Hello,
As a retired engineer, I went to Arduino in February. Although computers aren't a secret for me, Software is not a matter I'm very skilled in. This is my first contribution in this forum. Apologies if I didn't select the right one.
I searched a lot, unsuccessfully, how to manage several versions of the same library.
My problem is that, for several reasons, I wouldn't alter the contents of the IDE installation in the program files folder.
Since Custom or Contributed libraries may be installed in My Documents\Arduino\libraries, I was hoping that It was possible to select the good library to be included from within the IDE GUI (Menu, Sketch, Import Library). Unfortunately this isn't as easy as it may appear.
I wrote some sketches using the stock LiquidCrystal Library. Now, needing to use a Shift Register, I got the improved multi-class library allowing to drive the LCD with one, two or three wires as well as to use an I2C bus. The package comes with an improved LiquidCrystal driver that interferes with the original LiquidCristal.h & .cpp couple. I named the corresponding directory LiquidCristat_V121 and placed it in my sketchbook library folder. Both directories appears in the GUI library list but for all my old sketches (6-wire), calling the original library always ends with the new library. The drawback is that the compiled file is 2KB bigger, even removing the unnecessary files.
I tried to puth both directories in the sketch book, then in the the Arduino's installed files, I also tried to add a path to the file in the #include statement. Nope!
I read about CVS to manage the versions but don't understand how to use it. It looks like using a sledgehammer to break a nut.
Did I do something wrong, and should I have independently access to both LiquidCristal couple of files ? I.e: I should be able to keep using the original lib with the old sketches and the new improved one with the specific ones when needed.
Or is that perfectly normal due to the IDE structure ? And in such a case is there a simple workaround ?
Thanks a lot in advance for your help