[plugin] Comics Revived (February 5 Update)

[SSDNAdmin]

Author: tmar89

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

[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!

[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.
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

[tmar89]

Originally Posted by Mamba

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]

Originally Posted by 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.....

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 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...

[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]

Originally Posted by tmar89

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]

Originally Posted by 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)?

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/spc...spch061207.gif

Any idea which one is the "right" one?