[GlennNZ]

FrontView+ is an update and a new name for Yatse2 – Yatse2 was a program written by Tolriq for use on Home Theatre Windows Based PCs for Second LCD Screen information. (see original thread here http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=68936&page=55 )

FrontView+ is an update on this older code (to .Net 4.5.1) adding further features and additional remote code to support Plex and Emby, with two additions for improved functionality with both Kodi and Emby. (Kodi service and Emby Plugin)

There is no question that FrontView+ would not exist without Yatse and Tolriq code – many thanks for the open source nature of this code. FrontView+ remains open source with the code on Github.com

Basically if you have a PC case with a build-in LCD Screen eg. like these two:


This is the program to be running for your media-center.
Nothing else in my experience does the job as well.
FrontView+ takes this blank screen, or the very old now unsupported iMon software and turns it into this:



USAGE
 

• 
  
  
   
  
• Use your second LCD Screen for Now Playing Information with fanart/Backdrops and remote control
  
• Touch Screen Remote control (if player supports)
  
• Shows Fanart as you browse Media Center – Fanart updates depending on the Browsing option (Kodi only – needs kodi.service installed)
  
• Shows Default Fanart on other media centers and if no extrafanart for selection
  
• Supports Fanart and CdART for Music Playback for all media centers
  
• Supports PVR Channel info
  
• Supports sending of HTTP Commands at certain Playback events – enabling FrontView+ to trigger home automation commands
  
• Supports MPC-HC as external Player for Kodi usage
  
• Includes its own local SQL Database for browsing and starting playback of files
  
• Supports Kodi (full support – requires service.addon), Emby (full support – needs Emby Server Plugin), Plex (partial now Playing support only)
  

• Rewritten Weather API from Wunderground - requires free API Key from Wunderground
  
• Support for using Pioneer Receiver for Volume Status and Volume Commands
  
• Improvement in Skins
  
  Relevant Fanart Example:
   
  
  
  Install Manual included in Setup file - for install instructions.
  Manual Only:
  https://www.mediafire.com/?v8232d1ww2166bb
  
  Update:
  
  Latest Release:
  
  FrontView+ Latest Release
  
  https://github.com/Ghawken/FrontView/releases
  
  
  
  
  [u][b]Changelog:
  
  1.212
  Add Other/Settings - No Fanart on HomeScreen setting for Kodi
  This disables Fanart display if on the main menu within Kodi
  (other deeper menus eg. Tv/Movies will display relevanat fanart)
  (needs Kodi frontview service running)
  
  Enables - Time/Weather display to remain unless browsing deeper menus.
  
  1.211
  Change WeatherFanart to be more compatible
  Will check for Wunderground icon condition ie. mostlycloudy.jpg image - if not found will also check
  numbered condition i.e 31.jpg as well
  
  Added support for Multiple Weather Backdrop Fanarts:
  Same format as Kodi - download Weather Fanart Backdrops. Multiple numbered folders ie folder 0, folder 42 etc
  Add these to %appdata% Skin/Default/Weather/Backgrounds/
  Only checks Default skin location for these folder, multiple fanarts.
  If folders exists - will default to using these - if doesn't exist back to single images
  
  Adds support for multiple weather fanart Backdrops (based on current conditions!)
  Uses the included and downloaded Kodi ones (thanks)
  
  The attached zip file of Directories 0-41 needs to be extracted into
  
  %appdata%\FrontView+\Skin\Default\Weather\Backgrounds\
  
  eg: Directory 40:
  C:\Users\testuser\AppData\Roaming\FrontView+\Skin\Default\Weather\Backgrounds\40\
  
  FrontView+ will then use these directories (for ever skin selection) for the background of the Weather screen and also background of Time/Weather screen.
  It will cycle through them all every 2 minutes or so
  
  
  1.210
  Add Time/Weather Screen - selectable as home screen
  Click FrontView Icon/Image Top Left to return to this screen
  Add Option - to "Stay on Home Screen" in Settings/Other
  (stops changing to remote selection screen after 20 seconds if no remote connected)
  (Still connects automatic when Kodi player up and running)
  
  1.208
  
  Some changes for Music extrafanart (checks 1st Kodi Source Music directory only)
  Some bug fixes/optimisations
  
  1.205
  Add ChangeDisplaySettings checking after Resume
  Fixes for MusicFanart (better checks for empty fields)
  Ffix for Google Music Fanart
  
  Version 1.200
  Fix for Save Settings if Blank Items.
  Fixes for DDC when slow to prove connection possible.
  Add Checkbox box to disable nowPlaying MediaIcons
  Installed changes to make Frontview+.exe as HPIDPIAWARE
  
  Version 1.199
  Change to remote Version numbers Emby - just use first 3 digits (eg. 3.1 etc)
  Addition of DDC/CI Monitor Settings Control:
  Under DDC/Amp in Settings - will only work with monitors that support DDC (and unsure re USB Monitors)
  Allows FrontView to control the monitor settings directly (same as adjusting monitor menu settings)
  Enables FrontView to completely lower brightness and contrast during playback - avoiding a blank yet still 'bright' screen
  
  Add MediaIcons to NowPlaying Movie Screen:
  Very limited screen real estate. Happy to take suggestions for placement
  Todo: Add checkbox to remove displaying icons
  Fix Disable MediaIcons in NowPlaying MovieDetails Screen
  
  
  Version 1.195b
  Add Kodi Krypton Remote Connection Option (minimal changes - but works)
  Add Icon_ for Kodi
  Emby Remote: Version/Name Info (may need to reconnect remote on new server versions)
  Change to Remote Code naming - may need to delete db and refresh
  Add Kodi CoverArt Option: Skinable Bluray and DVD Case
  (can also add for Emby if interested - but Emby CoverArt gives same impact)
  
  1.191
  Add Kodi Krypton Remote Connection Option (minimal changes - but works)
  Add Icon_ for Kodi
  Emby Remote: Version/Name Info (may need to reconnect remote on new server versions)
  Change to Remote Code naming - may need to delete db and refresh
  Add Kodi CoverArt Option: Skinable Bluray and DVD Case
  (can also add for Emby if interested - but Emby CoverArt gives same impact)
  
  
  1.185
  Fix for Plex - V.Limited support for Plex - NowPlaying screen only
  Add Settings Buttons for Logos
  
  
  Version: 1.164
  Add Display Selection Box - enables as many screen as liked to be selected
  Resolution fixes - should display options for more
  Add FanArtOpacity Slider to settings (xml file no longer used)
  
  Fix PremeireDate Emby Format
  Fix fanart zoomed in
  
  
  1.162 Skin Changes Very slow work...
  Changed Movies Details Screen, TV episode and TV Info Screen
  Add Opacity to Fanart - in Styles.xaml (select number from 0-1 to dim to black the fanart in all screens)
  Resize Settings screen if 480 pixels deep
  Some other changes
  New skins to support different Emby Coverart Treatments - still no complete covers all possibles solution.
  
  Version 1.159
  Fix Cropped nowPlaying Screen (Best results delete Thumbnail Cache in %appdata%)
  Fix Movie_TextSize incorrectly applying to both title and time (now seperate)
  More skin changes - can change size of cover items in NowPlaying Movies (few default options - within Styles.xml)
  
  
  Version 1.158
  Correct functioning of DisableScreenPositioning in settings.xml file (turn on to stop FrontView+ being draggable)
  Allow Skins to change Logo (add new Skin/skinname/Interface/Logo.png) to Skin folders\
  
  
  Version 1.156
  Emby Remote Return Button Fix
  Pioneer IP Control : Volume Percentage Fix
  Pioneer IP Control : Mute Undim correctly works.
  
  Major Skin Changes - Checks for Default skin if missing component of new skin.
  (just change what ever skin component need for new skin)
  Multiple skins now included as default (as minimal space)
  Added 'BaseSkin' - copy this and replace whatever skin component wish to change.
  Also - my new Favourite Red Curtain and Red Curtain Large (NowPlaying Large)
  
  
  
  
  
  Some logic Changes to Emby Fanart Always - more compatible with Multiple Remote connections
  (should need any path changes)
  
  Version 1.154
  Add option to connect to Receiver (with IP control) for all volume commands and to reflect Receiver Volume in FrontView+
  (Currently compatible with most Pioneer models- can consider supporting others)
  Additional Settings screen for above. Default Off.
  
  Change Skins (NB: may cause issues with older Skins - if so overwrite Skin/SkinName/xaml/*.* with current contents to resolve)
  Allow NowPlaying Screen Text Size to be edited.
  Change NowPlaying TV Screen to show Title Name above Playbar.
  Change Home Screen Layout if Hide Audio Menu Selected
  
  Add Stop Button to NowPlaying Screen
  Mute Button Now reflects Mute status (of Player)
  Emby Remote:
  Functional Seek Bar
  Functional Volume Slider/VolumeUP when ET supports such.
  Correct Focus confirmed - awaiting ET fix.
  
  Version 1.137
  Add Settings Button to Hide Audio Main Menu
  
  EMBY Remote: (ver 170)
  Some Bug Fixes
  Deal with multiple movie Folders (rather than directories within)
  
  Add HTTP Play Delayed send option
  (enables to send HTTP after certain time of playback configurable in seconds)
  e.g Playback started - dim lights to 50%, 10 seconds into playback Dim to 100%
  
  Version 1.130
  Check silently for available updates at Startup (and set Settings information)
  Emby Remote - Fix lack Season Selection Screen issue
  Bug Fixes for Quick Refresh
  
  Version 1.127
  Update Emby FrontVersion Version number
  Change Movies sort to DateCreated rather than Premiere Date (Emby)
  
  Version 1.126
  Test of online update
  Small typo Fix in Settings screen
  
  Version 1.125
  
  Purpose of this major update is to enable Quick Refresh of the Library on Start.
  This has been enabled for both Emby and Kodi Remote Connections. Should run in around 5-10 seconds.
  This is to make useful the date sort - which isn't that much use if have to update whole Library to use.
  
  Major SQL Database Changes addition of Date/Needs DB update - which should occur.
  Date data will not be present until a full Library Download is run.
  Settings Buttons Additions.
  If issues - delete FrontView+.db file and restart, resetting up Remote
  Movie Sort to Date Added
  Fixes for IDRemote Data
  Change to using WyUpdate to download small updates (hopefully the last mediafire install package needed)
  
  
  
  1.116
  Remove Emby Virtual episodes from local database
  Change TV Show sort to order by latest episodes - selection in Library Settings
  (Order TV Shows by Show- but those with latest episode first)
  Fix for some Trace logging if no remote
  
  
  
  1.115
  Add ShowInTaskbar xml setting to the settings file
  
  1.113/114
  Fixes for Weather (Changes Day or Night Icons depending on current Sunset for both current and Forecast){Rightly or wrongly for Forecast} Happy to have feedback.
  EMBY remote: Fix for Trailer Change/Server Update/Backwards compatible
  Add DimAmount and Time of Dim /Dim Time in Seconds to Settings screens.
  
  Release 1.113
  WEATHER API Completely rewritten - do need Wunderground API Key however! (free, easy access)
  Link in Setting Page
  Completely rewritten Weather API - Moved to Wunderground
  New Weather Icons, Backgrounds
  Search works - huge range of location options; given Wunderground
  
  
  
  
  
  Release 1.112
  Add Xml Settings <DimAmount> value from 0 to 1 (eg. 0.5, or 0.9) amount of Dim applied to screen
  (setting also adjustable with Skin Animation.xml file) Depending on skin may override Settings.xml setting.
  
  Release 1.111
  Fix to Remote Control Timing Startup issues with Emby
  Additional support for Old EMBY Theater (MediaBrowser.UI)
  
  Release 1.110
  Emby Remote Updated1.105)
  Major changes to AudioLibrary Download. (a bit slower download as more info)
  Far better Null checks from data from Database.
  Correction/Working Music Genres
  
  Version 1.108 Kodi Service Fix
  - Inadvertent error in KodiService past couple of releases
  - Fixed here. (Only change Kodi FrontView Service)
  
  Version 1.108
  - Hopefully fix focus issue that was created by refreshing screen on awake/sleep/screen change.(if using <disable ResolutionDetection>false )
  Let me know if doesn't. My testing appears works well
  
  Version 1.107
  - Reinstate DisableResolutionDetection: -- setting in settings.xml file
  reinstates screen settings on screen change if <MinimiseAlways>false and <DisableResolutionDetection>false
  if <DisableResolutionDetection>true - will resort to current behaviour where screen changes are ignored.
  
  - Multiple Fixes for browsing fanart if changing from Kodi to Emby and back again
  KODI:
  - Fix/Ignore theme.mp3 files - no nowplaying info for these files and keeps relevant fanart going -
  (difficult to sort out but done I believe -Issue was keeping relevant Fanart going despite the playback event and loss of Path information)
  Further Fixes for config File
  
  Version 1.04
  Support Kodi 16/Jarvis
  Bug Fixes - for Emby server restart[/b][/u]