Controlling MediaPortal

[druid9]

Heyho, my first post here

I am having trouble with my Streamzap remote, Eventghost and MediaPortal.

When I map in MediaPortal, the play button to "p" as it should be, Eventghost returns a value in MediaPortal of {p}.

This indicates a "special key" value in MediaPortal. All i want is for the play key on my Streamzap to return "p" in MediaPortal - any ideas?

[Bitmonster]

Paste the full macro here.

[druid9]

Thanks in Advance For your help.

Attached is my xml file, I guess that is what you meant

I appear to have 2 problems:
1. Whilst EventGhost receives an event and executes it even if Mefiaportal is not in focus, it "Steals" focus from other operating apps
2. The special keys on remote seem to not work in MP as mentioned, for example "Play" which is mapped to "p" in MP is actually received as "{p}".

Any ideas? and thanks again

[Bitmonster]

I haven't tried your configuration yet, but it looks mainly Ok so far. Before going any further:

1. Upgrade to the latest beta.
2. Make sure the Streamzap tray application is not running.
3. If you want to emulate a "p" then type a "p" (lowercase, without quotes) into the parameter box and not a "P" as EG would otherwise send a {Shift+P}.

[druid9]

Thanks for that - will try tonight when I am home.

In the meantime, should Eventghost be taking focus back when it finds an applications window? The ability to control MediaPortal on the TV when not in focus, and to allow other users to use other apps on the computer display (in focus) was the reason for trying EventGhost in the first place

[CollinR]

You will need either a mediaportal plugin or know the windows messages it responds to.


There is a plugin for SageTV and I use it nightly while I surf/watch and the wife watches. No focus troubles at all.

[druid9]

Trouble is Colin, there isn't one.

I have written my own code, but when I press the remote, it certainly finds the window and executes the command, but along the way it has stolen focus from the active application

What I am missing I think is the proper way to do this with the application I am wanting to control being in focus.

[Bitmonster]

EG doesn't steal focus (*). I guess MediaPortal has the nature to take away the focus when it handles keypresses.

(*) One exception: the OSD has a small bug, that will change focus away from the active application, when it is firstly used. All consecutive uses have no impact on the focus.

[CollinR]

Might read up on this.

http://www.team-mediaportal.com/compone ... fo/id,238/


Appears someone has supplied it's message config already, now you can make a plugin for it.

[Bitmonster]

Might read up on this.

http://www.team-mediaportal.com/compone ... fo/id,238/


Appears someone has supplied it's message config already, now you can make a plugin for it.

Nice find!

It looks like I have to install MediaPortal again now to test it out. I actually don't like this program that much, even though it is open source.

[Bitmonster]

0.3.6.1108 has the corresponding MediaPortal plugin.

I've changed the topic title, as this discussion is more about MediaPortal than the Streamzap remote.

[CollinR]

Nice find!

I'm here for you man! If I knew a foreign language I would have already translated for ya.

EventGhost is one of my favorite softwares, I love it! I need to educate myself on making plugins, it obviously can't be too difficult seeing how long it too you to get it into beta. I just have very little programming experience, intuitive though I eventually pick stuff up.

[druid9]

Whew, seems like I stirred something up here!

Thank you so much for building this plug in, I will try it out now.

You really should have another look at MediaPortal - since version 0.2.2 the team have made some pretty amazing advances, and some of the skins available are simply stunning.

Thanks again and I will report back

[druid9]

So,

The new plug in works fine, and controls are appropriately passed to MediaPortal

The focus problem remains however. Case is like this.....

I am using EventGhost to control MediaPortal, displayed on the TV, controls are passed to the program whether it is in focus or not.

My Son is using Word on the PC display, as I press the Remote to control MediaPortal, he must click in the Word window to regain control before he can continue typing.

This is what I mean by "Steal Focus".

By the way I love EventGhost, it makes mapping of remote key presses so easy, I think it should be used by everyone!

[Bitmonster]

This is not an EventGhost issue. But it seems to be no MediaPortal issue in the first degree also. If I try it here, no focus change happens. So I would guess, that some kind of plugin installed in MediaPortal on your machine is issuing this.