New version of StartPVRX2

[liteswap]

I've picked up my old StartGBPVR, as updated by daphatty and others (thanks guys for updating it for PVRX2) and given it a few tweaks.

Briefly, this app keeps PVRX2 in the foreground so Windows pop-ups and other apps and messages don't stop dedicated media PCs from being used as intended.

What's new:
1. You can now configure the delay before PVRX2 gets the focus - check out the tray icon
2. The app will now not switch focus to PVRX2 while the mouse is being used so you can work on the PC without having to kill or pause the script.
3. Fixed one minor bug
4. I've bumped the version number to 1.6

I'll get around to updating the wiki sometime soon - the original entry explains in more detail the purpose of the app. Note that StartPVRX2 is compatible with the latest version of PVRX2 (1.2.13 at the time of writing).

In the meantime, here's the original support thread.

You can pick up the files (Autoit source and compiled) here (this is a new link).

[mkenyon2]

Does this do for MVPs what MVP server checker does?

[liteswap]

Sorry - not really familiar with MVPs. Can you fill me in on what that means? Thanks.

[mkenyon2]

MVP server checker is on the wiki.
http://gbpvr.com/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Utili...verChecker

It is supposed to keep a background copy of PVRX2 running so the MVP (Hauppaugge's media extender) has something to connect to.

Perhaps... ahem... Zehd could offer his two cents. I'd hate to see duplication of efforts.

[liteswap]

<scurries off to wiki>

Yep, looks like it does something similar (I must confess I wasn't aware of this since I don't use an MVP). Horses for courses I guess: my app is aimed at only at PVRX2 and in particular, those who use the system in a media PC/domestic environment, rather than a PC with mixed roles, hence the minimal UI. Zehd's looks more advanced and multi-purpose (I might steal the PVRX2 CPU priority idea though ).

I wrote my utility because I enjoyed the programming challenge (I'm not a programmer by trade) and because it does exactly what I need it to do, no more, no less. It's up to anyone else if their needs are similar/identical to mine - feel free to use it or not, as the case may be.

[mkenyon2]

I don't know if I've ever actually needed the MVP support the other utility uses. And at times it has trouble keeping PVRX2 up. (If the system reboots, I will find HIP up in front of PVRX2.) It does have some nice features.

I can understand the thrill of trying to program when that isn't your main trade. I must warn you... if you continue down that path, it may BECOME your main trade.

I will continue to monitor both Utilities.

[venger]

cool! thanx for yr efforts liteswap!
will surely give it a go ... ciao

[Satori]

How does this handle custom tasks that pop up in front of PVRx2?

I would like to use it on my system, but worry about it bringing PVRx2 to the foreground when I am watching a DVD with PowerDVD through a custom task.

[liteswap]

It's designed to keep PVRX2 in the foreground so that's what it does.

I guess though that it wouldn't be too hard to check whether the active window is PowerDVD and wait until it quits (does it quit or just minimise?). I'd have to think about it before I start making exceptions as to the best way of handling it - PowerDVD is unlikely to be the only such task.

[drugstore_cowboy]

Hey Liteswap,

I really hate going into the Video Library and checking folders that tend to be empty. If you're interested I have a stand alone that I call within the updateepg.bat file which will check the video subdirectories and delete them if there is no videos found. This might be something that is already handled in a newer version of GBPVR or another plugin but if you like, feel free to add this as an option within StartPVRX2.

[SIZE="2"];/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
;// Remove directories that do not contain video //
;////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

;Enumerate the directory
$RecordedTV = "D:\Recordings\" - you might find this location in the Reg but I didn't bother
$DirSearch = FileFindFirstFile($RecordedTV & "*.*")

; Check if the directory parse was successful
If $DirSearch = -1 Or @error = 1 Then
Exit ;No directories found - pure evil and should never happen
EndIf

While $DirSearch = 1
$DelFolder = True ;reset each time to ensure we do not delete

$Folder = FileFindNextFile($DirSearch)
If $Folder = "" Then
FileClose($Folder)
ExitLoop
EndIf

;Check each file to see if we have a video (you may want to read this in from a file so a user can add/remove file extensions
;If you read in from file you can throw a loop in to check for all ext.
$AviFileSearch = FileFindFirstFile($RecordedTV & $Folder & "\*.avi")
$MpgFileSearch = FileFindFirstFile($RecordedTV & $Folder & "\*.mpg")
If $AviFileSearch > 1 Or $MpgFileSearch > 1 Then
;Set a flag so as not to delete it
$DelFolder = "False"
EndIf
FileClose($AviFileSearch)
FileClose($MpgFileSearch)
If $DelFolder = "True" Then
DirRemove ($RecordedTV & $Folder,1 )
EndIf
If @error Then ExitLoop
WEnd
FileClose ($DirSearch)[/SIZE]