New Firefly Sofware (works also for Streamzap)

[ilikedvds]

Stéphane,

I am using the donator's version 3.8 on Windows XP with the Firefly RF Remote.

On this computer I have two user accounts: one for regular work, and one for watching media. If I switch users from the work account to the media account (using Fast User Switching, so the work account is still logged in) I get an error when the media account tries to load LM Remote KeyMap:
"LM Remote KeyMap has experienced an unexpected error (The process cannot access the file 'C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\LM Gestion\LM Remote KeyMap\trace_20080409.log' because it is being used by another process.) and need to close, please contact our support team through our web site."

Is it possible to run LM Remote KeyMap in two user accounts simultaneously on Windows XP?

I appreciate any thoughts on how best to proceed.

Many thanks in advance for your time, and thank you for an awesome piece of software!

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by ilikedvds

On this computer I have two user accounts: one for regular work, and one for watching media. If I switch users from the work account to the media account (using Fast User Switching, so the work account is still logged in) I get an error when the media account tries to load LM Remote KeyMap

Fast User Switching is not supported. In my opinion you should set up LM RKM with the "My account only" option instead of "All users". This way the startup shortcut will only be created for the account you set it up (I don't think that once installed you can remove the startup shortcut).

This way only the Media or Work account will launch LM RKM when logging in.

Ohterwise I'll improve this behavior in upcoming release (at least prevent LM RKM from starting up if it is already launched in another user session).

Regards,
Stéphane.

[ilikedvds]

Originally Posted by StephaneM

Fast User Switching is not supported. In my opinion you should set up LM RKM with the "My account only" option instead of "All users". This way the startup shortcut will only be created for the account you set it up (I don't think that once installed you can remove the startup shortcut).

This way only the Media or Work account will launch LM RKM when logging in.

Ohterwise I'll improve this behavior in upcoming release (at least prevent LM RKM from starting up if it is already launched in another user session).

Regards,
Stéphane.

Thanks for your reply.

I guess I'll make a script that kills LM RKM in the Work account as part of switching to the logon screen (so that I can login to the Media account) and then re-launch LM RKM once the user has returned to the Work account (which, with the way I'm setting things up, would only be when the Media account has been logged out, and thus LM RKM will no longer be running in it).

Not ideal, but I understand that having LM RKM work for multiple user accounts could get tricky from a programming perspective, so I understand if you never add support for that.

Thanks again for the information!

[ilikedvds]

Stéphane,

I just received your e-mail notice of the most recent update to LM RKM wherein you mention:

Added : new "ShowOSD" action to display the OSD (simple text) when pressing a button on your remote

I have not had a chance yet to install this version, but I wanted to throw out an idea I've been thinking of for some time that relates to this new functionality.

I am wondering if it would be possible to display the system time in the OSD (something like, "ShowTimeOSD")? I suppose ideally the format of the time would be configurable (perhaps via an .ini file, if that makes it easier to implement). This would be very useful to me because while watching a movie it can be nice to check what time it is occasionally (and I don't always have a watch on).

At any rate, I just thought I throw that out there as it seems like it kind of relates to the new feature you have added.

Thanks for your consideration and for a great piece of software!

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by ilikedvds

I am wondering if it would be possible to display the system time in the OSD (something like, "ShowTimeOSD")? I suppose ideally the format of the time would be configurable (perhaps via an .ini file, if that makes it easier to implement). This would be very useful to me because while watching a movie it can be nice to check what time it is occasionally (and I don't always have a watch on).

I'm not sure... The DVD / PVR Software should manage this kind of OSD (current time / time left / time elapsed)

I don't see how I could make a "generic" use of such a feature (that is not only for displaying time), I will thought about it.

The "ShowOSD" feature was added because for some users it might be useful to have a visual feedback of the pressed button

Regards,
Stéphane.

[WildParadise]

Does anyone knows how to configure a-b to be Eject and Sleep?

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by WildParadise

Does anyone knows how to configure a-b to be Eject and Sleep?

For "Sleep" use a "Shutdown" action and choose "Suspend" for Shutdown type.

For "Eject", create a Eject.vbs file (text file) and copy this into it

Const ssfDRIVES = &H11  
Const cdromDrvLtr = "D:\" 

Set oSH = CreateObject("Shell.Application") 
oSH.NameSpace(ssfDRIVES).ParseName(cdromDrvLtr).InvokeVerb "E&ject"

You have to replace "D:\" by your CD/DVD ROM drive letter. Also it may only works on English version of Windows (see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927694/en-us)

Then use a "LaunchApplication" action to launch this Eject.vbs script.

Regards,
Stéphane.

[WildParadise]

I wonder if i can use a button to come back of sleep mode.

On my keyboard if i press left control it wake up. But if i do a special key action: ControlKey it doesn't wake up.

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by WildParadise

I wonder if i can use a button to come back of sleep mode.

You cannot wakeup a PC with a Firefly remote.

[ilikedvds]

Originally Posted by StephaneM

I'm not sure... The DVD / PVR Software should manage this kind of OSD (current time / time left / time elapsed)

I agree with you, and I may be in the minority in my interest in this feature. I use a combination of Firefox and VLC for my "media center" software. My interface for selecting videos is html based (with javascript) and is only on my LAN. I use VLC to play the videos. I created a javascript clock, but that would not display in VLC, of course. Lately I have been trying my hand at making a clock using Visual Basic (since I was already familiar with VBA in MS Access) and that has gone pretty well. So, there is no urgent need or anything; when I saw the new feature I thought that perhaps that could be a better/easier route, but I don't know the programming that might be required, nor whether others would find it useful.

Originally Posted by StephaneM

I don't see how I could make a "generic" use of such a feature (that is not only for displaying time), I will thought about it.

One thought that I had was that there could be commands that could be used in the "ShowOSD" feature. So the "ShowOSD" field could accept regular text, or could also contain code for displaying the time, or other things (perhaps like free RAM, or CPU usage? I don't have a need for these, but perhaps others would like to have them?).

Originally Posted by StephaneM

The "ShowOSD" feature was added because for some users it might be useful to have a visual feedback of the pressed button

That makes sense, and I think that I will find that useful too.

Thanks again for great software!

[jimz06]

I'm giving up on my Streamzap because of its general unreliability, e.g. becomes unresponsive requiring a reboot, intermittently freezes up (receiver light continuously illuminated) for up to a couple of minutes from commands sent to other devices via my Harmony remote, and the latest, having to hold the remote button down a fraction of a second longer to get a response requiring a reboot to correct. So now I have an MCE receiver ready to replace it.

Will I be able to salvage any of the work I've done creating KeyMap profiles for the Streamzap, or do I have create my MCE profiles from scratch? Also, do the Streamzap profiles get saved in the unlikely event I decide to go back to the Steamzap?

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by jimz06

I'm giving up on my Streamzap because of its general unreliability, e.g. becomes unresponsive requiring a reboot, intermittently freezes up (receiver light continuously illuminated) for up to a couple of minutes from commands sent to other devices via my Harmony remote, and the latest, having to hold the remote button down a fraction of a second longer to get a response requiring a reboot to correct. So now I have an MCE receiver ready to replace it.

The only issue I have is with the remote not responding (though I only have to unplug / plug the receiver). I asked Streamzap about this issue and received no response...

Will I be able to salvage any of the work I've done creating KeyMap profiles for the Streamzap, or do I have create my MCE profiles from scratch? Also, do the Streamzap profiles get saved in the unlikely event I decide to go back to the Steamzap?

Backup all the xml files in the Config & Log folder, this will save all your remote profiles and settings.

When you'll switch your remote to the MCE remote in LM RKM, LM RKM will keep your profiles and will delete the buttons that are not to be found on the MCE remote and add new buttons corresponding to the MCE remote.

So you'll only lose "Menu" and "Exit" (equivalent on the MCE is "Info" and "Back") and have new buttons "Windows" (Green button), "Videos", "Guide", "Live TV", "DVD", "Teletext", "Clear" (and "Enter" if using MCE Remote exclusive mode)

Also it is very important that you modify the mappings for the arrows buttons, ok buttons and numbers buttons in the default profile to use "PressKey" (instead of "Keystroke") otherwise, nasty things will happen.

Regards,
Stéphane.

[jimz06]

That's good news, thanks for the outstanding support.

Edit: Just to be sure...noticed that 4.4 implements MCE improvements so I will be upgrading, I assume there are no issues with just running the upgrade over an existing installation?

[StephaneM]

Originally Posted by jimz06

noticed that 4.4 implements MCE improvements so I will be upgrading, I assume there are no issues with just running the upgrade over an existing installation?

You can upgrade. However it's always better to uninstall the current version (it will keep your settings if your respond "No" during the uinstall) and then install the new version (the Windows Installer can mix up things very badly sometimes)

[jimz06]

Originally Posted by StephaneM

You can upgrade. However it's always better to uninstall the current version (it will keep your settings if your respond "No" during the uinstall) and then install the new version (the Windows Installer can mix up things very badly sometimes)

Stéphane,
Everything worked as you predicted and I was pleasantly surprised to see your MCE profile includes the colored buttons similar to Streamzap although my MCE remote does not have them, allowing them to map across. Thank you.

However, I have run into a small issue. I am using the MCE receiver with a Harmony remote and every time I leave an activity that uses the HTPC, the remote sends a PowerToggle command which puts it in Suspend. This is in spite of the fact I have told the Harmony software that I want the PC on all the time. I also changed the PowerToggle in LM to an ALT-F4 in my various profiles including default but Windows seems to be ignore this and carries out the Suspend command. Any ideas how I can get LM to override that Suspend command coming from the remote?