How to set up custom dashboard for auto start

[Kevka]

Hi,
I've come a long way today: From believing that we are supposed to provide something like "Widgets" to the FRC dashboard to the insight that "The Dashboard application is optional for teams." (FRC Controll System 2010 Manual Section 1 page 9). And that we are allowed to develop our own, custom Dashboard software. The only thing that isn't completely clear to me is how to have your custom Dashboard application auto loaded when starting the Driver account just as the original one is.
Best regards Kevin

[Greg McKaskle]

If running local, the DS can launch an application/command line. By default it launches c:\Program Files\FRC Dashboard\Dashboard.exe. To change what it launches, this can be adjusted in the ini file stored in the public documents.

Greg McKaskle

[SteveD]

we made a new dashboard, and have all the vi's together, but how do we run it on this ini file? There arent any other ".exe's" for this new dashboard

[sloteera]

Originally Posted by SteveD

we made a new dashboard, and have all the vi's together, but how do we run it on this ini file? There arent any other ".exe's" for this new dashboard

Another way to start your customized Dashboard automatically is doing an Application in the follow directory:

c:\Program Files\FRC Dashboard\

Will be three files inside these directory: An .exe, an .ini and another that I can't remember now. You'll should switch these three files by the files that you will generate.

To generate a New Application you'll should click with a right button on Build Specifications then select Application.

Choose the files that you'll want have associated with your Dashboard so click in Build!
I think (or better, I'm sure) that the way of Greg describes is easier, but this way will be right too!

Hope that can help you with something!

[sloteera]

Originally Posted by sloteera

Another way to start your customized Dashboard automatically is doing an Application in the follow directory:

c:\Program Files\FRC Dashboard\

Will be three files inside these directory: An .exe, an .ini and another that I can't remember now. You'll should switch these three files by the files that you will generate.

To generate a New Application you'll should click with a right button on Build Specifications then select Application.

Choose the files that you'll want have associated with your Dashboard so click in Build!
I think (or better, I'm sure) that the way of Greg describes is easier, but this way will be right too!

Hope that can help you with something!

Oh, sure: you'll need keep the same name to the files, that means use at your files the follows names:
Dashboard.exe ;
Dashboard.ini ;
Dashboard.something_that_I_can't_remember_now

[Trevor_Decker]

Originally Posted by Kevka

Hi,
I've come a long way today: From believing that we are supposed to provide something like "Widgets" to the FRC dashboard to the insight that "The Dashboard application is optional for teams." (FRC Controll System 2010 Manual Section 1 page 9). And that we are allowed to develop our own, custom Dashboard software. The only thing that isn't completely clear to me is how to have your custom Dashboard application auto loaded when starting the Driver account just as the original one is.
Best regards Kevin

How do you create a new Dashboard?

[sloteera]

Originally Posted by Trevor_Decker

How do you create a new Dashboard?

Just select a new Dashboard Project in the first menu of LV!
Maybe you'll should modify something on the CRio project!!

I sugest that you watch this video: http://www.lvmastery.com/TipJar2009-02-10

[joshholat]

If we create a new Dashboard VI, will we be able to interface with it through Java? Does the FIRST Java API have anyway to output stuff to the LabView dashboard, or do we need to add something to our dashboard project to do so?

[jhersh]

Originally Posted by joshholat

If we create a new Dashboard VI, will we be able to interface with it through Java? Does the FIRST Java API have anyway to output stuff to the LabView dashboard, or do we need to add something to our dashboard project to do so?

Do everything the Tip Jar video tells you to do on the dashboard side of things, but for the robot, simply use the Dashboard class to send the same data format that you defined in the LabVIEW cluster. Look at the Dashboard Data Example in Java for... well... and example of sending dashboard data.

-Joe

[bronxbomber92]

Does anyone know if the dashboard program has to be a LabView application? Can we just write an app in C++ or C#?

[jhersh]

Originally Posted by bronxbomber92

Does anyone know if the dashboard program has to be a LabView application? Can we just write an app in C++ or C#?

For the local dashboard, it just has to be an executable. You can write it in anything you want. It's not allowed to cover up the driver station portion of the screen. It probably should have UDP and/or TCP support if you want to support the typical dashboard features.

[bronxbomber92]

Great to hear :-D