VFDPoS

VFDPoS is a Python library dedicated for driving Wincor Nixdorf Point of Sale VFD USB, such as BA-66 USB. This library should be compatible with any WN BA-6x USB VFD.

Provides high level abstraction to use Wincor Nixdorf Point of Sale VFD USB

• Easy to use and handle, play with your VFD in no time
• Cross-platform code and dependencies
• Full python code to access VFD through USB
• Character encoding automatic conversion
• limited python dependencies (some provided in zip)

Dependencies

This library needs PyUSB, it can work on mutiple OS platform. PyUSB always requires libusb.

You only need libusb if you download the release zip file VFDPOS_vxx.zip.

Some examples which pull info from Internet require Easy-REST-JSON library available at https://github.com/antonio-fr/Easy-REST-JSON

To test quickly, copy examples at the same level as the library (vfdpos.py) and run them.

Using library

Linux

You need to install libusb-1.0 and PyUSB. PyUSB is provided in the zip release.

For example in Ubuntu 14 :

sudo apt-get install python libusb-1.0-0-dev
git clone https://github.com/walac/pyusb
cd pyusb && sudo python setup.py install

Windows

In windows you can use instead of this library : VFD-POS, which is very similar but provides driver-less, null installation and platform specific access to VFD. https://github.com/antonio-fr/VFD-POS

If you need universal and cross-platform Python code, you can still use this library. On Windows, this requires libusb-win32 driver installed and loaded for the WN VFD. The easiest way is to get Zadig and to select libusb-win32 for the Diplay Interface of your WN VFD. http://zadig.akeo.ie/ Then you need PyUSB (provided in zip release).

Use Library

To use the library, just copy vfdpos.py and use import as

usual

import vfdpos

or

from vfdpos import *

Initialisation

Class constructor detects, tries to connect to VFD, initializes it and finally returns a library object to send commands. You need USB product ID (PID) of the VFD. For BA66 USB, this is 0x0201. For some others models this can be 0x0200.

MyVFD = vfdpos.vfd_pos(PRODUCT_ID)

Self-Test

Tell the VFD to perform self-test. You may need to initialize VFD again after do so.

MyVFD.selftest()

Reset

Tell the VFD to perform a reboot. You need to initialize VFD again after do so.

MyVFD.reset()

Set Charset

Set the VFD charset. See your WN operational manual documentation for char code. During initilisation, WN VFD is automatically set up to 0x31 = Code Page 858. Don't change it unless you really have specific need, this would cause issues with write_msg function.

Character tables are available in : http://www.wincor-nixdorf.com/internet/cae/servlet/contentblob/614268/publicationFile/60592/BA6x_Character_Appendix_english.pdf

MyVFD.set_charset(CHARSET_CODE)

Clear Screen

Clear and erase the VFD screen.

MyVFD.clearscreen()

Print Character

Print a character from its number at the cursor position

MyVFD.printchr(CHAR_CODE)

Position Cursor

Change the position of the cursor to a given column and line. If 0 is provided for a parameter, no change is performed for it.

MyVFD.poscur(LINE, COLUMN)

Write Message

Write a message to the VFD screen at the cursor position. This function uses automatic decoding of any unicode character. In case you provide direclty the string don't forget trailing u ( u"string" ). If you change the charset to another one, this function might bring some issues. You can use "\r" and "\n" inside the string to get line control.

MyVFD.write_msg(MESSAGE_STRING)

Close Device

When python program stops, the display keep lighting. This command clears the display. Useful if you need to light off the VFD after using it.

MyVFD.close()

Form more details: see code in examples directory

Example :

The following example displays a basic text on a BA66 USB VFD.

import vfdpos
wnpos = vfdpos.vfd_pos(0x0201)
wnpos.write_msg("Hello World !\r\nThat works :)")
raw_input("PRESS ENTER TO EXIT")

Licence :

This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, version 3 of the License.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this program. If not, see http://www.gnu.org/licenses/.