(original thread) MCE Replacement Plugin v1.0.0

[piranha]

Originally Posted by and-81

The biggest problem I can imagine is going to be how do you set it up? How is the gui going to be workable?

OSD you mean? It would be nice that OSD would tell you the current mapping.
As for the actual setup GUI? Yes, that's the thought.. Maybe a girder would be a good example? You are already using term 'macro'. Maybe extend that term to the setup?

[and-81]

I was just thinking about an OSD, first version probably won't have an OSD, but I will work on that once the basic functionality is in.

The setup GUI is going to be a little cluttered, but I think it will be ok.

I realised I should have been using the term "Macro" when I was looking through some Pronto software. I've never actually used Girder, but I'll have a look at it for ideas. I've used HIP quite a bit though.

I'm coding it as we speak, so hopefully I'll have something to try out within the next day or so.

Watch this space ...

Cheers,

[and-81]

OK, so I've got this new feature working, I've called it "Multi-Mapping".

You enable it in configuration, set a button to act as the mapping change button and then set up a series of mappings you want to cycle through when you press the mapping change button. I've tested it and it works quite well.

I really want to put some text on the screen to show you what remote map you're currently in when you press the mapping change button, but I don't know how to do that yet. Does anyone know how?

I don't want to muck around with skin stuff if I can avoid it, I just want to throw a little string in the corner of the screen when you press the mapping change button, maybe for 1 or seconds. If I can't get some advice or figure this out I'll post a new copy of the plugin with this feature anyway, but I'd really like this to work properly cos it's seems such a simple thing.

Let me know if you can point me at some source code to do this sort of thing.

Cheers,

[CHli]

Incredible, Amazing, Speed of light ! You're The Man

[arjay]

Aaron

Found this thread rather late. First let me say - I have never seen a quicker more helpful plugin developer in my life. I just hope you have some other life as well <grin>. Now my point is this:

I have a straightforward setup with a Sky Pace 2600C1 box - forerunner of the (in)famous Pace 420 series - linked to a dedicated PC via composite cable. I have a Haup 150mce remote with mce keyboard which work perfectly under Win MCE, including changing channels on the stb. However, I have never been able to get them to change channels under |MP even with myblaster. Myblaster learns the key sequences, the beanbag, its eye and the stb lights all flash fine when testing under myblaster but zilch happens in MP itself.

I have read the whole thread from start to finish, but I find it is getting rather complicated for me - and difficult to make out what is the latest position because you keep improving everything all the time! I am an experienced computer user, but less so with linux and relatively new to media centre software. Hence a bit of confusion.

It would be helpful if you could just recap where we are on this plug in. For example:

While we all wait for 2.0.5, what is the best/latest SVN to use for the latest plugin you have out?

Do I also need myblaster installed?

Can I (now) use your plugin with my mce drivers/remote/keyboard - as opposed to the replacement driver?

Is it possible just to download the install instructions so that I can see what's what while I maybe decide to wait for 2.0.5? Perhaps all the answers are there - if so, i apologise.

In the meantime - keep up the brilliant work. (BTW - don't suppose you have the scoop on when the next stable will be out? No, I thought not ...<grin>). Just that I don't know whether to take a chance on screwing my system up by trying the latest svn plus your plugin or wait yet more weeks/months before I can change a channel or two without using two remotes.

Regards

RJ

[FLY]

hey rj,

when i try new things, i copy the whole media potral folder from program files somewhere and then try the new things. If it works then ok but if it doesn't as I have found out so many times, you can copy your old folder back and you have everything that was working before.

[arjay]

Fly - good point. I did do this a couple of times before and it worked, but one time it didn't. I backed up the changed MP folders and restored the unchanged one but it wouldn't run. I guess it depends on if you have changed things outside MP - like mce drivers or HIP or something. Anyway - if I do try the newer SVN I'll remember your tip. Thnx

RJ

[and-81]

Originally Posted by arjay

I have a straightforward setup with a Sky Pace 2600C1 box

I'll try to download some codes and include it in the next version of the plugin for "quick setup".

Originally Posted by arjay

I have read the whole thread from start to finish, but I find it is getting rather complicated for me - and difficult to make out what is the latest position because you keep improving everything all the time!

It's difficult, I know. I want to stop posting because I want to give people a chance to test the plugin, but people are making really good suggestions and I end up implementing them faster than I expected After the next version I promise I'll slow down.

Originally Posted by arjay

It would be helpful if you could just recap where we are on this plug in. For example:

While we all wait for 2.0.5, what is the best/latest SVN to use for the latest plugin you have out?

The current version of the plugin requires an SVN from at least 10-10-2006. As soon as the next stable release is made, I've got a feeling it's very soon now, I will compile against that.

Originally Posted by arjay

Do I also need myblaster installed?

No.

Originally Posted by arjay

Can I (now) use your plugin with my mce drivers/remote/keyboard - as opposed to the replacement driver?

Yes, you have the choice of either the official driver or the replacement driver. Each has it's own Pro's and Con's.

For example:

The official driver has hard-wired functionality for several buttons, with the replacement driver you can re-map them.
But, The replacement driver doesn't support the MCE keyboard, "triple-tap" or resume from Hibernate.

Originally Posted by arjay

Is it possible just to download the install instructions so that I can see what's what while I maybe decide to wait for 2.0.5?

Just download the latest version and unzip it to somewhere on your hard disk, the docs are in there. Say you unzip it to C:\Temp, the docs will be in C:\Temp\plugins\process\MCEReplacement\Docs\ and the file you want to load is just "index.html", have a read through and see what you think.

Originally Posted by arjay

In the meantime - keep up the brilliant work. (BTW - don't suppose you have the scoop on when the next stable will be out? No, I thought not ...<grin>). Just that I don't know whether to take a chance on screwing my system up by trying the latest svn plus your plugin or wait yet more weeks/months before I can change a channel or two without using two remotes.

Thanks for taking the time to post, I expect the answers to your questions will help others too. As for the next stable release, I'd be surprised if it wasn't out within a week or sooner. If the new TV engine is released and there isn't a stable release at the same time or shortly after then I'd suggest you just jump in and give it a try. I just hope that the next stable release will still support the current tv engine so my plugin continues to work. I don't know how the new engine will go with external channels, but as soon as I can I will re-work the plugin to operate with the new tv engine.

Cheers,

[xavier]

Originally Posted by and-81

The attached will fix the following:
- Clear button couldn't be mapped properly.
- External programs would be killed after 30 seconds ... There was a reason for this, but it makes no sense most of the time

External programs don't work for me...

I made a simple calc.exe call for test.

1) In the "External Program Details" the "Test" button is working;

2) In the "Macro Editor" window the "Test" button display a error MsgBox ("See log file for details").

Two request (if possible): first, you can put the source of the plugin in the .zip ? If I can, I want to directly report youl the changes in the code rather than send you tedious corrections request.

Second, as you have made to compile the Bruno Fleurette driver (in the first release of your plugin the date/time of the mceir.sys was up-to-date) ? I work with Visual Studio 2005.

With your plugin and mceir.sys I can power down the PC with a no-MCE remote control but I can't power up: mceir.sys recognize only the MCE power button code, not a generic RC6 code.

And you have said that is doesn't interest youself to work on the driver...

Regards,
xavier.

[and-81]

Originally Posted by xavier

External programs don't work for me...

I think I've figured out why, I'll be posting a new version in a few hours (or less), so it should be fixed.

Originally Posted by xavier

... can put the source of the plugin in the .zip ?

I did early on, but I haven't bothered lately because I've been doing such rapid releases. I'll make sure I include it from here on. All I ask is that you direct updates and changes through me. I know we're dealing with Open Source software and I can't expect to place any restrictions on the code, but because things are moving so quick right now I'd like to keep control over the plugin. If I was to ever stop supporting the plugin I'd be more than happy for people to pick it up and run with it. I'm sure you understand.

Originally Posted by xavier

Second, as you have made to compile the Bruno Fleurette driver (in the first release of your plugin the date/time of the mceir.sys was up-to-date) ? I work with Visual Studio 2005.

I'm not sure I understand the question, could you rephrase it for me?

Originally Posted by xavier

With your plugin and mceir.sys I can power down the PC with a no-MCE remote control but I can't power up: mceir.sys recognize only the MCE power button code, not a generic RC6 code.

And you have said that is doesn't interest youself to work on the driver...

Yes, there are limitations with the replacement driver, and I would love to fix them. But at the moment I'm spending all my time on the plugin. I promise I will at least have a look at working on the driver in the next few weeks. But I can't promise any more than that at this stage. Sorry

Thanks for your feedback,

Cheers,