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Programming for Touch ScreensHi, I am new it vb.net and am looking at writing for touch screens as one of
my clients wants their application written for touch screens. I'm sure someone that done this before. Are there links I can go to to find out what's involved, touch screen software, etc or your actual experiences that you are willing to share, which is better than a document, I would be most grateful. I think it will be a fun project and would like as much information about it before starting. Cheers Michelle Just load the screen driver for the touch screen and program the Mouse Events
for the windows form to do whatever you want. You can program click, mouse move, Mouse Down, mouse Up, etc. events. For the double click, you might have to include a timer to distinguish between a click and double click. -- Show quoteHide quoteDennis in Houston "Michelle" wrote: > Hi, I am new it vb.net and am looking at writing for touch screens as one of > my clients wants their application written for touch screens. > > I'm sure someone that done this before. Are there links I can go to to find > out what's involved, touch screen software, etc or your actual experiences > that you are willing to share, which is better than a document, I would be > most grateful. > > I think it will be a fun project and would like as much information about it > before starting. > > Cheers > Michelle > > > michelle,
the touchscreen driver/software sets the all the mouse settings (click,double-click,right click, etc.), so all you have to do is install the driver / software and proceed with your code as if you're using a mouse. diego Hi again Diego
I feel like I'm asking really silly questions, but I have to ask them in order to understant My client hasn't purchased touch screens yet, they want me to write the software and in the meantime work out the hardware they want. That being the case, can I just download a driver for a ANY touchscreen and play around with that or each driver is specific to the brand of touchscreen. Do you know? If so, where would you suggest I go to get a driver for this? Thanks again Michelle If I may interject.....
I believe what is being said here is that you should program the application juts as you normally would using the mouse pointer to click, double-click, select, etc. objects on the screen. Then, when you have purchased a touchscreen LCD, the touchscreen monitor will come with drivers that enable you to tap on the screen as well as use the mouse to perform your application's functions. Those drivers take screen input (touching the screen, tapping the screen, hitting it with a big rock) and feed them to your application as though they were coming from a mouse. There is not special programming needed to enable the touchscreen device in most instances. Proceed with your application (using a mouse as the input device) and the drivers that come with the touchscreen device will interpret screen signals as mouse inputs - making your application works the same as it would with a mouse, without any program changes on your part. If I missed something, somebody please speak up. Show quoteHide quote "Michelle" <nospam_mbytwo-news@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message news:dv5hjk$2cv4$1@otis.netspace.net.au... > Hi again Diego > > I feel like I'm asking really silly questions, but I have to ask them in > order to understant > > My client hasn't purchased touch screens yet, they want me to write the > software and in the meantime work out the hardware they want. > > That being the case, can I just download a driver for a ANY touchscreen > and play around with that or each driver is specific to the brand of > touchscreen. Do you know? > > If so, where would you suggest I go to get a driver for this? > > Thanks again > Michelle > Hi Jim
I am pleased you interjected. Thank you for your concise information. I appreciate your summary of all so far. It has been most valuable. Cheers Michelle Show quoteHide quote "Jim Hubbard" <reply@groups.please> wrote in message news:N6sRf.1132$k82.1006@bignews3.bellsouth.net... > If I may interject..... > > I believe what is being said here is that you should program the > application juts as you normally would using the mouse pointer to click, > double-click, select, etc. objects on the screen. > > Then, when you have purchased a touchscreen LCD, the touchscreen monitor > will come with drivers that enable you to tap on the screen as well as use > the mouse to perform your application's functions. Those drivers take > screen input (touching the screen, tapping the screen, hitting it with a > big rock) and feed them to your application as though they were coming > from a mouse. > > There is not special programming needed to enable the touchscreen device > in most instances. Proceed with your application (using a mouse as the > input device) and the drivers that come with the touchscreen device will > interpret screen signals as mouse inputs - making your application works > the same as it would with a mouse, without any program changes on your > part. > > If I missed something, somebody please speak up. > > > "Michelle" <nospam_mbytwo-news@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message > news:dv5hjk$2cv4$1@otis.netspace.net.au... >> Hi again Diego >> >> I feel like I'm asking really silly questions, but I have to ask them in >> order to understant >> >> My client hasn't purchased touch screens yet, they want me to write the >> software and in the meantime work out the hardware they want. >> >> That being the case, can I just download a driver for a ANY touchscreen >> and play around with that or each driver is specific to the brand of >> touchscreen. Do you know? >> >> If so, where would you suggest I go to get a driver for this? >> >> Thanks again >> Michelle >> > > It may help if you think of the touchscreen's surface as the square touchpad
surface on most laptops. The touchpad uses touch and interprets touching, sliding your finger across it and tapping it as mouse functions. No special program calls or functions are needed to use an application on a laptop using a touchpad as opposed to using it on a desktop or with a real mouse. The laptop's drivers take care of that.....just as the touchscreen monitor's drivers will do for it. Good luck with your project! Jim Show quoteHide quote "Michelle" <nospam_mbytwo-news@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message news:dv5j4l$2df3$1@otis.netspace.net.au... > Hi Jim > > I am pleased you interjected. > > Thank you for your concise information. I appreciate your summary of all > so far. It has been most valuable. > > Cheers > Michelle > > "Jim Hubbard" <reply@groups.please> wrote in message > news:N6sRf.1132$k82.1006@bignews3.bellsouth.net... >> If I may interject..... >> >> I believe what is being said here is that you should program the >> application juts as you normally would using the mouse pointer to click, >> double-click, select, etc. objects on the screen. >> >> Then, when you have purchased a touchscreen LCD, the touchscreen monitor >> will come with drivers that enable you to tap on the screen as well as >> use the mouse to perform your application's functions. Those drivers >> take screen input (touching the screen, tapping the screen, hitting it >> with a big rock) and feed them to your application as though they were >> coming from a mouse. >> >> There is not special programming needed to enable the touchscreen device >> in most instances. Proceed with your application (using a mouse as the >> input device) and the drivers that come with the touchscreen device will >> interpret screen signals as mouse inputs - making your application works >> the same as it would with a mouse, without any program changes on your >> part. >> >> If I missed something, somebody please speak up. >> >> >> "Michelle" <nospam_mbytwo-news@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message >> news:dv5hjk$2cv4$1@otis.netspace.net.au... >>> Hi again Diego >>> >>> I feel like I'm asking really silly questions, but I have to ask them in >>> order to understant >>> >>> My client hasn't purchased touch screens yet, they want me to write the >>> software and in the meantime work out the hardware they want. >>> >>> That being the case, can I just download a driver for a ANY touchscreen >>> and play around with that or each driver is specific to the brand of >>> touchscreen. Do you know? >>> >>> If so, where would you suggest I go to get a driver for this? >>> >>> Thanks again >>> Michelle >>> >> >> > > Hi,
My touch-screen applications have been developed just as Jim suggests. I didn't use the actual hardware. The only issue may be an on-screen keyboard. The one that XP provides may not suit your needs (or it may be fine, so give it a try first). If not, there are some ActiveX controls for this, though I do not know of any .NET controls -- there may be some of those, too. Dick -- Richard Grier, MVP Hard & Software Author of Visual Basic Programmer's Guide to Serial Communications, Fourth Edition, ISBN 1-890422-28-2 (391 pages, includes CD-ROM). July 2004. See www.hardandsoftware.net for details and contact information. hi michelle,
programming a touchscreen-enabled application is just like programming a mouse-enabled application. and since all (most) windows-based apps support mouse, then there is no need for you to change anything. the only thing that you would be considering is your a screen layout, because you can use either your fingers or a stylus (or anything) to click the controls on your screen, you need to make your controls a little bigger. as for the drivers, there are two widely used drivers (i'm sure there are others out there): ELO and MICROTOUCH (you can do a google for the sites). the driver that you need will depend on the hardware that your client will purchase. hth, diego hi michelle,
programming a touchscreen-enabled application is just like programming a mouse-enabled application. and since all (most) windows-based apps support mouse, then there is no need for you to change anything. the only thing that you would be considering is your a screen layout, because you can use either your fingers or a stylus (or anything) to click the controls on your screen, you need to make your controls a little bigger. as for the drivers, there are two widely used drivers (i'm sure there are others out there): ELO and MICROTOUCH (you can do a google for the sites). the driver that you need will depend on the hardware that your client will purchase. hth, diego Dennis / Diego
Does that mean 1) that my client doesnt have to buy actual 'touch screens' (ie: the hardware), but instead can use software that would allow the user to still touch a normal LCD screen and it would emulate a touch screen ; or 2) are you just saying that when developing, I can use these drivers that come with the touch screens so that I can write events that would emulate touching the screen? Thanks for your quick responses. Cheers Michelle Show quoteHide quote "Dennis" <Den***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:3BFFE3C4-8E70-4CAC-AE68-B22063C5992D@microsoft.com... > Just load the screen driver for the touch screen and program the Mouse > Events > for the windows form to do whatever you want. You can program click, > mouse > move, Mouse Down, mouse Up, etc. events. For the double click, you might > have to include a timer to distinguish between a click and double click. > -- > Dennis in Houston > > > "Michelle" wrote: > >> Hi, I am new it vb.net and am looking at writing for touch screens as one >> of >> my clients wants their application written for touch screens. >> >> I'm sure someone that done this before. Are there links I can go to to >> find >> out what's involved, touch screen software, etc or your actual >> experiences >> that you are willing to share, which is better than a document, I would >> be >> most grateful. >> >> I think it will be a fun project and would like as much information about >> it >> before starting. >> >> Cheers >> Michelle >> >> >> michelle,
your client still needs to buy a touchscreen-enabled monitor. touchscreens are just a means of clicking whatever controls are in the screen directly instead of having to use the mouse. in your development, you just have to proceed as if you are using a mouse, but also you should be aware that external keyboard functionality will not be available, so your program will have to provide an on-screen keyboard (like what comes with windows xp) hth diego Hi Diego
Thanks again for your information. I have some more questions if you are open to them. 1. My client wants a touch screen and a keyboard (as there will be times when information needs to be typed in). If they have a touch screen, they can still have the functionality of the keyboard as well (or is this functionality lost only when developing)? 2. You mention touchscreen-enabled monitor. Does that mean the monitor must be a touch screen or any lcd monitor can be converted to one by use of software? Thanks again for your input Michelle hi michelle,
you can still have the keyboard accessible to the users of the system. touchscreens are specially-crafted hardware devices that have two interfaces, one goes to the regular video card interface of your cpu and the other goes to a serial port (i haven't seen other touchscreens not using serial ports). although there are some high-end touchscreens that come as a package. iow, the cpu and monitor are bundled in a single hardware. you can see these kinds of hardware mostly in fastfood chains and restaurants. hth, diego Hi Diego
I want to thank you for all the input you have given. It has helped me immensely to start the road to this project. Cheers Michelle "Michelle" <nospam_mbytwo-news@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message You might want to google for (touch screen wedge) before you commit.news:dv5ce1$2b5g$1@otis.netspace.net.au... > I want to thank you for all the input you have given. It has helped me > immensely to start the road to this project. Just remember a couple of points when programming and getting a touch screen;
1) Fingers are larger than a mouse pointer so use large fonts and buttons (I used a 12pt font on a 600/800 and it worked fine. 2) Don't buy a cheap touch screen monitor..spend the money to get a good one. The cheaper ones continually have to be re-calibrated once or twice daily. -- Show quoteHide quoteDennis in Houston "Michelle" wrote: > Hi Diego > > I want to thank you for all the input you have given. It has helped me > immensely to start the road to this project. > > Cheers > Michelle > > > Hi Dennis and to everyone who continually adds to this thread.
That's very good information, thanks Dennis. These newsgroups are priceless for the help that you can get. Thank you Michelle Just think of the touchscreen as a laptop trackpad controlling a mouse
on the screen. Your client WILL have to buy touchscreen monitors. Further to this post, my client wants to incorporate this into a POS (point
of sale) system I have at the moment just one question. Does anyone know (or have experience with) POS systems in so far as, do I need to code the process of "opening the cash drawer" when a certain button on the touch screen is pressed or is this an automatic process? Much appreciated all the help so far. Cheers Michelle "Michelle" <nospam_mbytwo-news@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message I would question doing this when the systems can be purchased off the shelf news:dvkip8$1is7$1@otis.netspace.net.au... > Further to this post, my client wants to incorporate this into a POS > (point of sale) system > > I have at the moment just one question. > > Does anyone know (or have experience with) POS systems in so far as, do I > need to code the process of "opening the cash drawer" when a certain > button on the touch screen is pressed or is this an automatic process? already. Support will be much better that way. If you still want to do a one off, do some research on these as you may find all of your problems are already solved. Thanks Homer for your comments.
My client does not want to purchase an off-the-shelf product as it is a new product and they want to develop it from scratch and that is why I posed the question. If anyone knows of any sites (or a better discussion group) that I can research some of these questions I would be most appreciative. I will be writing it in vb .net so I thought this would be the best forum for it. Cheers Michelle "Michelle" <nospam_mbytwo-news@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message I trust they have a reasonable idea of the costs involved, which could run news:dvlh06$1tsu$1@otis.netspace.net.au... > Thanks Homer for your comments. > > My client does not want to purchase an off-the-shelf product as it is a > new product and they want to develop it from scratch and that is why I > posed the question. well into 5 figures and beyond. > If anyone knows of any sites (or a better discussion group) that I can I'm unaware of any, however if you get as much manufacturer literature as > research some of these questions I would be most appreciative. I will be > writing it in vb .net so I thought this would be the best forum for it. you can you will find out if there are any standards you can stick to. I used to work for a company called TouchMenus. We wrote POS software.
To answer your question, your application has to send a specific escape code to the port where the cash register is connected to open the drawer. But . . . With due respect, I believe you're getting way ahead of yourself. There is considerably more to a POS app than most people know. First, work on the application's functional requirements and the programming logic. SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THIS. If this is a networked, multi-user application you will be in pretty deep water. Even if it's single user app it will be a pretty steep climb. I don't mean to discourage you, just to warn you. TouchMenus had a very good, stable product but it took a team of very smart and talented developers many years to achieve it. BTW: Don't worry about the touch screen except to make the screen elements large enough to accommodate human fingers. We provided screens that looked like number keypads and keyboards so that users didn't have to hook-up a keyboard except to do management tasks that required extensive keyboard use. Good luck, Don On Mon, 20 Mar 2006 07:34:29 +1000, "Michelle" <nospam_mbytwo-news@yahoo.com.au> wrote: Show quoteHide quote >Further to this post, my client wants to incorporate this into a POS (point >of sale) system > >I have at the moment just one question. > >Does anyone know (or have experience with) POS systems in so far as, do I >need to code the process of "opening the cash drawer" when a certain button >on the touch screen is pressed or is this an automatic process? > >Much appreciated all the help so far. > >Cheers >Michelle > Thanks Don for your post. It is much appreciated
So far the logic and the requirements are not that far different from what I have previously done. The only difference is this project is now touch screen (ie: obviously different user interface) and some other interesting areas that I asked about (ie: opening the drawer). I'm not sure that the client realises the amount of work involved in doing something like this and before undertaking such a project I wanted to do as much background research as possible. There are other products available for what my client is after, just not HOW they want it that is why they don't want to purchase an off the shelf product. Is it possible that I post to you directly and ask some other questions of you since you have had experience in this field? (remove the no_spam in my email address). Cheers Michelle 
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