Data Display Farmingville FD User manual

Display User Manual
DDJ12797001 Jul-23-07 Page 1
Farmingville FD
Graphics Board Display
User Manual
Title Page
2007 Data Display Ltd
No part of this document may be reproduced by any process without the prior written permission from Data Display Ltd.
The information in this document is provided for reference only. While every effort has been made to make sure it is accurate and
complete, Data Display Ltd does not accept any liability arising out of the application or use of the information or products described
herein. Moreover, Data Display Ltd reserves the right to alter specifications or procedures without notice.
This document may contain or refer to information or products protected by copyright or patents and does not convey any license under
the patent rights of Data Display Ltd nor the rights of others.
All products referred herein are trademarks of their respective owners.
Publication details:
Title: Graphics Board Display User Manual
Issue: 1
Issue Date: Jul-23-07
Part Number: DDJ12797001
P. O. Number: 5643
Produced by:
Product Support Department
Data Display Ltd
Deerpark Industrial Estate
Ennistymon, Co. Clare
Ireland

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DDJ12797001 Jul-23-07 Page 2
Table of Contents
1Introduction.........................................................................................................................................3
1.1 Scope.......................................................................................................................................................3
1.2 Purpose....................................................................................................................................................3
1.3 System.....................................................................................................................................................3
2Hardware............................................................................................................................................4
2.1 Unpacking................................................................................................................................................4
2.2 Installation................................................................................................................................................4
3Software.............................................................................................................................................5
3.1 System Requirements .............................................................................................................................5
3.2 Conventions used in this Manual.............................................................................................................5
3.3 Installation................................................................................................................................................6
3.4 Comms Selection.....................................................................................................................................7
3.5 Pin Connections for RS232 .....................................................................................................................7
4GRAFIT 1.18ß Software ©..................................................................................................................8
4.1 Getting Started.........................................................................................................................................8
4.2 Exiting from the Software.........................................................................................................................8
4.3 Accessing Help........................................................................................................................................8
4.4 Screen Layout and Symbols....................................................................................................................9
4.4.1 The Caption Bar...................................................................................................................................9
4.4.2 The Speed Bar...................................................................................................................................10
4.4.3 The Menu Bar ....................................................................................................................................10
4.4.4 The Canvas........................................................................................................................................10
4.4.5 The Status Line..................................................................................................................................10
4.5 The Menu Bar........................................................................................................................................11
5Examples..........................................................................................................................................31
5.1 How to Setup a Graphics Frame...........................................................................................................31
5.2 How to create a simple animation with effects. .....................................................................................31
5.3 Adding text to a Graphics frame............................................................................................................31
5.4 Displaying the Date, Time or Temperature............................................................................................32
5.5 Notes on importing Clipart.....................................................................................................................33
6Trouble Shooting ..............................................................................................................................34
6.1 Software.................................................................................................................................................34
6.2 Hardware ...............................................................................................................................................34
7Effects ..............................................................................................................................................35
7.1 ON/OFF Effects .....................................................................................................................................35
7.2 Character Fonts.....................................................................................................................................36
8Maintenance.....................................................................................................................................36
8.1 Maintenance Instructions.......................................................................................................................36
8.1.1 Cleaning the Display..........................................................................................................................36
8.1.2 Preventative Maintenance..................................................................................................................36
8.2 Technical Support..................................................................................................................................36
9Specifications ...................................................................................................................................37

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1 Introduction
1.1 Scope
The scope of this document covers the back to back Graphics Board Display, Master and Slave for
the Farmingville Fire Department Display project.
1.2 Purpose
The purpose of the document is to provide the relevant information to enable the user to operate and
maintain the Display Board correctly.
1.3 System
The Display system comprises of a back to back Graphics Display Board and the GRAFIT graphics
software package. The Display is 40 pixels high by 112 pixels wide and uses ultra-bright red LED
technology. The housing is fabricated from aluminium extrusion and has a black powder coat finish.
The Display consists of two units, Master and Slave. At installation, the Power, Serial and Data
cables from Unit 1 are connected to Unit 2.
The Displays are controlled from a host PC using the GRAFIT graphics software over a wireless
network using radio modems. Users can create and edit both text and graphic messages. The
Display Board can show a combination of static and scrolling messages, normal, large, and/or
specialized fonts as well as various ON/OFF effects such as Flash, Jump, Wipe Sparkle etc.
Warning
Only trained and authorised personnel should do tests and maintenance on this Display
Board System.

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2 Hardware
2.1 Unpacking
Carefully remove the items from their package and store the packaging safely. After unpacking,
inspect the contents for any damage that may have occurred during shipment. In the event of
damage, refer to the '
Technical Support' section of this manual.
2.2 Installation
The Display Board is supplied in two sections, Unit 1 and Unit 2. The Power and Serial cables from
Unit 1 to Unit 2 must be connected at installation. Mount the Board securely and connect the cables
as shown in the Figure below.
Figure 2.1 – System Configuration.
Radio
Modem RX
120V AC
POWER IN
SERIAL
Control PC with GRAFIT
Software
Cable to 9-way on PC
TEMP
Radio Modem
TX
Unit 1
(Master)
Unit 2
(Slave)
POWER
Temp
Probe
Light Box

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3 Software
The Display Boards are operated using the text and graphic based GRAFIT software package. The
user can edit general text messages, time and date messages as well as draw and create their own
single frame graphics or multi-frame sequences and animations.
This chapter contains information to enable the installation and configuration of the software.
3.1 System Requirements
It is assumed that the reader is familiar with the use of an IBM PC or compatible computer and with
the basic Microsoft Windows terminology. It is also recommended that the user is familiar with
Microsoft Paintbrush to better edit graphic frames for the display.
The minimum hardware and software requirements to run the
GRAFIT software are as follows:
Processor: Pentium 1 or higher
Memory: 16MB
Display: VGA (15 inch or larger recommended), 256 colors, 16-bit color
Software: Microsoft Windows 95or later
Disk Space: 10MB minimum free space for GRAFIT plus space for database
and event log storage. ( Bitmaps, Gifs, Tiffs, etc.)
Comms COMM Port 1, 9 Pin serial port must be available.
Other: Mouse or other pointing device. Since the Display system is
normally connected to COM1 is important to ensure that there is
no conflict with the mouse or other pointing device.
3.2 Conventions used in this Manual
Menu Commands
This manual uses a shorthand method when referring to a series of menu commands e.g. ‘Choose
the About option from the Help menu’ is shown as
Help|About .
Clicking the Mouse buttons
The term ‘Click’ denotes clicking the left mouse button.

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3.3 Installation
The GRAFIT software package is supplied on floppy disk. To install the software, do the following
steps:
1. Insert the GRAFIT Software Disk into your floppy drive.
2. Click the
Start button, then select Settings|Control Panel .
3. Double-click the
Add/Remove Programs icon and follow the instructions shown on the
screen.
4. Click on the
Next > button to begin the installation and follow the on-screen instructions.
5. When the process is complete, all files are stored in the C\GRAFIT folder unless the
destination folder has been changed.
Figure 3.2 –Installation Screen.
Add GRAFIT to the Start menu or your Desktop by creating a short-cut as described in your
Windows User Manual. The executable file to run the software package is as follows:
GRAFIT Version 1.18ß = C:\GRAFIT\GRAFIT.EXE

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3.4 Comms Selection
While the Display is primarily controlled remotely over a network using the Modem installed in the
Control Box, it may also be controlled directly from a local PC or Laptop via RS232.
To control the Display locally using a Laptop with the GRAFIT software, a 3 core, RS232 cable will
be required with a 9-way or 25-way D Type connector at one end to connect to the COM Port 1 on
the Laptop. For Pin Connections, refer to section
3.5 .
The COMMs Port configuration on the GRAFIT software will also need to be changed. To
reconfigure the COMMs port setting from Modem to RS232, do the following steps:
1. Run the GRAFIT software package.
2. Select Options|Display.
3. Click on the COMs button and click on the MODEM button.
4. Remove the phone number from the Number field in the Modem Options dialog
box.
5. Click on the OK buttons to exit.
To revert back to Modem operation, do steps 1 to 3 as above and enter the telephone number in the
Number field in the Modem Options dialog box. Click on the OK buttons to exit.
3.5 Pin Connections for RS232
When wiring the serial cable of the display to a IBM Compatible computer connect the wires to the
PC as follows:
9-way (DB9) port
25-way (DB25) port
Pin
Function
Pin
Function
2
Serial In (White)
2
Serial In
3
Serial Out (Red)
3
Serial Out
5
Ground( Black)
7
Ground

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4 GRAFIT 1.18ß Software ©
4.1 Getting Started
To start GRAFIT, select 'Start|Programs|Shortcut' to GRAFIT.EXE.
4.2 Exiting from the Software
There are three ways to exit from the software:
1. Use the normal menu command. Click on
'Frame/ Exit ' and click on the 'Yes' button of the
dialog box.
2. Click on the Close button in the top right-hand corner of the screen, and click on the
'Yes'
button of the dialog box.
3. Press the ALT and F4 keys together, and click on the
'Yes' button of the dialog box.
4.3 Accessing Help
Help is available in the GRAFIT application and may be accessed in the following ways:
•By reading the status bar at the bottom of the screen when a menu option is
highlighted.
•Select Help|Help or Help|About.
•Press F1 to view context sensitive help for the menu option selected.
•Most dialog boxes have HELP buttons.

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4.4 Screen Layout and Symbols
This section gives details of the Graphic User Interface (GUI) for the GRAFIT application. The
components of the GUI are the Caption Bar, the Speed Bar, the Menu Bar, the Canvas (the main
area of the window) and the Status Line at the bottom of the screen. When selected, many of the
main menu items open Dialog Boxes.
Note: For single color Displays, red is used as the default color.
Figure 4.1 - The Main GRAFIT User Interface.
4.4.1 The Caption Bar
The Caption Bar contains the name of the software application GRAFIT followed by the current view
title and the resolution.
Caption Bar
Speed Bar
Menu Bar
Canvas
Co-ordinates
Lines
Palette
Tools

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4.4.2 The Speed Bar
The Speed Bar consists of five buttons that are used to directly access Frame Menu options.
Clears or Blanks current frame Previous/ Next Frame
Load frame from a file on disk Play animation
Saves frame to a file on disk Stop animation
Undo latest changes to image Frame number of Animation
4.4.3 The Menu Bar
The Menu Bar is the primary means of accessing all the menu commands and should always be
kept visible. If a menu command is followed by an ellipsis (…), choosing the command opens a
dialog box. If the command is followed by an arrowhead () the command leads to another menu
selection. If the command has neither an ellipsis nor an arrowhead, then the action occurs as the
command is chosen or. For further information on the use of windows, icons, mouse and menus
refer to the Microsoft Windows User Manual.
4.4.4 The Canvas
The Map is the main central area of the ‘application’ window. Using the commands from the menus,
the user is able to create text/ graphics frames on the Canvas.
4.4.5 The Status Line
The status line appears at the bottom of the main window. It shows useful information as well as
brief explanations of menu items.