How do I use directional PDA buttons in LabVIEW programs?

[parkit]

Hi all,

I've been assigned to get a LabVIEW program to work on a Palm PDA with LabVIEW 7.0 and palm PDA module 7.0.  I am basically totally new to LabVIEW, and my possibly very simple problem is, the PC program requires input from a serially connected number pad for the 8, 4, 5, 6, and 2 keys which are used as four directions (8, 4, 6, and 2) and an enter (5). 

I am trying to rewrite the input vi to use the directional buttons and middle enter button on the PDA itself but am having trouble figuring out what to use.  I am using a PDA simulator because of the PALM OS5 we own.  The input demo vi example provided will not build for PDA because of size so I am unsure of how to approach this.  Another thing is, we have LabVIEW and PDA module for pocket PC 8.0, and a Dell Axim PDA on order.  From what I understand off of this website, the latest PDA module has example button vi's.  I would still like to figure out the way to do this on 7.0 so I can have a better understanding of LabVIEW.  Eventually the program's endgoal is to be used on a PDA and inputting with a bluetooth keyboard, but we are going step by step right now.

I guess my biggest questions are, how do I assign the directional buttons on the PDA in my program, and will this differ greatly when we switch to 8.0 and pocketPC.

Oh and I did try to look at the example asteroid.vi but from looking at the input subvi, still couldn't figure out how they assigned the buttons.

Thanks,

Stephen

[tst]

I can't help with any specifics (no access to the PDA module at the moment and I didn't use the buttons anyway), but I would like to say that it probably would make a big difference if you used LV 8. 7.0 was the first version of the PDA module and was extemely limited and problematic (it didn't even have a tab control). 7.1 was somewhat better and I understand that 8 is even better (although still very limited and buggy).

I also remember reading about several differences between Palm and PocketPC and I think you will generally be better off with the PocketPC as it's related to windows and will probably support more stuff.

[Steven_T]

Hello parkit, tst,

Capturing the key down events from LabVIEW requires using external code to interface with the operating system.  For a Pocket PC, this forum post explains what you need to do in order to capture these useful events. This is how the example mentioned by parkit works. 

http://forums.ni.com/ni/board/message?board.id=170&message.id=71625&requireLogin=False

The palm probably has its own version of the dll that can be used to monitor the hardware key events.

Steven T.