Airport style display components for Delphi Firemonkey. Simulates vintage mechanical flight information boards ( the ones with rolls of plates that change in sequence, making a satisfying flap-flap noise ).

FlapLabel was originaly developed in 2002 for actual flight information screens for São Paulo Airport (Congonhas).

We used plasma displays, expensive at the time, in substitution to even more expensive mechanical boards from Solari. The sw is still in use in that airport. The original components were for VCL.

This is a port to Firemonkey and is tested on Windows, iOS and Android w/ D10.4.1

• Compile and install FlapLabelPkg.dpk (design time package)
• Components TFlapCharSet, TFlapChar and TFlapLabel will be installed

To use FlapLabels you need at least two components on your form: TFlapCharset and TFlapLabel.

The TFlapCharset contains the art to be used in FlapLabel plates. Depending on the application, you may use more than one charset: one with letters and one with just numbers. Remember that all characters cycle until the desired is reached, so using long charsets is not recommended.

Each FlapLabel uses one charset. One charset can be used by multiple FlapLabels.

The default behaviour for FlapLabel characters is to change in sequence until the target character is reached. But you can set it to "Go Direct" (cheat) changing to target state in a single transition (see sample app).

• Add a TFlapCharSet to your form ( ex: FlapCharSet1 ) - Charset contains an image with the character set to be used by FlapLabels.

• Plates BMPs are cut from the master charset image, so you can add symbols or icons to your charset (see below)

• Set FlapCharSet properties

  • AirportCharset = 'ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ1234567890.! :' - These are the chars in the bitmap, for look up
  • CharsetBMP = Load a PNG image with charset art (in this case a 240x250 image, shown below)

.

Set charset layout.

• RowCount = 5
• ColCount = 8

Set frame size in pixels.

• FrameWidth = 30
• FrameHeight = 50

Number of frames

• FrameCount = 40

• Add a TFlapLabel component to the Form (ex: FlapLabel1)

• Set FlapLabel1.CharSet property to FlapCharSet1

• Set FlapLabel1.CountFlaps number of digits in the label. This is the maximun lenght of the display text.

• Set FlapLabel1.Caption to 'TEST' (case sensitive)

The label should animate with ransitions from current state to target 'TEST' text.

- tri-state up/down indication.

- number only fields.

- Some airline logos.

To change FlapLabel text at run time, just change FlapLabel1.Caption Note that you can only use characters that are in your charset. Text is truncated if size is larger then CountFlaps ( the fixed numbers of characters in the label)

Compile and run TestFlapLabel.dpr ( see screen shot )

• demo screen: https://www.tiktok.com/@omar_reis/video/6829300494842793222
• worst day on the Stock Market (app NassauSt): https://www.tiktok.com/@omar_reis/video/6802287150411877638
• AirlinerAttitude w/ FiremonkeySensorFusion and TFlapLabel: https://www.tiktok.com/@omar_reis/video/6846360497550380294

The photo below ( from 2005 ) shows an array of 9 plasma displays (42") with flight information.

Have fun..