Problems with ExternalRecorder plugin

[frazer]

thanks, I'll try these things later and report back.

Frazer

[frazer]

yup, you were right; activating and then deactivating anything frees up the keyboard. but unfortunately this doesn't solve my problem though, as presumably I wouldn't be able to activate anything with my remote if the keyboard is locked.

changing to vmr7/9 from overlay doesn't make any difference; I don't think these settings are relevant when using the XCard.

looks like I've reached a bit of an impasse at the moment!

thanks

Frazer

[normanr]

I think it might be possible to add a call to a program that would set the focus back to GB-PVR, but otherwise I'm out of ideas.

[pBS]

try running the command from a batch file from the external recorder..
that way,gbpvr would think the process has completed and shift focus back to itself... seems to work for custom commands..
[and DOn't use a start /w 'wait' command in batch file..]

to use batch from gbpvr you have to type @comspec in executable box [it will become "c:\winxp\cmd.exe" or whatever is correct automatically]
then for parameters, type in " /c whateveryourbatchfileis.bat {filename} {channel}"
so the end command would run "c:\winxp\cmd.exe /c batchfile.bat extra-params etc."
also,in batch file remember to use %1 instead of your first extra parameter,%2 for second,etc..

[eg: " /c vlcview.bat {filename} {channel}" as parameters in external rec. and
vlc.exe [etc. etc.] :duplicate{dst=std{access=file,mux=ps,url="%1"}}
in batch file named vlcview.bat
you have to do this cuz gbpvr can't run batch files directly..
hope that helps..

[normanr]

The only problem with using the batch file is that gb-pvr can't stop the recording.

[pBS]

how does it stop the recording?

[pBS]

i'm almost done with my .xgr graph runner..
i have one that is just a converter with mpeg in,mpeg out..
other one still finishing up for my ati usb wonder 2
basically you make your graph, my exe then alters some parameters and runs it..
[replacing the infile and outfile,etc.]
the one for my ati i'm making it select the graph by the channel number so i can preset a graph for each channel..
if all goes well it should make it a usable graph runner for ANY card
the .xgr files store the paremeters for ALL filters when set...
from channel to encoder to out filename..
can even have differnet compression for every channel
why i was asking about the way it stops the recording....i wanna make it work as seamlessly as possible..
it's amazing what u can do with auto-it...lol
thanx

[frazer]

Hello again,

Thanks for the new ideas- not sure I'm really capable of making anything of them though!

I was now thinking of just making myself a batch file to try and launch myTheatre from within GBPVR, but I've never made batch files before and, despite reading around a bit, I'm still not totally clear how much they can do.

I know I can launch myTheatre easily enough, but can I get a batch file to close GBPVR first so that it frees up the XCard (mpeg decoder), and then, on one particular key command that I could map to my remote, to close myTheatre again and reopen GBPVR? Or is this asking too much?

Failing that, is it possible at least to get a batch file to open myTheatre for just a set short period of time (without shutting GBPVR as I wouldn't have to see it in this instance), leaving me back in GBPVR when this time has elapsed?

Basically, this would allow me to fill up the myTheatre epg from time to time without having to view Windows (which isn't displayed on the Xcard), which I then can import into GBPVR using a handy little utility that transfers the epg to an xml file. I need this facility as the GBPVR DVB epg update leaves big gaps in the very near future sometimes, and my HTPC is not connected to the internet.

Thanks for any further advice,

Frazer

[pBS]

a batch could open mytheater but would leave it open,if yuo could map a remote command to close it that's active only when it has focus then when you shut it down,you'd be back at gbpvr...

oh and also there's a viewer for the desktop [kinda like vnc,but works even over an mvp] it's kinda cumbersome but if it's just simple stuff you want to do it could handle it...not sure if it would output on the xcard...do you get gbpvr menus on that as well as video? it uses the bitmap display capabilities of gbpvr..it's called X_View [on the wiki]
batch files are just scripts of commands,they can't do anything by themselves,it's all the other command line commands that give it power..
[mostly dos stuff] if you'd like to learn scripting there's vbscript or ii use auto-it,a free script language that is pretty powerfull in windows..
but definitely not for you if you're new to batch files...

if you just run mytheater from custom button, and fix remote to be able to shut it down somehow,it will return to gbpvr when it's done,as far as i know it will display black screen in gbpvr so won't be actively using the x-card till you come back..but not sure..

[frazer]

thanks a lot; I guess the easiest route then is to just open myTheatre, and, as long as it has the priority of the keyboard/remote with GBPVR still open, just close it again manually after a short time, without being able to see what I'm doing (I think the Xcard is held by GBPVR when you open another program, which is why I wondered if GBPVR could be told to shut down first)

I was just hoping it might all be done in one button press for user friendliness (or is it greediness), but I suppose for that I would need to know certain command lines that operate within myTheatre, which I'm not sure are available like in other software.

I'll check out the viewer for the desktop sometime too- not sure what the situation would be with the XCard

thanks again,

Frazer