Running multiple instances of MP? (1 Viewer)

[V15]

My immediate question is this: Has anyone got experience of running multiple instances of MP simultaneously on the same PC?

I'll also post my problem, since you may have a good/easy workaround:
I have a PC that has three monitors: a monitor for working (irrelevant for this Q); an hdmi output to a plasma TV; an svideo output to a VCR which distributes the signal to the house via coaxial cable.

I want to be able to use MP on all the TVs in the house, so the default position is that MP runs on the "svideo" monitor. I run MP in fullscreen mode.

When I come to watch TV in the room with the plasma TV, I then have to close MP, go into the settings, and change the monitor.

Because the plasma and the svideo are different resolutions, I can't use "Clone mode" on my gfx card. I have tried using UltraMon to mirror the monitors, but that leaves the video choppy on the mirror monitor.

So, what I would like would be either:
1. display MP on two monitors simultaneously
2. have two instances of MP running simultaneously (ideally linked to the same databases etc)
3. have a quick way to move MP from one monitor to the other (preferably by linking to a button on the X10 remote that I use)
4. another solution I havent thought of.

Sorry for the long post, and TIA!

V

 

[tourettes]

Internally MP wont allow running multiple instances. So in short such scenario is not possible.

 

[V15]

Wow, now that's a quick response!

Thanks a lot - I assumed that this wouldn't be possible.

Does anyone have any ideas as to whether or not (3) is possible?

Thanks again

V

 

[p13man]

Does anyone have any ideas as to whether or not (3) is possible?

I've not tried recently, but as far as I can remember UltraMon can do it from it's systray icon via a right click or with a hot key which you should be able to map to your remote - i know that you had probs with it but it sounds like that was due to using clone mode which you won't need to use. It can also be done with Nvidia's nView - you don't say what yr gfx card is so this might not be of any help.

 

[V15]

Thanks a lot - I'll have a look at that tonight. I do have nvidia graphics cards (an FX5200 and a 8600GT, I think), so may check out nview first.

 

[V15]

I've been looking into this further, and I can make it such that I can move the window from one screen to the other, using either: nview, ultramon or winsplit.

The only problem I have found so far is that I can't use "FullScreen" mode, i.e. I always am left with an XP title bar at the top of the screen. I think that the simplest solution in the short term will be to find an XP skin that looks good with MP, but I would be interested in any other ideas to get around this, if anyone has them?

Thanks

V

 

[p13man]

V15-

I always am left with an XP title bar at the top of the screen.

Stupid question, I know, but have you checked 'full screen mode', 'hide task bar in full screen mode' and 'keep MP always on top' in the genera; tab of the config menu?

Looking into another project, I came across this:

"EventGhost gives the user a GUI to configure macros that do all kind of things like:

* launching applications
* emulating keystrokes
* emulating mouse movements and clicks
* control the soundcard
* move, resize, etc. windows on the desktop
* execute Python scripts (Python interpreter and editor is built-in)
* transmit IR-codes to external consumer equipment, if you have a supported IR-transceiver.
* control external hardware devices like projectors and other media equipment through RS232 communication
* extensive control of programs, that have special communication interfaces, like some media players

and everything some code can do, as these list of actions can also be extended through plugins. "

More here (link).

 

[V15]

Hi P13

I had ticked the "fullscreen mode" button in MP, and it looks great (and works great) without title bar etc. The problem is that it doesn't seem to like being moved onto a different monitor when its in this mode.

Having played around with it, I have realised that alt-return (or ctrl-return - im on a different pc) will put MP back into windowed mode, from full screen. I think that the program you linked to will let me set a particular button on the remote to automate the keystrokes to "window", move screen, maximise. Thanks for the link - It looks to be just the business. I really wish there were a way to have MP across both simultaneously. I may have to resort to looking at a different app to run on the other monitor full time - a pity really, but it may be the simplest solution.


Thanks again all - will let you know if I come up with a spectacular solution.