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[sraymond]

I'm getting ready to deploy my HTPC (a Celeron 2.0 with 512 MB RAM and an ATI 7000 with TV out) and I'd like to clear up a few issues before I decide what software to use.

JRiver:  Are there going to be additional MCC_COMMANDs added in the near future?  If not, will the Girder plugin be fixed to work with MC9?  I can't see using MC as an HTPC application if the remote control isn't fully functional.

bspachman:  I've seen you mention the USB-UIRT a few times.  I take it you have nothing but good things to say about this product?  I'm a little nervous buying from a home/garage-type person, but by the same token, it's nice to see little guys get ahead.  I want to be able to use my existing A/V receiver remote, so it seems a great fit.

Anyone:  How does Media Server help me?  For a LAN, wouldn't it be easier to just file share the media library?

Thanks for any advice!

Scott-

[Matt]

JRiver:  Are there going to be additional MCC_COMMANDs added in the near future?  If not, will the Girder plugin be fixed to work with MC9?  I can't see using MC as an HTPC application if the remote control isn't fully functional.

There's a Girder configuration file in the MC\Data\Extras folder.  Combine it with a few simple keyboard functions (up, down, left, right, etc.) and you should be set.

If that doesn't help, let us know.

[sraymond]

Matt,

Thanks for the response!  I've mentioned the remote control topic at least three other times, but I'll repeat it here for the sake of conciseness.

I can't get Girder to work by sending keystrokes to the MC application when MC is running in full-screen mode.  The most obvious issue is toggling the hairstyle by using the "menu" key.  Because there is no MCC_COMMAND for this, the SendMessage method isn't suitable.  The "old" way of using the Girder plugin worked flawlessly, but that hasn't been an option for about the last 50 MC9 releases.

Thanks again.

Scott-

[Matt]

Tell Girder to send the keystrokes to the active window.  I have it working at home.  TAB is still silly though.

Maybe an MCC_KEYSTROKE command would help...

[sraymond]

Matt,

You can send the "menu" key with a keystroke (sent to the active window) even when MC is running hairstyle?  I must be doing something silly-wrong.

What are the specifics of the settings, if you don't mind?

Scott-

[Matt]

Menu is also VK_APPS (or just APPS) in programming lingo.  

See if that's in Girder's list.

[sraymond]

There is a "MENU" item in Girder which used to work fine for me back in MC's Girder plugin days (December 2002).

I'll keep fussing with it a bit longer...  but I'm started to get a little demotivated.

Scott-

[bspachman]

bspachman:  I've seen you mention the USB-UIRT a few times.  I take it you have nothing but good things to say about this product?  I'm a little nervous buying from a home/garage-type person, but by the same token, it's nice to see little guys get ahead.  I want to be able to use my existing A/V receiver remote, so it seems a great fit.

I have nothing but good things to say. I don't know Jon Rhees except through reputation on the various home theater boards. I chose the USB-UIRT because the StreamZap receiver I had was proving inadequate. I also wanted USB connectivity and the ability to SEND IR signals from Girder. It is a bit expensive, but the build quality is great. I did have problems out of the box with it recognizing the IR codes I was sending, but a quick note to Jon resulted in a firmware upgrade that solved my problems immediately. Total problem resolution time--1 day. It's worked flawlessly for 2 months now. Count me as a happy customer!

People with serial ports free have other options, including the Evation IRMan. Check out the Girder website for people using all kinds of IR receivers....

There is a "MENU" item in Girder which used to work fine for me back in MC's Girder plugin days (December 2002).

I've finally gotten back in front of my machine to solve this problem for you. The settings that work for the toggle you are looking for are:

Action: Keyboard
Alternative proc: Checked
Special Key: APPS

The target works for me if you keep "foreground app" checked. It also works if you send it to the executable "MediaJukebox.exe"

All investigation done with Girder 3.2.8a.

Hope this helps!

Brad

[Warlock]

Anyone:  How does Media Server help me?  For a LAN, wouldn't it be easier to just file share the media library?

I've been thinking the same thing.  John discussed the danger of doing this in another thread: http://www.musicex.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=MediaCenter;action=display;num=1052646862  

Being the fool that I am, however, I've been "sharing" a single database across two machines.  So far it hasn't been a problem, but I have been very careful about not having MC open on both machines.

[sraymond]

Warlock,

Thanks for the link to the other topic...  I hadn't seen it before.

I've been playing with using Media Server to stream video to my HTPC, but I've had some performance issues.  I'm not sure why, but I'll keep at it.

I like the idea of sharing the database, but I realized that I don't have complete UNC paths to my files, so while the library is functional, the media can't be found.  Do you have a suggestion for how to add the UNC path automatically?

I'm also a little concerned about "messing up" the database, but I'll address that in the other thread.

Scott-

[sraymond]

Brad,

Thanks for the solution.  I'll try it as soon as I get home from work!

Scott-

[sraymond]

Brad,

Thanks again.  The problem seems to be that MENU no longer works, but APPS did the trick just fine.

Scott-

[Warlock]

I like the idea of sharing the database, but I realized that I don't have complete UNC paths to my files, so while the library is functional, the media can't be found.  Do you have a suggestion for how to add the UNC path automatically?

Scott:  You may have gotten your answer in another thread (which involved search and replace), but I'll tell you how I get this to work for me.  This may not be the best way, but it seems to work.  I have partitioned my server's drive such that I have all my music files on the D: partition, which is shared.  That partition on the server is then mapped to Drive Letter "D:" on my Client, so that all my library links function normally when I access the database from the client.  I hope this helps.

[sraymond]

Warlock,

Thanks for the suggestion...  I'm thinking it's a good way to go, although I'll have to move my media off of the C drive first (can't map that to C on my HTPC!)  I probably should have done that a long time ago anyway!

Scott-

[Warlock]

Scott: You seem to have experience with attaching your PC to a television, so I have a rather simple (and probably stupid) question to ask.  I have a laptop connected to a television via a built in S-Video connection, but I can't seem to adjust the size of the display to correspond to the size of the television screen.  In other words, the laptop's display is too large for the television and most of what is visible on my computer is not visible on the TV.  If I size the MC window just right and pan over it, I can get the whole thing on the TV screen, but that is a real pain to do every time I load MC.  

Let me add that I have tried adjusting the laptop's screen resolution, but that doesn't seem to correct the problem.  I must be missing something fundamental here.

[Wobbley]

Warlock,

You might try a program called TVTool to help you with this.  Here's the link:

http://tvtool.info/index_e.htm

Hope that helps!

[sraymond]

Warlock,

You didn't mention what video chipset your laptop uses.  If it's ATI, I might be able to help...  but if it's anything else, sorry, I have no experience.

Let me know...

Scott-

[Matt]

Just a note, this will be in the next build of MC:

4. NEW: Added new class of system MCC commands.  (for now, has keystroke and shutdown commands)

Let us know if there are other simple additions needed.

[sraymond]

Thanks Matt!

Now I'll have to decide...  do I wait for bspachman to update the girder .gml with the additional commands or do this on my own?  <hint, hint>

Scott-