[plugin] Comics Revived (February 5 Update)

[SSDNAdmin]

Author: tmar89 (http://forums.snapstream.com/vb/private.php?do=newpm&userid=11897)

Short Description: View daily comic strips
Long Description: This is a rewrite and upgrade to Mickwall's Comics plugin. Users subscribe to various online comics strips and view them in a day-by-day order or slide show.
Version Number: 1.5.1
Status: Stable
Last Updated: 2/5/2007
Homepage:
Installation Instructions: If you have Mickwall's Comics plugin installed, remove the Comics plugin directory before installing.
Release Notes:

-Fixed Peanuts comic
-For a full list of available comics, see http://x-89.com/BMplugins/comiclist.txt

License:
Requirements: Beyond Media v1.0


Download Comics.bmplugin (http://www.snapstream.com/ssdn/submissions/tmar89/Comics.bmplugin)


http://www.snapstream.com/ssdn/submissions/tmar89/comics1.jpg
http://www.snapstream.com/ssdn/submissions/tmar89/comics2.jpg
http://www.snapstream.com/ssdn/submissions/tmar89/comics3.jpg

[Addihul]

Very fun plugin. Thanks for tweaking it and adding new comics. I'll be installing it when I get home.

[Mamba]

Woo hoo! Thanks for the update..will check this out soonest! :clapping:

[tmar89]

Next update should be posted soon. You can now sort by date or by comic.

[Mamba]

Hmm..not sure if this is soup yet. I installed it, checked off a few subs in Settings (on a 7 day keep), went to see what was there and it said I had no subs. Went back into Settings, the boxes I had checked were cleared. :hedscrat:
So I checked one sub, went out/in, it was still checked. Checked a couple more, went out/in, boxes cleared. This was using a mouse. Tried the same scenerio using the remote to box-check and don't see a problem...weird.

Also, how long does it take to pull in the comics...is that on a schedule? I'm not seeing any right away.

[tmar89]

Mamba,

Did you have the previous Comics plugin installed? If so, remove that completely and try installing the new one again.

If not, does your log file show anything suspicious? Does it show any Comics activities at all?

Also, in the plugin directory, in the AvailableComics.xml file, are any subscriptions set to Subscribed as True?

Try the latest build: http://www.x-89.com/BMplugins/Comics.bmplugin
(http://www.x-89.com/BMplugins/Comics.bmplugin)

[tmar89]

Also, how long does it take to pull in the comics...is that on a schedule? I'm not seeing any right away.
The comics are downloaded when you leave the subscription screen or change the number of days to keep. It checks for new comics twice a day. When you go to the main screen, it pulls all the downloaded comics.

I just posted a quick update 1.2 where clicking on the "Downloading Now..." item in the main Comics screen refreshes the screen. Eventually the "Downloading Now..." should disappear when all have been downloaded.

[samundsen]

Any plans of adding additional sources for comics? I'd like to see Dilbert and Phantom, two comic strips I read every single day.....

[Mamba]

> Did you have the previous Comics plugin installed?

No, this is on my Link PC and a fairly fresh install of BM 1.0.
I checked the plugin folders and it is pulling the sub'd comics okay...just not displaying any. I tried your latest 1.2 version as an upgrade..no diff in any behaviour. I found this error in the BM logs after trying to display:

12/07/2006 03:51:47 ComicsUpdater starting.
12/07/2006 03:51:47 ComicsUpdater finished.
12/07/2006 03:52:48 ComicsUpdater starting.
12/07/2006 03:52:48 ComicsUpdater finished.
12/07/2006 03:53:20 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Start Crash Report
Catching a top level exception in Beyond Media (Version: 1.0.0 Build: 570)
Location: Form_PrivateKeyDown
System.NullReferenceException
Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
at SnapStream.Plugins.Comics.ComicsScreen.ComicsViewe r_ItemActivated(Object sender, ItemActivatedArgs args)
at SnapStream.ViewScape.Widgets.BaseList.RaiseItemAct ivatedEvent(Int32 index)
at SnapStream.ViewScape.Widgets.BaseList.OnKeyDown(Ob ject sender, KeyEventArgs e)
at SnapStream.ViewScape.Widgets.VariableItemList.OnKe yDown(Object sender, KeyEventArgs e)
at SnapStream.ViewScape.Widgets.Window.OnKeyDown(Obje ct sender, KeyEventArgs e)
at SnapStream.Plugins.Comics.ComicsScreen.OnKeyDown(O bject sender, KeyEventArgs e)
at SnapStream.ViewScape.Widgets.Window.OnKeyDown(Obje ct sender, KeyEventArgs e)
at SnapStream.ViewScape.MainFrame.OnKeyDown(Object sender, KeyEventArgs e)
at SnapStream.ViewScape.AppForm.OnKeyDown(Object sender, KeyEventArgs args)
End Crash Report
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


For grins, I uninstalled the old original Comics plugin from my BTV server PC (removed the folder) and installed your latest there too. Same behaviour; using mouse to select subs they don't "stick", have to use the remote. Pulls the comics (I see the .gif files in the sub folders) but they don't display. Saw some similar but different crash errors in the log there too:

12/07/2006 04:25:19 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Start Crash Report
Catching a top level exception in Beyond Media (Version: 1.0.0 Build: 570)
Location: Application_ThreadException
Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3D.DriverInternalErrorExce ption
Error in the application.
at Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3D.Device.Reset(PresentPar ameters[] presentationParameters)
at Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3D.Device.OnParentResized( Object sender, EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.OnResize(EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Panel.OnResize(EventArgs eventargs)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.OnSizeChanged(EventAr gs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.UpdateBounds(Int32 x, Int32 y, Int32 width, Int32 height, Int32 clientWidth, Int32 clientHeight)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.UpdateBounds()
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmWindowPosChanged(Me ssage& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.ScrollableControl.WndProc(Mes sage& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage (Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(M essage& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)
End Crash Report
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12/07/2006 04:25:19 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Start Crash Report
Catching a top level exception in Beyond Media (Version: 1.0.0 Build: 570)
Location: Application_ThreadException
Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3D.InvalidCallException
Error in the application.
at Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3D.Device.SetCursor(Cursor cursor, Boolean addWaterMark)
at SnapStream.ViewScape.AppForm.EnvironmentResized(Ob ject sender, CancelEventArgs e)
at Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3D.Device.raise_DeviceResi zing(Object i1, CancelEventArgs i2)
at Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3D.Device.OnParentResized( Object sender, EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.OnResize(EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Panel.OnResize(EventArgs eventargs)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.OnSizeChanged(EventAr gs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.UpdateBounds(Int32 x, Int32 y, Int32 width, Int32 height, Int32 clientWidth, Int32 clientHeight)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.UpdateBounds()
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmWindowPosChanged(Me ssage& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.ScrollableControl.WndProc(Mes sage& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage (Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(M essage& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)
End Crash Report
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12/07/2006 04:25:19 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Start Crash Report
Catching a top level exception in Beyond Media (Version: 1.0.0 Build: 570)
Location: Application_ThreadException
Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3D.InvalidCallException
Error in the application.
at Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3D.Device.SetCursor(Cursor cursor, Boolean addWaterMark)
at SnapStream.ViewScape.AppForm.EnvironmentResized(Ob ject sender, CancelEventArgs e)
at Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3D.Device.raise_DeviceResi zing(Object i1, CancelEventArgs i2)
at Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3D.Device.OnParentResized( Object sender, EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.OnResize(EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Panel.OnResize(EventArgs eventargs)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.OnSizeChanged(EventAr gs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.UpdateBounds(Int32 x, Int32 y, Int32 width, Int32 height, Int32 clientWidth, Int32 clientHeight)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.UpdateBounds()
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmWindowPosChanged(Me ssage& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.ScrollableControl.WndProc(Mes sage& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage (Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(M essage& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)
End Crash Report
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tmar89]

Any plans of adding additional sources for comics? I'd like to see Dilbert and Phantom, two comic strips I read every single day.....
Definitely! Do you view these comic strips online? If so, what site do you get them from? I know there is a dilbert.com so I can look into pulling from that too.

[tmar89]

Mamba,
Thanks for the detailed crash report. I may not be handling the down key override correctly. I'll look into this. And I'll look into using the mouse. I've always used either the remote or the keyboard, never the mouse so I've never tested that.

As for the other crash events, I'm not familiar with the DirectX errors or why they are occurring. Maybe I'll try running your build of Beyond Media (1.0.0 Build: 570) and see if I can reproduce the errors. I'm using BM 1.1.2.705. Is there a reason you're not using the latest version (available on snapstream.com)? Maybe its all stemming from that??

[Mamba]

>never the mouse so I've never tested that

BM does not work properly with the FF mini :mad:so I have to use the keyboard for some functions.

>DirectX errors or why they are occurring

Not sure why the errors are different on that PC either. :shrug:

>Is there a reason you're not using the latest version

I ran into some problems with the newer version long ago...so went back to the old one...don't recall exactly what. I know I've seen posts from a couple other users here in the same boat. This version works fine with everything else I've tried (DVD Library, NFL, Pandora, the original Comics, Showtimes, Netflix, etc) so I doubt that's it.

Thanks for your efforts...:bowdown:

[samundsen]

Calvin and Hobbies shows up in Spanish using the plugin, but when I go to the gocomics.com web site and select Calvin and Hobbes, the strip is in English.... Can this be fixed (I'd like it to be in English)?

[samundsen]

Definitely! Do you view these comic strips online? If so, what site do you get them from? I know there is a dilbert.com so I can look into pulling from that too.


I read Dilbert on dilbert.com. Phantom is syndicated through newspapers. I read it at http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/fun/phantom.asp

[tmar89]

Calvin and Hobbies shows up in Spanish using the plugin, but when I go to the gocomics.com web site and select Calvin and Hobbes, the strip is in English.... Can this be fixed (I'd like it to be in English)?
After digging into this some more, the strange thing here is that the spanish version's filename is today's date, but when you go to the calvin and hobbes page in gocomics.com, it says December 7th, 1995 and links to that one!

See the difference:
http://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/
http://images.ucomics.com/comics/ch/1995/ch951207.gif
http://images.ucomics.com/comics/spch/2006/spch061207.gif

Any idea which one is the "right" one?

[tmar89]

Hmm..not sure if this is soup yet. I installed it, checked off a few subs in Settings (on a 7 day keep), went to see what was there and it said I had no subs. Went back into Settings, the boxes I had checked were cleared. :hedscrat:
So I checked one sub, went out/in, it was still checked. Checked a couple more, went out/in, boxes cleared. This was using a mouse. Tried the same scenerio using the remote to box-check and don't see a problem...weird.\

I was able to replicate the problems you were describing where using the mouse didn't keep the check and I resolved it.

Also, I was able to replicate the problem where you subscribed to a comic, saw the gif images downloaded in the image directory but saw no images on the comic page and got that BM crash. This is also resolved. I hope this also resolves the DirectX issues because I wasn't able to replicate those (yet).

The updated version has been uploaded and should be ready to download. Let me know if it works for you.

[Kilrsat]

Updated.

[Mamba]

I was able to replicate the problems you were describing where using the mouse didn't keep the check and I resolved it.
Also, I was able to replicate the problem where you subscribed to a comic, saw the gif images downloaded in the image directory but saw no images on the comic page and got that BM crash. This is also resolved. Let me know if it works for you.You got it...both problems fixed! Great job!
:dude:

Now if you can do something about some of the strips being in Spanish instead of English...:rolleyes:

[tmar89]

You got it...both problems fixed! Great job!
:dude:

Now if you can do something about some of the strips being in Spanish instead of English...:rolleyes:

Glad it worked. I didn't realize that some of those strips were in Spanish. I just pulled all the comics that have a current date in their image name. When I get some time, I will go through all the comics again and see if I can find the English versions.

I'm also thinking of adding a preview overlay window to the subscription screen when you hit the "info" button on the Firefly. The window would should you the current comic (if one exists) so you know what you are subscribing to if you don't know the comic that well.

FYI, the current version has a slight bug in it thats not really major. The updater works every 8 seconds instead of 8 hours. I put 8 in the wrong spot in the function call by accident and I'll fix it with the next version.

[Mamba]

Only Spanish one I've hit so far is "Calvin and Hobbes"..folder for that one is "spch"; I tried "ench" and just "ch" in the .xml but no luck. Guess I'll just wait for your fixes.
The preview would be handy...a lot of those strips I might like to sub if I could sample them first. Thanks again...
:toast:

[tmar89]

Mamba,
Do you have a Sunday paper handy? I posted a thing about the Calvin and Hobbes strip a few posts ago where I noticed discrepancies in the date and comic with the english and spanish ones. The english strip from the site doesn't have a 2006 reference, only a 1995 reference! The spanish strip has a 2006 reference. So I wasn't sure which one was actually current. Can you, someone, tell me which one of these is in the Sunday papers??

http://images.ucomics.com/comics/ch/1995/ch951210.gif
http://images.ucomics.com/comics/spch/2006/spch061210.gif (translated to english of course)

Doesn't work: http://images.ucomics.com/comics/ch/2006/ch061210.gif

[samundsen]

Glad it worked. I didn't realize that some of those strips were in Spanish. I just pulled all the comics that have a current date in their image name. When I get some time, I will go through all the comics again and see if I can find the English versions.

I'm also thinking of adding a preview overlay window to the subscription screen when you hit the "info" button on the Firefly. The window would should you the current comic (if one exists) so you know what you are subscribing to if you don't know the comic that well.




A preview is a great idea, however, could you think of another way of calling it? The Firefly Mini does not have the Info button (during BTV playback you have to click OK to get the same functionality). Maybe you could use the option button, or perhaps have a setting (checkbox) where you can turn preview on or off, and leave the preview at the top or bottom of the screen. I realize that leaves less room for the list, but it's better than using a button that doesn't exist on all remotes.

[tmar89]

A preview is a great idea, however, could you think of another way of calling it? The Firefly Mini does not have the Info button (during BTV playback you have to click OK to get the same functionality). Maybe you could use the option button, or perhaps have a setting (checkbox) where you can turn preview on or off, and leave the preview at the top or bottom of the screen. I realize that leaves less room for the list, but it's better than using a button that doesn't exist on all remotes.
Good idea. I keep forgetting that the FF remote doesn't rule the world! I'll make it remote independant and built it into the setting screen itself as an option. Thanks! I appreciate all this feedback.

[Mamba]

Mamba, Do you have a Sunday paper handy? I posted a thing about the Calvin and Hobbes strip a few posts ago where I noticed discrepancies in the date and comic with the english and spanish ones. Yes, but not all papers carry that strip; ours doesn't. As both working links you posted point to the same strip (per language) I'd say use the 1995 one. C&H ended syndication on Dec 31st 1995 so any "new" ones are just recycled old ones anyway...that comic site probably just added the Spanish translations this year, thus the 2006.

[tmar89]

Duh, I didn't notice that one for the sunday ones. If you go back a few posts where I first listed the problem, you will see the weekly comic strips are different. For instance, replace the 061210.gif with 061207.gif in the links. I'll change it to use the 1995 reference and keep an eye on it January 1st to see what they do ;)

[Mamba]

Duh, I didn't notice that one for the sunday ones. No problemo. Look forward to see'n that fixed in the next release. As they are all recycles anyway I don't care if they match the publication dates as long as they display in the right plot order. Tho' as I recall, there wasn't much if any of that for C&H anyway.

On a different note, what happened to "Bloom County" (aka "Outland")? I know it was there in the first release but can't find it in your sub list anymore. I assume you don't support the full GoComics directory (don't see "The Argyle Sweater" either) but don't be tease'n us like that! :tongue:

[tmar89]

I must have missed some from their directory when I was compiling it. Yeah, go figure.. you want the two comics I missed from over 100. Picky, picky!! :lol: I'll fix it in the next release this week. In the mean time, you can add this to your AvailableComics.xml file. Just go to the top of the file, and underneath the first <PropertyBag> insert these blocks:

<PropertyBag>
<Name>The Argyle Sweater</Name>
<Property>
<Name>DisplayName</Name>
<Value>The Argyle Sweater</Value>
</Property>
<Property>
<Name>FolderName</Name>
<Value>tas</Value>
</Property>
<Property>
<Name>ImageFilename</Name>
<Value>tas$YY$MM$DD</Value>
</Property>
<Property>
<Name>ImagePath</Name>
<Value>http://images.ucomics.com/comics/tas/$yyyy$/</Value>
</Property>
<Property>
<Name>ImageSuffix</Name>
<Value>gif</Value>
</Property>
<Property>
<Name>Subscribed</Name>
<Value>True</Value>
</Property>
</PropertyBag>
<PropertyBag>
<Name>Bloom County</Name>
<Property>
<Name>DisplayName</Name>
<Value>Bloom County</Value>
</Property>
<Property>
<Name>FolderName</Name>
<Value>blm</Value>
</Property>
<Property>
<Name>ImageFilename</Name>
<Value>blm$YY$MM$DD</Value>
</Property>
<Property>
<Name>ImagePath</Name>
<Value>http://images.ucomics.com/comics/blm/$yyyy$/</Value>
</Property>
<Property>
<Name>ImageSuffix</Name>
<Value>gif</Value>
</Property>
<Property>
<Name>Subscribed</Name>
<Value>True</Value>
</Property>
</PropertyBag>

[Mamba]

>you want the two comics I missed from over 100. Picky, picky!!

Yah, buncha picky users ain't we? As a codehead you should be used to that I guess. :wink:

Thanks for the snippet but I can wait until the next release (is it ready yet?). :lol:

[Dave Gestens]

A great big THANK YOU to tmar89 for reviving this plugin. WAF is high now that Cathy is available. We really appreciate and use it every day.

Thanks again. :applause:

[tmar89]

I am glad you are getting use from it. I really enjoyed this plugin when I first got Beyond Media and was always frustrated with it. So I took it upon myself to learn C# and modify it. I'll be updating the comic links and adding a preview subscription in a few days. I've been busy with work and holiday shopping for the last few days! :lol:

[tmar89]

Version 1.4 uploaded.

Added preview overlay in subscription screen by pressing "Info" on the Firefly remote or by pressing "I" on the keyboard. Preview using a mouse is not currently supported until I learn how to override the mouse events in BM correctly.

Added Dilbert and English version of Calvin and Hobbes.

Added missing gocomics and removed comics that do not update regularly (Bloom Country, Citizen Dog, Minimum Security, Reynolds Unwrapped) because the plugin uses the current date as the baseline for downloads. (Sorry Mamba :frown:). Fortunately, Calvin and Hobbes updates using the current Month and Day but the year is still 1995 so I can hack it around a bit.

Any bugs/requests for version 1.5?

[Mamba]

>..removed comics that do not update regularly..Bloom Country..Sorry Mamba

:shocked:AAAARRGGH! How will I survive? Ah well, thanks for trying and for the other improvements...will check'em out.

[tmar89]

For version 1.5, I am going to look into adding comics from comics.com. They use a more complicated archiving system, similar to the way Dilbert is archived. So when I figure out a way to generalize it like I do with gocomics then I'll add many more comics such as Peanuts and Opus.

[samundsen]

Version 1.4 uploaded.

Added preview overlay in subscription screen by pressing "Info" on the Firefly remote or by pressing "I" on the keyboard. Preview using a mouse is not currently supported until I learn how to override the mouse events in BM correctly.

Added Dilbert and English version of Calvin and Hobbes.

Added missing gocomics and removed comics that do not update regularly (Bloom Country, Citizen Dog, Minimum Security, Reynolds Unwrapped) because the plugin uses the current date as the baseline for downloads. (Sorry Mamba :frown:). Fortunately, Calvin and Hobbes updates using the current Month and Day but the year is still 1995 so I can hack it around a bit.

Any bugs/requests for version 1.5?


This is great, I'm thrilled you got Calvin & Hobbes sorted out and Dilbert added. However, could you possibly add another key for the preview? There is no Info button on the Firefly Mini. Could you maybe use one of the number keys? Or Guide? Or any other key that works with the Mini....

[tmar89]

This is great, I'm thrilled you got Calvin & Hobbes sorted out and Dilbert added. However, could you possibly add another key for the preview? There is no Info button on the Firefly Mini. Could you maybe use one of the number keys? Or Guide? Or any other key that works with the Mini....
Not a problem. Let me know what the best FF Mini key would be. I keep forgetting about that remote.

[samundsen]

I'm thinking the Guide button would be the most logical. It doesn't seem to serve any other purpose inside BM anyhow.

[tmar89]

I'm thinking the Guide button would be the most logical. It doesn't seem to serve any other purpose inside BM anyhow.
Try this version: http://www.x-89.com/BMplugins/Comics.bmplugin (Version 1.4.1)
I mapped F7 (which I think is the Guide button on the Mini) to the Preview.

[samundsen]

Try this version: http://www.x-89.com/BMplugins/Comics.bmplugin
I mapped F7 (which I think is the Guide button on the Mini) to the Preview.


That didn't work..... I get the preview when connecting a keyboard and pressing I, but nothing happens with the Guide button on the Mini, neither does pressing any other button...

Btw, minor issue with the preview though... on a widescreen display the preview is badly stretched. It looks fine on the regular comics screen.

[tmar89]

That didn't work..... I get the preview when connecting a keyboard and pressing I, but nothing happens with the Guide button on the Mini, neither does pressing any other button...

Btw, minor issue with the preview though... on a widescreen display the preview is badly stretched. It looks fine on the regular comics screen.
Ok, then I was wrong about the mapping. I'll try and find out what key is mapped to the Guide button on the mini. Can you look at your Firefly mini mappings XML file to see what button is mapped? That would help.

About the widescreen, I was able to replicate your issue. I'll fix that for you.

[samundsen]

Ok, then I was wrong about the mapping. I'll try and find out what key is mapped to the Guide button on the mini. Can you look at your Firefly mini mappings XML file to see what button is mapped? That would help.

About the widescreen, I was able to replicate your issue. I'll fix that for you.


I haven't been able to find any mappings file for the Mini. I've tried to google it as well, but no luck.

[Mamba]

I haven't been able to find any mappings file for the Mini. I've tried to google it as well, but no luck.The mini is very lacking in configurability...I've :dedhrse: already.

Look at Stephane's alternate software (http://www.lmgestion.net/@en-us/4/22/60/article.asp) for the mini...should be able to map a desired button to F7 with that.

[samundsen]

I've installed and configured Stephane's profile app for the mini (what a fantastic piece of software!), and I have mapped my Guide button in BeyondMedia to the "I" key, so I now get the comics previews just fine. Problem solved!

[tmar89]

Excellent! I am going to remove the F7 reference now. Still haven't gotten to the preview window stretching bug yet. It's Christmas weekend so I won't be coding anything :banana:

[Kilrsat]

Updated.

[tmar89]

Updated.
I guess the holiday egg nog is getting to those guys at SS. I sent in this update last week or so and its the one with the preview capabilities. Nothing new as of then. I still have to fix the preview bug and add more comics.

[tmar89]

I know that with the new year, comics before 1/1/07 will not show up. I won't have a fix for that and I apologize. It just isn't a priority IMO. I did fix the Preview stretching issue.

Also, GoComics has kindly changed Calvin and Hobbes to work with my parsing setup so the next version will comply with their links.

I've added support for Comics.com so I will be adding those comics to the database over the next few days. Look for version 1.5 in a few days as I test the new comics.

[Mamba]

Outstanding...looking forward to C&H again!
:toast:

[tmar89]

Version 1.5 uploaded. The link in the first post links to the new version already (even though the first post isn't updated)

-Resizing bug fixed in Preview popup.
-Comics from comics.com added. For a full list of available comics, see http://x-89.com/BMplugins/comiclist.txt

Any problems or suggestions let me know.

I have to think about a way to zoom into the comics and be able to pan around because I have a smaller LCD screen in my room and when I look at some comics, I can hardly see the text. If I could zoom in and pan around it would rock. Maybe a 1.6 feature, if I could figure out how ;)

[Kilrsat]

Updated.

[jmvaughn]

First of all, thanks very much tmar89 for taking the time to work on this plugin. It's very nice and I'm enjoying using it.

Second, I was wondering if anyone else was having trouble with Peanuts downloading? All the other comics I selected (about 12) download just fine, but not Peanuts.

I have the latest version, 1.5.

[tmar89]

Yeah, I too noticed there's an issue with Peanuts. I'll get a fix for it in a few.

[tmar89]

First of all, thanks very much tmar89 for taking the time to work on this plugin. It's very nice and I'm enjoying using it.

Second, I was wondering if anyone else was having trouble with Peanuts downloading? All the other comics I selected (about 12) download just fine, but not Peanuts.

I have the latest version, 1.5.
Here's the fix:
http://www.x-89.com/BMplugins/Comics.bmplugin Version 1.5.1
I submitted it to SS but it takes Kilrsat a few days to post the updates.

[jmvaughn]

Thanks for the prompt response :)

I tried the new version, 1.5.1, and Peanuts still failed to load. Is it loading OK for you now?

[tmar89]

Sorry about that. It worked yesterday on my dev box and I assumed it worked. When I loaded it on my HTPC it didn't work. I'll check it out.

[jmvaughn]

It's a great plugin as it is now, but having Peanuts would be extra-cool.

Let me know if I can help test in any way, send you configs, whatever.

[tmar89]

Ok, should be fixed now. Somehow I packaged the old code by accident last week. Confirm it works please. The link in the first post should work even though the post content hasn't been updated. The one a few posts ago on my personal page will work too.

[jmvaughn]

It works great! My wife and I both love this plugin.

Thanks for the help :)

[Carey]

The Dilbert website seems to be going through some changes. And for me it broke the Dilbert strip in this plugin. Here is what I did to get it working again, in case anyone else is missing their daily Dilbert fix.

Open the file "AvailableComics.xml" in a text editor like notepad. For me it was in the "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SnapStream\Beyond Media\Plugins\Comics" folder.

Make a copy the the file before making changes in case something goes wrong.

Change the text "http://dilbert.com/comics/dilbert/archive/images/" to "http://www.comics.com/comics/dilbert/archive/images/", save the file. Ignore the quote marks, they are for reference only.

Turn off the Dilbert strip in the settings, exit BM, go back into BM and check Dilbert in the settings again. Dilbert should be back in your list.

The above worked for me.

[tmar89]

Carey,
Thanks for finding that fix.