New user new install and a few "issues"

[mvallevand]

Yes.

There is a bit of a quirky difference between going up vs down when the number if items are equal to the number of display items, but its the same on default and copy of default.

Sorry, I had a typo "visibleButons" in my copy. With visibile > actual it works better because it stays locked, but the first/default item seems to be at the end.

Martin

[rkircher]

I'm sure, because there is several differences from in your screenshot from what vertical.xml would give, and you also would have broken it with that xml change you mentioned (and would have resulted in error message) Given these, I'm sure you're using other files.

I've attached the complete skin though, minus the "_Backgrounds" folder to keep the attachment size down.

It depends what you mean by "you're not using the vertical.xml I supplied" because I have the Vertical.xml file that you sent me as an attachment in message 165 installed in the proper directory on my system . I just reviewed the text, and my screen shot in message 166, and found it all to be correct. But I agree with you that my running version of NPVR 2.3.6 does not seem to be using (or perhaps finding) the Vertical.xml file. It particularly does not seem to be responding to the visualButtons="N" statement.

To be sure, I copied your Vertical.xml to a different (Linux) computer changing the filename to Vertical Vertical-sub-msg165.xml so I could use better utilities to compare files. I copied and moved the installed file and renamed it to Vertical-installed.xml and ran the diff file comparison utility. Byte for byte the files are the same (except for visualButtons and 1st line, see msg #171), so your Vertical.xml is definitely installed in my working Windows XP computer that I use for running NPVR.

In summary, changes I make to Config.xml effect the menu layout albeit in unpredictable and random illogical ways. All changes I have made to Vertical.xml as I described in my message #166 have had no effect.

All the files that I think might be related to the menu layout are included in the attachment including the 4-menu item Main Menu screenshot. All files are coordinated with message #166 including the NPVR.log file which may be (I don't know) indicating that all needed files are NOT found:
2012-03-19 07:59:46.578 [DEBUG][1] Loaded menu item: TV Guide
2012-03-19 07:59:48.171 [DEBUG][1] Loaded menu item: Recordings
2012-03-19 07:59:48.171 [DEBUG][1] Loaded menu item: Live TV
2012-03-19 07:59:48.187 [DEBUG][1] Loaded menu item: Exit
2012-03-19 07:59:58.250 [ERROR][1] Error initialising Direct3D: SlimDX.Direct3D9.Direct3DX9NotFoundException: Direct3DX 9 was not found.

Thanks to all who replied with messages on Sunday. If there is a way to reinstall NPVR or apply patches that will only update the Main Menu, I would be happy to try if you can tell me what to delete before proceeding and/or other selective install specifics. What else can I do to trouble-shoot the menu problem in my system?

[sub]

It depends what you mean by "you're not using the vertical.xml I supplied" because I have the Vertical.xml file that you sent me as an attachment in message 165 installed in the proper directory on my system . I just reviewed the text, and my screen shot in message 166, and found it all to be correct. But I agree with you that my running version of NPVR 2.3.6 does not seem to be using (or perhaps finding) the Vertical.xml file. It particularly does not seem to be responding to the visualButtons="N" statement.

If it was using the vertical.xml I'd supplied, then your screen would look like my screenshot in post #165. ie, text is further left, 5 rows of text, left side of screen shaded.

To be sure, I copied your Vertical.xml to a different (Linux) computer changing the filename to Vertical Vertical-sub-msg165.xml so I could use better utilities to compare files. I copied and moved the installed file and renamed it to Vertical-installed.xml and ran the diff file comparison utility. Byte for byte the files are the same (except for visualButtons and 1st line, see msg #171), so your Vertical.xml is definitely installed in my working Windows XP computer that I use for running NPVR.

I wasn't implying you didnt overwrite or update C:\Users\Public\NPVR\Skin\Default\Menu\Vertical.xml, but rather that this wasn't the skin it was using, so it was looking elsewhere for these files.

Zip and attach your config.xml, and check what the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\NPVR\DataDirectory points to (this will give us an indication where it's looking for the skin files).

[mvallevand]

FWIW, those log shows the skin is not Default.

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\NPVR\skin\RAK\

Martin

[sub]

Yep - that'd be it.

[rkircher]

Yep - that'd be it.

Sounds like good news, but I don't know why! I think the revelation is that NPVR is using the skin in my RAK directory instead of the one in the Default directory. I'm sure my intent some time in the past was to protect the NPVR installer from over-writing whatever I put in the RAK directory. So what do I do to fix it? Also, what's wrong with the one in the RAK directory since I would not have saved something that didn't work?

[sub]

Sounds like good news, but I don't know why! I think the revelation is that NPVR is using the skin in my RAK directory instead of the one in the Default directory. I'm sure my intent some time in the past was to protect the NPVR installer from over-writing whatever I put in the RAK directory. So what do I do to fix it?

Just select the 'Default' skin on the Settings->General screen. See the 'active skin' setting. At some point you made a copy of the default skin, or downloaded it from someone, and told NextPVR to use it.

Also, what's wrong with the one in the RAK directory since I would not have saved something that didn't work?

I dont follow you. I'm not sure what you're asking. I dont know anything about this RAK skin you've been using.

[rkircher]

Just select the 'Default' skin on the Settings->General screen. See the 'active skin' setting. At some point you made a copy of the default skin, or downloaded it from someone, and told NextPVR to use it.

Oh yeah, now I remember! I messed with this back in version 2.0.3 and forgot that config.xml keeps track of User directories like the RAK directory I had created and forgotten about. Anyway, that's why the changes to Vertical.xml were not being read by the NPVR software.

I dont follow you. I'm not sure what you're asking. I dont know anything about this RAK skin you've been using.

I was wondering, and trying to ask why the XML files in the RAK directory, that used to work, stopped working. I assumed they were good and should have worked because I saved them for that reason. I can't remember if I ever completely corrected the problem that I was messing with in version 2.0.3, but the "new" default that I just activated has a similar screwy behaviour when using the UP / DOWN arrow keys on the keyboard to make a menu selection.

The DOWN arrow key moves the selection marker downward until the bottom is reached, then all kinds of screwy scrolling/rolling action takes place. Depending how visualButtons="N" is set, the order of the menu goes into a full or partial roll to completely scramble the menu items. The UP arrow key does not induce this rolling action of the menu items and therefore can't be used to unscramble the menu! In my opinion, the UP / DOWN keys should only move the selection arrows up and down and they should work the same except for their direction. When time permits, I hope the Vertical Menu software will be rewritten completely instead of starting with the Horizontal Menu software which should require scrolling.

Anyway, I've learned my lesson and won't try to fix that problem any more because it seems other NPVR software (not XML) that is out of the User's control is changing along with the XML files that change with time (like the visualButtons="N" entry that did not even exist in earlier versions). With these kind of undocumented changes going on, it is pointless, and even counter-productive to save any other configurations in Settings => General that is different than the Default because it will sooner or later become obsolete and not work to create User confusion. BTW, I am not complaining and understand that changes are necessary. NPVR is fine software and generally works well considering it's written for Windows that is the mother of all problems. I sure wish there was a Linux or open source version of NPVR, but that's a whole different can of worms. Thanks for your help and everyone on the forum. --Dick

[sub]

I was wondering, and trying to ask why the XML files in the RAK directory, that used to work, stopped working. I assumed they were good and should have worked because I saved them for that reason.

Things move on though, and that skin was designed for several releases ago. Usually the skin authors make minor tweaks and compatibility updates with each new release. If it's broken, then chance are it was in need of some of these types of tweaks. That said, I'm not convinced there was anything significant that was changed or broken in the menus over the last few releases.

visibleButtons="x" has always been possible, and is not new. The default always used the default number of buttons so never needed to change specify this.

I can't remember if I ever completely corrected the problem that I was messing with in version 2.0.3, but the "new" default that I just activated has a similar screwy behaviour when using the UP / DOWN arrow keys on the keyboard to make a menu selection.

As I pointed out to Martin, I did see unexpected behaviour for up vs down. Its never been reported before because everyone else has more menu items enabled than are visible. I've fixed this for the next release.

When time permits, I hope the Vertical Menu software will be rewritten completely

"rewritten completely" seems a bit extreme. The only problem we've seen is a fairly minor bug with the behaviour of the up/down key, which was only evident if the user disabled most things. This bug is fixed for the next release.

[rkircher]

That said, I'm not convinced there was anything significant that was changed or broken in the menus over the last few releases.

From your knowledge base and point of view, I agree totally, but I'll just say from a User's experience, I have spent many hours in confusion, frustration, and trial-and-error mode to correct peculiar behaviour reported to me by my wife with the expectation that I should be able to easily fix anything that is so obvious to her post haste. I think this Main Menu thing has been nagging me since the Vertical menu was introduced, so I'm delighted it is resolved.

visibleButtons="x" has always been possible, and is not new. The default always used the default number of buttons so never needed to change specify this.

Too true, but the visibleButtons was the first thing you told me about, and nobody ever mentioned visibleButtons over the years while I was trying different skins given to me to fix what was probably the same Main Menu problem all along. Some times the Devil is in the Details. All other cases are governed by Murphy's Law.

"rewritten completely" seems a bit extreme. The only problem we've seen is a fairly minor bug with the behaviour of the up/down key, which was only evident if the user disabled most things. This bug is fixed for the next release.

Sorry, I meant rewritten "functionally" without the scrolling idea and NO need for visibleButtons associated with the Horizontal menu, because Vertical functions entirely differently. Again, thanks for everything. I'm looking forward to the next release with baited breath ;-)