Netflix Search and Viewer

[mikeh49]

After some further testing of my full-screen remote issue with the latest version of the app, I've got the following comments/questions:

• All testing was done with the Hauppuage 45 button remote using the basic Hauppauge IR software.
  
• I think we still need the Search, Options and Movie Viewer sections in the irremote.ini file. When I commented them out in the Applications section, I could not exit from the pop-ups. When I put them back in, the button mapped to the ESC key worked.
  
• I still cannot exit from full screen with the remote, nor do pause/play work in full-screen from the remote. After exiting using alt-F4 from the keyboard, the remote works as expected (mostly, see below). Rewind and fast forward also work from the remote.
  
• I have the blue remote button programmed as F10. When not in full-screen, it brings up the info screen as expected. However, pressing it again to exit the info screen does not work, I get the default button mapping, not F10. F10 from the keyboard does work. It looks like the information "window" has focus and has a different name.
  

My irremote.ini file is attached for review. It is not cleaned up and looks ugly, so be kind.

Otherwise, everything worked fine. I like the consistent use of ESC to exit the pop-ups.

[Snooze]

After some further testing of my full-screen remote issue with the latest version of the app, I've got the following comments/questions:

• All testing was done with the Hauppuage 45 button remote using the basic Hauppauge IR software.
  
• I think we still need the Search, Options and Movie Viewer sections in the irremote.ini file. When I commented them out in the Applications section, I could not exit from the pop-ups. When I put them back in, the button mapped to the ESC key worked.
  
• I still cannot exit from full screen with the remote, nor do pause/play work in full-screen from the remote. After exiting using alt-F4 from the keyboard, the remote works as expected (mostly, see below). Rewind and fast forward also work from the remote.
  
• I have the blue remote button programmed as F10. When not in full-screen, it brings up the info screen as expected. However, pressing it again to exit the info screen does not work, I get the default button mapping, not F10. F10 from the keyboard does work. It looks like the information "window" has focus and has a different name.
  

My irremote.ini file is attached for review. It is not cleaned up and looks ugly, so be kind.

Otherwise, everything worked fine. I like the consistent use of ESC to exit the pop-ups.

Try this, put them above "default" in the applications part of the irremote.ini like this:

[Applications]
Movie Viewer=
NetflixTXViewer=
Options=
Search=
Default=

Then restart remote.

[mikeh49]

OK, that works. I saw you had them above in your post, but didn't think it made any difference. I've added several apps to irremote, and always put them below [Default]. I think only the [Movie Viewer] entry needs to be above [Default]. I have it that way and everything works fine.

Now for the unintended consequences. I use buttons mapped in the [Default] section to do some things like start PVRX2, other players or reset the HDMI output. It appears with Movie Viewer above Default, Movie Viewer takes precedence, and the Default button mappings don't work. Luckily there are no conflicts between my custom buttons and Movie Viewers native buttons, so I just moved my buttons into the Movie Viewer section and all is well. Not pretty, but it works. Apparently the order of applications in the [Applications] section is significant, at least for the first entry. I think I will do some more research on irremote and try to figure out a cleaner way to set this up. For now, all is well. Thanks, Snooze.

[mikeh49]

In the Options screen, it appears tab and shift-tab are used to move between fields. The documentation implies enter moves to the next field, but I don't think it does. Also, could you add some indication when the two check boxes are selected? In the number entry fields, they go to reverse colors to indicate the field is selected. The check boxes appear to do nothing. I think Windows outlines them with a dashed line? Also, not sure how you check or uncheck the box with a remote. An OK toggle seems logical to me.

[dhgb256]

In the Options screen, it appears tab and shift-tab are used to move between fields. The documentation implies enter moves to the next field, but I don't think it does. Also, could you add some indication when the two check boxes are selected? In the number entry fields, they go to reverse colors to indicate the field is selected. The check boxes appear to do nothing. I think Windows outlines them with a dashed line? Also, not sure how you check or uncheck the box with a remote. An OK toggle seems logical to me.

I clarified the documentation. Tab = forward navigation and shift-tab = backward navigation.

Widows does outline the checkbox field, but it isn't very noticable. I could do the same with the check boxes as I do with the OK and cancel buttons. Would that work?

Also, I can add in the OK toggle. In the mean time to toggle you hit space bar, which should be mapped to play/pause buttons.

[mikeh49]

Thanks. The highlight like you already use is fine for the check boxes. OK is intuitive for me for a check box, but OK is currently mapped to enter. Enter doesn't seem to do anything in Options; if true, then OK can be mapped to space. If enter is used, then we'll just map space to something we like. Is the space toggle in the documentation?

I think you're pretty much ready for prime time. How about launching it in the Community Announcements forum?

[dhgb256]

In options you can use enter to select a new genre rather than clicking on the select button. So if you want to change genres quickly you just select one and hit enter twice and it will load the main screen with the new genre. So, I'll just add the enter key to act like the space bar. The space bar thing is just a standard keyboard command to toggle, it works as a default for just about any check box and you can use it to click buttons too.

There is just one mild annoyance I'd like to clear up with the focus issues on the movie viewer screen before a full release. Currently if you are watching a movie and you alt-tab away from the screen, when you alt-tab back the play/pause and rw/ff buttons won't work unless you go to full screen and back out of full screen. This is an easy work around for it, but I'd like to get it to send the commands no matter what. Hopefully I'll move it over early next week.

[dhgb256]

OK guys, I haven't made any functionality changes this time around, mostly internal annoyance stuff (except your latest requests Mike). I think I have fixed the focus issues. If you alt-tab away from my program and then alt-tab back to it, you should now see that focus is returned to the top most screen. Additionally, if you alt-tab away from the movie viewer screen and return the pause/play and ff/rw buttons now work. You may have to hit the button twice when you first return to get them working, but it is working pretty smoothly now.

Please give it a thorough once over and let me know if you find anything amiss. If not, then I will go ahead and release it.

Thanks for all your hard work and suggestions, they have really helped improve this program. I can't wait to get it out there and see how it does!

-DH

[mikeh49]

Installed on my test machine and looks pretty good. I like the Options screen colors now. (The red was pretty intense!) Enter or space to toggle the check boxes works fine.

Haven't tried on the HTPC yet.

Couple of thoughts on the Search screen:

• How about enlarging the choice box to include all three search parameters? It seems like there is plenty of screen space for this, and it would be readily apparent to users that there are three search choices.
  
• When viewing the search results, ESC takes me back to the main screen. Has it always been this way? Seems more logical to me to go back to the Search box to make a new selection since I may not have found what I was looking for. (At least I never get it the first time!)
  

These aren't show stoppers.

Mike

[dhgb256]

• How about enlarging the choice box to include all three search parameters? It seems like there is plenty of screen space for this, and it would be readily apparent to users that there are three search choices.
  
• When viewing the search results, ESC takes me back to the main screen. Has it always been this way? Seems more logical to me to go back to the Search box to make a new selection since I may not have found what I was looking for. (At least I never get it the first time!)
  

Yes, I will increase the list box size, if you use the default font I think all three items are visible, but I can make it auto resize.

As for the search screen, I went with esc to close all screens. This way if you hit esc you can close any screen you are in without accidentally closing the entire application. If you need to restart your search, you can just hit the tab or shift-tab key until you are on the first list and it will reset your choices and you can start over.