Hi Hans,

I'm Truly grateful for your assistance. I will try it this evening and get back to you.

You guys Rock! Keep up the excellent work and thank you for all your help.

Cheers! 

You're welcome 

I'm curious though what the end product will look like - I really like the idea. Maybe I'll do something like that for my car 

hi Hans,

thanks again, i will send a video once done. I haven't had a chance to add your code yest. I'll do  it over the weekend. I will message you though.

Thanks!

Hi Hans, im busing adding the stuff you gave me. Theres an error coming up  when trying to add a 3 second delay on startup.

"Delay  was not declared in this scope"

Hi Hans, i have another error on the second bit of code

Looks like I made a type - add a ")" (without the double quotes) before the ";" in the code of the highlighted line.

So the following line:

     setPixel(NUM_LEDS-1- i, 0xff, 255 - (i*(235/4)), 255 - (i*(255/4)); 

becomes:

     setPixel(NUM_LEDS-1- i, 0xff, 255 - (i*(235/4)), 255 - (i*(255/4))); // <- add ( here 

As for the error "delay not in scope"; it may be that the change above fixes that. If not then please post the full error message (should tell you the affected line number).

Hi Hans, I managed  to create the initial delay. Thereafter, i tried to add the code for the first 4 and last 4 leds to turn white. That didnt work however, after deleting that bit, my code was somehow altered. Error: setAll was not in the scope. I've attached it

Hi Hans, here is the entire sketch. Please see what you can do for me.
i have the delay. It works.
Just need, first 4 and last 4 to stay white (but slightly blended to white from amber)
thereafter, when the  25 sec timer is  up, they should all fade off, the start sequence again.

thanks!

I have not yet been able to test the code, but maybe we should walk through the error messages, so you'd be able to debug.
So loaded your code into my Arduino IDE and did a test compile (menu: Sketch -> Verify/Compile) which resulted in these error messages:

Arduino: 1.8.7 (Mac OS X), Board: "Arduino/Genuino Uno"
In file included from /Users/hans/Documents/Arduino/sketch_jul18a/sketch_jul18a.ino:1:0:
/Users/hans/Documents/Arduino/libraries/FastLED/FastLED.h:14:21: note: #pragma message: FastLED version 3.002.001
 #    pragma message "FastLED version 3.002.001"
                     ^
/Users/hans/Documents/Arduino/sketch_jul18a/sketch_jul18a.ino: In function 'void newRGBLoop()':
sketch_jul18a:12:19: error: 'setAll' was not declared in this scope
   setAll(0xff,20,0); // set all to amber
                   ^
sketch_jul18a:16:59: error: expected ')' before ';' token
      setPixel(i, 0xff, 255 - (i*(235/4)), 255 - (i*(255/4);   // 235 = 255 - 20, 20 for amber (from your code)
                                                           ^
sketch_jul18a:16:59: error: expected ')' before ';' token
sketch_jul18a:17:72: error: 'setPixel' was not declared in this scope
      setPixel(NUM_LEDS-1- i, 0xff, 255 - (i*(235/4)), 255 - (i*(255/4))); 
                                                                        ^
sketch_jul18a:19:13: error: 'showStrip' was not declared in this scope
   showStrip();
             ^
/Users/hans/Documents/Arduino/sketch_jul18a/sketch_jul18a.ino: At global scope:
sketch_jul18a:26:7: error: expected declaration before '}' token
       }
       ^
exit status 1
'setAll' was not declared in this scope
This report would have more information with
"Show verbose output during compilation"
option enabled in File -> Preferences.

So let's go through these messages;

1) " # pragma message "FastLED version 3.002.001" "

This is just a message that we can ignore in this case.

2) "setAll(0xff,20,0); // set all to amber" (sketch_jul18a:12:19: error: 'setAll' was not declared in this scope)

You'll see that in the file "sketch_jul18a", line 12, at the 19th character of that line, setAll appears not defined.
Let's go through some more message to see if there is a connection with the other messages. After all "setAll()" is defined at the end of the sketch, so other typos/errors may cause this.

3) "setPixel(i, 0xff, 255 - (i*(235/4)), 255 - (i*(255/4);" (sketch_jul18a:16:59: error: expected ')' before ';' token)

As before, line 16 character 59; we're missing a ')' before the ';' character.

Easy fix, change line 16 to:

setPixel(i, 0xff, 255 - (i*(235/4)), 255 - (i*(255/4)));

We are actually missing 2 ')' ... you can see this in the IDE. When setting your text cursor at a ')', the editor will highlight the '(' that goes with it.
Keep this one in mind; forgetting a ')' or a ';' or '}' are quite common.

So, recompile/verify, and we will see; this did not fix the other problems, so let's continue.

4) "showStrip();" (expected declaration before '}' token)

This may be the culprit ... 

If we look at the code, you'll see there is a boo-boo there:

void setup()
{ delay(2000);
  FastLED.addLeds<WS2811, PIN, GRB>(leds, NUM_LEDS).setCorrection( TypicalLEDStrip );
}
void newRGBLoop() {
  setAll(0xff,20,0); // set all to amber
  // set first 4 and last 4 to a fade white to amber (you may have to tweak the calculation)
  for(int i=0; i<4; i++) {
     setPixel(i, 0xff, 255 - (i*(235/4)), 255 - (i*(255/4)));   // 235 = 255 - 20, 20 for amber (from your code)
     setPixel(NUM_LEDS-1- i, 0xff, 255 - (i*(235/4)), 255 - (i*(255/4))); 
  }
  showStrip();
  
  delay(25000);   // wait for 25 seconds
  setAll(0,0,0);  // set all LEDs to black/off
}
       
        
      }
      showStrip();
      delay(25); //time of strip to stay on
    }
    
    // Fade OUT
    for(int k = 255; k >= 0; k--) { 
      switch(j) { 
        case 0: setAll(0xff,25,0); break;
        
        
      }
      showStrip();
      delay(25); //time for strip to stay on
    }
  }
}

The bold section has no place to below to ... I assume you pasted some of the code in, but forgot to adapt or delete some of the old code.

Unfortunately, this doesn't resolve things yet.

5) undefined reference to `loop'

After removing the bold code in the step 4, we get a new error message, and this one is straight forward: the linker (ld) cannot find the "loop()" function in your code!

/var/folders/xb/gtxmm97s5ml1fmn0j78cck5h0000gn/T//cc0oU02c.ltrans0.ltrans.o: In function `main':
/Applications/Arduino.app/Contents/Java/hardware/arduino/avr/cores/arduino/main.cpp:46: undefined reference to `loop'
collect2: error: ld returned 1 exit status
exit status 1

Renaming "newRGBLoop" to "loop" fixes the issue.

Now, since I cannot test this, I'm not sure if this is what you were looking for.
However; lesson learned; be careful when pasting code, to not make a mess of things.
And with this walk through you may become more comfortable trying to read and debug error messages.

Hi Hans, Once again, thanks a million for all your efforts. I cannot tell you how pleased i am getting assistance in this regard.

i havent tried the changes as yet since im pushing to get the install complete..i have the running in white and settling at amber. Once im complete with the install, i can play with the  programming.

will chat soon! Take care

i have the Lumini APA102 3 inch (77mm) 60 RGB LED ring (available from sparkfun) i want to use for a clock. i know the code works, and works correctly with a 6 3/4 inch (172mm) 60 RGB LED ring that uses WS2811 LEDs. the issue i am having is that the 3 inch ring is manufactured in a counter clockwise direction apposed to the 6 3/4 inch ring manufactured in the clockwise direction. i have tried using for (int i = 59; i >= 0 ; i–) and/or for (int i = 0; i < numLEDs; i++) to try and reverse the direction of data flow. neither one has any effect and i am guessing it is because in the code, it is the time (hour, minute, seconds) that tell which LED is to be lit up, and when.

i have also tried playing with ARRAY, CRGBSet, and a few other possible tricks to tell the ring which way to run. all i run into are errors or having no effect as well…. any ideas?

Adafruit Trinket Pro 16Mhz - Arduino IDE 1.8.12

#include <FastLED.h>
#include <Wire.h>
#include <RTClib.h>
#include <EEPROM.h>
#include <Encoder.h>

DS3231 RTC;

#define DATA_PIN 6 //for 2 wire LED strips/rings
#define CLOCK_PIN 5
//#define LEDStripPin 8 //for single wire LED strips/rings
#define numLEDs 60 //number of LEDs in the strip/ring

//Setting up the LED strip
struct CRGB leds[numLEDs];
Encoder rotary1(10, 11); //setting up the Rotary Encoder
DateTime old; //Variable to compare new and old time, to see if it has moved on
int rotary1Pos = 0;
int subSeconds; //60th's of a second
long newSecTime; //Variable to record when a new second starts, allowing to create milli seconds
long oldSecTime;
#define clockState 0
int cyclesPerSec; // for use with different clock display modes
float cyclesPerSecFloat; // So can be used as a float in calcs
float fracOfSec; // for use with different clock modes
int timeHour;
int timeMin;
int timeSec;
int modeAddress = 0; // Address of where mode is stored in the EEPROM
long currentMillis;
long previousMillis = 0;
int state = 0;
int mode; // Variable of the display mode of the clock
int modeMax = 3; // Change this when new modes are added. This is so selecting modes can go back beyond.
int advanceMove = 0;
long lastRotary;
int rotaryTime = 1000;
int LEDPosition;
int fiveMins;
int LEDOffset = 30; // change this to allow differant led ring mounting, 30 for wires at the bottom, 0 for wires at the top

void setup()
{
  // Set up all pins

  // Start LEDs, uncomment to change type of LEDs being used and comment out the unused LED type.
//  LEDS.addLeds<WS2811, LEDStripPin, GRB>(leds, numLEDs); // Structure of the LED data. I have changed to from rgb to bgr, as using an alternative LED strip. Test & change these if you're getting different colors.
  LEDS.addLeds<APA102, DATA_PIN, CLOCK_PIN, BGR>(leds, numLEDs);

  // Start RTC
  Wire.begin(); // Starts the Wire library allows I2C communication to the Real Time Clock
  RTC.begin(); // Starts communications to the RTC

  Serial.begin(9600); // Starts the serial communications

  // Uncomment to reset all the EEPROM addresses. You will have to comment again and reload, otherwise it will not save anything each time power is cycled
  // write a 0 to all 512 bytes of the EEPROM
  //  for (int i = 0; i < 512; i++)
  //  {EEPROM.write(i, 0);}

  // Load any saved setting since power off, such as mode & alarm time
  mode = EEPROM.read(modeAddress); // The mode will be stored in the address "0" of the EEPROM

}

void loop()

{

  DateTime now = RTC.now(); // Fetches the time from RTC

  rotary1Pos = rotary1.read(); // Checks the rotary position

  if (rotary1Pos <= -4 && lastRotary - millis() >= rotaryTime)
  {
    advanceMove = -1;
    rotary1.write(0);
    lastRotary = millis();
  }
  if (rotary1Pos >= 4 && lastRotary - millis() >= rotaryTime)
  {
    advanceMove = 1;
    rotary1.write(0);
    lastRotary = millis();
  }
  {
    switch (mode)

    case clockState: // State 0

    if (advanceMove == -1 && mode == 0)
    {
      mode = modeMax;
      advanceMove = 0;
    }
    else (advanceMove != 0);
    {
      mode = mode + advanceMove;
      EEPROM.write(modeAddress, mode);
      advanceMove = 0;
    }
  }

  {
    timeDisplay(now);
  }
  // Update LEDs;
  LEDS.show();
  memset(leds, 0, numLEDs * 3);
}

void clearLEDS()
{
  for (int i = 0; i < numLEDs; i++) // set all LEDs to off
  {
    leds[i].r = 0;
    leds[i].g = 0;
    leds[i].b = 0;
  }
}

void timeDisplay(DateTime now)
{
  switch (mode)
  {
    case 0:
      outlineClock(now); // displays white at the 12 hour marks around the clock face, red for hour, green for minutes, and blue for seconds
      break;             // the hour is displayed with 3 red leds just to stand out as being the hour indicator, the two on either side of the center red led are slightly dimmer
    case 1:
      outlineDSTClock(now); //displays the same as above, only one hour earlier for day light savings time
      break;
    case 2:
      minimalClock(now); // displays just one red led for the hour, green for minute, and blue for seconds
      break;
    case 3:
      minimalDSTClock(now); //displays the same as above, only one hour earlier for day light savings time 
      break;

    default: // Keep this here and add more timeDisplay modes as defined cases.
      {
        mode = 0;
      }
  }
}

void outlineClock(DateTime now)

{
  //  for (int i = 59; i >= 0 ; i--)
  for (int i = 0; i < numLEDs; i++)
  {
    fiveMins = i % 5;
    if (fiveMins == 0)
    {
      leds[i].r = 5;
      leds[i].g = 5;
      leds[i].b = 5;
    }
  }
  if (now.second() != old.second())
  {
    old = now;

  }

  // set hour, min & sec LEDs
  unsigned char hourPos = ((now.hour() % 12) * 5 + (now.minute() + 6) / 12);
  leds[(hourPos + LEDOffset + 59) % 60].r = 10;
  leds[(hourPos + LEDOffset) % 60].r = 20;
  leds[(hourPos + LEDOffset + 1) % 60].r = 10;
  leds[(now.minute() + LEDOffset) % 60].g = 20;
  leds[(now.second() + LEDOffset) % 60].b = 20;

}

void outlineDSTClock(DateTime now)
{
  //for (int i = numLEDs - 1; i > -1; i--)
  for (int i = 0; i < numLEDs; i++)
  {
    fiveMins = i % 5;
    if (fiveMins == 0)
    {
      leds[i].r = 5;
      leds[i].g = 5;
      leds[i].b = 5;
    }
  }
  if (now.second() != old.second())
  {
    old = now;

  }

  // set hour, min & sec LEDs
  unsigned char hourPos = ((now.hour() % 12) * 5 + (now.minute() + 6) / 12);
  leds[(hourPos + LEDOffset + 54) % 60].r = 10;
  leds[(hourPos + LEDOffset + 55) % 60].r = 20;
  leds[(hourPos + LEDOffset + 56) % 60].r = 10;
  leds[(now.minute() + LEDOffset) % 60].g = 20;
  leds[(now.second() + LEDOffset) % 60].b = 20;
}
void minimalClock(DateTime now)
{
  unsigned char hourPos = (now.hour() % 12) * 5;
  leds[(hourPos + LEDOffset) % 60].r = 10;
  leds[(now.minute() + LEDOffset) % 60].g = 10;
  leds[(now.second() + LEDOffset) % 60].b = 10;
}
//
void minimalDSTClock(DateTime now)
{
  unsigned char hourPos = (now.hour() % 12) * 5;
  leds[(hourPos + LEDOffset + 55) % 60].r = 10;
  leds[(now.minute() + LEDOffset) % 60].g = 10;
  leds[(now.second() + LEDOffset) % 60].b = 10;
}

in essence, what i need for this sketch is a way to basiclly tell the led ring that LED0 is LED59,  LED1 is LED58, LED2 is LED57............. LED57 is LED2, LED58 is LED1, LED59 is LED0

so that the clock would run the correct direction

From what I can see, looking at this function:

void outlineClock(DateTime now)
{
  // for (int i = 59; i >= 0 ; i--)
  for (int i = 0; i < numLEDs; i++)
  {
    fiveMins = i % 5;
    if (fiveMins == 0)
    {
      leds[i].r = 5;
      leds[i].g = 5;
      leds[i].b = 5;
    }
  }

  if (now.second() != old.second())
  {
    old = now;
  }

  // set hour, min & sec LEDs
  unsigned char hourPos = ((now.hour() % 12) * 5 + (now.minute() + 6) / 12);
  leds[(hourPos + LEDOffset + 59) % 60].r = 10;
  leds[(hourPos + LEDOffset) % 60].r = 20;
  leds[(hourPos + LEDOffset + 1) % 60].r = 10;
  leds[(now.minute() + LEDOffset) % 60].g = 20;
  leds[(now.second() + LEDOffset) % 60].b = 20;
}

The first for-loop draws the "5" markers on the clock. So turning it around should give the same result indeed.

The "// set hour, min & sec LEDs" section is where the hour/minute/second is drawn. I think.
Since you want the reverse order, you could try this (untested!):

  // set hour, min & sec LEDs
  unsigned char hourPos = ((now.hour() % 12) * 5 + (now.minute() + 6) / 12);
  leds[NUM_LEDS - ( (hourPos + LEDOffset + 59) % 60 )].r = 10;
  leds[NUM_LEDS - ( (hourPos + LEDOffset) % 60 )].r = 20;
  leds[NUM_LEDS - ( (hourPos + LEDOffset + 1) % 60 )].r = 10;
  leds[NUM_LEDS - ( (now.minute() + LEDOffset) % 60 )].g = 20;
  leds[NUM_LEDS - ( (now.second() + LEDOffset) % 60 )].b = 20;

I didn't do the math yet (I need more coffee to be awake enough 😊 ), but I assume the original math was correct.
Of course all this under the assumption you use mode = 0.

I hope this fixes it, or gets you started in the right direction.

well, i made the changes and when i compiled it. 

Arduino: 1.8.12 (Windows 10), Board: "Pro Trinket 5V/16MHz (USB)"

In file included from C:\Users\Owner\Documents\Arduino\codetesting2\codetesting2.ino:1:0:

C:\Users\Owner\Documents\Arduino\libraries\FastLED/FastLED.h:14:21: note: #pragma message: FastLED version 3.003.003

# pragma message "FastLED version 3.003.003"

^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

C:\Users\Owner\Documents\Arduino\codetesting2\codetesting2.ino: In function 'void outlineClock(DateTime)':

codetesting2:168:8: error: 'NUM_LEDS' was not declared in this scope

leds[NUM_LEDS - ((hourPos + LEDOffset + 59) % 60)].r = 10;

^~~~~~~~

C:\Users\Owner\Documents\Arduino\codetesting2\codetesting2.ino:168:8: note: suggested alternative: 'HUE_RED'

leds[NUM_LEDS - ((hourPos + LEDOffset + 59) % 60)].r = 10;

^~~~~~~~

HUE_RED

C:\Users\Owner\Documents\Arduino\codetesting2\codetesting2.ino: In function 'void outlineDSTClock(DateTime)':

codetesting2:197:8: error: 'NUM_LEDS' was not declared in this scope

leds[NUM_LEDS - ((hourPos + LEDOffset + 54) % 60)].r = 10;

^~~~~~~~

C:\Users\Owner\Documents\Arduino\codetesting2\codetesting2.ino:197:8: note: suggested alternative: 'HUE_RED'

leds[NUM_LEDS - ((hourPos + LEDOffset + 54) % 60)].r = 10;

^~~~~~~~

HUE_RED

C:\Users\Owner\Documents\Arduino\codetesting2\codetesting2.ino: In function 'void minimalClock(DateTime)':

codetesting2:206:8: error: 'NUM_LEDS' was not declared in this scope

leds[NUM_LEDS - ((hourPos + LEDOffset) % 60)].r = 10;

^~~~~~~~

C:\Users\Owner\Documents\Arduino\codetesting2\codetesting2.ino:206:8: note: suggested alternative: 'HUE_RED'

leds[NUM_LEDS - ((hourPos + LEDOffset) % 60)].r = 10;

^~~~~~~~

HUE_RED

C:\Users\Owner\Documents\Arduino\codetesting2\codetesting2.ino: In function 'void minimalDSTClock(DateTime)':

codetesting2:214:8: error: 'NUM_LEDS' was not declared in this scope

leds[NUM_LEDS - ((hourPos + LEDOffset + 55) % 60)].r = 10;

^~~~~~~~

C:\Users\Owner\Documents\Arduino\codetesting2\codetesting2.ino:214:8: note: suggested alternative: 'HUE_RED'

leds[NUM_LEDS - ((hourPos + LEDOffset + 55) % 60)].r = 10;

^~~~~~~~

HUE_RED

exit status 1
'NUM_LEDS' was not declared in this scope

This report would have more information with
"Show verbose output during compilation"
option enabled in File -> Preferences.