Topic: JRiver Plugin for LCDSmartie (Windows) (Read 42445 times)

kensn · « **on:** October 13, 2013, 10:22:29 pm »

Plugin Download: Bottom of this post

Requirements:

Windows OS
JRiver Media Center
.net 4 framework (available here http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=17851 )
LCDSmartie (available here http://sourceforge.net/projects/lcdsmartie/ ) Download LCDSmartie, and before continuing, Make Sure Your Display Is Working With LCDSmartie.

The Download is a zip file containing 8 files:

JR_Info.dll (plugin for LCDSmartie).
JRMCLCD.exe (plugin for JRiver Media Center).
Screens.txt (Text file with preconfigured screens. Copy and paste over default [Screen**] sections in LCDSmartie Config.ini file.
Actions.txt (Text file with preconfigured actions to switch screens depending on media type playing. Copy and paste over default [Actions] section in LCDSmartie Config.ini file.
Instructions.txt
MSVCP71.dll and MSVCR71.dll if LCDSmartie complains of these files missing.
LCDSmartie.exe.config if LCDSmartie complains of a Bridge failure.

Features:

Display JRiver content on any display supported by LCDSmartie.
Standard fields include Artist, Album, Name, Rating (as number or stars), Time (position, duration or formatted x:xx / x:xx), Channels (as number or formatted as Mono, Stereo, 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1), Sample Rate, Bitrate, Playing Now Tracks as number, Playing Now Position as number, Zone Name and Media Type (as number or formatted as Audio, Video, Movie, TV Show and Music Video).
(10) User Fields to display standard or custom fields.
Is Alive as 0 or 1 used to change theme in LCDSmartie to display alternate content when JRiver is currently not playing.
Media Type (as number) used to change themes in LCDSmartie based on Media type.
Use of POS and DUR (position raw and duration raw) to use for time bar graph display
LCDSmartie Parameter fields contained on MCLCD plugin page to easily copy and paste into LCDSmartie.

Audio 1

Audio 2

Movies

TV Shows

Plugin

Screen settings in settings.txt are for 4 x 20 Display

audio format (shown in plugin picture in User 1 Field) is a custom Field of mine

Zip file contains 32 bit (JRMCLCD.exe) and 64 bit (JRLCD64.exe) versions

HTPC4ME · « **Reply #1 on:** October 13, 2013, 11:11:37 pm »

assistance please
we own this unit - http://www.iboyds.com/thermaltake-dh-202-htpc-case-vj80011n2z.aspx

will this display work with your plugin?
If not, is there a new display i could buy and install that would work in my case to get access to this awesome plugin?
Thanks

kensn · « **Reply #2 on:** October 13, 2013, 11:42:23 pm »

Quote from: xtacbyme on October 13, 2013, 11:11:37 pm

will this display work with your plugin?

The easiest way to tell is get LCDSmartie and see if it works with your display. It's free and a stand alone program (no install required), just unzip and run it. It has a screen configuration that lets you pick from a variety of display drivers.

I am currently using this display http://www.eio.com/p-18952-lcdmod-u204mbb1-usb-4x20-character-lcd.aspx, easy install in my HTPC case. Had a single internal USB connection to plug into an onboard header. Had to jump through hoops to get the driver in though....

You would have to look at specs of your case opening to see what is available for it.

Ken

scomed99 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 14, 2013, 10:15:33 am »

Quote from: xtacbyme on October 13, 2013, 11:11:37 pm

assistance please
we own this unit - http://www.iboyds.com/thermaltake-dh-202-htpc-case-vj80011n2z.aspx

will this display work with your plugin?
If not, is there a new display i could buy and install that would work in my case to get access to this awesome plugin?
Thanks

My Zalman HD503 use same iMON LCD display and it doesn't work, I think the only way to go is to change the display.....
I've take a look on this
http://it.rs-online.com/web/p/vfd-vacuum-fluorescent-display-display-a-illuminazione-fluorescente/6659778/
that have same external dim. of iMON LCD.

kensn · « **Reply #4 on:** October 14, 2013, 07:57:06 pm »

Corrected error....

Ken

kensn · « **Reply #5 on:** October 14, 2013, 08:16:26 pm »

It seems the Media Lab and Imon display could be based on the same hardware. There seems to be some sucees using these with LCD Smartie according to this thread:

http://forums.lcdsmartie.org/viewtopic.php?t=1460

Not sure if this applied to both the VFDs and LCDs though.. hard to tell but might be worth a try...

scomed99 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 15, 2013, 02:44:32 am »

Thanks!

With lcdsmartie 5.x I can't load the imon_OEM_lcd plugin.
I place this plugin on lcdsmartie plugin folder but I can't see it on "display setting"-->"plugin".

What am I doing wrong?

EDIT: The imon_OEM_lcd plugin must be put in "display" folder

scomed99 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 15, 2013, 03:42:50 am »

This is a neverending story.....

If I leave the "config" file as default the display now works,
if I try to modified the "config" file (copy and paste a command line of your jriver plugin into lcdsmartie's "screen settings") an error command line come trough (see attached file)

EDIT (SOLVED):

Sorry, I have forgotten to put in the lcdsmartie plugin folder the jrinfo.dll file.

scomed99 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 15, 2013, 08:28:00 am »

And finally.....don't work

This iMON LCD is good for doing nothing!

kensn · « **Reply #9 on:** October 15, 2013, 09:17:12 am »

Quote from: scomed99 on October 15, 2013, 08:28:00 am

And finally.....don't work

What did not work... Above you said the display was working...

Ken

scomed99 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 15, 2013, 09:45:55 am »

The plugin works fine (no error) but the LCD display show only date/time.

Latest iMON driver with lcd display haven't sg_vfd.dll file.
In IMON folder there's sg_vfdu.dll file, il you rename sg_vfdu file to sg_vfd file lcdsmartie work fine (no command "hw not found"), but the lcd display show date/time all the time (imon manager uninstalled)

kensn · « **Reply #11 on:** October 15, 2013, 02:23:53 pm »

One last thing you may try, if you want to, is to "reboot" the screen by unplugging it and then plugging it back in. Make sure there are no other programs try to control the display. I remember in the LCDSmartie forum the uer basicaly rebooted the whole machine and disabled some softweare to get it to work. may want to look at that again.

Ken

scomed99 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 15, 2013, 03:59:49 pm »

Thanks for your help!

I will try again asap, but if imon manager is not running why the display show time/date? (Also with SO And PC off)

kensn · « **Reply #13 on:** October 15, 2013, 05:06:20 pm »

Quote from: scomed99 on October 15, 2013, 03:59:49 pm

Thanks for your help!

I will try again asap, but if imon manager is not running why the display show time/date? (Also with SO And PC off)

Hard coded into the firmware...

scomed99 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 15, 2013, 05:24:38 pm »

Yes!
Power off the display and now works!
Only 1x16 caracter, but works!

EDIT:

With 02rev (not 04) of iMON_OEM dll the display become 2x16 caracter, not bad.

kensn · « **Reply #15 on:** October 16, 2013, 08:57:01 am »

Fantastic... Glad you have it running....

Ken

scomed99 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 16, 2013, 10:18:38 am »

Thanks Ken!

Next step is to change the cheaper iMON lcd display with a cool VFD 2x20 large character display. (see attached pic)
The display is a Futaba that works fine with parallel port of my tower PC.

Unfortunately my HTPC MOBO (Asrock Extreme 4) don't have a parallel port.
I try with this adapter
http://www.sybausa.com/productInfo.php?iid=607&currentPage=0
but it doesen't works......

Do you have some idea or some kind of adapter that might works?

scomed99 · « **Reply #17 on:** October 16, 2013, 10:48:38 am »

Ken, now all works fine!

The PCI card adapter works if you put in the LCDSmartie startup parameters the first address of the parallel port "$xxxx".

Ciao

dfroula · « **Reply #18 on:** February 01, 2014, 07:16:28 am »

Thanks for this plugin!

I have a dozen or so Noritake CU20025ECPB-W1J vacuum fluorescent displays that I wanted to use with the JRiver Media Center. The VFDs are nice, as they emulate the common Hitachi LCD controller parallel interface. I built up a simple "backpack" that emulates the Matrix Orbital command set using a PIC16F628 microcontroller and a MAX233 serial port level converter and PIC code developed by Matt Crowley. This works great with LCD Smartie and this plugin.

I housed the display circuit in a simple black enclosure that matches a headphone amp and crossfeed circuit I built. I have LCD Smartie set up to alternate between displays showing the track name/track timing and Artist/bitrate/sample rate using the LCD Smartie "enallax" plugin. I use the plugin's "IsAlive" function to blank the screen whenever a track is not playing by switching to an empty LCD Smartie screen.

The only issue I have had is that LCD Smartie does not notice that JRiver has exited and blank the screen unless the Stop button is pressed before exiting the program. The "IsAlive" function in the LCD Smartie plugin component does not detect that JRiver has exited. This is a minor inconvenience, though.

It would be nice if the plugin recognized Matrix Orbital button presses to control JRiver transport controls. Any chance of adding spectrum analyzer capability, as Winamp supports?

Regards,

Don

kensn · « **Reply #19 on:** February 01, 2014, 10:30:36 am »

Don,

Thanks for the kinds words, I'm glad you put it to use. I will look at the "isalive" function to see if I can see a problem. As for the Matrix Orbital buttons I don't think I will go down that road.

I would also like to get a spectrum analyzer, but I did not find a way to retrieve the info from JRiver for this.

Enjoy the plugin....

Ken

dfroula · « **Reply #20 on:** February 02, 2014, 02:27:37 pm »

Ken,

Why you're looking at the code, I just recalled a few other issues:

The JRiver plugin offers two parameters for indicating the track position: "Position" and "Position Raw". The LCD Smartie "Bar" function expects a position percentage from 0-100 as an argument to properly display position on a bar graph. An additional parameter with a scaled position percentage would help, as there's no way to have LCD Smartie calculate the percentage from the Position and Duration parameters.

The Scroll Divider field sometimes works with special character codes, sometimes not. Spaces seem to be a problem for it as well.

These are minor nits. It's a great piece of work!

Don

madman1887 · « **Reply #21 on:** March 09, 2014, 02:08:34 pm »

Quote from: scomed99 on October 15, 2013, 03:42:50 am

This is a neverending story.....

If I leave the "config" file as default the display now works,
if I try to modified the "config" file (copy and paste a command line of your jriver plugin into lcdsmartie's "screen settings") an error command line come trough (see attached file)

EDIT (SOLVED):

Sorry, I have forgotten to put in the lcdsmartie plugin folder the jrinfo.dll file.

Hi guys, I seem to be getting the same problem as this chap. I have definitely put the JR_Info.dll in the correct place (plugins folder un LCDSmartie) but i still get errors when running LCDSmartie and it reads cannot load plugin.

Hope someone can help.I am using the latest version of lcdsmartie. It also says I'm missing msvcr71.dll and i tried getting it and it said that the plugin was no good.

Im on Windows 7 32bit.

madman1887 · « **Reply #22 on:** March 10, 2014, 06:58:21 pm »

Also, I have installed net framework which did not solve the problem.

Would really appreciate it if anyone can help.

madman1887 · « **Reply #23 on:** March 15, 2014, 07:03:39 pm »

Never mind, installed Windows 8 and all seems to be fine now. Thanks for a very useful plugin, it's much appreciated.

kensn · « **Reply #24 on:** March 15, 2014, 11:20:53 pm »

Sorry I missed your post Madman.. Glad you have it working..

Ken

Matty70 · « **Reply #25 on:** October 10, 2014, 03:21:34 pm »

Hi all,

I just tried to install the MCLCD-Plugin with Media Center 20.
Unfortunately the plugin is not recognized by MC20.

Is there anybody who has experiences or suggestions?

Thanks in advance
Matthias

kensn · « **Reply #26 on:** October 10, 2014, 03:26:24 pm »

Let me look into it this weekend. I have it running in MC20, but I also had it running in previous versions. Let me try an install on a fresh MC20.

Ken

deceptive · « **Reply #27 on:** October 24, 2014, 06:24:27 am »

I have the same problem as Matty70 as in I cannot get it to show up in MC20.

Any news on this?

Thanks

Andy

skanet · « **Reply #28 on:** November 14, 2014, 03:01:09 pm »

Same problem in MC20, the plugin is not recognized, may be because the default installation path is under c: \ program files \ JRiver 19 \ plugins \ mclcd, even if i changing the path for JRiver 20 does not work.

any news?

thedon_1989 · « **Reply #29 on:** March 17, 2015, 02:53:48 pm »

Quote from: skanet on November 14, 2014, 03:01:09 pm

Same problem in MC20, the plugin is not recognized, may be because the default installation path is under c: \ program files \ JRiver 19 \ plugins \ mclcd, even if i changing the path for JRiver 20 does not work.

any news?

Did you manage to get MC20 to recognise the MCLCD plugin?

thedon_1989 · « **Reply #30 on:** March 17, 2015, 02:54:28 pm »

Quote from: deceptive on October 24, 2014, 06:24:27 am

I have the same problem as Matty70 as in I cannot get it to show up in MC20.

Any news on this?

Thanks

Andy

Did you manage to get MC20 to recognise the MCLCD plugin?

alspoll · « **Reply #31 on:** June 09, 2015, 07:36:52 pm »

Quote from: skanet on November 14, 2014, 03:01:09 pm

Same problem in MC20, the plugin is not recognized, may be because the default installation path is under c: \ program files \ JRiver 19 \ plugins \ mclcd, even if i changing the path for JRiver 20 does not work.

any news?

Any updates getting this to work with MC20?

Spacebug · « **Reply #32 on:** August 24, 2015, 09:25:38 am »

Hello!
I'm late to the party it seems, got a quick question regarding this plugin.

Is it possible to display jriver audio volume info on the lcd?
Volume is not in the standard fields, can it be made in the custom user fields?
Can the volume info be retrieved via the JR_info.dll?

I don't have an lcd display yet but if this is possible I will get one.
I need to find a way of seeing jriver volume as I run jriver as a background program for audio processing.
A vfd or lcd display showing it would be neat.

kensn · « **Reply #33 on:** October 11, 2015, 08:14:51 pm »

Updated Install for MC21.

Will look into volume question.

Ken

kensn · « **Reply #34 on:** October 11, 2015, 11:05:20 pm »

Quote from: Spacebug on August 24, 2015, 09:25:38 am

Hello!
Is it possible to display jriver audio volume info on the lcd?

This is now supported. Can be viewed as a number, or used as a percentage bar using the $Bar command in LCDSmartie.

Ken

Spacebug · « **Reply #35 on:** October 12, 2015, 04:54:07 am »

Quote from: kensn on October 11, 2015, 11:05:20 pm

This is now supported. Can be viewed as a number, or used as a percentage bar using the $Bar command in LCDSmartie.

Ken

Thanks, but as I wrote in the PM I have already got the imon display instead, sorry I didn't mention this before.
Hopefully though more users might think the feature is useful

/Henrik

kensn · « **Reply #36 on:** October 21, 2015, 09:09:49 pm »

Updated install routine and plugin due to not installing correctly on a couple of machines.

Ken

dfroula · « **Reply #37 on:** October 25, 2016, 03:31:35 pm »

Ken, any chance for an update for Media Center 22? When I point the MC21 version to the MC22 Plugins folder, the files get installed but the plugin cannot be accessed from within Media Center.

This plugin is great. I use it to drive a homebrew VF display connected via serial port to LCD Smartie.

Best,

Don

Quagis · « **Reply #38 on:** October 28, 2017, 06:10:16 pm »

Hi Kensn, I was wondering if there is a chance to upgrade the lcd smartie plugin for JRiver 23. I think many have asked this question, and I think you are the only one who can help us. Thanks in advance.

kensn · « **Reply #39 on:** November 03, 2017, 10:28:35 pm »

The zip file now contains a 64bit version for MC23.

Seems to be working here. Feedback welcome.

Ken

Quagis · « **Reply #40 on:** November 04, 2017, 05:29:51 am »

Great!!!

I'll try it right away. Do I have to install JRiver x64?

Awesome Donkey · « **Reply #41 on:** November 04, 2017, 05:42:26 am »

Looks like it works with both the 32-bit and 64-bit builds of MC. So it's up to you whether or not to use the 64-bit MC build.

kensn · « **Reply #42 on:** November 04, 2017, 08:38:48 am »

I did not try to install on 32bit. I wrote and tested on the 64bit version. The 32 bit version in the zip file is the original 32bit one.

Ken

dfroula · « **Reply #43 on:** November 04, 2017, 05:08:31 pm »

Quote from: kensn on November 03, 2017, 10:28:35 pm

The zip file now contains a 64bit version for MC23.

Seems to be working here. Feedback welcome.

Ken

Thanks, Ken!

Would it be difficult to compile for MC22?

It seems odd that MC seems to require update plugins for every release!

Best regards,

Don

kensn · « **Reply #44 on:** November 04, 2017, 05:13:10 pm »

I think it is due to where the registry entries are located. I'm not sure how to get the version of MC at the time of install to put them in the proper place. There are registry entries for each version.. MC21, MC22 MC23.

Were you using the LCD plugin in MC21?

JimH · « **Reply #45 on:** November 04, 2017, 06:03:51 pm »

Quote from: kensn on November 04, 2017, 05:13:10 pm

I think it is due to where the registry entries are located. I'm not sure how to get the version of MC at the time of install to put them in the proper place. There are registry entries for each version.. MC21, MC22 MC23.

Were you using the LCD plugin in MC21?

You could probably make an MJP file (Media Jukebox Package file!) that would install it. Just download any of the MC plug-ins and take a look at it. I believe it's a zipped file with an executable and instructions on what MC should do with it. If you do that, you can just execute the MJP file and MC will do the rest.

dfroula · « **Reply #46 on:** November 04, 2017, 06:43:44 pm »

Quote from: kensn on November 04, 2017, 05:13:10 pm

I think it is due to where the registry entries are located. I'm not sure how to get the version of MC at the time of install to put them in the proper place. There are registry entries for each version.. MC21, MC22 MC23.

Were you using the LCD plugin in MC21?

Yes, I was using the posted version with MC21. When I upgraded to MC22, the installer created the directory in the plugins folder for MC22, but the plugin did not appear in MC itself.

Best,

Don

dfroula · « **Reply #47 on:** November 04, 2017, 07:10:33 pm »

Quote from: JimH on November 04, 2017, 06:03:51 pm

You could probably make an MJP file (Media Jukebox Package file!) that would install it. Just download any of the MC plug-ins and take a look at it. I believe it's a zipped file with an executable and instructions on what MC should do with it. If you do that, you can just execute the MJP file and MC will do the rest.

Manually duplicating the MC21 JRMCLCD registry entry for the plugin in the MC22 hierarchy does not allow the latest update to appear in MC22, even though it installs in the proper directory if the destination is manually changed from the installer.

Best,

Don

kensn · « **Reply #48 on:** November 04, 2017, 08:36:38 pm »

Quote from: JimH on November 04, 2017, 06:03:51 pm

You could probably make an MJP file (Media Jukebox Package file!) that would install it. Just download any of the MC plug-ins and take a look at it. I believe it's a zipped file with an executable and instructions on what MC should do with it. If you do that, you can just execute the MJP file and MC will do the rest.

Thanks Jim... I'll definitively give it look.

kensn · « **Reply #49 on:** November 04, 2017, 10:46:20 pm »

Don,

There seems to be a bit more than just the registry entry under JRiver.

I'm trying to work on a solution.

Ken

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Author Topic: JRiver Plugin for LCDSmartie (Windows) (Read 42445 times)