Prototyping LCD with FFC connector without creating PCB?

If by FFC you mean Flat Foil Connector/Cable, then I doubt there is a ready source. In my experience every LCD means another different connector.

Whenever I had to evaluate new LCDs, I nearly always found that a good supplier/distributor of LCDs would be able to provide some form of cable to go from the particular LCD to open end cable or something different. I would then make the open end of the cable terminate in a connector to suit the 40way standard connector on our controllers.

Faced with a similar problem, I bought the socket for the FFC, glued it down with epoxy to a piece of scrap Veroboard, and soldered wire-wrap wire to the pins, whereby I brought the signals to a 100 mil header.

I tried something like that; after spending several tedious hours assembling the whole thing and finding out I had a single short from a solder wicking between 2 contacts (and can't get to it), I'd had enough.

Several hours on a 30-pin connector?? Something's wrong with this picture. Try a different technique. Use magnification and tweezers as you work. It helps if you gently bend alternate pins a few degrees up and down. Glue down the wire-wrap wires with hot-melt as you get them soldered, so they don't wiggle..

I was using Hirose's Flip-Lock type connector, the Digi-Key part# for the 30-pin variant is HFJ30CT-ND.

Yes. Itron make a very thin PCB with various ffc pitch patterns, which can be cut down to size.

Thanks, all, for the replies. The LCD rep has a fairly expensive adapter card which I went ahead and bought. I figure I'll save time and frustration using something which already works.