Grinkle

still working on it

here is how it is going

settingspage1.html

here is my idea for the settings sub page

this will tell the system which pwm boards are connected

settingssubpage1.html

It's not complete yet

the first two columns are only labels the third column (switch) tells the system if the board is present

and the forth column is just a reminder to the owner/operator

here is the data that will need to be stored

settingssubdata.txt

the first column is the id number of the board (0-61) used as a multiplier on the settings page

the second column is the address of the board in hex (it is just text) to display on the settings page

these first two columns never change

the third column (true/false) tells if it should be displayed on the settings page (this is the third column from the settings sub page)

the forth column is the forth column from the settings sub page to be displayed on the settings page

I have put a couple of examples in the data file

they look like dupont connectors

check out ebay

sorry for being so slow

considering we are  only 2 web pages, 3 data files and a bit of python script away from a functioning system I am getting frustrated

I am working on it but things here are dificult

the RPi has short comings when it comes to gpio but these are not relevant when only using the i2c bus

The solution is simple whatever hardware you choose

Me being think is the problem here

what I used to do easily I seem to have a mental block on

I know how I would like it to work (to make it simple for everyone)

It's not just making the hardware work but also making the user interface really easy

There is other hardware that can be used but I know the RPi can run a web server and act as wireless access point (and I already had one)

Thanks for the PM's I will get back to everyone as soon as possible

I remember years ago choosing a hot spot and making it the size i wanted (this was in front page) I could then drag it anywhere I wanted on screen even on a picture then creating a hyper link when it was clicked

the button and how it operates has nothing to do with the device, browser or resolution. you just use a different style sheet

more than one user editing the same document was tackled by windows for work groups (this is not as difficult as that)

I was trying to avoid a data base for such a small amount of data (I have already been told off for using bloat ware)

I need to know how (in what form) data is stored to help write the web pages

when it comes to keeping things updated weather you are dc or dcc concepts youchoos which theme you want as your back ground

This is something I am doing with the help of and for anyone else who is interested

Sett up & fine tuning will be on screen with help drop downs (no counting button click under the board)

Parts are inexpensive and mostly generic

It's easy to assemble (mostly plugs and screw terminals)

Hopefully basic setup can be a file download and run a wizard

Here is a basic schematic of the file system most of which I can do

the view files bottom right are for spectators the files above them are for users

and the set up web page will be admin only

there could be a simple button view and a mimic diagram view

different examples of the button view could be created and used as a starting point

users would have to create there own mimic  view

one answer could be to do it the way esu ECoS handles it

Using a browser interface is part of the point

There are lots of examples where arduino and RPi are used together adding additional hardware to improve or increase functionality is something worth considering

first the basic software needs to be running

If you have followed this from the beginning you can see I changed my mind from having an editable file to store settings to trying to create a web page th put the data in the file

A further addition wood be a drop down allowing the function of each channel to be chosen (simple switch, points, frog switch, variable servo movement, welding simulator, etc, etc, etc)

I would like system that is ease to use

please post a link

I am quite surprised that no one has said yet that this has already been done

Today I have found out how to write data to a file

this is not 100% solution

there are many reasons why this would not be desirable/allowed on most systems

but this closed system could make most of the reasons irrelevant or preventable

One step closer

I seem to be staring at the solution to one question and I am not getting it

here is a link to the page https://www.w3schools.com/js/js_json_intro.asp save you copying it from the picture

I had another go at outputting data using instruction I got from cheatsheet,com

I don't get error messages but if it is working then I can't workout where it is saving it to

how does the RPi talk to the control device (Smart phone, Tablet) without adding extra software?

I am happy to be corrected but I thought I had all the parts (hardware & software)

and was only lacking the knowledge  of how to write the code that glues them all together

It seams I don't gain anything if I change the hardware or software to something I am not familiar with

the code that I can not do, Is still the code I can not do

BTW the comments here are not aimed at robin who has made some excellent suggestions

I have/had already looked at the w3schools tutorials

perhaps some one else can explain them to me so we can move on

I do not know how to run apache in a pic

but I do know how to run apache on a RPi

You are quite correct I intend to do the bit in blue l8r

As I pointed out earlier my coding is terrible

so I am sure you a right about there being an easier way to write the buttons

there are some parts that i can not change

The library file that is available to drive the hardware is in python

python natively supports json

 

JSON: JavaScript Object Notation.

JSON is a syntax for storing and exchanging data.

 

                            w3schools

I have attached two files

In order for this to work properly both files must be saved to the same folder and the file button.txt must be renamed button.css

RMweb will not allow css files to be sent so I am sending it in plain text

This will allow you to look at it and see if it contains any malicious code

When the files are downloaded and the file renamed open the button7.html file

It will open a tab in your browser and display 8 buttons (there should be 2 columns of 4 buttons with blue backgrounds)

you should see a number at the bottom this number will change as you click the buttons (try it)

the number is the data that needs to be stored in a data file so the program know's the position for the servo's

this should also be read at startup so the buttons don't go back to main every time you open the page

button7.html

button.txt

Things are moving on guys

with wifi you only need power the trackno

 need for the dcc signal

I have already seen battery operated 0 gauge using jrmi at a local club

not if they have a pasword