Date: 2/14/2016

I tried alterations to the sample code until I got the flip-dot display to act more predictably.

Below is my revised code for the display with a little extra to automatically count up columns and rows:

/* Simple Serial ECHO script : Written by ScottC 04/07/2012 */
/* Stage 2 : Delimiters */
/* Adapted for LinkSprite V3 and AlfaZeta flip-dot display  */
/* by Michael Shaub 2016                                    */


/* Use a variable called byteRead to temporarily store
   the data coming from the computer */

   //refresh all panels
   //0x80 0x82 0x8F

int frameDelay = 250; //pause 400 ms between frames being sent to the board
int counter = 0;
int rowCounter = 0;
int row1 = 0; //hold variable for row1
int row2 = 0; //hold variable for row2
int row3 = 0; //hold variable for row3
int row4 = 0; //hold variable for row4
int row5 = 0; //hold variable for row5
int row6 = 0; //hold variable for row6
int row7 = 0; //hold variable for row7
String rowString = "B1101010";
int rowArray[ ] = {0,0,0,0,0,0,0};

void setup() {                
// Turn the Serial Protocol ON
  Serial.begin(57600);
}

void loop() {
                      //header, Command, Address, Data, End Character (0xFF address = ALL BOARDS)
  if(counter > 7){
    counter = 0;
    rowCounter++;
  }
  if(rowCounter > 7) rowCounter = 0;
 
  byte test_allWhite[]= {128, 136, 255, 0x7F, 0x7F, 0x7F, 0x7F, 0x7F, 0x7F, 0x7F, 0x8F};
  byte test_allBlack[]= {128, 136, 255, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x8F};
  byte refresh_all[]=   {0x80, 0x82, 0x8F};
  
  //Serial.write(test_1, 116); 
  //Serial.write(test_allWhite, 116);
  //Serial.write(test_1, 116);
  //Serial.write(refresh_all, 116); 

 
  //row3 = byte(B1111010);
  
  for(int j=0; j<8; j++){ //set values to match counter, should flip dots one by one across
    if(j == counter){
      rowArray[j] = 1; //set to 1
    }else{
      rowArray[j] = 0; //reset value to 0
    }
  }
  
  /*
  if(counter == 1){
    rowArray[0] = 1;
  }
  if(counter == 2){
    rowArray[0] = 0;
    rowArray[1] = 1;
  }
  if(counter == 3){
    rowArray[1] = 0;
    rowArray[2] = 1;
  }
  */
  
 
    row1 = 0;
    row2 = 0;
    row3 = 0;
    row4 = 0;
    row5 = 0;
    row6 = 0;
    row7 = 0;
    for(int i=0; i<8; i++){
      int a = rowArray[i];
      int b = a << i; //bitshift the value the number of positions equal to the digit
      switch(rowCounter){
      case 1:
        row1 = row1 | b; //bitwise OR addition of the "b" value to the existing "row3" value
        break;
      case 2:
        row2 = row2 | b; //bitwise OR addition of the "b" value to the existing "row3" value
        break;
      case 3:
        row3 = row3 | b; //bitwise OR addition of the "b" value to the existing "row3" value
        break;
      case 4:
        row4 = row4 | b; //bitwise OR addition of the "b" value to the existing "row3" value
        break;
      case 5:
        row5 = row5 | b; //bitwise OR addition of the "b" value to the existing "row3" value
        break;
      case 6:
        row6 = row6 | b; //bitwise OR addition of the "b" value to the existing "row3" value
        break;
      case 7:
        row7 = row7 | b; //bitwise OR addition of the "b" value to the existing "row3" value
        break;
      }
    }
  


  byte test_2[]= {0x80, 0x87, 0xFF, row1, row2, row3, row4, row5, row6, row7, 0x8F};
  Serial.write(test_2, 116); 
  //Serial.write(test_1, 116); 
  
  //Serial.write(refresh_all, 116); 
  delay(frameDelay);              // wait for a second

counter++;
/*
row1 = counter;
row2 = counter;
row3 = counter;
row4 = counter;
row5 = counter;
row6 = counter;
row7 = counter;
*/
}