How to track dvi monitor's state?

[etc6849]

I'm using windows 7 x64 with a single monitor (connected via DVI).

When I use the python a command to turn off the monitor (from another PC via a TCP socket), event packets are received as shown below (ignore special formatting):

When I turn the monitor off (via Python command: eg.plugins.System.MonitorPowerOff():
<EVENT><Process.Created.igfxsrvc><None>
<EVENT><Process.Destroyed.igfxsrvc><None>

When I turn the monitor on, I see this (via Python command: eg.plugins.System.MonitorPowerOn():
<EVENT><Process.Created.igfxsrvc><None>
<EVENT><Process.Destroyed.igfxsrvc><None>

What I don't see is an EG event that uniquely defines the monitor's state. Is there a plugin that does this?

I've been able to track when windows turns off the monitor by looking for the "System.UnIdle" event (as I've set the idle time-out to be the same as the window's display time-out under the PC's power settings). However, system idle does not help me here. I'd rather not use "system.idle" altogether. Any ideas?

[etc6849]

Another interesting point is that powering on the monitor as shown in the last post does seemed to reset the system.idle timer. This isn't a deal breaker though as there are actions that can restart this timer for me.

[etc6849]

ok, I think I have something that kind of works, but it is definitely a kludge, so please provide suggestions! I found that if I use sendkeys, the system.unidle event is set (but only if the system has entered idle state).

Is the control key a good key to send?!? I can't think of a program that would use a single control press for anything, but who knows...

The stuff after the <ACTION> tag is the python command being used. The stuff after the <EVENT> tag is the event followed by its payload.
<ACTION>eg.plugins.System.MonitorPowerOn()
<ACTION>eg.plugins.Window.SendKeys(u'{Ctrl}', False)
<EVENT><System.UnIdle><None>
<EVENT><Process.Created.igfxsrvc><None>
<EVENT><Process.Destroyed.igfxsrvc><None>

[piert]

What is it that you want to achieve with all of this?
If you want to know the state of the monitor and you always use Python to turn if off/on, couldn't you just count/keep track of your Python commands that power the monitor off/on and store this in a (persistent) variable?

[blaher]

Does this code work, or is it just for HDMI?

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=2839&start=15#p22967

[etc6849]

Unfortunately, I think that thread is for when you connect a second monitor (e.g. TV). I did try the plugin mentioned in that thread, but it still didn't work.

What I'm wanting for EG to raise an event whenever my monitor goes to sleep (e.g. Windows turns off my display). The idle time idea I had gives me a little more accuracy, one still doesn't know if the monitor is on or not simply by examining the event log.

Any ideas?

[mickelin]

One idea would be to let EG control the monitor instead of Windows. Set the Windows monitor sleep time to "Never". In EG you set a timer with desired duration to be triggered on System.Idle and then after the timer has run out, it triggers the monitor off command. In your System.Unidle macro you add the cancellation of an active timer. This way you have total control and always know the power state of your monitor. You could store the current state in a variable as suggested above.

[etc6849]

Thanks!

This sounds like the best solution I can hope for. It still doesn't handle the case of when the user turns off the monitor using its front button, but oh well.

PS: I'm actually not using EG directly to control the monitor directly, but my home automation system, which in turns talks to EG via a tcp server plug-in I'm working on. I'll post everything once it's complete with instructions!

It will give you guys a lot more control options (GlobalCache, X10 security devices, z-wave etc...) and still allow you to keep your existing EG setup.