Drawing UiStatic

[mvallevand]

I am having trouble with UiStatic's not being redrawn if I don't use a ForceRePaint

Code:

long slen = 0;
            for (int i = 0; i < 8 && slen < 250000; i++)
            {

                try
                {
                    FileInfo flen = new FileInfo(myVlcRecorder.outputFile);
                    slen = flen.Length;
                    flen = null;
                    Hashtable args = new Hashtable();
                    args["@nowPlaying"] = "Buffered " + slen.ToString();
                    nowPlayingUiStatic.SetArgs(args);
                    PluginHelperFactory.getPluginHelper().ForceRepaint();
                }
                catch
                {
                    slen = 0;
                }
                Thread.Sleep(1000);
            }

I assume this is because the Sleep blocks needsRendering(), but I tried with a Timer too and that seems no better because I guess the needsRendering() doesn't work when the code is in another thread. I've fought this for a couple of evenings. Is there are better solution?

Martin

[sub]

Instead of blocking, you could try doing it asynchronously. ie, do something like this:

Code:

private DateTime bufferingStartTime = DateTime.Min;

Code:

// in place of your code above
   bufferingStartTime = DateTime.Now;

Code:

// in needsRendering
  public override bool needsRendering()
  {
     ...
     if (bufferingStartTime != DateTime.Min)
     {
        if (bufferingStartTime < DateTime.Now.AddSeconds(10))
        {
            FileInfo flen = new FileInfo(myVlcRecorder.outputFile);
            slen = flen.Length;
            flen = null;
            Hashtable args = new Hashtable();
            args["@nowPlaying"] = "Buffered " + slen.ToString();
            nowPlayingUiStatic.SetArgs(args);

            // check if we're already buffered enough
            if (slen > 250000)
                bufferingStartTime = DateTime.Min;

            if (nowPlayingUiStatic.needsRendering())
                return true;
        }
        else
        {
            ...maybe some handling here to check filesize didnt get to the require size in the timeout period...
        }
     }
     ...
  }

or something like that.

[mvallevand]

Ok, I am starting to get that the needsRendering() can become huge. Would the muxex I would have add block too or will I just release it in needsRendering()?

Martin

[sub]

Would the muxex I would have add block too or will I just release it in needsRendering()?

What mutex? All the calls to your plugin form GB-PVR will come in on the same thread, so you dont need to be worried about needsRendering() getting called at the same time as anything else.

ie, if you're lauched some process in response to a keystroke or button, and it was started transcoding (using something like ffmpeg), then while you're waiting for it to get to a particular size, you can regularly check its size in needsRendering(), which is called very regularly by the app. There is no background threads, but the processing is being done asynchronously (think bit-at-time, like a state machine).

[mvallevand]

The thread sync problem I was thinking about was handling of the mvp comm. thread 6 and mvp streaming thread 7 both returning MusicStopping. I was trying to figure some way to harmonize this when someone clicks on a new station while music is playing. After thinking about your comments I will need a much better state machine than I have now.

Martin