VGA video generation

spuddo · July 8, 2024, 4:20am

Tried to download the following:

"Arduino Uno output to VGA monitor"

Author: Nick Gammon
Date: 20th April 2012

The compile stalled.

#include <TimerHelpers.h>
#include <avr/pgmspace.h>
#include "screenFont.h"
#include <avr/sleep.h>

I could not find the Zip files for the above to install in Arduino Uno library.

Any help appreciated.

amitf · July 8, 2024, 4:46am

Have you installed these libraries?

sterretje · July 8, 2024, 6:15am

Under the heading Download on Gammon Forum : Electronics : Microprocessors : Arduino Uno output to VGA monitor is a link to a zip file; it should include everything that you need.

I'm not sure why you posted this in Interfacing w/ Software on the Computer; I've moved your topic to a more suitable location on the forum.

spuddo · July 8, 2024, 8:49am

Hi amitf.

Downloaded <TimerHelpers.h>.
The file I got from this link---- http://gammon.com.au/Arduino/TimerHelpers.zip
would not download---considered by Kaspersky a security risk.
According to Gammons software(Version 1.2) I would need the following files installed.

#include <TimerHelpers.h>
#include <avr/pgmspace.h>
#include "screenFont.h"
#include <avr/sleep.h>
#include <Wire.h>

Thanks for your reply

spuddo · July 8, 2024, 8:53am

Hi thanks for your reply.
Ran into a roadblock with the Gammon download,

sterretje · July 8, 2024, 8:56am

There was a security warning (related to http vs https) when I downloaded it but I felt it was OK to ignore it. Attached the same file.

VGA_output.zip (8.9 KB)

spuddo · July 8, 2024, 9:58am

Hi,
This is what I got when I tried to install.

Thanks for your patience.

gammon:45:10: fatal error: TimerHelpers.h: No such file or directory
#include <TimerHelpers.h>
^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
compilation terminated.
exit status 1
TimerHelpers.h: No such file or directory
java.io.FileNotFoundException: C:\Users\minim\OneDrive\Desktop\Gammon Forum _ Arduino Uno output to VGA monitor_files.arduinoIDE (The system cannot find the file specified)
at java.util.zip.ZipFile.open(Native Method)
at java.util.zip.ZipFile.(ZipFile.java:225)
at java.util.zip.ZipFile.(ZipFile.java:155)
at java.util.zip.ZipFile.(ZipFile.java:169)
at processing.app.tools.ZipDeflater.(ZipDeflater.java:26)
at processing.app.Base.handleAddLibrary(Base.java:2361)
at processing.app.Base$6.actionPerformed(Base.java:1123)
at javax.swing.AbstractButton.fireActionPerformed(AbstractButton.java:2022)
at javax.swing.AbstractButton$Handler.actionPerformed(AbstractButton.java:2348)
at javax.swing.DefaultButtonModel.fireActionPerformed(DefaultButtonModel.java:402)
at javax.swing.DefaultButtonModel.setPressed(DefaultButtonModel.java:259)
at javax.swing.AbstractButton.doClick(AbstractButton.java:376)
at javax.swing.plaf.basic.BasicMenuItemUI.doClick(BasicMenuItemUI.java:842)
at javax.swing.plaf.basic.BasicMenuItemUI$Handler.mouseReleased(BasicMenuItemUI.java:886)
at java.awt.Component.processMouseEvent(Component.java:6539)
at javax.swing.JComponent.processMouseEvent(JComponent.java:3324)
at java.awt.Component.processEvent(Component.java:6304)
at java.awt.Container.processEvent(Container.java:2239)
at java.awt.Component.dispatchEventImpl(Component.java:4889)
at java.awt.Container.dispatchEventImpl(Container.java:2297)
at java.awt.Component.dispatchEvent(Component.java:4711)
at java.awt.LightweightDispatcher.retargetMouseEvent(Container.java:4904)
at java.awt.LightweightDispatcher.processMouseEvent(Container.java:4535)
at java.awt.LightweightDispatcher.dispatchEvent(Container.java:4476)
at java.awt.Container.dispatchEventImpl(Container.java:2283)
at java.awt.Window.dispatchEventImpl(Window.java:2746)
at java.awt.Component.dispatchEvent(Component.java:4711)
at java.awt.EventQueue.dispatchEventImpl(EventQueue.java:760)
at java.awt.EventQueue.access$500(EventQueue.java:97)
at java.awt.EventQueue$3.run(EventQueue.java:709)
at java.awt.EventQueue$3.run(EventQueue.java:703)
at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
at java.security.ProtectionDomain$JavaSecurityAccessImpl.doIntersectionPrivilege(ProtectionDomain.java:74)
at java.security.ProtectionDomain$JavaSecurityAccessImpl.doIntersectionPrivilege(ProtectionDomain.java:84)
at java.awt.EventQueue$4.run(EventQueue.java:733)
at java.awt.EventQueue$4.run(EventQueue.java:731)
at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
at java.security.ProtectionDomain$JavaSecurityAccessImpl.doIntersectionPrivilege(ProtectionDomain.java:74)
at java.awt.EventQueue.dispatchEvent(EventQueue.java:730)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpOneEventForFilters(EventDispatchThread.java:205)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForFilter(EventDispatchThread.java:116)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForHierarchy(EventDispatchThread.java:105)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(EventDispatchThread.java:101)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(EventDispatchThread.java:93)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.run(EventDispatchThread.java:82)
C:\Users\minim\OneDrive\Desktop\Gammon Forum _ Arduino Uno output to VGA monitor_files.arduinoIDE (The system cannot find the file specified)
The library ".arduinoIDE" cannot be used.
Library names must contain only basic letters and numbers.
(ASCII only and no spaces, and it cannot start with a number)

This report would have more information with
"Show verbose output during compilation"
option enabled in File -> Preferences.

sterretje · July 8, 2024, 10:55am

The sketch in the downloaded zip file uses #include "TimerHelpers.h" and not #include <TimerHelpers.h>. The former first looks in your sketch directory for the included file (and that is where the missing file is), the second skips that directory and looks in the libraries directory and elsewhere.

The relevant part of the extracted zip is

 └── VGA_output
    ├── screenFont.h
    ├── TimerHelpers.h
    └── VGA_output.pde

Note:
The IDE will rename VGA_output.pde to VGA_output.ino; don't worry about that.

You also need to make one change in screenfont.h
Change

byte screen_font [8] [256] PROGMEM = {

to

const byte screen_font [8] [256] PROGMEM = {

spuddo · July 9, 2024, 4:06am

Hi sterretje
|

|

Your Avatar is quite appropriate----having to put up with old farts like me.

Again thanks for your patience.

The screen font amendment done:

' const byte screen_font [8] [256] PROGMEM = {'

This is what i got when I tried to verify.

"In file included from C:\Users\minim\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\hardware\avr\1.8.6\cores\arduino/Arduino.h:28:0,
from C:\Users\minim\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino\sketches\C2CBC739D4B73EDF78B3907C5C212FA8\sketch\sketch_jul8b.ino.cpp:1:
C:\Users\minim\OneDrive\Documents\Arduino\libraries\VGA_output/screenFont.h:7:28: error: variable 'screen_font' must be const in order to be put into read-only section by means of 'attribute((progmem))'
byte screen_font [8] [256] PROGMEM = {
^
C:\Users\minim\AppData\Local\Temp.arduinoIDE-unsaved202468-12324-1cxhmlb.p2g7\sketch_jul8b\sketch_jul8b.ino:11:34: error: conflicting declaration 'const byte screen_font [8][256]'
const byte screen_font [8] [256] PROGMEM = {
^
In file included from C:\Users\minim\AppData\Local\Temp.arduinoIDE-unsaved202468-12324-1cxhmlb.p2g7\sketch_jul8b\sketch_jul8b.ino:2:0:
C:\Users\minim\OneDrive\Documents\Arduino\libraries\VGA_output/screenFont.h:7:6: note: previous declaration as 'byte screen_font [8][256]'
byte screen_font [8] [256] PROGMEM = {
^~~~~~~~~~~

exit status 1

Compilation error: conflicting declaration 'const byte screen font [8][256]' "

When I select VGA_output in Library, this is what I get.

#include <TimerHelpers.h>
#include <screenFont.h>

In Gammons 1.2 version this is what is dished up.

#include "TimerHelpers.h"
#include <avr/pgmspace.h>
#include "screenFont.h"
#include <avr/sleep.h>
#include <Wire.h>

I'm confused.

Best regards.

sterretje · July 9, 2024, 10:49am

The error indicates that the compiler is still using the old screenFont.h which is stored in the cache.

The above directory is the cache for your sketch; you can safely delete it, a new one (with a different 'number') will be created when you compile your sketch again.

Note that directories and files in AppData might be hidden (see View hidden files and folders in Windows - Microsoft Support how to enable).

It's not related to age I'm probably not much younger (maybe even older) than you are

spuddo · July 10, 2024, 4:52am

Even though I had corrected screenFont.h, and cleared the cache, Gammon version 1.2 will not compile.

Error Message.

" In file included from C:\Users\minim\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\hardware\avr\1.8.6\cores\arduino/Arduino.h:28:0,
from sketch\Gammon_3.ino.cpp:1:
C:\Users\minim\OneDrive\Documents\Arduino\libraries\VGA_output/screenFont.h:7:28: error: variable 'screen_font' must be const in order to be put into read-only section by means of 'attribute((progmem))'
byte screen_font [8] [256] PROGMEM = {
^
C:\Users\minim\OneDrive\Documents\Arduino\Gammon_3\Gammon_3.ino:103:42: warning: large integer implicitly truncated to unsigned type [-Woverflow]
const byte verticalFrontPorchLines = 525 - verticalBackPorchLines;

exit status 1
Error compiling for board Arduino Uno. "

Any thoughts.

amitf · July 10, 2024, 7:39am

sterretje has already mentioned about it. look at post #8

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