Non-PC clients

[imilne]

Not having access to such a device, I have no idea how they work...

I was thinking of doing something that would rewrite a skin file based on the user's actions. On a normal PC (or even a client PC) this shouldn't be a problem, because the skin will be in a writeable location.

But what happens with other clients (popcorn hours and wotnot)? Can they even *have* plugins installed? Or do they just run "core" NPVR?

Iain

[ACTCMS]

Other clients such as the PCH can indeed run plugins. There will be a seperate instance of NextPVR.exe running on the server for each active PCH, so I don't see any reason why you couldn't rewrite skin files.

Your problems will start when clients make conflicting changes...:eek: Maybe your orginal idea of having multiple skin files would be a better way to go.

Alex

[imilne]

This was for a different thing (within the same plugin), but that was my worry, that different clients (ie users) would end up with conflicts.

Thinking about it though, the same thing must happen with any setting if it goes into config.xml, because both server and client have to share that?

Iain

[ACTCMS]

My plugin uses it's own config with seperate nodes for each client.

Alex

[imilne]

How do you identify a client? With the following perhaps?

Code:

PluginHelperFactory.GetPluginHelper().GetClientIdentifier()

What sort of results does it return? I see "PC" for my current install, but can't test a PC client at the moment to see what it would say for that, never mind a PCH.

Iain

[ACTCMS]

I use

Code:

myClientID = PluginHelperFactory.GetPluginHelper().GetClientIdentifier();
if (myClientID == "PC")
    myClientID = myClientID + "-" + System.Environment.MachineName;

which returns 'PC-SONY02' for my server PC (AFAIK GetClientIdentifier() returns PC for a PC client) and 'MVP-000DFE237D4E' for an MVP or a PCH.

Alex

[mvallevand]

It returns MVP- or PCH- followed by the MAC address of the device in capitals ie

PCH-0006DC41CE68

I think rewriting the config.xml from a client is risky, too many posts about the odd config.xml in System32 folder I guess. My plugins write to their own XML file and only use the Windows interface in config not from the 10' interface to update it.

As for the skin, depending on what you are writing, I'd be worried about creating something that would be hard for people who write custom skins to maintain.

Martin

[Jaggy]

Not having access to such a device, I have no idea how they work...
But what happens with other clients (popcorn hours and wotnot)? Can they even *have* plugins installed? Or do they just run "core" NPVR? Iain

I am constantly amazed how few users have found out what the NMT's when connected to NextPVR will do :confused::confused:

Way back in the dim distant dark ages (well about six or seven years ago) when I was first setting up my first PVR after much reading I was wondering why most users weren't using extenders (MVP's in those days) instead of PC's direct &/or PC clients??

I haven't changed my view on this these days (NMT's now), I still can't see why you would piss around trying to get codecs etc to play ball & have a noisy PC somewhere near the TV when you can hook up a silent box that only costs $105US + freight etc. that is tiny by the TV then run a network cable & have 99% of NextPVR operational on you TV in about 20 minutes, it will even downscale HD stuff to SD if you have a crap old TV etc. etc. etc..

BTW I have NMT's if you hadn't gathered so I can test that stuff for you if you want during development of the plugin.

[imilne]

As for the skin, depending on what you are writing, I'd be worried about creating something that would be hard for people who write custom skins to maintain.

I was planning on allowing the user to turn fanart on or off on a per list-view basis (which would be per skin). I figured I could just (re)write a <skin fanart=true> entry for them or something. I've changed my mind now after this thread so will do it elsewhere. Perhaps in a DB with primary keys based on the client IDs.

Iain

[imilne]

I still can't see why you would piss around trying to get codecs etc to play ball & have a noisy PC somewhere near the TV when you can hook up a silent box that only costs $105US + freight etc. that is tiny by the TV then run a network cable & have 99% of NextPVR operational on you TV in about 20 minutes, it will even downscale HD stuff to SD if you have a crap old TV etc. etc. etc..

There's me, the wife, and a baby. One TV, one very silent PC, and lots of expensive electricity. The fewer devices the better

BTW I have NMT's if you hadn't gathered so I can test that stuff for you if you want during development of the plugin.

That would be great. Might even have something you could look at by this weekend if all goes to plan!

Iain