Controlling the real world with Access?

[dazza61]

Hi there,

Is it possible to control a lighting system from Access using a combination of VBA code or Active X add ons with some specialist hardware and cabling attached to the PC, etc ?

To be more specific, I've designed a Snooker Hall Management program and want to be able to turn the lights on over the Snooker table when you start a game in an Access form...My application has 8 tables but could be expanded obviously.

I'm happy with the Access side of things (first attempt at a real world solution, etc) but to be totally polished a hardware interface to control the lights would really create a 'wow' factor...

Any help or direction would be greatly appreciated

Regards

dazza61

 

[KenHigg]

You could build or buy a gizmo to read the pinouts of parallel port on your pc. Then convert the digital ons/off to higher voltages withs relays, etc. If you want to build your own gizmo, I think hooking into using a basic stamp would be easiest...

 

[Ron_dK]

Around here, I have seen guys using Ongoer.
This is a management and control program used to fire off/on projectors, audio and the like. It's a stand alone program, thought it was in basic, but
I'm not sure if it can be connected to Access.

Take a look at their demo :

http://www.simtrol.com/DemoMovie/movie.htm

 

[neileg]

Lighting rigs for shows and concerts are often controlled using a MIDI interface.

 

[Ron_dK]

Lighting rigs for shows and concerts are often controlled using a MIDI interface.

That's true Neil, but connecting Access to a midi driver is quite complicated.
I wouldn't recommend to that to anyone.

Here's some info on Midi control :

http://www.richmondsounddesign.com/txt/mscspec.txt