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[sunfire7]

Hi,Could you please upload your Version of AnyVFD somewhere.I would like to test it.
Perhaps it solves my 2 Library Problem,too???
Would be nice.
Im using the iMon VFD not the LCD Display.Could i get troubles with this Version?

I didn't change anything but the set text function to LCD instead of VFD in order to work on LCD versions (won't work with vfd)

[sunfire7]

If anyone with an Imon LCD (not VFD) wants to try the plug-in, install the VFD version and then copy the files on the rar to "Plugins\IMON VFD" (overwrite the files)

[zerocool]

The plugin is still working here.  What version of iMON Manager are you guys running?  I'm still using 8.00.0408, from about a year ago.

Running v. 8.12.1202.

I must agree.The Plugin is working fine

It's still not working here - now with MC v.18.

zerocool do you have a VFD or LCD??

A VFD.

Someone else with a bit of Visual Basic knowlegde AND a VFD could go on with the development.
The source code is still available: http://www.saupurzel.eu/ImonVFD.zip

Anyone up for the challenge  - or have any alternatives to this plugin arisen  ?

[sKiZo]

I know I posted a lot of this before, but maybe this one is a bit more organized ...

Here's a step by step I just did on a new HTPC build. May help point those who can't get it to work in the right direction.

- Did a fresh installation of Windows XP Pro w/SP3 (so shoot me ... I like it!) <G>
- Installed the current version of JRiver MC17 and imported the library and settings from my old machine. Real slick - wondered how well that would work, but it fired right up and it's just like it was.
- Installed Imon Manager v8.12.12.02 - MAKE SURE YOU ENABLE DISPLAY PLUGIN MODE! You'll find that in the main "options" ... at this point, the IMON frontend should be talking to the display. News, weather ... all that stuff.

Here's where it gets tricky. The IMON VFD install will hang trying to register the program files if you're not running the correct version of .NET Framework. You need to verify that the following directory exists on your hard drive:

WINDOWS\MICROSOFT.NET\FRAMEWORK\V4.0.30319

The setup will NOT work without it. Interestingly enough, IMON VFD installs itself in an MC16 directory. Some legacy issues I expect, as that was probably the current iteration of MC when the plugin was last updated. I never used MC16 myself, so I assUme the VFD plugin creates the MC16 directory by default, and apparently MC17 (and hopefully any other version, including MC18) looks for it there. Here's where you'll find it after the installation:

Program Files\J River\Media Center 16\Plugins\Imon VFD

To verify the installation worked, add DISPLAYTEST.EXE to that directory, and fire it up. If all is good, you should be able to send data to the display.

Last step is to start MC, scroll to the plugins section, click the IMON VFD, and you should get to the setup screen. If you don't see a couple of windows with click 'n pick options, something went wrong. I've got mine scrolling Album, Title, Artist, and date on the top line at 200ms and the time display on the bottom ... try it ... you'll like it!

The VFD program is very picky about versions, so I stashed the IMON VFD setup version I used and  DISPLAYTEST.EXE (from Imon) at the following location:

http://www.brainfartz.com/images/index.php?loc=./Stereo%20Stuff/htpc/mc-stuff

You can get Framework 4 here:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=17851

They're still showing the 0319 build you need as current, but if that changes, I also saved a copy of the correct web install file in the same location as the other stuff. MS is pretty good about keeping older versions available, so if a direct download from MS doesn't give you what you need, that should work as a fallback.

Luck with it. Let me know if this helps anyone. I'd also be interested to know if anyone has got it working with MC18 ...

[JimH]

Thanks, sKiZo, for taking time to write up the instructions.

[EdBrady]

JimH, have you guys considered developing this plugin or one of your own?  Sure would be nice!

[StuckMojo]

@sKiZo
I'd also be interested to know if anyone has got it working with MC18.

Answer:
Running MC 18.0.67.Any VFD Plugin is working like it did in MC17.

Would be nice if someone could eliminate the two Bugs of Any VFD.
1.Changing Library ->Crash
2.Random MC crashes when changing a Movie or Song.(But this happens only in rare cases).

@EdBrady
This would be very nice if MC Team would develop a plugin.
Or they have a look at this Plugin and fix the bugs it still has.

[sKiZo]

Answer:
Running MC 18.0.67.Any VFD Plugin is working like it did in MC17.

Thanx ... good to know. I'll be looking at an upgrade.

If it helps any, I have never ever had an MC crash before or after installing the VFD plugin. IF there's any instability, I'd attribute it to the IMON software, which from my experience is either

<A> Buggy as hell
<B> Real particular about it's environment
<C> A work in progress
<D> All of the above

From my experience, IMON up thru about 7.9 something or other had ... to put it nicely ... issues. The  v8.12.12.02 has been rock stable (ya, I know ... famous last words). In fact, it's the first version that I've been able to get all the other stuff (news, weather, tickers) to work properly. Not sure if it's hardware related - I did do a new HTPC build recently - but I'm just happy it's all working.

All except that cute lil EQ display - that's NEVER worked for me. Not that I'm losing any sleep over it. I got it's big brother lighting up the room on my BSR 14/14XR equalizer ...

[zerocool]

Duh... Just realized that the display in my case is a LCD and not a VFD

Thanks, sKiZo, for taking time to write up the instructions.

Hi Jim,

Is there any chance that the J River development Team is going to make a proper Imon LCD/VFD plugin or build in feature in MC?
Soundgraph could probably be of some assistance: http://www.soundgraph.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5133&postcount=2
 

[sunfire7]

Duh... Just realized that the display in my case is a LCD and not a VFD

zerocool, try the version I attached in my previous post, it's a modified version that kinda works with lcd

[dean70]

Sorry for not noticing your busy discussions. Jim informed me, so here I am.
But sadly I have to say, I will not be of much help.
I do not own a VFD anymore, so I cannot do any programming, testing debugging etc.
Someone else with a bit of Visual Basic knowlegde AND a VFD could go on with the development.
The source code is still available: http://www.saupurzel.eu/ImonVFD.zip

Sorry guys  

I have done some modifications to this version to resolve the crashing issues and added some more functionality

• Can display separate information for Audio or Video
• Displays the currently selected zone when nothing is playing, along with the current time and volume level in db
• Shows volume level momentarily on the 2nd line when changes are made (reverts back to selected info after 1.5secs)

Just finishing some testing with MC18.
[/list]

[StuckMojo]

Could you please share it with us?

Can't wait to test this version.

[dean70]

Here is the link to the setup.exe


Project source files

[StuckMojo]

First of all, a BIG thank you for creating and sharing your work.
I've tried it now.
2 Problems: One Addition and a Bug.

1.Would be nice if we could have more options for the second line.
  I always used the Year Tag in the second line for example.

2.Plugin installed and MC 18 started, interferences the whole Windows system.Curser movement in MC 18 Theater View is really slow now.Opened imon settings,mouse movement is stuttering and left click reacts also really slow now.
CPU Usage is at normal level.I don't know what causes this problem.

My System Win 7 x64, latest updates installed.
I had to uninstall it ,now the system works normal again.

Nevertheless,thanks again for your work.Good to see,there is a person again here,who can handle imon plugin programming.

  

[dean70]

I will look at the polling interval for display updates - it is around 100ms. Maybe some of the Automation interface calls are too CPU intensive to be queried this often.

[dean70]

I have copied an updated setup.exe with all fields available on both lines, with the exception of combining the clock or duration with other fields. I have also cleaned up the refresh timer routine.

[WeeHappyPixie]

Would this work with the iMON LCD version?

John

[dean70]

I think the LCD version has a different interface. Sorry, I don't have one to test.

[StuckMojo]

Hi,Dean70

I've tested your new Version.

The problem is still there.It is a serious thing. I think it has nothing to do with cpu load.Because it stays normal.
Without the plugin it is at the same level.
If i want to scroll down in theater view,it goes down one line and then stops.
If i try to open imon settings,the window appears.When try to select one of the settings, i have to wait 10 seconds until the mouse click reacts.CPU Load stays at normal level. ?
Its seems that only mouse and keyboard are responding very slow.

Two other things,if you don't bother:

1.In the plugin settings window i can't read the scrolling ms seconds.I can only see the last digit.The text before goes over the ms field.

2.If you don't mind,can you please remove the word "released" from the Year tag.
I always liked that the top line scrolled,and the second line not.Now the 2 second line also scrolls, because the text is to long.Two lines scrolling looks some kind of weird.
Would be nice.

And thanks for the additions for the second line!

[dean70]

Hi,Dean70

I've tested your new Version.

The problem is still there.It is a serious thing. I think it has nothing to do with cpu load.Because it stays normal.
Without the plugin it is at the same level.
If i want to scroll down in theater view,it goes down one line and then stops.
If i try to open imon settings,the window appears.When try to select one of the settings, i have to wait 10 seconds until the mouse click reacts.CPU Load stays at normal level. ?
Its seems that only mouse and keyboard are responding very slow.

That's odd - what are the h/w specs of system are you running? Also check the version of dotNet (it requires v4 to run) - confirm the latest dotNet updates are installed. The other thing to check is the version of the iMon software you are running - I have tested it on v8.12.1202.

I run this version on an i5 2500k (development system) and the HTPC AMD A8-3850k, which has the VFD display and don't have the lag issues.

[StuckMojo]

Win 7 x64
.NET V4 + latest Updates       ->installed.
iMon Software v8.12.1202      ->installed (Plugin-Mode -> Both activated)

H/W Specs:
CPU: AMD Athlon II X4 605e 4x 2,3Ghz
Ram: 8Gb DDR3 Ram 1333 Mhz
GPU: Ati Radeon 6950           ->Latest Driver installed

I have set up my System not long ago.Only necessary Software installed. +Kaspersky Internet Security
The only 2 things that are also running in the background:
Iconoid ->To Hide Mouse Cursor in Windows.
Video Wallpaper 2.50  ->I have Video Files as Background,not pictures.

The old AnyVFD Plugin from mib4755 had no problem with this setup."Only" MC Crash Problems,when i tried to switch between librarys in MC.

It's gettin' more strange....
-First i deactivated Kaspersky    ->No Change
-If i use VNC (Remote Desktop) to control MC 18.Everything works normal,until i try it with the iMon Remote.
Then the keyboard and mouse responds late or not.Clicked in the MC Window with VNC,keyboard and mouse responds normal again.But not with the remote.
And the complete Taskbar is locked or responds very late if try to click on it.With both, VNC and iMon Remote.
Closing MC 18->Taskbar works normal again.With VNC or with Remote.
-Uninstalled the Plugin->Everythings Ok again. ?

[dean70]

I will look at optimizing the refresh timer routine further - some of the displayed info doesn't require refreshing until a track change. The original version only had the duration updating via the refresh timer - the current version has duration, zone (no event available for zone change), clock, volume, etc in combination with other fields.

[dean70]

Updated install

Polls zone info only once every second & reduces the update interval for the clock to 0.5 secs, instead of 100ms.
Removed the word 'released' from the year tag. Also renamed Last Played to 'Played'.
Rearranged the scroll interval field.
Each line can have the scrolling disabled individually.

You also need to check under C:\Program Files (x86)\J River\Media Center 18\Plugins\ImonVFD for any files before installing the updated version and delete them. The setup.exe wasn't always removing files correctly on uninstall.

[StuckMojo]

Perfect dean70,now it works flawlessy!!!
Problem gone!

Bad,that i've no second library anymore,because of crashing issues with the old plugin.
I think i have to set it up again.Hopefully the crashs are gone now.
A really BIG THANK YOU to you.After 3 Years it works like it should.

The only things i miss now: (But are not really important,Only if you have time for it)

-Tags to show for TV Shows. (Series,Season,Episode)
-Do you like the delimiter icon? A simple - would look a bit smoother. What do you think?

Not really important:
-Displayed Info not showing up,when nothing played.Played Audio,stopped,but display didn't change.
  I couldn't reproduce it,happened only once, until now.Seems that this is really not important.
-Sometimes the Plugin settings disappear.Setting one thing,switched to playing now(Playing a movie),back again to settings->Settings gone.My suspicion is,that this comes from the Windows Aero Theme in combination with Black on Black Skin from MC.Restarting MC,settings there again.

That's all.Of course,only if you like the modification too,and if you have time for this.
I also like the displayed informations,when nothing is playing.Great! (Zone,Time,Volume Level)

To everyone who used the old plugin->try THIS one.It's really good!

[dean70]

Thanks for the kind words. I got tired of staring at the default iMon clock & couldn't let the VFD go to waste, so decided to do something about the plugin.

I will look at the series/season/episode fields had not considered that. TV is a little tricky - many of the fields are blank. If there is a blank field on a line you get an empty line - maybe this could be changed to n/a?

The field separator can be changed to a user specified value - I was not too keen on ! my original was a circle (extended ASCII character), but imon vfd barfs at that. You can only use standard ASCII chars.


hold the press: Looks like there is a way to show different fields based on Media Type/Media Sub Type, rather than a simple Video/Non video setting - I am investigating revamping the plugin to handle multiple media type info display.

[StuckMojo]

Sounds great,dean70!

[WeeHappyPixie]

Any support for the VFD that comes with the Moncaso 320 case.

John

[dean70]

-Sometimes the Plugin settings disappear.Setting one thing,switched to playing now(Playing a movie),back again to settings->Settings gone.My suspicion is,that this comes from the Windows Aero Theme in combination with Black on Black Skin from MC.Restarting MC,settings there again.

I have found that this occurs every time you update MC. It creates a new config folder for each release under <Profile>\AppData\Local\J River\v18.0.nnn which contains the VFD plugin config file. Not sure why it does this. The plugin creates a new config file based on the defaults each time.

[dean70]

Any support for the VFD that comes with the Moncaso 320 case.

John

Doing a quick search & this seems to have a VFD from a different vendor. Do they have an SDK?

[StuckMojo]

I have found that this occurs every time you update MC. It creates a new config folder for each release under <Profile>\AppData\Local\J River\v18.0.nnn which contains the VFD plugin config file. Not sure why it does this. The plugin creates a new config file based on the defaults each time.

I took a look at the Path.On my Machine the path is a little different.
<Profile>\AppData\Local\JRiver,_Inc\DefaultDomain_Path_jmdogwy30kcgwje4ohnhp0nczgxfc5eb\v18.0.nnn
The config file in the folder is from the iMon Plugin.
I deleted all of them,except the latest one.

Started MC 18,went to plugins->IMON VFD settings->OK.
Clicked on Playing Now and then back to IMON VFD settings->Settings gone.
This happens all the time,not only after an update.
Did you try it with my settings?
-Win 7 x64
-Aero Theme enabled
-MC Black on Black Skin (With this Skin, Aero needs to be enabled.Message pops up if Aero isn't enabled.)
But as i said before,not really a bad thing.I don't change the settings each time,when i use MC 18.



Edit:
As I said.Tried it with the "old" Thunderstorm "Non-Aero" Skin.Switching between Playing Now and IMON Plugin settings works without problems.

The other thing happened,too now.The second time.But the other way round.Started a movie and the display didn't change from "Nothing Playing Informations" to "Movie playing informations".Could it be,that this is a refresh timer problem again? But,again,not really a big problem.This happens only in rare cases.

[EdBrady]

dean70, is your new plugin supposed to work with MC17?  I've installed it, but MC17 is unaware of its presence... I assume it should show up the same place the old did, under services & plugins.

[StuckMojo]

Did you set the install path manually? (Custom not Automatic Install)
The Standard Install Path is the MC 18 directory,i think.

[dean70]

At the moment, the setup is hard-coded to install in MC18 only. You should be able to add it manually in MC17 from the Services & Plugins screen.

I will have to update the setup to detect the highest installed MC version.

[EdBrady]

I tried adding it manually... MC wants a dll, I tried both ImonVFD.dll and iMONDisplay.dll and both resulted in "Failed to install plugin."

[dean70]

I have updated the install which detects the latest version of MC (18 or 17) and installs the IMon plugin for that version.

[StuckMojo]

Now that i have installed MC 17 and MC 18,it won't install in MC 18 Plugins Directory,even if i set the Install path manually (custom) to MC 18 Plugins directory.
Both settings (complete / Custom ->changed to MC 18 Plugins) don't work.Both settings ->install in MC 17 Plugins directory.
I moved the iMon Folder to MC 18 directory manually.The display didn't jump to Movie Informations,as i started a movie.Still displayed Zone/Time/Volume db.

Jumped back to last Version.Working again.

[dean70]

Fixed install so that it detects v18 and v17 (not v18 or v17). Tested it with both v18 and v17 installed (actually appears in both). Installs to Media Center 18 folder in this case.

[StuckMojo]

Thanks for the Quick Fix.Working Now!

[EdBrady]

Working well in MC17 here.  Thanks for the update, and for resuming the development of this plugin.

[Ekpen]

Fixed install so that it detects v18 and v17 (not v18 or v17). Tested it with both v18 and v17 installed (actually appears in both). Installs to Media Center 18 folder in this case.

Thanks, the link works.
Elpen.

[HTPC4ME]

Using file from install reply # 136.
is Reply # 103 still the preferred install method?

thanks

[dean70]

Using file from install reply # 136.
is Reply # 103 still the preferred install method?

thanks

These instructions are still valid (except the Program Files\J River\Media Center 16\Plugins\Imon VFD install path bit - will now place it into the correct folder).

[HTPC4ME]

Hi dean, ive went through all 3 pages, and all of your links for setup.exe seem to be down. the only link of yours i can click on is http://www.mediafire.com/?umcutiluaapebgb which is a .msi file.

Where do i find the setup files?

thanks for your assistance

[StuckMojo]

This is the latest Version and works just fine.Take this version.
Download Link is working.

[HTPC4ME]

which version? which link...sorry confused.
Your not referring to the .msi are you?

[StuckMojo]

Yes,exact this link. .msi is only "another" type of a setup.exe.

[HTPC4ME]

reason i ask is... i did originally download that after dean said use from that post. but it shows up as a word doc. then right clicked chose open with jriver media center 18. and all that happens is jriver 18 opens. there is no install process. i must be doing something wrong?!

[StuckMojo]

.msi (Windows/Microsoft Installer) Wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Installer
Which Windows Version do you use?

[HTPC4ME]

windows 7 32 bit and 64 bit ( i tried it on multiple pc's).. i believe ya. i've been using pc's for over 12 yrs. and never ran across a .msi file. and now that i have no clue how to install the sucker.lol

[StuckMojo]

It should work with win 7 just with a double click,like a normal setup.exe.

-Windows Updates installed.
-.NET v4 Framework + latest Updates installed.->Needs to be installed for AnyVFD Plugin.

You could try to install MSI Windows Installer manually,and then try to install .msi file:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8483

But it should work Out-of-the-Box with Windows 7.