Final changes to messageboard demo code

Author: makermelissa

Matrix_Portal_S3_Message_Board/code.py

@@ -14,10 +14,13 @@
 fontpool = FontPool()
 fontpool.add_font("arial", "fonts/Arial-10.pcf")
 
+# Create the message ahead of time
+message = Message(fontpool.find_font("arial"), mask_color=0xFF00FF, opacity=0.8)
+message.add_image("images/maskedstar.bmp")
+message.add_text("Hello World!", color=0xFFFF00, x_offset=2, y_offset=2)
+
 while True:
-    message = Message(fontpool.find_font("arial"), mask_color=0xFF00FF, opacity=0.8)
-    message.add_image("images/maskedstar.bmp")
-    message.add_text("Hello World!", color=0xFFFF00, x_offset=2, y_offset=2)
+    # Animate the message
     messageboard.animate(message, "Scroll", "in_from_right")
     time.sleep(1)
     messageboard.animate(message, "Scroll", "out_to_left")

Matrix_Portal_S3_Message_Board/demo.py

@@ -31,34 +31,31 @@
 message4.add_text("Buy Electronics", color=0xFFFFFF)
 
 while True:
+    # Set message 1 content and animate
     message1.clear()
     message1.add_text("Scroll Text In", color=0xFF0000)
-
     messageboard.animate(message1, "Scroll", "in_from_left")
     time.sleep(1)
+
+    # Change message 1 content and animate
     message1.clear()
     message1.add_text("Change Messages")
     messageboard.animate(message1, "Static", "show")
     time.sleep(1)
+
+    # Change message 1 content again and animate
     message1.clear()
     message1.add_text("And Scroll Out")
-
     messageboard.animate(message1, "Static", "show")
     messageboard.animate(message1, "Scroll", "out_to_right")
     time.sleep(1)
 
+    # Change message 1 content a final time and animate
     message1.clear()
     message1.add_text("Or more effects like looping   ", color=0xFFFF00)
-    messageboard.animate(
-        message1, "Split", "in_vertically"
-    )  # Split never completely joins
-    messageboard.animate(
-        message1, "Loop", "left"
-    )  # Text too high (probably from split)
-    messageboard.animate(
-        message1, "Static", "flash", count=3
-    )  # Flashes in weird positions
-
+    messageboard.animate(message1, "Split", "in_vertically")
+    messageboard.animate(message1, "Loop", "left")
+    messageboard.animate(message1, "Static", "flash", count=3)
     messageboard.animate(message1, "Split", "out_vertically")
     time.sleep(1)