Topic: NEW: JRiver Desk Bar (Read 12170 times)

Matt · « **on:** May 12, 2004, 05:00:25 pm »

There's a spiffy new desktop bar from JRiver that gives you quick access to your music (and lots of other useful stuff) at any time.

Check it out here: http://www.musicex.com/mediacenter/mc10/tmp/jrdeskbar.mjp

Installation:
1) Ensure that you have MC 10.0.134 or later installed.
2) Install the above component (right-click > Save As > then run the downloaded mjp)
3) Right-click on taskbar / start menu area and choose Toolbars > JRiver DeskBar (some computers may require a few clicks or a restart for this to show up)
4) Turn off the system clock to save space since the JRiver bar doubles as a clock
5) Use it (right-click on the bar to see commands -- note that you can also just type the commands once you learn them)

Uninstallation:
1) Turn off the toolbar like when you turned it on.
2) Optionally unregister JRDeskBar.dll in the MC directory with regsvr32.exe /u C:\Program Files\J River\Media Center\JRDeskBar.dll then delete JRDeskBar.dll.
3) Restart computer

Make sure you try the calculator -- it does trig, variables, parenthesis, and other good stuff. There's also a number base converter in there for you programmers. Also note that you can use it to run things like regedit.exe or \\Matt. (just use the r prefix for "Run")

If you don't type any prefix, it'll default to a Media Center search + play.

Enjoy

DISCLAIMER: This component is a beta. It may not work. It may not be available at a later date. It may not remain free. It may not be included with MC 10. Use it at your own risk. Copyright (C) 2004 JRiver, Inc. All rights reserved.

edbro · « **Reply #1 on:** May 12, 2004, 05:09:53 pm »

Very nice. Also, very similar to Daves Quicksearch Bar. Now, if I could add all search engines from Daves to this bar - or add the play function of the JRiver bar to Daves $:-\$

Matt · « **Reply #2 on:** May 12, 2004, 05:17:09 pm »

Quote from: edbro on May 12, 2004, 05:09:53 pm

Very nice. Also, very similar to Daves Quicksearch Bar. Now, if I could add all search engines from Daves to this bar - or add the play function of the JRiver bar to Daves $:-\$

Dave's bar is nice, but it's really slow. And maybe I'm dense, but it seems hard to use. (i.e. click configure and see a javascript file in Notepad)

Anyway, we'll add customization to the JRiver bar if we continue with it. (which depends on if the bar is something people find useful or not)

edbro · « **Reply #3 on:** May 12, 2004, 05:22:00 pm »

Actually, it does calculations, temp conversions, etc. I count 37 shortcuts in just the function directory alone.

Don't get me wrong, I am not putting yours down. I would love to have the play function of yours married to multitude of functions available in Dave's

DocLotus · « **Reply #4 on:** May 12, 2004, 05:23:09 pm »

How about a picture ?

edbro · « **Reply #5 on:** May 12, 2004, 05:37:50 pm »

Quote

How about a picture

Try this:

sdgrizdan · « **Reply #6 on:** May 12, 2004, 05:38:13 pm »

How do you use variables?

DocLotus · « **Reply #7 on:** May 12, 2004, 05:38:55 pm »

Thanks for the shot

JimH · « **Reply #8 on:** May 12, 2004, 05:40:34 pm »

It's the box that says "santana". You type in anything and MC will play it by default.

The menu contains the command set available.

To use google to search for Musicmatch, for example, you type "g musicmatch".

matshif · « **Reply #9 on:** May 12, 2004, 05:55:09 pm »

Cool

How can I remove it?

Found it

DocLotus · « **Reply #10 on:** May 12, 2004, 07:09:43 pm »

So, what exactly is it supposed to do ?

Other then a bunch of web pages that I don't want it does nothing for me... sorry guys.

Also, how do I uninstall it ?

bedessy · « **Reply #11 on:** May 12, 2004, 08:35:51 pm »

this is nice I'll use it for the quick play of my mp3's, but I use slickrun for those other feachers. Great idea guys, and keep them coming.

equalizer · « **Reply #12 on:** May 13, 2004, 02:02:18 am »

Very nice matt. This little thing is fast, and packs a punch. I agree with you on the Daves being slow.

I give it a thumb up, can't wait until we get the options menu.

Sauzee · « **Reply #13 on:** May 13, 2004, 08:10:27 am »

Any chance you can display date and day as well as date when bar is inactive [or give an option to display date and day] ?

SlickRun [similar app] allows this.

JimH · « **Reply #14 on:** May 13, 2004, 08:59:45 am »

Quote from: Sauzee on May 13, 2004, 08:10:27 am

Any chance you can display date and day as well as date when bar is inactive [or give an option to display date and day] ?

We'll add a way to get the date, maybe as a tooltip.

pank2002 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 13, 2004, 10:45:45 am »

what about a date on hover or something similar. Tooltip is okay too. As it is now, I don't find it that usefull. I Also use google destbar, which is a similar app, though calc is better -- it use the google calc, which is pretty much supperier. Also, why soes the J River calc have to shove a gazzillion zeroes? There's no reason for it. I you care for all the digits after the point, make it do significant figures. Unit convertion would be nice too -- as google does ie if you wrie '32 oz in liters' it'll tell you it's about 0,92 (I think.)

The bar needs to be customizable, ie own links -- again look at google deskbar. Fx I don't want to search using Yahoo! Other might want to do that, but I isn't necessary for me.
Why not make it more incorperated with MC? Currently I already have an MC bar with Mjextman /Pause, /Next , /Previous and /Power, I would like to link the two bars together.

There's defently room for improvement and as it is now I see no reason why to use J River's bar instead of google DeskBar. If you haven't already done, you should defently check it out.
- Rasmus

Sauzee · « **Reply #16 on:** May 13, 2004, 11:46:16 am »

Looks like there is space for date alongside time with the current size of the bar.

At the moment it is displaying 17:41

There is room for it to display 13/5 17:41

or 5/13 if you're American!

I can't speak for others but, I always want the date displayed on my taskbar without the need for tooltips. Lots of shareware apps charge $25 for doing not much more than that!

Sherm123 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 13, 2004, 12:25:29 pm »

I'm having a problem downloading the Deskbar. When I click on the ftp address for JRDeskbar I get a Browser message that there is an error and it turns off my internet explorer browser. I've never had difficulties downloading Media Center files in the past. Would appreciate some guidence.

LonWar · « **Reply #18 on:** May 13, 2004, 12:34:28 pm »

Try right click, save as.
Then run it from your desktop

JimH · « **Reply #19 on:** May 13, 2004, 12:48:45 pm »

Right click on the file and choose "save as". Then execute the file once it has been downloaded.

I'm not sure why it didn't work.

Havana · « **Reply #20 on:** May 13, 2004, 01:44:12 pm »

Firstly I wanted to thx everyone at JRiver for the toolbar, but to be honest I was really hoping for (in later incarnations of Media Center) something similar to the Windows Media toolbar.

LonWar · « **Reply #21 on:** May 13, 2004, 01:44:53 pm »

Quote from: havanna on May 13, 2004, 01:44:12 pm

Firstly I wanted to thx everyone at JRiver for the toolbar, but to be honest I was really hoping for (in later incarnations of Media Center) something similar to the Windows Media toolbar.

Yes, that would be cool!

skylarplane · « **Reply #22 on:** May 13, 2004, 02:12:21 pm »

? Can't get it to work....

Skylar

LonWar · « **Reply #23 on:** May 13, 2004, 02:21:44 pm »

Did you reboot first?

skylarplane · « **Reply #24 on:** May 13, 2004, 02:35:59 pm »

No I didn't, I didn't see that in the instructions.
I'll try that.

Thanks, Skylar

skylarplane · « **Reply #25 on:** May 13, 2004, 02:50:11 pm »

No, rebooting didn't help. Don't see time a bar area.

Maybe someone should review the installation instructions.

Thanks, Skylar

LonWar · « **Reply #26 on:** May 13, 2004, 03:24:01 pm »

So just to be sure you did everything:

You downloaded the file to desktop,
Ran the file.
Rebooted, (this helped on my work win 2k machine)
right clicked on toolbar - Toolbars - JRiver Deskbar.

You did all that and it still didn't work?

Matt · « **Reply #27 on:** May 13, 2004, 05:28:26 pm »

Just updated the download with a newer version.

It's a work in progress, but it'll give you an idea where we're headed.

Right-click or double-click on the bar to toggle the new dialog on and off.

Notable Changes:

Unified information / configuration dialog (replaces menu system)
Shows information about what MC is playing (limited now, but will expand)
Opens a new browser instead of hi-jacking an existing one for web commands
Shows date and time when inactive if there's room
Added configuration area (not currently hooked up though)

Enjoy

bedessy · « **Reply #28 on:** May 13, 2004, 05:46:31 pm »

make sure mc is runing also, and a empty space in the toolbar to right click on , when you right click look for toolbars then jriver deskbar add a check beside it and it should appear.

Matt · « **Reply #29 on:** May 13, 2004, 06:08:23 pm »

Note: To install today's update, you'll need to:

1) turn off the JRiver Deskbar
2) log off or restart you computer
3) install the update
4) turn the JRiver Deskbar back on

Fixer · « **Reply #30 on:** May 13, 2004, 07:47:08 pm »

Quote from: Sauzee on May 13, 2004, 11:46:16 am

I can't speak for others but, I always want the date displayed on my taskbar without the need for tooltips. Lots of shareware apps charge $25 for doing not much more than that!

http://www.rcis.co.za/dale/

TClockEX is free and displays the date and/or time in ANY format you specify.

From this website:

Did you know if you make the Windows XP task bar double-height, the standard clock panel also shows the date? This is at least an improvement on earlier versions of Windows, but still no customisation. There is still life for TClockEx yet!

Charlemagne 8 · « **Reply #31 on:** May 13, 2004, 08:00:32 pm »

Did all of the above. Installed thrice -- once on 134 and twice on 136. Restarted every time. A successful installation is reported each time. Still no show on right-click toolbar.

I have Google's bar. Could that interfere?

CVIII

skeeterfood · « **Reply #32 on:** May 13, 2004, 08:01:08 pm »

Is it supposed to pause for about 4 seconds after hitting enter, then beep before doing anything? Please can I turn off the beep?

Also, none of the web commands work. They pause, beep, and that's it. I'm running MyIE2 as my default web browser, but I do have IE6 on the machine.

-John

bjsolem · « **Reply #33 on:** May 13, 2004, 08:10:31 pm »

Well I for one am blown away by how cool this is.

Once again, JRiver Rocks!

No one was even asking for this, that I read anywhere, and here you guys come up with this slick tool out of nowhere!!

It feels very polished already. I have the version with the tabs, very nice.

I wasn't using anything like this so this is adding a ton of tools to my desktop, and for nuthin! (for now)

I tried googles version of the same thing but I didn't like it. This has googles stuff built in but adds all the MC tools plus all the other good stuff!

I don't understand how others are not blown away by this, even just a little bit.

Good job guys!

Someday I have to come down there and tell all of you that you rock in person.....

I love that i can type 'p smells' and smells like teen spirit just starts playing, like magic.

bjsolem · « **Reply #34 on:** May 13, 2004, 08:16:54 pm »

here come the requests already....

how about a keystroke to move cursor to the box so we can keep typing without using the mouse?

JimH · « **Reply #35 on:** May 13, 2004, 08:21:14 pm »

Did you right click on the Windows taskbar? Then choose toolbars?

benrad · « **Reply #36 on:** May 13, 2004, 08:28:20 pm »

Yeah, when I attempt to do any of the variable searches, like "g musicmatch" I just get a beep and nothing. My default browser happens to be FireFox.

bjsolem · « **Reply #37 on:** May 13, 2004, 08:28:46 pm »

more suggestions...

for next use '.' and/or '>' (on the same key)

for previous use ',' and/or '<' (on the same key)

so it's like being able to hit > or < without having type in the whole word next or prev.

edbro · « **Reply #38 on:** May 13, 2004, 08:35:15 pm »

All I am getting are beeps also. None of the web searches work anymore.

MyIE2 is my default browser.

Sauzee · « **Reply #39 on:** May 13, 2004, 11:15:18 pm »

Quote from: Fixer on May 13, 2004, 07:47:08 pm

Quote from: Sauzee on May 13, 2004, 11:46:16 am
I can't speak for others but, I always want the date displayed on my taskbar without the need for tooltips. Lots of shareware apps charge $25 for doing not much more than that!

http://www.rcis.co.za/dale/

TClockEX is free and displays the date and/or time in ANY format you specify.

From this website:

Did you know if you make the Windows XP task bar double-height, the standard clock panel also shows the date? This is at least an improvement on earlier versions of Windows, but still no customisation. There is still life for TClockEx yet!

Thanks for the link Fixer.

I've actually got the date on the task bar already and was just looking for the MC taskbar to display date and day, so I could stop using my clock app and save space.

Sauzee · « **Reply #40 on:** May 13, 2004, 11:34:36 pm »

I couldn't get the update to install - followed Matt's instructions to the letter.

Managed to get it to work by manually copying updated dll over old one and restarting.

BTW, thanks for the date display - you've just made one of my utility apps redundant. Fantastic

Request
If possible, can you manually resize tabbed interface/list of commands. I'd like to be able to see them all at once without having to scroll.

Bug

None of web searches are working on new version. My default is MyIE2.

This looks promising

NoCodeUK · « **Reply #41 on:** May 14, 2004, 06:23:51 am »

None of the searches are working here either. Default browser is Firefox... Worked before in the previous version.

Liking what you are doing with this. Any chance that the old style command menu pop up could still be an option? Maybe right click for that and dbl click for the tabbed window??

Cheers

Adam

Sauzee · « **Reply #42 on:** May 14, 2004, 09:29:14 am »

Bug

WinXP taskbar is reset so that no toolbars appear when I reboot/log off. [only other taskbar I use is quicklunch]

Doesn't happen if J River toolbar not active at time of reboot/log off.

pank2002 · « **Reply #43 on:** May 14, 2004, 11:47:17 am »

search don't work here either using FireFox.

I would be more logical to call the 'dos' command 'cmd' as that is windows default. I would also be nice if you could type in the command in the bar fx dos "ping 192.168.1.1" or "format a:".

Sherm123 · « **Reply #44 on:** May 14, 2004, 02:01:03 pm »

Thank you to all who replied to my question.
I've got the DeskBar installed and working and am very impressed with its simplicity and ease or use.
Thank you all again.

thtv01 · « **Reply #45 on:** May 14, 2004, 04:49:33 pm »

Okay the instructions state that I can turn off the normal system clock in the task bar to save space in the task bar.

Does anyone know how to do this? I found a website that explained doing it using a registry update (hack) but I thought maybe since no one else has ask that maybe there is an easier way of doing this.

Thanks
Tim H

Rob L · « **Reply #46 on:** May 14, 2004, 05:20:16 pm »

Er, you just right-click in empty space on the taskbar, select Properties, and you get a tickbox for enabling and disabling the windows clock!

thtv01 · « **Reply #47 on:** May 14, 2004, 05:43:52 pm »

I'm such a dope!
I knew that, I guess I was just over thinking it at the time.

You would think that MS would have at least had a check box on the clock setting screen.

I can't believe I even did a yahoo search on that. Strange how none of the sites I looked at even had that info.

Anyway, Thanks for your help Rob L.
Tim

Charlemagne 8 · « **Reply #48 on:** May 14, 2004, 08:18:02 pm »

Quote

Did you right click on the Windows taskbar? Then choose toolbars?

That may not be directed at me but it applies ... this is what I get when I right-click:

CVIII

Sauzee · « **Reply #49 on:** May 14, 2004, 08:37:00 pm »

But it's referring to the Windows task bar - nothing to to with IE.

INTERACT FORUM

Author Topic: NEW: JRiver Desk Bar (Read 12170 times)

Fixer

benrad