EXETunerPlugin

[dleewo]

I am using the EXTunerPlugin to change the channels on my cable box using an external executable. This is a command-line program that takes care of doing the channel change.

When I change channels, I get a DOS window popping up for 1-2 seconds while this command is executing.

I can hide that by setting the option for SageTV to alwaye be on top, but I was wondering if there was any other way I can hide that window.

I have the source for the executable, so one option would be for my to write a windows app that runs hidden, but I'm hoping there is an easier solution and/or quicker solution

[riekl]

You don't happen to know if this exe tuner program will tune non RCA/Sony boxes do you ? I have a Zenith HD receiver and it has a low speed serial port, unfortuantely no plugin built works with it, and i do not have the coding skills to make my own ..

[salsbst]

The EXETunerPlugin launches a command (any command) in windows.

My settings specify the following command:

C:\Program Files\Girder32\event.exe SageSetExternalChannel 18 %CHANNEL% -silent

This raises an event in Girder. By specifying the -silent parameter, I tell Girder's event.exe program not to show its face. If you are seeing a DOS window flashing, then it is probably not the fault of the EXETunerPlugin, rather the fault of the program you are executing.
@dleewo: what command are you executing via the EXETunerPlugin? Now that I reread your post, perhaps you already know this and I was just misunderstanding you. Is it the channel changing program that is popping the DOS window?

@riekl: if you can use Girder to control your RCA box (and i don't see why you couldn't given something like the USB-UIRT to send infrared signals), then the EXETunerPlugin can work for you.

HTH,
Stuart

[dleewo]

Originally posted by salsbst

@dleewo: what command are you executing via the EXETunerPlugin? Now that I reread your post, perhaps you already know this and I was just misunderstanding you. Is it the channel changing program that is popping the DOS window?

I'm actually using the plugin to run an executable other that the Girder event utility as in your reg files. This is an EXE that talks to the serial port directly. When your DLL calls it, a DOS window pops for a second or two, then goes away.

If you use the API call ShelllExecuteEx(), you can set the application to SW_HIDE and it'll run hidden. I was playing around writing my own SnapStream tuner plugin and this is what I did and it works great.

(after adding the above, I was wondering if you were the author of the plugin. If not, then ignore the above)

[salsbst]

Here's an example in vbscript that should get you going without having to modify/recompile the channel changing program:

Save the following as c:\test.vbs:

option explicit
Dim myShell
Set myShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
myShell.Run "cmd /c c:\yourcommandline.exe " & WScript.Arguments(0), 0, True



Invoke it with the command:

wscript.exe c:\test.vbs myparameter