Step forward - only the brave ones!

[madcat]

Beta (Alfa?) testers needed! Got my first working version of my remote plugin.

What is it? it's a plugin to control some basic playback options of GB over a TCP connection.
It uses a very dumb (and may changed soon) protocol. It's so simple you can just telnet to the GB machine (default port 1234) and type "pause" and it will pause, "play" and it will resume, "prev", "next", "stop", "volup", "voldown", "chup", "chdown". New-line sends the command.

Also, on the recieving stream, the plugin will send you the current playing track/channel, and status (pause, etc.). This is done asynchronously.

As a bonus, I included an option to send a messege to the GB GUI. This means an application can use the TCP connection to pause the playback and display a message on screen (pause; "Alarm - door is open"), for home automation, baby monitoring, etc.

Bonus2 - I wrote a small client that operates these TCP commands. It looks like a primitive WinAmp. My GUI abilities are a bit (a lot) rusty, so it's not good looking. I made my best to separate the GUI part and the comm part, so someone can maybe write a nicer looking form for it (C# app).

Interested? Interested in helping me? PM me and I'll send you. No easy install yet or anything...

[SniperDude]

I might be willing to check it out... depends on 'installation' send me the details..

[madcat]

Well, I just had a test on another machine, and I already see that many of the methods under IPluginHelper are partially working (and I depend on them to do the work).

Sub? can you help out here?

On the other hand, if one of you experienced C#'ers can tell me, from within the IMenuTask, how can I send keys (or messages?) to the main app?
This can be an workaround the the problems in IPluginHelper, and also enhance my plugin alot.

Why won't "SendKeys" work?

[sub]

Well, I just had a test on another machine, and I already see that many of the methods under IPluginHelper are partially working (and I depend on them to do the work).

Sub? can you help out here?

What exactly is the question?

All the APIs are fully working, but those that relate to media (playing files etc) are designed to be executed on the main thread. WinForms and Directshow are very particular about the ownership of resources and the threads they belong to. Executing them on a background thread may cause problems.

On the other hand, if one of you experienced C#'ers can tell me, from within the IMenuTask, how can I send keys (or messages?) to the main app?
This can be an workaround the the problems in IPluginHelper, and also enhance my plugin alot.

Why won't "SendKeys" work?

I cant help you with SendKeys - its not something I've ever used.

[reven]

Why won't "SendKeys" work?

ive only used it once, and it worked fine for me,

Code:

SendKeys.SendWait("^Q");

dont ask me beyond that, never needed to use it for much (only to pause tv/video in gbpvr main window).

[madcat]

ive only used it once, and it worked fine for me,

Code:

SendKeys.SendWait("^Q");

.

Well, I think the reason it didn't work for me is because it comes from a different thread than the main (Sub mentioned that regarding something else, I think it's the same problem).

However, good news. I solved it in another (much uglier) way.

[madcat]

This way or the other - it seems to work now.

I need some early adapters (I know, in a way we all are) to try this out please.

I don't have an intaller or anything. Tested only with latest version (97.9).
Requires CommonGBPVRUtilities.dll.

Setup:
Plugin: RemotePlugin.dll goes in "plugins" folder (dah?). Can be configured from CONFIG.exe. Only setting for now is the port to listen on. You may want to clear the checkbox in the CONFIG, as there is no GUI in GBPVR for it.

Client: RemoteGB.exe runs on the remote PC. Need to supply IP and Port of GBPVR machine. Default port is 1234.
To set the IP and port, right-click anywhere on the client, choose "Options".
Some of GBPVR keyboard shortcuts work over this remote. I used the default ones.

Future plans:
- Enahnce the remote to full HT remote.
- Commands sent to GBPVR are "hard coded". Read commands of the KeyMappings.
- Remember more than one server to connect to (no need to retype IPs). Maybe get IP from command line?
- Display more info in client. Maybe the whole playlist? or wht tracks GBPVR is showing on the right screen.
- Nicer remote looking? Skinable?
- Config keyboard shortcuts
- etc. etc.

Please tell me what you think!

[SniperDude]

middle of testing something right now.. but will try this out later this weekend..

[madcat]

middle of testing something right now.. but will try this out later this weekend..

Thanks! any testing (or ideas for where to take it further) is welcome.

[sixgun]

I've actually been working on a very similar idea for my newly built HTPC.

I used UDP to communicate, so it's a fire and forget type thing, no 2-way comms at all - pretty much like an IR remote really.

Since i was also trying to control MCE2005 (which, for some reason, doesn't work with SendKeys), i ended up sending messages to the window using User32.dll

I have a rudimentary GUI working on a pocketPC emulator (can't seem to get my pocket PC to pick up an IP address from my DHCP )

Maybe we could consolidate our efforts, if you're interested.

I still have quite a bit of work to do on the pocket PC side as i wanted to get IR working too, so i can control my TV & Amp.

Regards.