Community Skin future direction??

[K.S.]

The exact opposite is the reason for the installer in the first place. Primarily due to there not being a consistant method of creating the zip file. Some giving the whole path, others just the skin.xml file. We can work around it by making a standard for how to zip up the files.

I think part of the reason for 13,000 downloads of CS3 and the SkinPlugin is that it is just so easy to install and (in most functional areas) use. I think breaking up the install and forcing people to hunt for plugin specific zip files (which have no knowledge of version numbers) would be a step backward.

ok, forget that about going back to zip files. making a standard how to zip does not help anyone to automaticaly unzip in the right folder (gbpvr program folder). how about putting the sources into an cvs/subversion system for ease of built?

[MixMan]

ok, forget that about going back to zip files. making a standard how to zip does not help anyone to automaticaly unzip in the right folder (gbpvr program folder). how about putting the sources into an cvs/subversion system for ease of built?

Actually I used a batch file for the WebRadio plugin that identfies where GBPVR is installed and installs the files, stops recording service if needed and update config.xml with values.

Here is a zip of the web radio plugin that will stop the recording service, install the plugin and all skin files for Blue, Community3 and Basic skin + a sample radio station file....then start the recording servce. The batch file can also update any GBPVR file or plugin files.
Just run CopyToInstallDir.BAT file and everything is copied to the right places

It's very easy to use this batch file and a directory trees in the zip.
I guess it is possible o make a program that does the same things the BAT file does....a mini Installer program.

I have also put togheter a Reflect DarkBlue Theme for Community3 and the Basic skin that uses the same method. It will copy all files to the SkinPlugin and the Basic skin. It's large 16 MB
You can download it from my home PC
http://startop.homeftp.net/mcs/themes/In...-Basic.zip

[Fatman_do]

Mixman, Hairy, McBainUK, all good ideas. I think if all these options are spelled out so that the contributor and end user can meet their needs, then we are on track. K.S., I don't know the first thing about cvs/subversion methods so I cannot comment on them. Sounds like an idea for the "geek elite" and might not suit those that cannot figure out zip files.

Mixman, would you consider doing writeup on the wiki about your batch-file+zip file method? Maybe others would be interested in that distribution method.

[MixMan]

Mixman, would you consider doing writeup on the wiki about your batch-file+zip file method? Maybe others would be interested in that distribution method.

Yes, I will write some instructions and post them on the wiki as "Batch Installer" .... some day....next week.

[K.S.]

K.S., I don't know the first thing about cvs/subversion methods so I cannot comment on them. Sounds like an idea for the "geek elite" and might not suit those that cannot figure out zip files.

that was just an idea how to share the source behind CS for the developers, not intended for the end user
mixman's zips might do the trick for distribution to the end users

[MixMan]

I have written some documentation and structured the BAT files.
A friend wrote a simple GUI for the BAT files.
The Batch-Installer.exe will read Screenhots.jpgs from Screenshot folder and show a Readme.XXXXXX.txt file in the text window. It will launch the INSTALL.BAT file or the UNINSTALL.BAT file from the button.

Documentation written so far. Please give me feedback before I put it on the Wiki.



=============================================================
Installation of Plugins, Skins etc by using Batch-Installer
=============================================================

The Batch Installer method can be used to install almost everything into your current GBPVR
installation.
* Program and Plugin Patches
* Plugins
* Complete Skins
* Plugin Skins
* TV Channel Logos
* Radio Channel Logos

This Batch-Installer.exe will read Screenhot.jpgs from Screenshot folder and show a Readme.XXXXXX.txt file in the text window. It will launch the INSTALL.BAT file or the UNINSTALL.BAT file from the buttons.


** USAGE ***
It is really easy to use this method to install files into a GBPVR Installation.
Just put the files you want to install into the [InstallDir] sub folders.
All Files in the [InstallDir] folder tree will be copied to the GBPVR Installation.
The only thing you need to edit is the Remove Files in UnInstall.bat and
Rename the Readme.Batch-Installer.txt to Readme."YourPlugin".txt


*** INSTALL BATCH FILE ACTIONS ***
The Batch file will Kill a running PVRX2 and stop the RecordingService so files will not be lock for an update of files.
After the copying of files the RecordingService will be started and PVRX2 and Config will be launched.

============================================================
SECTIONS IN THE BATCH FILES
============================================================

*** Batch-Installer.EXE executes Install.BAT and ***
Show Readme.XXXXXX.txt as Title and Presentation text.
Show preview.jpg from .\Screenshot folder.
Detects the directory from where it is run.
Locates GBPVR installation folder and show it.
Run Install.bat and terminate itself.
Will run UnInstall.bat when button is pressed.

--- LOCATE GBPVR INSTALLATION DIRECTORY -----
The batch file will read a registry key to obtain the Installation Directory.

--- STOP RECORDING SERVICE -----
Then the RecordingService will be stoped during installation,
so ongoing recordings wil be terminated.

--- COPY FILES TO GBPVR INSTALLATION -----
The files in under the [InstallDir] directory structure
will be copied with XCOPY to your GBPVR installation.

--- MODIFY CONFIG VALUES -----
Values in XML files can be modified by using ASsetXML.exe

--- START RECORDING SERVICE -----
The Recording Service will restart.


============================================================

--- Updates ---
Updates can be found on the GBPVR Wiki.
http://gbpvr.com/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Devel...Installers


--- Feedback & Support ---
Feedback regarding functionality can be made at GBPVR Forum.