Topic: LCD Plug-in for MJ (Read 4615 times)

John G. · « **on:** July 04, 2002, 06:04:59 pm »

There is an EXCELLENT LCD plug-in available that allows you to send all kinds of information to a Matrix-Orbital LCD. It currently has built-in support for WinAMP but what it really needs is for someone to write a plug-in for it to allow it to work with MJ.

For more information on what I'm talking about follow this link . . .

LCDC

The guy who wrote the software has proven to be very helpful to people wanting to write plug-ins for it. The combination of his program along with MJ would be absolutely perfect!

Anyone up to the task? What about you guys at JRiver? A nice challenge for you.

JimH · « **Reply #1 on:** July 05, 2002, 10:09:28 am »

We need a challenge.

I took a look at the site. Can you see if Tim might be interested? We provide an Interface SDK on our Developer's page.

sekim · « **Reply #2 on:** July 05, 2002, 10:24:15 am »

>>>> We need a challenge. <<<<

As if MJ 8 weren't enough.....

PhatPhreddy · « **Reply #3 on:** July 08, 2002, 08:52:26 am »

There is already MJv8 support if using Girder and DVDSpy...

I have my Matrix Orbital 4 line VFD with MJ info's working via this method...

Check the Girder forums for details

John G. · « **Reply #4 on:** July 25, 2002, 08:40:23 am »

To keep this thread (and the hopes of a plug-in) alive I have also requested this in LCDC's forum. It also appears that someone else has as well.

LCDC & MJ Forum Thread

I'd use Girder but I'm one of those types who likes to keep his System Tray as empty as possible.

If I can do the same task with only two programs as opposed to three so much the better.

Henry J. (MO) · « **Reply #5 on:** July 25, 2002, 10:13:14 am »

Hey Folks...

I saw this thread on the LCDC forum as well, if any one if interesting in making the plugin, we will help out with displays if required

All you have to do is e-mail me (henryj@matrixorbital.com) and I'm sure we will be able to come to some kind of mutually beneficial plan

or ICQ me 114152006

Henry J (MO) · « **Reply #6 on:** August 01, 2002, 03:09:37 pm »

PhatPhreddy · « **Reply #7 on:** August 02, 2002, 02:25:47 am »

Rather than wait for someone who may or may not develop this why not just use DVDSpy and Girder for the same net result ??

John G. · « **Reply #8 on:** August 03, 2002, 08:48:11 am »

How about "cheating" for the time being? While we wait for someone to code a plugin the JRiver guys could implement external player capabilities.

http://www.musicex.com/cgi-bin/interact/NeoBoard.pl?Action=ShowPost&Board=inter&Post=12670&BoardIdle=7&SortingBy=0&BoardOrder=Descend&Page=0&UserSession=&Marked=

Again, Girder is supreme overkill for something like this.

John

Cephlen · « **Reply #9 on:** August 21, 2002, 11:47:54 am »

I'll write a custom one not using their LCDC software... Its great and all, but this would add more value to the MJ.

Would be a native MJ8->LCDscreen plugin. Something pretty basic, not all that graphical (to start).. The MJ is really easy to develop with, and sending stuff thru the serial port is really easy too.

I allready have a bunch of code for binding inputs into MJ's interface commands, those should be easy to port.

I could also write a plugin for the LCDC program...

"If you want to write your own plugins then this file is a simple Delphi 5 project (should be 6 compatible) that will give you the basics, inclduing a test appliaction to help you! I don't know C or Visual Basic etc, so don't ask me question on them!!!" LOL! Delphi??? hahaha. No copies of Delphi here on the intranet.. im SOL and I really dont want to pick up another language.. .NET is a pain enough.

more..
At this moment you can only develop plugins in Delphi because the API of LCDC uses Delphi variables and Borland Memory Manager to talk between the DLL and the EXE. When Mat comes to changing this (I hope he does), it will be possible to write plugins in VC|PLS||PLS| and BC|PLS||PLS|. All 'previous' plugins will stop working and will need to be rewritten.

You cannot write plugins for LCDC in VB because you can't export procedures (functions and subs) in Visual Basic. To make VB plugins work you would need a VBBridge. For mor information about a VBBridge see : http://www.al-williams.com/new/tips/tip30.htm

YUCK!! Something native to the MJ that doesnt use LCDC would be much cleaner I think.

Just need an LCD screen

Would be nice to get one of each size to really test out the layout.

Would do the matrixorbital ones... they seem to be the best priced/value.

Anyone have a few of these laying around?

JimH · « **Reply #10 on:** August 21, 2002, 12:10:01 pm »

Great news and thanks!

I just wrote henryj (above) to see if we can get you a display.

Jim

Henry J. (MO) · « **Reply #11 on:** August 21, 2002, 12:57:04 pm »

The nice thing about LCDC is that allot of other stuff is done for it. Winamp 2 (3 in development), Zoom Player Plug in and even a new Remote Control plugin has been made. So adding support for MJ to LCDC would be better because there is a base to work from. If you want your computer to show the time when nothing is playing, it will, or net stats... all the plugin would do is add to the software which has been 5 months in development!

Cephlen · « **Reply #12 on:** August 21, 2002, 01:47:47 pm »

I agree it would be better time spent developing for the LCDC program.

I would do it, IF he wasnt using Delphi.

If he was using just about any other language, I would be all over it.

---

Plus... I dont know his architecture.. but the MJ requires the plugin to be run inside itself. So my plugin for LCDC becomes very complex.

1. MJ plugin that interfaces with the MJ, and sends messages to the LCDC plugin.
2. LCDC plugin that gets messages from the MJ plugin.

So I would basically have 2x the amount of code to write unless I dont know what I am talking about

Writing a MJ plugin that directly interfaces with the display would be much easier.

----

Something like a nice XML messaging system would be great..

1. MJ plugin interface & send/recieve msgs
2. LCDC plugin interface & send/recieve msgs

1. Plugin that interfaces with MJ/winamp/etc.. sends XML msgs to display "server"
2. Display "server" recieves xml msgs and stuffs them into the display.

Off the top of my head, very easy to do using .NET.. all that xml stuff is native.. hehe. MJ doesnt support .NET's controls, have to use vb6.

---
either way, using LCDC becomes a very big project.. my background is %100 MS development.. am trained to scoff at anything nonMS

----

Eeks.. the winamp2 LCDC plugin is 500k, and there are 2 dll's. 1 for LCDC, and 1 for Winamp. So maybe my guess is right about some sort of msg'ing going back and forth between the 2 seperate applications.

Cephlen · « **Reply #13 on:** August 21, 2002, 01:52:24 pm »

http://forums.planetdps.com/read.php?TID=297

lets see if they reply anytime soon

Henry J. (MO) · « **Reply #14 on:** August 21, 2002, 03:03:59 pm »

I'll turn on the Bat Signal...

Cephlen · « **Reply #15 on:** August 26, 2002, 09:58:24 am »

Talks are going too slow

I think I am going to give up with them. If we ever get to the point of agreeing on how to exchange information, debugging is going to take even longer.

I hope to have enough money to buy one around xmas.. so maybe then if work isnt keeping me busy I will write it.

Its too bad they wrote it in Delphi

JimH · « **Reply #16 on:** August 26, 2002, 12:41:46 pm »

Cephlen,
What does it cost? We could buy it.

Thanks for your interest in this.

Jim

Cephlen · « **Reply #17 on:** August 26, 2002, 02:54:21 pm »

Depending on the size of the unit, and input/outputs...
$40-$130

http://www.matrixorbital.com/serial-lcd.htm

JimH · « **Reply #18 on:** August 26, 2002, 03:17:54 pm »

Done. Choose your poison and let me know where to ship it.

jimh @ jriver.com

PhatPhreddy · « **Reply #19 on:** August 26, 2002, 11:09:18 pm »

Did Henry from MO not promise a free one to the developer...

Check that out first...

Me I am just happily enjoying my VFD now (4x20 MO one) with Girder and DVDSpy... i have some more programming to do so that when MJ is stopped it clears the VFD so that MJ can live in the system tray and load a SW DVD player on top and have that use the VFD but in general it works and the bueaty of girder (even though it pussles the hel out of me) is that I can make it do whatever oddball stuff I want...

Cephlen · « **Reply #20 on:** August 27, 2002, 12:14:54 pm »

Sounds like the one I have my eye on

I am thinking of creating a service that uses XML so anyone can write a plugin to the service, and multiple plugins can write to the service at once.

Any features you would want that I can include?

PhatPhreddy · « **Reply #21 on:** August 27, 2002, 11:26:19 pm »

In recent comms with McMM (DVDSpy author) on the girder forums he was also discussing a more stand alone version of a LCD controller... Still working with LCDriver probably and still accepting inputs from Girders OSD certainly but having a more direct control of variables and priorities in the display space...

As Mike is very well versed with the LCD's and the needs and wants of users I would strongly suggest opening some discussion with him before starting to code... Hw has been real helpful with my ideas...

Cephlen · « **Reply #22 on:** August 28, 2002, 09:10:22 am »

Got a link for me Phreddy?

JimH · « **Reply #23 on:** August 28, 2002, 09:54:12 am »

girder is www.girder.nl

Henry_MO · « **Reply #24 on:** September 13, 2002, 04:25:24 pm »

Did Henry from MO not promise a free one to the developer...
Check that out first...

Yes I did, and the offer is still open...

Phat Phreddy · « **Reply #25 on:** September 14, 2002, 02:12:39 am »

Class act Henry... Not only offering to give stuff away but then reminding people when it is not claimed...

You want stuff programmed announce it on the AVS boards... The coders over there will duke it out for swag like VFD's...

stalag131 · « **Reply #26 on:** September 15, 2002, 11:09:58 am »

http://lcdriver.pointofnoreturn.org/ is the site of another lcd driver... with v2.0 due out soon. I believe this one is in c. Also, there is a winamp plugin that MJ may support, as well as lots of tools, etc. I was planning on trying to use this one for my display.

Cephlen · « **Reply #27 on:** September 16, 2002, 12:16:36 pm »

Been swamped at work.. we are releasing a new build soon. Perhaps after launch I will have some time...

MJ trial expired

And my HTPC is slowly coming together

I got it to boot up, installed XP.. and got it networked. I just have some heat issues with the PSU and the HD.

Henry_MO · « **Reply #28 on:** September 17, 2002, 10:14:00 am »

http://lcdriver.pointofnoreturn.org/ is the site of another lcd driver... with v2.0 due out soon. I believe this one is in c. Also, there is a winamp plugin that MJ may support, as well as lots of tools, etc. I was planning on trying to use this one for my display.

LCDriver 1.0 has very few programs for it, and second most are not that good... that simple. LCDriver 2.0 will come out, but the software will still not be there. LCDC or LCD Smarite has TONS of features all ready.

Take a look at what LCDC does all ready...
http://www.lcdforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=610&forum=2&2

Henry_MO · « **Reply #29 on:** September 17, 2002, 10:15:15 am »

Class act Henry... Not only offering to give stuff away but then reminding people when it is not claimed...
You want stuff programmed announce it on the AVS boards... The coders over there will duke it out for swag like VFD's...

Thanks, but to be honest. I want this for home too, LOL...

stalag131 · « **Reply #30 on:** September 17, 2002, 11:55:36 am »

Henry, I looked at both before making my comment. I was kinda just responding to the general eww... DELPHI stuff.

JimH · « **Reply #31 on:** September 17, 2002, 12:01:17 pm »

cephlen,
If you want to work on this we'll provide a license.

Jim

Henry_MO · « **Reply #32 on:** September 17, 2002, 01:56:41 pm »

Henry, I looked at both before making my comment. I was kinda just responding to the general eww... DELPHI stuff.

Ya, that is one small problem with LCDC and plugins, that you have to do it delphi... I'm not big programer, so I don't know much about this topic...

Cephlen · « **Reply #33 on:** September 17, 2002, 03:08:34 pm »

Jim,

I have tried sending you a few emails over the past few days.

Perhaps I have it wrong? Could you send me one so we can talk about this stuff offline? Er, in emails that is.. the lingo used at my work is really getting to me...

JimH · « **Reply #34 on:** September 17, 2002, 03:49:52 pm »

ding, you have mail.

Cephlen · « **Reply #35 on:** September 20, 2002, 12:37:52 pm »

Henry,

Ok, I think time here is going to free up in a week or so.

What are your terms of that unit?

Perhaps you could email me and we can discuss your offer a bit more.

JimH and I talked a bit, hes all for it.

Henry_MO · « **Reply #36 on:** September 23, 2002, 12:57:58 pm »

We generaly take first born...

ICQ me and we will work something out.

PhatPhreddy · « **Reply #37 on:** September 23, 2002, 11:14:16 pm »

Sons or Daughters ?? Or just generally not picky ??

Henry_MO · « **Reply #38 on:** September 24, 2002, 07:10:38 am »

not picky, as long as they have little hands, makes soldering all those little components easier.

Cephlen · « **Reply #39 on:** October 04, 2002, 02:39:17 pm »

Biggest mistake my father ever made - taught me how to solder. Well.... er... unsolder...

mysteriously, electronic items started to disapear. Stereo, spare television... etc..

INTERACT FORUM

Author Topic: LCD Plug-in for MJ (Read 4615 times)

John G.

sekim

John G.

Henry J. (MO)

Henry J (MO)

John G.

Henry J. (MO)

Henry J. (MO)

Henry_MO

Phat Phreddy

Henry_MO

Henry_MO

Henry_MO