Dynamic LED Control

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Introduction

This class enables the user to have a blinking effect with a control over the blinking rate per second. They can set the timer of the control. Sometimes, it would be better to show the status of an ongoing operation or if there is any warning , it would be better to display it using an LED control. I faced this situation when developing for a client whose end users were security guards who had no knowledge of computers. So, the interface for them was designed like a TV remote control and I had to incorporate a lot of controls like this in order to make them feel at ease. I would like to tell the people who are going to use this class that its best suited for small controls rather than making it bigger where the effect is lost. It looks more like an ellipse than a LED at bigger proportions.

Implementation

To use the CDynamicLED class , you can follow the guidelines stated below.

1. Insert a new static frame where you want the LED. Setting the client edge property or the modal frame property for it looks better.
2. Rename the static frame to something other than IDC_STATIC. Name it something like IDC_DYN_LED.
3. Using the MFC ClassWizard, add a new member variable for IDC__DYN_LED. The category should be a control and the Variable Type should be CDynamicLED. If the CDynamicLED type does not show up in the Variable type dropdown combo, then you need to recreate the .clw file. Delete the .clw file and run the class wizard again.
4. Remember to add "DynamicLED.h" in your dialog's header file.

Operations

The various features in the CDynamicLED Class are outlined below.

1. SetLED(CWnd *pWnd, UINT nIDColor, UINT nIDShape, int nTimerInterval)
   
   where pWnd is your static window where you want the LED, nIDColor can be any of the following values
   
   ID_LED_RED
ID_LED_GREEN
ID_LED_BLUE
ID_LED_YELLOW

   NIDShape can be any of the following values
   
   ID_SHAPE_ROUND
ID_SHAPE_SQUARE

   Here, the nIDShape value determines whether the shape of the LED would be round or square.
   
   And the nTimerInterval parameter denotes the number of milliseconds. The LED would flash once in every period denoted by this parameter. You can either have a rapidly blinking LED by setting this parameter to 100 or have a normally blinking LED which blinks once per second by setting this value to 1000.
   
   This is the only function that you need to know to use this class.
   
   
2. In case you need more functionality to switch on or switch off the led , you have 2 functions named
   
   SwitchOn and SwitchOff
   
   These 2 functions don't need any parameters.

Now let's go to the implementation of this control in your dialog based application.

I have assumed that you have named your dialog class as CMyDialog

Remember that you have created a variable for this static frame. If you have forgotten about that, please refer to the implementation section above. Assuming that you have named your variable as m_dynLEDRed for a LED control which is round in shape, going to blink once every half a second and which is red in colour.

You have to add the following lines in your OnInitDialog function. I have also assumed that you have named your static frame IDC_STATIC_LED_RED.

CWnd *pWndRed = (CWnd *)GetDlgItem(IDC_STATIC_LED_RED);
m_dynLEDRed.SetLED(pWndRed,ID_LED_RED,ID_SHAPE_ROUND,500); 

Incase I want to change the blinking interval of the LED at runtime from half a second to a full second, then you can use the following code.

// Change the time interval of the LED to 1000

CWnd *pWndRed = (CWnd *)GetDlgItem(IDC_STATIC_LED_RED);
m_dynLEDRed.SetLED(pWndBlue,ID_LED_BLUE, ID_SHAPE_ROUND,1000);

To change the shape of the LED from round to square or vice versa , you can follow this piece of code.

// Change the shape of the Blue LED from round to square

CWnd *pWndRed  = (CWnd *)GetDlgItem(IDC_STATIC_LED_RED);
m_dynLEDRed.SetLED(pWndBlue,ID_LED_BLUE, ID_SHAPE_SQUARE,1000);

If you want to turn off the LED ( I mean switching it off ) , you can use this .

// Switch OFF the Red LED

CWnd *pWndRed = (CWnd *)GetDlgItem(IDC_STATIC_LED_RED);
m_dynLEDRed.SwitchOff();

and to switch it on again, use

// Switch ON the Red LED

CWnd *pWndRed = (CWnd *)GetDlgItem(IDC_STATIC_LED_RED);
m_dynLEDRed.SwitchOn();

Thats all folks. All luck and have a great time.

With warm regards,
V.Girish