Ten Foot Product Forums

Starting Ten Foot Browser on a second screen

dreesje — Mon Oct 26, 2009 12:03 pm

Author: dreesje
Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 12:03 pm

Thank you very much,

I checked the new version with the commandline argument and it works exactly as I would like it. With these solutions I can use the TenFootBrowser the way I'd like in my Mediaportal environment.

Thank you again for your great support.

Kind regards,
Dreesje

Starting Ten Foot Browser on a second screen

Andy Henderson — Sun Oct 25, 2009 6:07 pm

Author: Andy Henderson
Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 6:07 pm

I've posted a new version of the Version34Beta.zip file that implements the command line argument you are looking for. The code doesn't perform any validation so, if you get a navigation error in the browser, check the value you are passing.

The parameter doesn't need to specify the scheme, so www.seeita.com is a valid parameter. I suggest, however, you include the scheme anyway; so www.seeita.com becomes http://www.seeita.com.

Starting Ten Foot Browser on a second screen

dreesje — Tue Oct 20, 2009 10:28 am

Author: dreesje
Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 10:28 am

I've checked the secondary display feature with the beta version of version 3.4 and I can confirm that it works for me.

I've created a Personal.TenFootBrowserSettings.xml with the following lines in it :
<settings>
<preferredScreen>2</preferredScreen>
</settings>

I didn't know where to put this file, but at least it worked when I put it in the same directory where I installed the TenFootBrowser.

I did different checks, also the check for the "revert to the primary screen" in case the screen is invalid and everything works as expected.
Thank you very much for this solution.

Do you also have a solution for the second question I asked you?

Quote:

The second option i'd like to have is starting the browser from a commandline with the url option, so the browser will open directly with this page (also useful for my mediaportal setup)

What I mean by this is that with f.e. Internet Explorer you have the ability to start directly with the google webpage by executing from the commandline: iexplore www.google.com

Kind regards,
dreesje

Starting Ten Foot Browser on a second screen

Andy Henderson — Sun Oct 18, 2009 10:43 pm

Author: Andy Henderson
Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 10:43 pm

I've uploaded a beta version of version 3.4 to the web site. You can download it from www.SeeITA.com/TF/Version34Beta.zip.

This version includes a number of improvements including the multi-screen stuff and a much improved bittorrent client.

Before you do anything though, close all the Ten Foot programs down and please make a backup copy of the Ten Foot programs folder (by default C:\Program Files\CITA\Ten Foot Products) and your settings folder (under Vista, that's C:\Users\Your name\AppData\Roaming\CITA - NB, AppData is a hidden folder; you might need to update folder options to see it).

You can then overwrite the contents of the Ten Foot programs folder with the contents of the Version34Beta.zip file.

To start any of the apps on a different screen create a personal settings folder containing the following:

<settings>
<preferredScreen>2</preferredScreen>
</settings>

All the personal settings files have the format: Personal.[product name]Settings.xml. For example, the ten foot browser personal settings folder is: Personal.TenFootBrowserSettings.xml

The preferred screen setting causes the product to try to use the specified Windows screen. Screen 1 is the primary screen, so screen 2 is probably the right one for you. If it's invalid, the program reverts to the primary screen, so you might need to experiment with different values.

Let me know how you get on.

Andy

Starting Ten Foot Browser on a second screen

dreesje — Thu Oct 15, 2009 10:45 am

Author: dreesje
Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 10:45 am

Thank you for your quick response.
As soon as this version is available i'll try it

Kind regards,
dreesje

Starting Ten Foot Browser on a second screen

Andy Henderson — Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:31 pm

Author: Andy Henderson
Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:31 pm

I did prepare a version that seemed to work but I didn't get any feedback from Mod1Fy. I'll dig out the change I made so you can give it a try.

Starting Ten Foot Browser on a second screen

dreesje — Wed Oct 14, 2009 1:32 pm

Author: dreesje
Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 1:32 pm

I'm also interested in the ability to start the browser on my secondary display for the same reason as mentioned in the post of Mod1Fy.
Is this already possible, since I'm not able to do this.

The second option i'd like to have is starting the browser from a commandline with the url option, so the browser will open directly with this page (also useful for my mediaportal setup)

Kind regards,
Dreesje

Starting Ten Foot Browser on a second screen

Mod1Fy — Thu Aug 07, 2008 7:00 am

Author: Mod1Fy
Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 7:00 am

Thanks for the reply.

I had to install the newest flash in IE. Never occurred to me as I use firefox.
I'll send you an email now for a test version.

Thanks
James

Starting Ten Foot Browser on a second screen

Andy Henderson — Wed Aug 06, 2008 9:11 pm

Author: Andy Henderson
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 9:11 pm

Mod1Fy wrote:

I am using mediaportal and have my tv hooked to my PC via DVI to HDMI.
When I start Ten Foot Product from mediaportal using multishortcut plugin they start on the PC screen in my other room. I need to be able to let the program know to start on my secondary display much like you can in the general options of the mediaportal config.

That's a good idea. I'll look into it but I don't have a set up to test it on. If you drop me a note (Andy at SeeITA.com) I'll send you a version to try.

Mod1Fy wrote:

The other thing is I can't view flash content such as sites like youtube. How do I get flash working with this browser.

I've not had any problems with flash sites. It might be because you don't have the plug in installed. Try using IE directly to go to a flash site and see if you get the download prompt. Otherwise, can you let me know a specific page so I can investigate further (I tried youtube and it worked fine for me).

Starting Ten Foot Browser on a second screen

Mod1Fy — Tue Aug 05, 2008 8:30 am

Author: Mod1Fy
Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 8:30 am

I am using mediaportal and have my tv hooked to my PC via DVI to HDMI.
When I start Ten Foot Product from mediaportal using multishortcut plugin they start on the PC screen in my other room. I need to be able to let the program know to start on my secondary display much like you can in the general options of the mediaportal config.

The other thing is I can't view flash content such as sites like youtube. How do I get flash working with this browser.

Fantastic idea though, exactly what I need to not have to leave my couch.

Reassigning keys

Andy Henderson — Sun Jan 04, 2009 11:50 pm

Author: Andy Henderson
Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2009 11:50 pm

I've put together a release of the TF products that allows you to specify combinations of key strokes in the <actionToTake> section of the settings files.

Specify combinations in the following order:
Ctrl
Alt
Shift

So CtrlAltR is valid and will match Ctrl-Alt-R but AltCtrlR will never be matched.

Matching is case sensitive. ctrlaltr will never be matched.

Previously, a definition like <F1>Help</F1> was matched by any occurence of F1 regardless of Ctrl, Alt or Shift settings. To maintain backwards compatibility, I allow a definition like: <PlainF1>Help</PlainF1> if you want to match just the F1 key and not, say, Shift-F1.

You can add keys in the <actionToTake> section of the TF Launcher settings file and refer to the resultant action in the <hotButtons> section to convert them to Launcher hot buttons.

I also took the opportunity to remove a significant amount of hard coding from the TF programs. For example, instead of hard coding the F1 key to show the help pages, I've added <F1>Help</F1> to the <actionToTake> section instead.

Note that if you have created Personal versions of the settings file containing an <actionToTake> section, you'll need to update them to take account of the new keys defined in the updated settings files included with the update. If you don't do that then some of the keys that previously worked as standard will no longer work (because they are no longer hard coded).

I've started you off by defining the 'teletext' keys as:
CtrlAltR - Red
CtrlAltG - Green
CtrlAltY - Yellow
CtrlAltB - Blue
CtrlAltT - Teletext

I've also mapped the following standard shortcuts
CtrlShiftB - Rewind
CtrlShiftF - Fast forward
CtrlB - Skip back
CtrlF - Skip forward
CtrlShiftS - Stop

I'd be interested to know the mappings used by your remote if they are different.

To install the update

Shut down all running TF programs
Download http://www.SeeITA.com/TF/Version33Beta3.zip
Unzip the contents and use them to overwrite the versions in your TF programs folder (by default C:/Program Files/CITA/Ten Foot Products)

This new version also includes some other enhancements. Notably, the TF BitTorrent Client has some major performance improvements.

Note that you will see a notification that there's a new version available when you start the TF Browser. You should ignore it - it's a by-product of the beta numbering.

Please let me know how you get on.

Reassigning keys

Andy Henderson — Tue Dec 16, 2008 6:03 pm

Author: Andy Henderson
Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 6:03 pm

OK, I'll see what I can do.

You might consider changing your remote, though. Most programs that run alongside Media Player/Media Centre will expect the remote to generate the standard Microsoft codes, not the shortcut keys.

FWIW, I use the Gyration Remote (http://www.gyration.co.uk/proddata.php?partno=E3199). It uses RF for the Media Centre so you can hide the dongle and it has all the common Media Centre buttons (although US versions don't have the colour ones). It's also a learning InfraRed remote for three additional devices. The killer is a motion-sensitive mouse that you move around the screen just by waving the remote.

I use it to run iPlayer, for example, without any special coding. When necessary, I also use it to run apps outside Media Centre like TotalMedia Theatre, AnyDVD, Media Player, VLC, etc. It's good for getting around web pages, too (works well with the TF Browser).

I haven't been to Joost for ages. And it didn't take me long to remember why. I'm watching a program full screen right now, but it was a frustrating exercise! I suspect the best solution for it is a remote keyboard and mose - but it's not good even then.

Reassigning keys

thekitehunter — Tue Dec 16, 2008 1:11 pm

Author: thekitehunter
Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 1:11 pm

That's exactly what the Speedlink does. And so this enhancement would be great. All I need now is to convince Joost to accept assignable keystrokes and BBC iPlayer 'bigscreen' to do the same (to navigate around the tabs) and I'll be there.

Reassigning keys

Andy Henderson — Tue Dec 16, 2008 11:21 am

Author: Andy Henderson
Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 11:21 am

I did a bit of research and I think I understand the problem.

It looks like the Speed-Link is not a standard Media Centre remote. These generate a mix of keyboard and raw codes as described in one of the articles linked above.

Instead, it seems the Speed-Link is - in effect - a cut-down keyboard. It generates shortcut keystrokes as described here: http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-us/help/e69eb36f-de61-4e80-8fe3-f3835b8e3e261033.mspx Does that match what you are seeing?

Unfortunately, the colour buttons aren't used in the US so there are no shortcut keystrokes for them. Presumably that's why the remote doesn't do the colour keys even though the colours on the buttons suggest it does. Very frustrating.

As things stand, I detect specific keys rather than alt- ctrl- shift- combinations. I've checked the code and that doesn't look too hard to do. If you've got the patience to wait a few weeks, I'm planning a major new release (the BitTorrent client I have under soak test is a much improved version, for instance). I can include the enhancement then.

Reassigning keys

thekitehunter — Mon Dec 15, 2008 10:51 pm

Author: thekitehunter
Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 10:51 pm

Thanks for the reply - and the challenge. The remote control is not reprogrammable, so I'm stuck with getting the browser to reinterpret the keystrokes sent by the remote. I wonder if there is some part of the Manual that I'm missing? I eventually worked out that what you meant by "use the Launcher's <LauncherLogFileName> parameter." was to put a line <LauncherLogFileName>LauncherLog.txt</LauncherLogFileName> in the launcher's XML file and that the resulting file would appear in 'My Documents'.

Your example in the Guide is <RControlKey>Help</RControlKey> results in that the Right Control Key being pressed would send 'Help' to the Browser.
This is ok if its a single key pressed, but my remote sends sequences eg Ctrl-Alt-T. Could you explain how to make this the Red button for example?
By the way, the Regionalisation Guide pdf is 77 pages long - and starts with a 38 page manual, then follows with a 'duplicate' 37 page Manual. Thanks again.