       
    break;
  case 11:
    pinMode(11, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(11, pin_value);         
    // add your code here 
    break;
  case 10:
    pinMode(10, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(10, pin_value);         
    // add your code here 
    break;
  case 9:
    pinMode(9, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(9, pin_value);         
    // add your code here 
    break;
  case 8:
    pinMode(8, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(8, pin_value);         
    // add your code here 
    break;
  case 7:
    pinMode(7, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(7, pin_value);         
    // add your code here 
    break;
  case 6:
    pinMode(6, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(6, pin_value);         
    // add your code here 
    break;
  case 5:
    pinMode(5, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(5, pin_value); 
    // add your code here       
    break;
  case 4:
    pinMode(4, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(4, pin_value);   
 while (pin_value == HIGH) {
    }
    
     {
    static uint8_t hue = 0;
    for (int px = NUM_LEDS - 1; px > 0; px--)
      {
        leds[px] = leds[px - 1];
      }
    leds[0] = CHSV(hue++, 255, 255);
    FastLED.show();
    delay(10);
  }
    
        
    // add your code here 
    break;
  case 3:
    pinMode(3, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(3, pin_value);         
    // add your code here 
    break;
  case 2:
    pinMode(2, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(2, pin_value); 
    // add your code here       
    break;      
    // default: 
    // if nothing else matches, do the default
    // default is optional
  } 
}
while (pin_value == HIGH) {
    }

The code in the braces (none) will run while the value of pin_value is HIGH. As pin_value is not changed in the while loop it will either never start or never stop depending on its value when the loop is entered.

What you need to do is something like this

while (digitalRead(pin) == HIGH)
{
  //run any code that you put here
{

Ok, it is sort of working now, but it is momentary. I send a High to Pin 4 and it turns on one LED on the strip each time I send a HIGH. It should loop through the light show and it should turn off when I send a LOW. It doesn't do that.

Here is my code now.

case 4:
    pinMode(4, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(4, pin_value);   
 while (digitalRead(4) == HIGH) {
    
    
     
    static uint8_t hue = 0;
    for (int px = NUM_LEDS - 1; px > 0; px--)
      {
        leds[px] = leds[px - 1];
      }
    leds[0] = CHSV(hue++, 255, 255);
    FastLED.show();
    delay(10);
  }
    
        
    // add your code here 
    break;
  case 3:
    pinMode(3, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(3, pin_value);         
    // add your code here 
    break;

Here is the full code again

/*
 PROJECT: ArduDroid 
 PROGRAMMER: Hazim Bitar (techbitar at gmail dot com)
 DATE: Oct 31, 2013
 FILE: ardudroid.ino
 LICENSE: Public domain
*/

#include "FastLED.h"

#define NUM_LEDS 30
#define DATA_PIN 4


#define START_CMD_CHAR '*'
#define END_CMD_CHAR '#'
#define DIV_CMD_CHAR '|'
#define CMD_DIGITALWRITE 10
#define CMD_ANALOGWRITE 11
#define CMD_TEXT 12
#define CMD_READ_ARDUDROID 13
#define MAX_COMMAND 20  // max command number code. used for error checking.
#define MIN_COMMAND 10  // minimum command number code. used for error checking. 
#define IN_STRING_LENGHT 40
#define MAX_ANALOGWRITE 255
#define PIN_HIGH 3
#define PIN_LOW 2

String inText;
CRGB leds[NUM_LEDS];

void setup() {
      FastLED.addLeds<WS2812B, DATA_PIN, GRB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);

  Serial.begin(9600);
  Serial.println("ArduDroid 0.12 Alpha by TechBitar (2013)");
  Serial.flush();
  
}

void loop()
{
  Serial.flush();
  int ard_command = 0;
  int pin_num = 0;
  int pin_value = 0;

  char get_char = ' ';  //read serial

  // wait for incoming data
  if (Serial.available() < 1) return; // if serial empty, return to loop().

  // parse incoming command start flag 
  get_char = Serial.read();
  if (get_char != START_CMD_CHAR) return; // if no command start flag, return to loop().

  // parse incoming command type
  ard_command = Serial.parseInt(); // read the command
  
  // parse incoming pin# and value  
  pin_num = Serial.parseInt(); // read the pin
  pin_value = Serial.parseInt();  // read the value

  // 1) GET TEXT COMMAND FROM ARDUDROID
  if (ard_command == CMD_TEXT){   
    inText =""; //clears variable for new input   
    while (Serial.available())  {
      char c = Serial.read();  //gets one byte from serial buffer
      delay(5);
      if (c == END_CMD_CHAR) { // if we the complete string has been read
        // add your code here
        break;
      }              
      else {
        if (c !=  DIV_CMD_CHAR) {
          inText += c; 
          delay(5);
        }
      }
    }
  }

  // 2) GET digitalWrite DATA FROM ARDUDROID
  if (ard_command == CMD_DIGITALWRITE){  
    if (pin_value == PIN_LOW) pin_value = LOW;
    else if (pin_value == PIN_HIGH) pin_value = HIGH;
   
    else return; // error in pin value. return. 
    set_digitalwrite( pin_num,  pin_value);  // Uncomment this function if you wish to use 
    return;  // return from start of loop()
  }

  // 3) GET analogWrite DATA FROM ARDUDROID
  if (ard_command == CMD_ANALOGWRITE) {  
    analogWrite(  pin_num, pin_value ); 
    // add your code here
    return;  // Done. return to loop();
  }

  // 4) SEND DATA TO ARDUDROID
  if (ard_command == CMD_READ_ARDUDROID) { 
    // char send_to_android[] = "Place your text here." ;
    // Serial.println(send_to_android);   // Example: Sending text
    Serial.print(" Analog 0 = "); 
    Serial.println(analogRead(A0));  // Example: Read and send Analog pin value to Arduino
    return;  // Done. return to loop();
  }
}

// 2a) select the requested pin# for DigitalWrite action
void set_digitalwrite(int pin_num, int pin_value)
{
  switch (pin_num) {
  case 13:
    pinMode(13, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(13, pin_value);  
    // add your code here      
    break;
  case 12:
    pinMode(12, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(12, pin_value);   
    // add your code here       
    break;
  case 11:
    pinMode(11, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(11, pin_value);         
    // add your code here 
    break;
  case 10:
    pinMode(10, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(10, pin_value);         
    // add your code here 
    break;
  case 9:
    pinMode(9, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(9, pin_value);         
    // add your code here 
    break;
  case 8:
    pinMode(8, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(8, pin_value);         
    // add your code here 
    break;
  case 7:
    pinMode(7, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(7, pin_value);         
    // add your code here 
    break;
  case 6:
    pinMode(6, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(6, pin_value);         
    // add your code here 
    break;
  case 5:
    pinMode(5, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(5, pin_value); 
    // add your code here       
    break;
  case 4:
    pinMode(4, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(4, pin_value);   
 while (digitalRead(4) == HIGH) {
    
    
     
    static uint8_t hue = 0;
    for (int px = NUM_LEDS - 1; px > 0; px--)
      {
        leds[px] = leds[px - 1];
      }
    leds[0] = CHSV(hue++, 255, 255);
    FastLED.show();
    delay(10);
  }
    
        
    // add your code here 
    break;
  case 3:
    pinMode(3, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(3, pin_value);         
    // add your code here 
    break;
  case 2:
    pinMode(2, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(2, pin_value); 
    // add your code here       
    break;      
    // default: 
    // if nothing else matches, do the default
    // default is optional
  } 
}
    pinMode(4, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(4, pin_value);   
 while (digitalRead(4) == HIGH) {

You never change the state of pin 4 in the loop, so you haven't a hope in hell of the while loop ever ending.

I'm not sure I'm following you. I am very very new to this. This is by far the most complicated code I've ever tried to mess with.

 while (digitalRead(4) == HIGH)

You're trying to read the input from a pin you've set as an output?
Have you tried to input power to your wall outlet sockets?

As Henry_Best suggesting.
digital pin 4 should operate in INPUT mode.

you can achieve your goal in many ways . i tried some thing like this.

void setup()
{
  Serial.begin(9600);
  pinMode(4, INPUT);
  pinMode(13, OUTPUT);
}

void loop()
{
  if(digitalRead(4) == HIGH)
  {
     digitalWrite(13, HIGH);
    delay(200);
    while(1)
    {
      Serial.println("led glow");
      if(digitalRead(4) == HIGH){
          digitalWrite(13, LOW);
         delay(200);
         break;   
      }
    }
  }
  Serial.println("outside while loop");
}

I suspect you don't need a WHILE for that at all.

What about using the button to set a variable to true and then doing your action IF the variable is true. That way there is no need for the blocking action of the WHILE loop. You can have some other code to change the variable back to false when the action is no longer appropriate.

Look at how the buttons and the actions are separated in the code in the Thread planning and implementing a program.

...R