I am hoping someone can explain "Libraries" to me. I have one saved for a WS2803 but I am not sure what the library does or how to use it properly. I feel that once I understand this I will be able to write a sketch to use the WS2803.
A library is just a collection of functions that share a common functionality. For example, the Arduino IDE is distributed with a number of libraries. Find out where your Arduino EXE file (i.e., arduino.exe) is stored on your system. In that directory is a subdirectory named libraries. In that subdirectory, you will find a number of installed libraries. For example, one of them is titled LiquidCrystal. You can find details about the libraries using the starting point:
If you click on the LiquidCrystal link, you will find the functions found in the library (e.g., LiquidCrystal(), begin(), clear(), etc.) plus links to tell you how to use each function, what arguments must be passed to it, and what values they return. Each library usually provides the source code files (*.cpp, *.h) and examples that use the library.
You can add new libraries to the IDE by placing them in the libraries subdirectory. Just make sure you restart the IDE after you copy them. Once done, the compiler extracts the code for the functions you use from the library and links them into your program.
Thanks, that helps alot. How would I find a reference write up like that for the specific library i have for the WS2803 to help me figure out how to write a code so it performs the way I want?
I just Googled "ws2803 arduino" and came up with over 4900 hits. That's where I'd start.