Using P10 panels with dmd2 libary

[aerena]

Hi,

I've shearch in forum, but couldn't find any related answer.

I want to control P10 led display with Arduino Uno via DMD2 libary. It is no problem with small fonts.

But, I want character can be seen from far away. Let's say I want characters' heigh is more then one panel as in below illustration.

I've written bigger fonts wit GLCD_FontCreator. Up untill 24pixel heigh nothing happens. It is shown in one panel. When I cross the 24 pixel, let''s say 32, I'm taking error message:
Compilation error: 'Verdana32' was not declared in this scope

Is there a way?

My code is:

#include <Verdana24.h>
#include <Verdana26.h>
#include <Verdana28.h>
#include <Verdana30.h>
#include <Verdana32.h>
#include <Verdana36.h>
#include <Verdana72.h>

#include <SPI.h>
#include <DMDTUR.h>

#define DISPLAY_WIDTH 2
#define DISPLAY_HEIGHT 2

const uint8_t *Font = Verdana24;

int i=0;
int j=0;
int k=0;

SoftDMD dmd(DISPLAY_WIDTH,DISPLAY_HEIGHT);
//BoxTr box(dmd);

void setup() {
  dmd.begin();
  dmd.setBrightness(20);
  dmd.selectFont(Font);   // Set the font size scale
  dmd.clearScreen();
}

void loop() {
  dmd.clearScreen();
  dmd.selectFont(Font);
  for (int i=64; i>0; i--){
    delay(75);
    dmd.drawString(i, -2, "Test");
    }
  for (int j=64; j>0; j--){
    delay(75);
    dmd.drawString(j, 14, "Item");
    }
  //dmd.updateDisplay();
  delay(1000);
  dmd.clearScreen();
  dmd.selectFont(Font);
  for (int k=0; k<5; k++){
    delay(100);
    dmd.drawString(4, -2, "F5");
    dmd.drawString(4, 14, "TB512");
    delay(1000);
    dmd.clearScreen();
    delay(100);
    } 
}

[b707]

Each font takes up space in memory. The size of the font array grows roughly in proportion to the square of the height of the font, i.e. a 32 pixel font takes up 16 times more memory than an 8 pixel font.
Uno has quite a bit of memory, and you are loading a few large fonts. I think that your program simply does not have enough memory.

Possible solutions :
Try to load only those fonts that are used in the code. For example, your program uses only font Verdana24 - so the lines are included with other fonts can be removed.
Another (a better) option is to use a board with more memory, such as arduino mega, esp32, rp2040 or stm32. If you want to change the controller type - I can suggest you try my library.

[xfpd]

If you comment-out this line:

#include <Verdana32.h>

Do you then receive this error?

Compilation error: 'Verdana36' was not declared in this scope

That might indicate size of memory... in that case, I would make a note of all the characters you use and edit the libraries to remove unused characters.

This is what number zero looks like:

0x80, 0xF0, 0xFC, 0x7E, 0x0E, 0x0F, 0x07, 0x07, 0x07, 0x07, 0x0F, 0x1E,
0x7E, 0xFC, 0xF0, 0x80, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0x01, 0x0F, 0x3F, 0x7E,
0x70, 0xF0, 0xE0, 0xE0, 0xE0, 0xE0, 0xF0, 0x70, 0x7E, 0x3F, 0x0F, 0x01, //48 '0'

[aerena]

Hmm, thanks for all informations.

I've heard about stm32 before but haven't work with them. It seems there are several different stms. Could you suggest one?

Also I need to make serial comminication with computer via python. Can I do that with stm?

[aerena]

[quote="xfpd, post:3, topic:1153924, full:true"]
If you comment-out this line:

#include <Verdana32.h>

Do you then receive this error?

Compilation error: 'Verdana36' was not declared in this scope

I'm not sure, I'll try.

I can tell you that, if I include all libaries but use only Verdana24 there is no error message. Error only occures when I use font bigger then 26pixel. Such as:

const uint8_t *Font = Verdana32;

[b707]

@aerena

've heard about stm32 before but haven't work with them. It seems there are several different stms. Could you suggest one?

Most arduino projects with stm32 family controllers were created on the so-called "bluepill board" - stm32F103C8T6

You may be more comfortable using Raspberry Pico RP2040-based boards as it is better supported by Arduino IDE.