The Next-Gen Deck
Introduction: The Next-Gen Deck
The Next-Gen Deck
By Marcel’s Workshop
I spend a lot of time on Genealogy with subscriptions to many services.
To make it efficient I copy, paste and refresh pages often from one database to another.
I use 3 monitors so I can go from screen to screen to compare data, all while evaluating what I’m looking at.
While doing this I saw that some people were using Stream Decks to edit videos, or to do live feeds on YouTube.
These are quite efficient little kits, they allow you to program buttons to perform functions you do often, or a combination of key presses for fast response.
You can buy these off the shelf for about $200 USD. But I can build one from scratch for about the same price, but it’s tailored to my needs.
The reason I built my own is because although the store-bought stream decks are nice, you need to program the computer to understand the key presses.
I wanted to build a unit where the program is built into the keyboard, and I can connect it to any (Windows) computer and it will work instantly.
Supplies
To build this Deck you need a few parts.
* · 7-inch Nextion HMI display.
* · Arduino Leonardo.
* · WS2812B RGB LED modules x4
* · Mini Vibration Motor
* · USB Data Cable
Step 1: Programing the Nextion Screen
When you purchase a Nextion screen you will need to download the Nextion Editor.
Using the editor I set up page 0 as my splash screen
When you first power up the unit this screen will show for 2.5 seconds.
Step 2:
Page 1 is where the real work happens.
This page has been set up for the work I do most often. Opening Genealogy web pages, data bases, Google, Facebook, and a few keyboard shortcuts. Some of you may not know this already but F5 is the screen Refresh button.
Step 3:
Each of these buttons have a function attached to them. When you press a button a code is sent via the serial port to the Arduino. For example, when I press the Ancestry Logo button the code “65 010201 FF FF FF” is transmitted. 769
This tells the Arduino what button was pressed on which page. Until the Arduino is programmed to understand that code, it will just sit there and stare at you.
In the third row down, second column you see a calendar with the date Sep 14. Genealogy programs have a standard on how the date should be entered. But since I work in multiple languages, I sometimes copy data in French.
For example. The date 3rd of August is “3 août” or the 14th of July is “14 juillet” It’s not a big deal until you have to correct the Birth, Death, and Marriage dates of an entire family. To simplify this I created Page 2 to simply type the Month in the 3 letter abbreviation. I simply highlight the entire word, press the button and it replaces the French version with the 3 letter English version.
Step 4:
It’s much easier to just highlight the entire word and retype the 3 letters than to try and change a few letters within the word.
Again, due to the language differences I sometimes need to type special characters.
I created Page 3 as a quick reference for the letters I frequently use in French or Spanish.
Step 5:
The only function on this page is the back button which sends you back to Page 1.
Page 4 is the most Dangerous page of all.
There’s only one button on this page but it performs the ALT-F4 command which closes programs and pages.
Unless the page or program has some kind of protection and says “Are you sure” or “Do you want to Save?”
It will close it faster than the blink of an eye.
Page 5 and 6 are interesting ones using the Ball and Pattern Method by <PERSON>.
His method helps in deciphering how you could be related to a DNA match when you don’t know the link in between you and them.
Page 5 is the Single Path Method.
Step 6:
Page 6 is the Dual Path Method.
Step 7:
I use this system daily, and if you are searching for biological family, this should be your go to system.
<PERSON> has many Genealogy videos on YouTube.
Here’s the link to one of his videos that covers this particular subject.
Step 8: The Technical Stuff.
We will continue with the Nextion display and the editor used to program it. 149