[qtipbailey]

Question: OK, so I created a launcher that launches Firefox with arguments such that it opens my Netflix home page in full screen mode and when closing Firefox it returns me to XBMC. So, I essentially have my own little Netflix add-on. I even gave it a Netflix icon. Now, is there no way to place the launcher I created into the Videos->Add-ons menu? So along with the Hulu, YouTube, etc. video plugins, my Netflix "add-on" will also be listed there?

Frodo, default Confluence skin

[Angelscry]

Question: OK, so I created a launcher that launches Firefox with arguments such that it opens my Netflix home page in full screen mode and when closing Firefox it returns me to XBMC. So, I essentially have my own little Netflix add-on. I even gave it a Netflix icon. Now, is there no way to place the launcher I created into the Videos->Add-ons menu? So along with the Hulu, YouTube, etc. video plugins, my Netflix "add-on" will also be listed there?

Frodo, default Confluence skin

No, it is not possible to do this using Confluence Skin. The way to do what you are asking, is normally to create a Favourite of your Netlix Launcher, and under skin settings, add this favourite as a video submenu entry. But Confluence skin, at the opposite of others skins, do not allows to add favourites as menu entry.

[Angelscry]

SOLVED!

I initally followed the Audio Setup guide from the wiki up till editing the settings in the alsamixer. From there the sound over XBMC worked, but apparently the config was incomplete after all.

Followed the rest of the guide, and everyting is okay now.
Well....almost. After closing the script sometimes (yes, sometimes) the returning XBMC window is offset down (so inducing a black bar on the top). Will try a closing wmctrl command at the end of the script

I also a problem that I encounter on my linux based HTPC system. It seems that restoring XBMC into fullscreen mode occurs in 2 steps under openbox : maximizing the XBMC windows and put it into fullscreen. That the transition between the two steps that we visualy observe.

First thing you can try to avoid this is to go into your launcher settings : Edit Launcher > Advanced modification > and set Toogle XBMC into Windows mode to OFF. Like this XBMC will stay into fullscreen mode when you will start or close your script.

In addition, the second thing you can try, is using the wmctrl command in your script to move XBMC windows on the second desktop before starting your application, then return XBMC windows to the active Desktop (Desktop 1) after closing your application.

[leftywhat]

Kinda related to Advanced Launcher, I promise...

After starting up XBMC on Windows 7 something steals focus away after 30 seconds or so. I've created an ALT-Tab button on my remote to get around the problem, but it's annoying. I found the instructions below which detail a registry fix to prevent this from happening... thought it might be a more permanent solution, as opposed to fixing whatever is currently stealing focus, only to have something new pop up...

And here's how it's Advanced Launcher related! MY question/concern is simply: would this mess up/interfere with anything Advanced Launcher related? I use AL for launching into WMC's Netflix app and for launching PC games and console emulations. AL is a huge part of any good XBMC HTPC setup, so can't risk breaking it!

Try using the program "Focus Bitch", I re-uploaded it here
It should work perfectly and far easier than the way you've mentioned.

[styx06]

In addition, the second thing you can try, is using the wmctrl command in your script to move XBMC windows on the second desktop before starting your application, then return XBMC windows to the active Desktop (Desktop 1) after closing your application.

Adding wmctrl line before killing openbox did the trick.

Next up: audio stops after a while when the TV screen goes to sleep. Apparently it kills of the complete HDMI signal, including audio.
No energy saving options turned on in the TV, so must be something induced by XBMC...

[bakito]

@ styx06

Are you using an ATI card?
I run into a similar problem of sound off after tv went to sleep...it came from shitty drivers...
if so try to use the latest drivers for your card...it work for me.
Good luck
cheers

[gizmotoy]

Start Windows 8 Metro Apps.

First you need to create Internet shortcuts (.url files) that will point to the right application url. For the credits, the description how to proceed come from this website : http://www.itsjustwhatever.com/2012/10/2...mand-line/

1. Found a Windows 8 Metro application URL :

• Press the windows key and x to pull up the new admin menu.
  
• Choose run.
  
• Type in regedit and press enter.
  
• Open the HKEY_CURRENT_USER folder, then > Software > Classes > Extensions > Contractld > Windows.Protocol > Packageld.
  
• You should find a list of many of the installed apps here. To get the app URL, open the folder structure you want until you get to CustomProperties folder.
  
• In that folder you should see a registry entry on the right side of the screen that says Name and then to the right of that is the particular application URL you will need to use.
  

Here is an example for the Pinball FX2 game. The application URL is : xboxliveapp-1297290209.


2. Create the internet shortcut files :

• Go back to the Windows desktop and right click on it.
  
• Select New > Shortcut.
  
• Enter the application URL where it asks for the location and press next.
  
• Enter the Application name you want displayed in your shortcut and press finish. A .url file will be created (the file extension may be not visible).
  

Here is an example with the previous Pinball FX2 game application URL.

Do the same for all the Windows 8 applications you want to start from XBMC and put all the created shortcut files into the same directory.


3. Setup Advanced Launcher :

• Create a File launcher.
  
• Select C:\Windows\explorer.exe as application.
  
• Define "%rom%" as arguments.
  
• Set url as file extension.
  
• Then point the folder (containing all the created shortcut files) as item folder.
  

Once the launcher is created, perform a "scan new items" to add the Metro Applications into Advanced Launcher.

Actually this method works great on my system to start Metro Application (but not for all the applications). To close and application an return to XBMC you just have to use the ALT+ESC keys combination.

I tried using this method to create a launcher for the Metro version of Netflix. The setup works fine, but Windows says "Do you want to allow this website to open an app on your computer." I have to click allow every time. I tried lowering the security settings in Internet Explorer, but nothing seems to work. Any idea what I need to change to make this work right?

[styx06]

@ styx06

Are you using an ATI card?
I run into a similar problem of sound off after tv went to sleep...it came from shitty drivers...
if so try to use the latest drivers for your card...it work for me.
Good luck
cheers

Am using NVIDIA card, but will also check if drivers need to be updated. Thanks!

[Angelscry]

Start Windows 8 Metro Apps.

First you need to create Internet shortcuts (.url files) that will point to the right application url. For the credits, the description how to proceed come from this website : http://www.itsjustwhatever.com/2012/10/2...mand-line/

1. Found a Windows 8 Metro application URL :

• Press the windows key and x to pull up the new admin menu.
  
• Choose run.
  
• Type in regedit and press enter.
  
• Open the HKEY_CURRENT_USER folder, then > Software > Classes > Extensions > Contractld > Windows.Protocol > Packageld.
  
• You should find a list of many of the installed apps here. To get the app URL, open the folder structure you want until you get to CustomProperties folder.
  
• In that folder you should see a registry entry on the right side of the screen that says Name and then to the right of that is the particular application URL you will need to use.
  

Here is an example for the Pinball FX2 game. The application URL is : xboxliveapp-1297290209.


2. Create the internet shortcut files :

• Go back to the Windows desktop and right click on it.
  
• Select New > Shortcut.
  
• Enter the application URL where it asks for the location and press next.
  
• Enter the Application name you want displayed in your shortcut and press finish. A .url file will be created (the file extension may be not visible).
  

Here is an example with the previous Pinball FX2 game application URL.

Do the same for all the Windows 8 applications you want to start from XBMC and put all the created shortcut files into the same directory.


3. Setup Advanced Launcher :

• Create a File launcher.
  
• Select C:\Windows\explorer.exe as application.
  
• Define "%rom%" as arguments.
  
• Set url as file extension.
  
• Then point the folder (containing all the created shortcut files) as item folder.
  

Once the launcher is created, perform a "scan new items" to add the Metro Applications into Advanced Launcher.

Actually this method works great on my system to start Metro Application (but not for all the applications). To close and application an return to XBMC you just have to use the ALT+ESC keys combination.

I tried using this method to create a launcher for the Metro version of Netflix. The setup works fine, but Windows says "Do you want to allow this website to open an app on your computer." I have to click allow every time. I tried lowering the security settings in Internet Explorer, but nothing seems to work. Any idea what I need to change to make this work right?

You problem is mostly related to Windows user account control (UAC). Try to disabling it : http://blogs.msdn.com/b/hyperyash/archiv...ows-8.aspx

---

@ styx06

Are you using an ATI card?
I run into a similar problem of sound off after tv went to sleep...it came from shitty drivers...
if so try to use the latest drivers for your card...it work for me.
Good luck
cheers

Am using NVIDIA card, but will also check if drivers need to be updated. Thanks!

Have you try to disabling sleeping mode into XBMC and into your linux system? http://www.gwenael.org/forum/viewtopic.php?id=267

[lokipoki]

Hey.

I'm trying to pass parameter to run a .lnk.

Here is my code:

Code:

Run(@ComSpec & ' /c "D:\HTPC\Games\PC\& $CmdLine[2] &.lnk", @DesktopCommonDir, @SW_HIDE)

It wont compile. Whats wrong in my code?

Cheers.

[Angelscry]

Hey.

I'm trying to pass parameter to run a .lnk.

Here is my code:

Code:

Run(@ComSpec & ' /c "D:\HTPC\Games\PC\& $CmdLine[2] &.lnk", @DesktopCommonDir, @SW_HIDE)

It wont compile. Whats wrong in my code?

Cheers.

You forget to open/close some single quotes.

Code:

Run(@ComSpec & ' /c "D:\HTPC\Games\PC\& $CmdLine[2]' & '.lnk"', @DesktopCommonDir, @SW_HIDE)

BTW, do you know that Advanced Launcher natively support start of windows .lnk files? http://www.gwenael.org/xbmc/index.php?ti..._shortcuts and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyfRa7gygEc

[lokipoki]

Hey.

I'm trying to pass parameter to run a .lnk.

Here is my code:

Code:

Run(@ComSpec & ' /c "D:\HTPC\Games\PC\& $CmdLine[2] &.lnk", @DesktopCommonDir, @SW_HIDE)

It wont compile. Whats wrong in my code?

Cheers.

You forget to open/close some single quotes.

Code:

Run(@ComSpec & ' /c "D:\HTPC\Games\PC\& $CmdLine[2]' & '.lnk"', @DesktopCommonDir, @SW_HIDE)

BTW, do you know that Advanced Launcher natively support start of windows .lnk files? http://www.gwenael.org/xbmc/index.php?ti..._shortcuts and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyfRa7gygEc

What I'm trying to achieve is that:

- my .lnk (the one I read into xbmc) point to launcher.exe (autoit)
- and the launcher.exe runs then the game .lnk (in a different folder)
- the launcher.exe itself shows a little loading screen with the cd (pc games) spinning and a fanart as background

But I got stuck. I'm using the code (improved) above in my launcher.exe but the game wouldn't start. It just switches to windows. My argument is %rom% and the application is explorer.exe in advanced launcher.

What am I doing wrong?

Cheers.

[Angelscry]

Hey.

I'm trying to pass parameter to run a .lnk.

Here is my code:

Code:

Run(@ComSpec & ' /c "D:\HTPC\Games\PC\& $CmdLine[2] &.lnk", @DesktopCommonDir, @SW_HIDE)

It wont compile. Whats wrong in my code?

Cheers.

You forget to open/close some single quotes.

Code:

Run(@ComSpec & ' /c "D:\HTPC\Games\PC\& $CmdLine[2]' & '.lnk"', @DesktopCommonDir, @SW_HIDE)

BTW, do you know that Advanced Launcher natively support start of windows .lnk files? http://www.gwenael.org/xbmc/index.php?ti..._shortcuts and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyfRa7gygEc

What I'm trying to achieve is that:

- my .lnk (the one I read into xbmc) point to launcher.exe (autoit)
- and the launcher.exe runs then the game .lnk (in a different folder)
- the launcher.exe itself shows a little loading screen with the cd (pc games) spinning and a fanart as background

But I got stuck. I'm using the code (improved) above in my launcher.exe but the game wouldn't start. It just switches to windows. My argument is %rom% and the application is explorer.exe in advanced launcher.

What am I doing wrong?

Cheers.

Your argument must not be %rom% but %romname%. As indicated into the user guide, %rom% is returning the complete path of the rom file (path+name+extension) while %romname% is just returning the name of the file without extension. Also your script use the parameter $CmdLine[2], so this mean that your autoscript is waiting at least 2 arguments. And as you write before it seems that you only paste one through Advanced Launcher.

[lokipoki]

You forget to open/close some single quotes.

Code:

Run(@ComSpec & ' /c "D:\HTPC\Games\PC\& $CmdLine[2]' & '.lnk"', @DesktopCommonDir, @SW_HIDE)

BTW, do you know that Advanced Launcher natively support start of windows .lnk files? http://www.gwenael.org/xbmc/index.php?ti..._shortcuts and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyfRa7gygEc

What I'm trying to achieve is that:

- my .lnk (the one I read into xbmc) point to launcher.exe (autoit)
- and the launcher.exe runs then the game .lnk (in a different folder)
- the launcher.exe itself shows a little loading screen with the cd (pc games) spinning and a fanart as background

But I got stuck. I'm using the code (improved) above in my launcher.exe but the game wouldn't start. It just switches to windows. My argument is %rom% and the application is explorer.exe in advanced launcher.

What am I doing wrong?

Cheers.

Your argument must not be %rom% but %romname%. As indicated into the user guide, %rom% is returning the complete path of the rom file (path+name+extension) while %romname% is just returning the name of the file without extension. Also your script use the parameter $CmdLine[2], so this mean that your autoscript is waiting at least 2 arguments. And as you write before it seems that you only paste one through Advanced Launcher.

Yeah I changed it to $CmdLine[1] and %romname%. But now windows indicates that it couldn't find the .ink

[Angelscry]

What I'm trying to achieve is that:

- my .lnk (the one I read into xbmc) point to launcher.exe (autoit)
- and the launcher.exe runs then the game .lnk (in a different folder)
- the launcher.exe itself shows a little loading screen with the cd (pc games) spinning and a fanart as background

But I got stuck. I'm using the code (improved) above in my launcher.exe but the game wouldn't start. It just switches to windows. My argument is %rom% and the application is explorer.exe in advanced launcher.

What am I doing wrong?

Cheers.

Your argument must not be %rom% but %romname%. As indicated into the user guide, %rom% is returning the complete path of the rom file (path+name+extension) while %romname% is just returning the name of the file without extension. Also your script use the parameter $CmdLine[2], so this mean that your autoscript is waiting at least 2 arguments. And as you write before it seems that you only paste one through Advanced Launcher.

Yeah I changed it to $CmdLine[1] and %romname%. But now windows indicates that it couldn't find the .ink

Oupsss... try this instead :

Code:

Run(@ComSpec & ' /c "D:\HTPC\Games\PC\' & $CmdLine[1] & '.lnk"', @DesktopCommonDir, @SW_HIDE)