Newbie Syntax issues, HELP!

I'm working on a fairly simple sketch and need some help. I'm driving a 32 LED PWM RGB light strip from Sparkfun (RGB LED Strip - 32 LED/m Addressable - 1m - COM-10312 - SparkFun Electronics) My brother wrote some code up for me, I played with it some but it isn't working. I have a feeling Pins/States have been over defined or defined incorrectly. It's the leftState vs leftPin, rightState vs rightPin etc. that I can't figure..Please Help! I'd be glad to pay. JOSH

Complete code added 23 DEC 2011

/*
  Refer to Nathan Seidles notes from original LED sketch at end
  
2-pin Red+Black = 5V/GND
  Green = CKI = Digital Pin 5
  Red = SDI = Digital Pin 2
  Make sure you use pins with ----------> going away not towards!
  
  Acc sensor is var analog resistor on pin 7
  Left Turn is switched to pin 8
  Right Turn is switched to pin 9
  Hazards are pins 8 and 9 both closed
  Left Turn is switched to pin 10
  Left Turn is switched to pin 11
  
*/

#include <MsTimer2.h>

                              // Switch on LED on pin 13 each second.....doesn't work

long loopCount = 0;
long sumMe = 0;
long lastAve = 0;
int sensorPin = A7;
int accel = 0;

long trnSigTim = 0;
boolean trnState = false;

int SDI = 2;                  //Red wire (not the red 5V wire!)
int CKI = 5;                  //Green wire
int ledPin = 13;              //On board LED
long colBrk = 0xFF0000;
long colRev = 0xFFFFFF;
long colTrn = 0xFFFFFF;
long colOFF = 0x000000;

int LeftPin = 8;              // Left is connected to pin 8
int RightPin = 9;             // Right is connected to pin 9
int RevPin = 10;              // Reverse is connected to pin 10
int BrakePin = 11;            // Brake is connected to pin 11


#define STRIP_LENGTH 32 //32 LEDs on this strip
long strip_colors[STRIP_LENGTH];

void setup() {
  pinMode(SDI, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(CKI, OUTPUT);
  
  pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);     // blinking light function pin 13.. why?
  
  pinMode(LeftPin, INPUT);     // Set pin 8 as left turn input 
  pinMode(RightPin, INPUT);    // Set pin 9 as right turn input
  pinMode(RevPin, INPUT);      // Set pin 10 as reverse input
  pinMode(BrakePin, INPUT);    // Set pin 11 as center brake switch input
  
                               //Clear out the array
  for(int x = 0 ; x < STRIP_LENGTH ; x++)
    strip_colors[x] = 0;
    
  randomSeed(analogRead(0));
  
  Serial.begin(9600);
  
  MsTimer2::set(40, flash);    // 5ms period
  MsTimer2::start();
  
  trnSigTim = millis();
  
  
}

void flash() {
  
                                //Calculate Acceleration
  long aveSpeed = 0;
  aveSpeed = sumMe/loopCount;   //get avereage value over this iteration
  accel = aveSpeed-lastAve;     //dv/dt
  lastAve = aveSpeed; 
  aveSpeed = 0;
  sumMe = 0;
  loopCount = 0;
  
                                //manage left and right flashers
  
  
}

void loop() {
  int sensorValue;
  int bLevel;
  bLevel = map(accel, 0, 100, 0, 11); 
  leftState=digitalRead(leftPin);
  rightState=digitalRead(rightPin);
  brakeState=digitalRead(brakePin);
  revState=digitalRead(revPin);
  
  refreshStrip(bLevel, leftState, rightState, brakeState, revState);
  
  post_frame();                 //Push the current color frame to the strip
  sensorValue = analogRead(sensorPin); 
  Serial.println(bLevel);  
  sumMe += sensorValue;
  loopCount +=1;
  
  if ((millis() - trnSigTim) >= 500){
    trnState = !trnState;
    trnSigTim = millis();
  }
}

void refreshStrip(int accLev, boolean BrakePin, boolean LeftPin, boolean RightPin, boolean RevPin){
                               //right 12, if the right turn signal is on and in the blink cycle
                               //then turn it red
                               //otherwise, if it is reversing turn it white
                               //otherwise, put the brake level in
                               //sanity check on accLev
  if (accLev > 11){
    accLev = 11;
  }else if (accLev < 0){
    accLev = 0;
  }
  
                              //left segment logic
  if (LeftPin){                  //is the left bit on
    postSeg(0, 11, colOFF);   //turn the left signal segment OFF
    if(trnState && LeftPin){     //but if it is our time to blink turn it back on
      postSeg(0, 11, colTrn);
    }
  }else if(RevPin) {
    postSeg(0, 11, colRev);
  }else{                      //we aren't blinking and we aren't reversing, display the fade strip for this segment
    postSeg(0, 11, colOFF);
    postSeg(11-accLev, 11, colBrk);
  }
 
                              //right logic (should be identical)
                              //left segment logic
  if (RightPin){
    postSeg(21, 32, colOFF);
    if(trnState && RightPin){
      postSeg(21, 32, colTrn);
    }
  }else if(RevPin) {
    postSeg(21, 32, colRev);
  }else{
    postSeg(21, 32, colOFF);
    postSeg(21, 21+accLev, colBrk);
  }



}

//set a segment of the LED state array to a particular color
//all leds in this segment of the strip will be either blanked
//or set to the specified color
//startLED is the first LED of the segment
//endLED is the last LED of the segment to be lit
//color is the color to use

//This functions name is sort of a misnomer because it doesn't actually post (send)
//anything to the LED strip, it simply prepares a segment of the array that will 
//presumably be sent to the post_frame function later

void postSeg(int startLED, int endLED, long color){
  int x;
  for(x = startLED; x < endLED ; x++){
     strip_colors[x] = color;
  }
}

//this last function is sort of a black box, I didn't modify it 
//I just modify strip_colors and call this function when I am ready to transfer
//those colors into the LEDs

//Takes the current strip color array and pushes it out
void post_frame (void) {
  //Each LED requires 24 bits of data
  //MSB: R7, R6, R5..., G7, G6..., B7, B6... B0 
  //Once the 24 bits have been delivered, the IC immediately relays these bits to its neighbor
  //Pulling the clock low for 500us or more causes the IC to post the data.

  for(int LED_number = 0 ; LED_number < STRIP_LENGTH ; LED_number++) {
    long this_led_color = strip_colors[LED_number]; //24 bits of color data

    for(byte color_bit = 23 ; color_bit != 255 ; color_bit--) {
      //Feed color bit 23 first (red data MSB)
      
      digitalWrite(CKI, LOW); //Only change data when clock is low
      
      long mask = 1L << color_bit;
      //The 1'L' forces the 1 to start as a 32 bit number, otherwise it defaults to 16-bit.
      
      if(this_led_color & mask) 
        digitalWrite(SDI, HIGH);
      else
        digitalWrite(SDI, LOW);
  
      digitalWrite(CKI, HIGH); //Data is latched when clock goes high
    }
  }

  //Pull clock low to put strip into reset/post mode
  digitalWrite(CKI, LOW);
  //delayMicroseconds(500); //Wait for 500us to go into reset
}

/*
  Nathan Seidle
  SparkFun Electronics 2011
  
  This code is public domain but you buy me a beer if you use this and we meet someday (Beerware license).
  
  Controlling an LED strip with individually controllable RGB LEDs. This stuff is awesome.
  
  The SparkFun (individually controllable) RGB strip contains a bunch of WS2801 ICs. These
  are controlled over a simple data and clock setup. The WS2801 is really cool! Each IC has its
  own internal clock so that it can do all the PWM for that specific LED for you. Each IC
  requires 24 bits of 'greyscale' data. This means you can have 256 levels of red, 256 of blue,
  and 256 levels of green for each RGB LED. REALLY granular.
 
  To control the strip, you clock in data continually. Each IC automatically passes the data onto
  the next IC. Once you pause for more than 500us, each IC 'posts' or begins to output the color data
  you just clocked in. So, clock in (24bits * 32LEDs = ) 768 bits, then pause for 500us. Then
  repeat if you wish to display something new.
  
  This example code will display bright red, green, and blue, then 'trickle' random colors down 
  the LED strip.
  
  You will need to connect 5V/Gnd from the Arduino (USB power seems to be sufficient).
  
  For the data pins, please pay attention to the arrow printed on the strip. You will need to connect to
  the end that is the begining of the arrows (data connection)--->
  
  If you have a 4-pin connection:
  Blue = 5V
  Red = SDI
  Green = CKI
  Black = GND
  
  If you have a split 5-pin connection:
  2-pin Red+Black = 5V/GND
  Green = CKI
  Red = SDI
 */

Best, usually, if you post all the code.
In a code box, using the # icon on the editors toolbar

leftState=digitalRead(leftPin);

The digitalRead function returns an int.

  refreshStrip(bLevel, leftState, rightState, brakeState, revState);

A series of ints are pushed onto the stack, then the function is branched to.

void refreshStrip(int accLev, boolean BrakePin, boolean LeftPin, boolean RightPin, boolean RevPin){

Then, you pop a bunch of booleans off the stack (which are half the size of ints).

You also change names from state to pin inside the function. Not the greatest of ideas.

O.K. I'm looking at Pauls comments. I don't know a lot about programming but think this is close. I am basically trying to make a certain number of lights on the bar blink by closing a switch. When I got the code the pinout to switch wasn't identified so I did that and added the states but don't understand how to address the bar directly I guess.

if (RightPin){
    postSeg(21, 32, colOFF);
    if(trnState && RightPin){
      postSeg(21, 32, colTrn);
    }
  }else if(RevPin) {
    postSeg(21, 32, colRev);
  }else{
    postSeg(21, 32, colOFF);
    postSeg(21, 21+accLev, colBrk);
  }

How does this bit interact with the pin states? How do I modify the interim code to make the blinker go on and off?

if (RightPin){

The name implies a pin number. The usage implies a pin state. Which is it? Why are you not using unambiguous names?

RightPin has the value 9.
It is always true.

Paul,
Thanks for helping. I have no clue about any of this, a family member was doing the programming for me and couldn't do any more so I am trying to figure it out. I am a machinist and fabricator by trade, I can make PCB's and do plug and play electronics... that's it.

I basically have a three switches and an accelerometer that I am trying to make represent an automobiles left blinker, right blinker, brake light and deacceleration. I have no clue otherwise.. I had planned on soldering this up, making enclosures and putting it in my car with switches replaced by blinkers (optically isolated.) but am forced to try and eek info from the web.

I'm willing to pay or otherwise recognize someone for helping me here.

Thanks!

I want Pin 9 to be either High or Low depending on whether Digital 9 on the board is shorted (via switch) to ground or not right? How do I do that simply and still get everything at the end of the code to work ( ie, turn on 10 LED's at end of bar.)

I really appreciate the walkthrough