Hi Mikal,

I’m new to Arduino… learning every day…
I’m doing an aquarium automation project with an lcd.
Recently I fell into the “String concatenation” pitfall, which I managed to solve by using your PString library in a function that takes care of this.
Thanks for that…
Now I wanted to move my fixed String arrays to flash so I don’t get in trouble again when adding languages later.
When I declare the String array as:
void Stringdeclaration() {
FLASH_STRING_ARRAY (Day, PSTR(“Monday”), PSTR(“Tuesday”), PSTR(“Wednesday”), PSTR(“Thursday”), PSTR(“Friday”), PSTR(“Saturday”), PSTR(“Sunday”));
}
void setup() {
Stringdeclaration();
….
}
I assumed I did it as described in your notes (inside a function with PSTR).
However, I got a compiler error: ‘Day’ was not declared in this scope.
The only way I got it working was declaring it ‘normally’ without the function and removing the PSTR operator. But I think this way everything stays in RAM, I’m not sure.
All other combinations I have tried failed…
Can you give me some more info so I can get this working, and hopefully even understand why…
Thanks

Mikal, I have added the Flash library to my sketch. I am using the FLASH_STRING_ARRAY. I declare it inside the function where I use it:

void example(PString &m_data) {
FLASH_STRING_ARRAY(test_header,
PSTR(“string 0\n”),
PSTR(“string 1\n”),
PSTR(“string 2\n”),
PSTR(“string 3″));
etc.
}
I nevertheless see warnings in the compilers verbose reporting output: “warning: only initialized variables can be placed into program memory area”.
What have I missed ? Thanks for your advice !

OK, thanks for your advice.

This program gives weird errors.
I get the right answer if I print to serial.
I keep getting the zeroth array member if if dont print to serial!

#include

#define ODD 1
#define EVEN 0
#define DRY 1
#define WET 0
#define RAIN 1
#define FINE 0
#define V1 1
#define V2 2
#define V3 8
#define V4 16

FLASH_TABLE(int, sprinkler, 6 /* width of table */,
{20,30,V1,ODD,DRY,RAIN},
{20,32,V2,ODD,FINE,WET},
{20,36,V3,EVEN,DRY,RAIN},
{20,39,V4,ODD,WET,RAIN}
);

void setup() {
int tm,t1,t2;
Serial.begin(115200);
for (int i = 0; i<4; i++){
Serial.println(i);
Serial.println("Error");
t1 =sprinkler[i][0];
//Serial.print(t1);
t2 = sprinkler[i][1];
//Serial.println(t2);
tm =t1*60 + t2;
Serial.println(tm);

Serial.println("OK");

t1 =sprinkler[i][0];
Serial.print(t1);
t2 = sprinkler[i][1];
Serial.println(t2);
tm =t1*60 + t2;
Serial.println(tm);

}
}

void loop(){
}

Congratulations. Your library has been really useful for me. It allowed me to free precious ram space in a complex sketch.

I’m using your Flash Library which is working very nicely in the example code that ships with the lib. But I’m having problems when trying to integrate it in my sketch. Mainly – passing FLASH_TABLE pointes and iterating those objects in the function.

I browsed the prev comments here and noticed that other people inquired about this in the past. Can you please provide a formal example of how to send one of (let’s say) 3 int based FLASH_TABLEs to a function and iterate the two dimensional pointer inside that function?

Thanks!!
Chen.

I am using arduino due, I keep getting a compilation error when I try to comile the example BlinkLED. The compiler complains that it can’t find pgmspace.h. Do you have any suggestions. I am using the latest arduino IDE (1.5.2) with support for the due.

Hello Mikal,
My software compiles and works well apart from it crashing after about 5 days. I am not saying it is your code but there are warnings “warning: comparison between signed and unsigned integer expressions”. in flash.h line 75. Isn’t size_t supposed to be an unsigned integer? I see you assign and compare signed integers.

thanks

here i am trying to copy string array elements to a char array but i am unable to do that, what’s the problem in this program
#include
char buffer[20];

void setup(){
Serial.begin(9600);
FLASH_STRING_ARRAY(places, PSTR(“SBM bank ATM”), PSTR(“Nandini Parlour”), PSTR(“Nandini Layout”), PSTR(“Nandini Layout Park”));
for(int j = 0; j < places.count(); j++){
places.copy(buffer, places[j]);
Serial.println(buffer);
memset(buffer, '', sizeof(buffer));
}
}

void loop(){
}

Hi Mikal.

If I want to only read data, how is it possible?

Thank you

Hi,

I am trying to use your excellent library as I am running short of RAM in a large sketch.

I have a function called UpdateThingSpeak defined as below

void UpdateThingSpeak(int PumpOnOff,char StatusText[])
{
}

For simplicitys sake I have made each string its own Flash String as so

FLASH_STRING(Panels_are_too_hot, “Panels are too hot. Pump(s) on”);
FLASH_STRING(Tropical_mode_active, “Tropical mode active. Pump(s) on”);
FLASH_STRING(Hot_water_available, “Hot water available. Pumping”);
FLASH_STRING(Its_very_cold, “It’s very cold. Protect pipes”);
FLASH_STRING(Pumping_to_stop_pipes, “Pumping to stop pipes bursting”);
FLASH_STRING(Freezing_point, “Freezing point. Pump(s) off”);
FLASH_STRING(Collecting_heat, “Collecting heat. Pump(s) off”);
FLASH_STRING(Waiting_to_pump, “Winter mode. Waiting to pump”);
FLASH_STRING(Winter_mode_Pumping, “Winter mode. Pumping”);
FLASH_STRING(Pump_test_mode, “Pump test mode. Pump(s) on”);

When I try to pass the String to the UpdateThingSpeak function I get

cannot convert’_FLASH_STRING’ to char* for argument ’2′ to ‘void UpdateThingSpeak(int, char*)’

I see the problem, I am converting whatever PROGMEM holds the string as to a char[] string. I just don’t know how to overcome it.

Please can you suggest something

issue appears it does not recognize the #include as when the complier sees:

FLASH_ARRAY(unsigned long, arrayHtime,1000,2000,3000,50000,60000);

I get an error of “expected primary expression before ‘unsigned’ and the complier did not make the FLASH_ARRAY highlighted in orange as all other primary commands are???
Help please
Stephen

Hello,
I’m new to Arduino and i’m trying to use your library, but something is not clear to me:

Is it possible to write to my table?

like

FLASH_TABLE(int, alarm_table, 4,
{0,0,0,0});

and then:

alarm_table[0][0] = 1;

to write to this table?

I built a simple flow meter for a friend using an arduino uno. I found the syntax for the project on “jaycar” website. It works fine counting and totaling the liters of fluid. The only problem is, if you get a power cycle, the data is reset to zero on the display. I am trying to keep track of the amount of liters left in a tank so I need the data to stay in memory until reset manually. If it is lost on a power cycle, you cannot recover.
I am a PLC programmer. It is easy with a PLC, you just store the data from the counter in an upper non volatile register address where it remains indefinitely until reset. I just started looking at this c++ programming (it is very cumbersome and confusing). Is there an easy way to keep the data?

Hey, I like the library but the performance is very poor for ethernet client stream as it sends only 1 character at a time. This creates a packet for every character! Here is a change I made to flash.cpp to provide a small buffer. Now speed is excellent.

#include “Flash.h”
#include
#include

#define FLASHBUFSIZ 300
char flashbuf[FLASHBUFSIZ + 1];

_FLASH_STRING::_FLASH_STRING(const prog_char *arr) :
_arr(arr)
{
}

void _FLASH_STRING::print(Print &stream) const
{
size_t i=0;
size_t l= strnlen_P(_arr,64000);

while(true) {
if (l > FLASHBUFSIZ) {
memcpy_P(flashbuf,_arr + i,FLASHBUFSIZ);
flashbuf[FLASHBUFSIZ] = 0;
l -= FLASHBUFSIZ;
i += FLASHBUFSIZ;
stream.print(flashbuf);
}
else {
memcpy_P(flashbuf,_arr + i,l);
flashbuf[l] = 0;
stream.print(flashbuf);
break;
}
}
}

Hi,

is there a way to write to a string array at run time.

What I need is to store strings into array that user types into serial terminal.

All together user will be able to input 24 strings.

Would really appreciate your advice.

Thanks

Alex

Hi Mikal,

are you in mind to adapt Flash library to new Arduino Due?

Thanks

Hello Mikal!
I use your Flash library and I experience the following trouble:
Code:
char Stepdsp;
int Stpdspindex;
void setup(){
FLASH_STRING_ARRAY(Step,PSTR(“A”), PSTR(“B”), PSTR(“C”), PSTR(“D”), PSTR(“E”));
Serial.begin(9600);
Stpdspindex=3;
Stepdsp=Step[Stpdspindex];
Serial.println(Freqstpdsp);
}
I receive this error messagge : “Cannot convert ‘_FLASH_STRING’ to ‘char’ in assignment.
Please tell me how to solve this situation!
Best regards

I read
>> a small patch to the core Print.h file. See “Patching Print.h” below

but did not find what I expected on this page.
Patch still required for Arduino 1.0.5 ?

Thanks

Hi Mikal,
I’m new to Arduino,my project’s : read tags RFID and save on arduino,then send to orther device,but i don’t know where is data will storage on arduino , i want save tag’s ID ex 0004083312 , please help me, tks you

hello.
I am using many arrays in the Arduino sketch and exhausted the RAM.
I’m trying to implement this solution but I think I have a problem with the lib .. the program does not recognize the variables. I’ve done include lib and did not work.
can you help me?
thanks

For example, in the code below the program returns me errors when compiling.

#include <flash.h>
int x = 0;

void setup(){
  FLASH_ARRAY(int, value, 1, 2, 2, 5, 6, 7, 10);
}

void loop(){
  x = value[1];
}

ERRORS:

flash.ino: In function ‘void setup()’:
flash:6: error: expected primary-expression before ‘int’
flash:6: error: ‘value’ was not declared in this scope
flash:6: error: ‘FLASH_ARRAY’ was not declared in this scope
flash.ino: In function ‘void loop()’:
flash:10: error: ‘value’ was not declared in this scope

I think that is because the compiler is not recognizing the lib
Thanks

Hi
How remove data from flash of arduino mega after I wrote in it?
The flash remaining written after power of, right?
Many thanks

Many thanks my fiend.Now I understand how works with clear flash.
Please , another help from your part.
If I want to save in flash some data read from loop() function , can I do it?
Thanks again for your support.Have a nice weekend.

Just starting to use your library. So far looking good..

My project consists of multiple source files that need to include Flash.h, and I got lots of redefinition errors such as:
error: redefinition of ‘class _Printable’

I suggest putting in protection against the header file being included twice:

#ifndef FLASH_H
#define FLASH_H
… [rest of Flash.h] …
#endif

#include

class Test
{
public:
int a;
int b;
Test(){
a=0;
b=0;
}
Test(int aa, int bb){
a=aa;
b=bb;
}
};

Test tt = Test(5,6);

FLASH_ARRAY(Test, ttt, Test(1,2), Test(3,3), Test(5,6), Test(7,8));

Test t;

void setup(){
Serial.begin(9600);
for (int i = 0; ttt.count(); i++)
Serial.println(ttt[i].a);
}

void loop(){

}

ERROR:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\libraries\Flash/Flash.h: In member function ‘void _FLASH_ARRAY::print(Print&) const [with T = Test]‘:
FLASH_TEST.ino:32: instantiated from here
C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\libraries\Flash/Flash.h:126: error: no matching function for call to ‘Print::print(Test)’
C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\arduino\cores\arduino/Print.h:55: note: candidates are: size_t Print::print(const __FlashStringHelper*)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\arduino\cores\arduino/Print.h:56: note: size_t Print::print(const String&)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\arduino\cores\arduino/Print.h:57: note: size_t Print::print(const char*)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\arduino\cores\arduino/Print.h:58: note: size_t Print::print(char)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\arduino\cores\arduino/Print.h:59: note: size_t Print::print(unsigned char, int)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\arduino\cores\arduino/Print.h:60: note: size_t Print::print(int, int)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\arduino\cores\arduino/Print.h:61: note: size_t Print::print(unsigned int, int)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\arduino\cores\arduino/Print.h:62: note: size_t Print::print(long int, int)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\arduino\cores\arduino/Print.h:63: note: size_t Print::print(long unsigned int, int)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\arduino\cores\arduino/Print.h:64: note: size_t Print::print(double, int)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\arduino\cores\arduino/Print.h:65: note: size_t Print::print(const Printable&)

void setup(){
Serial.begin(9600);
FLASH_STRING_ARRAY(pips,
PSTR(“Ace”), PSTR(“Two”), PSTR(“Three”), PSTR(“Four”), PSTR(“Five”), PSTR(“Six”),
PSTR(“Seven”), PSTR(“Eight”), PSTR(“Nine”), PSTR(“Ten”), PSTR(“Jack”), PSTR(“Queen”), PSTR(“King”));
}

How can I make pips array visible for class level?

Mikal,

I am sucessfully using your very nice FLASH library.

Nevertheless, I have still a lot of (F(“….”)) in my source code and experience strange problems with (F(“…”)).

On one side the compiler display an error relating to vector while commenting the last typed in (F(“…)) eliminates the error.

On the other side, it looks like the implementation of the (F(“…”)) is bugged because some variable in my program are changed when running through a printf(F(“…”)) like instruction.

As you mentioned that the were apparently bugs in the implementation of (F(“…”)), could you explain what you have noticed on your side.

In the mean-time, I will eliminate all (F(“…”)) from my source code by writing a dedicated print function for Debug messages and put them all in a FLASH_STRING_ARRAY.

Thanks in advance

Pascal

Hi Mikal!
I have build a telephonenumber,”Call-ID” reseiver with a MC8870 chip.
It is working perfectly, and I get the numbers on an LCD and in IDE.
Arduinio Uno is used (ATmega328) to detect the numbers.
The problem is how to store the incomming calls so I later can see
who has called. I need at least 30 to 50 numbers stored in the
memory. The numbers are characters displaying one by one untill
all (10) of them has finished. The last rows in the sketch:

void storeCalls()
{
Serial.print(“Store: “);
Serial.println(dial);
lcd.print(dial);
}

Here “dial” contains all the ten numbers.
How can I store this in mem. and then wait for the next
call to arrive?
I have installed your Flash.lib but I don’t know
realy how t use it here.
Maybe you can help me. This is the last thing to do, to
get this Call-ID to work properly.
Best Reg.// Hans