Topic: Track Info with dynamic date and time (UPDATE 2) (Read 5289 times)

knickelfarz · « **on:** July 03, 2003, 03:19:58 am »

I remember there were some requests for something like that (hairstyle...), so I made a little script for showing dynamic date and time in Track Info.
With this template you can even switch between General Infos, Bios, Lyrics and Notes...your cover art will always stay visible.

Zoom Picture -- Direct Install -- Download ZIP

EDIT 1: I finalized the template to work with every version of MJ/MC.
To avoid conflicts, I changed the name to "BlueOClock".

EDIT 2: Added a transparent image to avoid stretching of cover art background with longer text in Bios/Lyrics/Notes.

MC 9.1 users: Make sure you use build 9.1.210 beta or above.
MJ 8 users: Of course you can not see "Bios" information - this were introduced later...

Thanks to everbody who helped to point out some problems with different MC versions. I decided to use the "old" (or maybe better "standard") syntax in genaral where it is available and the new "TrackInfo_Insert(field name)" syntax only when needed (in this case only for "Bios"). In addition, I tidied up the table structure and added some comments to the HTML, so it's easier to tweak...and i added some css for those who have the scrollbar enabled, it will now be displayed in blue to go with the colors of the template.

Have phun!

LonWar · « **Reply #1 on:** July 03, 2003, 04:06:57 am »

Looks cool... But how do I install... I put it in visulizations folder but can seem to be able to see it... ?

knickelfarz · « **Reply #2 on:** July 03, 2003, 04:21:07 am »

Just unzip the file somewhere.
You will get a folder named "BlueClock".
Move that folder into your "...Media Center\Visualizations\Track Info" folder.
Switch to Track Info "BlueClock" inside Media Center...

If you like, use Spectrum Analyzer > Black White as visualization...

LonWar · « **Reply #3 on:** July 03, 2003, 04:57:12 am »

That's awesome man.. Thanks!

Cmagic · « **Reply #4 on:** July 03, 2003, 06:24:12 am »

Nice One knickelfarz, thanks !

Tell me something. I'm not a javascript expert but looking in your index.html for BlueClock I noticed that you don't use the "TRACK_INSERT_SOMETHING" keywords instead you use some function "TrackInfo_Insert(Artist)".

Beeing a curious guy, I tried replacing the argument with the name of one of my own custom field and it worked. It also works with Composer, etc.. etc..
A feature I have been asking a few times during MC 9.0 betas.
Is it an undocumented MC9.1 feature, or did you write this function yourself ? I don't find it in your source.
Or, I missed something, most probably While I was away.

All this is very nice, Thanks again,

Have a nice day,

Christian

knickelfarz · « **Reply #5 on:** July 03, 2003, 06:44:18 am »

Take look at this:
http://www.musicex.com/mediacenter/DevZone/Track%20Info.html
It includes also a link to a page with all possible field functions/keywords...maybe your desired function/keyword is in the list

Cmagic · « **Reply #6 on:** July 03, 2003, 06:51:43 am »

Hey, thanks again,

I definitely missed something then.

Christian

Deivit · « **Reply #7 on:** July 03, 2003, 07:38:11 am »

Nice template! Will it work with 9.0.xxx or just with the new 9.1.xxx series?
Thank you.

knickelfarz · « **Reply #8 on:** July 03, 2003, 07:48:37 am »

It will work even with MJ8/MC9 if the new "TrackInfo_Insert(field name)" syntax is replaced by the "old" one...

I just noticed that the "Keyword TRACKINFO_INSERT_YEAR was not returning a value for track info templates" bug was fixed with 9.1.210 beta. So I will make a template with the "old" syntax and post it later

Deivit · « **Reply #9 on:** July 03, 2003, 07:59:06 am »

Great! Thank you

knickelfarz · « **Reply #10 on:** July 03, 2003, 09:34:12 am »

It works as it is with Track Info plug-in 1.0.26 and above, or with Media Center 9.0.175 and above.
But I will make a version for MJ8/older builds of MC9 soon.

rocketsauce · « **Reply #11 on:** July 03, 2003, 10:12:31 am »

Cool! This is the Track Info template I've been waiting for.

One thing, though. It doesn't seem to be picking up the Year info. All the tracks are displaying Year: n/a.

Thanks, Rob

Media Center Registered 9.0.180 -- D:\Programs\J River\Media Center\

Microsoft Windows 98 SE
Intel Pentium III 730 MHz MMX / Memory: Total - 261 MB, Free - 141 MB
Resource Info: System - 69 %, GDI - 75 %, User - 69 %

Internet Explorer: 6.0.2800.1106 / ComCtl32.dll: 5.81 / Shlwapi.dll: 6.00.2800.1106 / Shell32.dll: 4.72.3812.600 / wnaspi32.dll: 4.71 (0002) , ASPI for Win32 (95/NT) DLL, Copyright © 1989-2002 Adaptec, Inc. / Aspi32.sys: N/A

Ripping / Drive F: Copy mode:ModeSecure CD Type:Auto Read speed:Max
Drive G: Copy mode:ModeBurstBigBuffer CD Type:Auto Read speed:Max
Digital playback: Yes / Use YADB: Yes / Get cover art: No / Calc replay gain: No / Copy volume: 32767
Eject after ripping: Yes / Play sound after ripping: No

Burning / Drive F: PLEXTOR CD-R PX-W1210A Addr: 1:0:0 Speed:8 MaxSpeed:12 Use MJ Engine:Yes
Test mode: No / Eject after writing: Yes / Direct decoding: Yes / Write CD-Text: Yes
Use playback settings: No / Normalization: None

Polonio · « **Reply #12 on:** July 03, 2003, 11:05:14 am »

Lately appeared some threads a litlle bit critical with MC development ... so I'll keep going that way. Sorry for that...

Default visualizations are demencial, they seem aged, too big or too small, colorless, ...

I know I can create my own visualizations, or look for them some place in JRiver website, but I wont, and the averege users will not eighter. I expect to have the better visualizations installed out the box.

I do understand you are deploying important issues, but JRiver did not even update the visualizations when 9.0 became released... When do you plan to pay attention to that?

BlueClock is cool. Good job, knickelfarz.

If I were JRiver, I would buy this visualization, and distribute it with the following builds. This way, JRiver could keep deploying new features, fixing existing bugs, and MC becomes inmediately a better product, so new users would be more disposed to buy it.

¡¡And your loyal users will happyly do part of your job!!

So, why not?

drosoph · « **Reply #13 on:** July 03, 2003, 11:42:17 am »

Great Job Knickelfarz .. You beat me to it ...
I have a skin that is sitting here (Grey background though) that is practically IDENTICAL ...

Didnt want to release it until I could do IFRAMES (Ive been griping about that in another post). I envisioned mine with the Cover Art ont he left (Iframe1) which when clicked would switch to the Slideshow plugin in that frame.

On the right, there is another frame, witht he buttons above for Lyrics/Bios/Details, etc .. and it would flip between each without en entire reload ... (the reload kills the visualizations if you have then running in a separate frame and the slideshow if its running) ..

Great work .. this is probably the best Ive seen yet !!!!

Now a couple questions: For my own benefit (tweaks)
Any way to create logic that if a CoverArt is not found we put something else in that area ??

knickelfarz · « **Reply #14 on:** July 03, 2003, 02:24:05 pm »

Thanks to everybody for the nice replies!

Quote

... It doesn't seem to be picking up the Year info. All the tracks are displaying Year: n/a. ... Media Center Registered 9.0.180

This is a bug that was fixed with build 9.1.210 beta...I guess it's still alive in 9.0.xxx...

Quote

If I were JRiver, I would buy this visualization, and distribute it with the following builds.

Hey, of course it's for free...when it's uploaded to the JRiver Track Info collection, everybody should find it by using the "Download Plug-ins" link in the "Plug-in Manager". But maybe an entry like "Get New Visualization" or "Get New Track Info Templates" in the right click menu of the playing now area would be helpful for some users...

Quote

Any way to create logic that if a CoverArt is not found we put something else in that area ??

If there is no cover art found, Track Info will display the "Logo.gif" from the "...Data\Default Art" folder.
"Thumbnails"/"Album Thumbnails" list style uses the "NoThumb.bmp" from that folder.
Of course you can replace these pictures with something you made...

I would expect that MC uses the picture from the path that is set in "Display Image" in Options > Tree & View Settings. But that does not seem to work yet...

rocketsauce · « **Reply #15 on:** July 03, 2003, 05:15:23 pm »

Quote

Thanks to everybody for the nice replies!

This is a bug that was fixed with build 9.1.210 beta...I guess it's still alive in 9.0.xxx...

So, any possibility getting a version to work with 9.0.xxx?

Rob

knickelfarz · « **Reply #16 on:** July 03, 2003, 05:57:39 pm »

Check out this one, it uses the "old" syntax:
http://www.futurehome.de/mc/track/blue_o_clock/BlueOClockTrackInfo.zip
Please note: If it is used with MJ8, it of course can not show "Bios" information - this were introduced later...

rocketsauce · « **Reply #17 on:** July 03, 2003, 06:21:19 pm »

Brilliant! Works like a charm.

This really is my favorite track info vis out of all of them. Nice layout, nice colors. Thanks so much.

Rob

knickelfarz · « **Reply #18 on:** July 05, 2003, 09:35:14 am »

I finalized the template to work with every version of MJ/MC. Please take a look at the first post of this thread...

drosoph · « **Reply #19 on:** July 07, 2003, 08:07:19 am »

KnickelF,

You put a BG color on the Coverart table frame, causes a LONG blue bar when on the lyrics/bios/notes panes ... I removed it ..w orks fine now ..

Do you use Slideshow .. if so, Ive done a little mockup where clicking the coverart shifts between the SLIDESHOW & the COVER ART .... maintains the choice across the lyrics/bios/etc selections as well. Want to see it ?

Also, is there any way to create logic that would CHOOSE between the SLIDESHOW and the COVERTART based on the presence of Cover Art (ie, No CoverArt ==> Use SlideShow ? )

knickelfarz · « **Reply #20 on:** July 07, 2003, 03:39:28 pm »

Quote

You put a BG color on the Coverart table frame, causes a LONG blue bar when on the lyrics/bios/notes panes ...

Yes, that bothers me too - I will add another row to avoid that and to keep the frame around the Cover Art...

Quote

... clicking the coverart shifts between the SLIDESHOW & the COVER ART .... maintains the choice across the lyrics/bios/etc selections as well. Want to see it ?

Yes, thanks, maybe you can give me the link

Quote

Also, is there any way to create logic that would CHOOSE between the SLIDESHOW and the COVERTART based on the presence of Cover Art (ie, No CoverArt ==> Use SlideShow? )

Maybe that can be done with javascript if/else, window.onload and <div> tags...I will check this out.
Right now I'm working to finish some skins at last...please give me some days more

KingSparta · « **Reply #21 on:** July 07, 2003, 03:45:18 pm »

I hate to see that cow skin going to waist

knickelfarz · « **Reply #22 on:** July 07, 2003, 04:01:19 pm »

Quote

I hate to see that cow skin going to waist

I will satisfy the skinhaters with some windows like skins tomorrow (if the next build will work with them...)

After that I will kick the cows back to the meadow

drosoph · « **Reply #23 on:** July 07, 2003, 04:57:08 pm »

Quote

Yes, thanks, maybe you can give me the link

Maybe that can be done with javascript if/else, window.onload and <div> tags...I will check this out.
Right now I'm working to finish some skins at last...please give me some days more

I will send you the files tomorrow (or give you a link) .. I left them on my work PC ... didnt see the point in continuing the work since I think the IF CoverArt == NULL, then Use SlideShow (if Installed) ... wld be cooler

I know NOTHING about JScript .. and tried my hand at it in this thread ..
http://www.musicex.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=Other_Plugins;action=display;num=1057604209
It OBVIOUSLY didnt work the way I had it ...

knickelfarz · « **Reply #24 on:** July 09, 2003, 09:01:04 am »

Added a transparent image to avoid stretching of cover art background with longer text in Bios/Lyrics/Notes...please take a look at the first post of this thread and install/download again.

knickelfarz · « **Reply #25 on:** July 10, 2003, 06:16:04 am »

Quote

...is there any way to create logic that would CHOOSE between the SLIDESHOW and the COVERTART based on the presence of Cover Art (ie, No CoverArt ==> Use SlideShow ?)

Take a look here. Maybe it's useful

Benjamin0 · « **Reply #26 on:** July 10, 2003, 06:18:27 am »

Hi,

Your visualisation is really great. Thanks for all.
But like all user of MJ, i made my own visulisation , the most usefull for me. And my was fine, but since i found your , my sucks. So i try to do some cross-over with mine and yours. So i copy the script in my Visualisation :
<script> your script </script> in Index.html.

and i copy this line where i want to appear the date and hour :
<div style="font-size:11px; color:#FFFFFF; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; font-family:Arial,Helvetica;" align="Right" id="CalendarClock"> </div>

but nothing appear anywhere. Did i do something wrong? if yes, where is it?
is it possible to do the same things for elapse time, or any other function?

thanks for your answer

Benjamin

knickelfarz · « **Reply #27 on:** July 10, 2003, 06:39:20 am »

Quote

...but nothing appear anywhere. Did i do something wrong?

Mmh, maybe you just have white background...maybe you have another script running which uses the same variables...maybe you use another "window.onload"...hard to say. Maybe you can message me the complete HTML?

Quote

...is it possible to do the same things for elapse time, or any other function?

As far as I know, there is no keyword for "elapsed time"...but there are a lot of other functions - what are you thinking about to implement?

INTERACT FORUM

Author Topic: Track Info with dynamic date and time (UPDATE 2) (Read 5289 times)