*UPDATED* - Avatray 0.3.4 - A tray launcher for your Na'vi stuff...

Started by Swoka Ikran, December 19, 2010, 11:42:51 PM

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Swoka Ikran

Avatray is a tray launcher application for some of the common Na'vi reference documents and a user customizable list of apps. It also features an integrated email notifier and links to several locations here on LN.

If you are running Avatray 0.3.0 and it is crashing a few minutes after startup, please manually update to v0.3.1 or later.

I originally wrote this app back in June 2010 for personal use, and figured I release it in December of that year. I never thought it'd be popular. Thanks to everyone for all the support and feedback I've gotten so far, and sorry about the lack of updates in almost 2 years (v0.3.3 was from April 09, 2011!) Life's been busy.

Screen shots of it:

Download: Latest version (0.3.4)
Supports Windows XP/2003/Vista/7/8. Linux and Mac compatible using Wine.

Older versions: v0.3.3, v0.2.7

Comments, suggestions, and feature ideas welcome :)
2010 was the year of the Na'vi.Vivar 'ivong Na'vi!


 
Avatray | NWOTD Sigbars | Sacred's Sigbar Tool | My collection of Avatar merchandise

guest2859

Neat! Now, if I knew how to write apps, Windows would just crash.

Tirea Aean

it would be sick to write a linux one... I think I will try that...
tho the best i can really do is write a few VERY simple bash scrpits and then put them in the Message notification applet cuz idk how to make a Gnome menu applet...perhaps i shall research that and get back. this is a genius idea.

Swoka Ikran

#3
Quote from: Eana Nantang 'Rrtayä on December 20, 2010, 12:06:03 AM
...I knew how to write apps, Windows would just crash.
Been there, done that. It's what virtual machines are for.

Quote from: Tirea Aean on December 20, 2010, 11:18:42 AM
it would be sick to write a linux one... I think I will try that...
tho the best i can really do is write a few VERY simple bash scrpits and then put them in the Message notification applet cuz idk how to make a Gnome menu applet...perhaps i shall research that and get back. this is a genius idea.
Glad you like the idea. Can't help you with Linux though, since I've never used it beyond surfing the web :P

Also, after I got off last night, I started thinking about this...these ideas for features came to mind:
* Translations into other languages
* Maybe a desktop news display?
* Links to other (non-forum) parts of the LN site (I rarely visit these, so suggestions welcome!)
* A new name for it. ("Avatray" just isn't gonna fly...)

Any comments on these?
2010 was the year of the Na'vi.Vivar 'ivong Na'vi!


 
Avatray | NWOTD Sigbars | Sacred's Sigbar Tool | My collection of Avatar merchandise

Swoka Ikran

Hate to double post (especially in my own topic :P), but it's been updated.

Fixed a few bugs and added a settings interface to make it user friendly.
2010 was the year of the Na'vi.Vivar 'ivong Na'vi!


 
Avatray | NWOTD Sigbars | Sacred's Sigbar Tool | My collection of Avatar merchandise

Tirea Aean

I have succeeded at getting it to work quite nicely on linux wine...

but the "Open LN forums" link returns a failure. what is the mechanism of that link? what does it do exactly?

guest2859

Quote from: Swoka Ikran on December 19, 2010, 11:42:51 PM
I wrote this app a little while back in June. I just found the source code the other day, so I figured I'd fix some bugs, add a config file, and release it. Hopefully it'll be useful to others on here.

It's a tray launcher for some of the common Na'vi reference documents and a user customizable list of apps.

More images and screen shots: http://img155.imageshack.us/g/settings3.png]Click here.[/url]

For those who want it: Download it here. Consider it beta software. Untested on Windows Vista/7.

If people like it, I'll keep developing it.

Comments, suggestions, and feature ideas welcome :)

Updated December 21: 0.2 - Added a proper configuration interface, fixed a few bugs related to adding applications.

(It won't let me change the paths to point to my LN pdf files... I don't think it likes me...)

Config file edit always works.

Swoka Ikran

Quote from: Tirea Aean on December 21, 2010, 10:48:03 PM
I have succeeded at getting it to work quite nicely on linux wine...

but the "Open LN forums" link returns a failure. what is the mechanism of that link? what does it do exactly?
It's a single line of code - a ShellExecute() call. ShellExecute basically looks at the type of item (in this case it sees it's an HTTP URL), looks up it's association in the registry (on windows, HTTP is assigned to your default browser), and uses whatever is associated to open the item. If it's failing, it's probably either that the association doesn't exist, or because it doesn't like the associated application.

I can add some options to work around the ShellExecute issue, but it'd require a Windows browser be installed in Wine. If you can launch programs from the "Applications" menu, this method should work.

Quote from: Eana Nantang 'Rrtayä on December 21, 2010, 11:39:25 PM
(It won't let me change the paths to point to my LN pdf files... I don't think it likes me...)

Config file edit always works.
Hm...settings are working fine on XP. What OS are you on? If it's Vista or 7, try running it as an admin and see if it works.

I'm going to add a debug log option in v0.2.1. The logs will give some insight into what's going on internally.

I'll post v0.2.1 later tonight or tomorrow...
2010 was the year of the Na'vi.Vivar 'ivong Na'vi!


 
Avatray | NWOTD Sigbars | Sacred's Sigbar Tool | My collection of Avatar merchandise

Tirea Aean

Quote from: Swoka Ikran on December 22, 2010, 01:14:39 PM
Quote from: Tirea Aean on December 21, 2010, 10:48:03 PM
I have succeeded at getting it to work quite nicely on linux wine...

but the "Open LN forums" link returns a failure. what is the mechanism of that link? what does it do exactly?
It's a single line of code - a ShellExecute() call. ShellExecute basically looks at the type of item (in this case it sees it's an HTTP URL), looks up it's association in the registry (on windows, HTTP is assigned to your default browser), and uses whatever is associated to open the item. If it's failing, it's probably either that the association doesn't exist, or because it doesn't like the associated application.

I can add some options to work around the ShellExecute issue, but it'd require a Windows browser be installed in Wine. If you can launch programs from the "Applications" menu, this method should work.


the association doesnt exist and it wont. firefox.exe asks to be default browser every single time i launch it, even if i click yes every time.

It CAN launch any program from the applications config menu... I would really like for that link to work tho. cuz the ShellExecute() thing doesnt work. but it is clearly universal across the browser preferences of people who run windows.


Swoka Ikran

Quote from: Tirea Aean on December 22, 2010, 03:37:47 PM
the association doesnt exist and it wont. firefox.exe asks to be default browser every single time i launch it, even if i click yes every time.

It CAN launch any program from the applications config menu... I would really like for that link to work tho. cuz the ShellExecute() thing doesnt work. but it is clearly universal across the browser preferences of people who run windows.
I did some googling after I posted. Apparently this is a known issue with Wine. I saw mentions of other programs that fail to open websites for the same reason.

0.2.1 (which I'll likely release late tonight) will include two alternative methods for URL launching. You'll have to enable it in the INI file's [web] section. One method uses Run(), the other uses ShellExecute without relying on the http association. For both, you'll need to specify the path to the browser.

Other changes: added a logger for debugging and squished a few bugs...
2010 was the year of the Na'vi.Vivar 'ivong Na'vi!


 
Avatray | NWOTD Sigbars | Sacred's Sigbar Tool | My collection of Avatar merchandise

guest2859

Quote from: Swoka Ikran on December 22, 2010, 01:14:39 PM
Quote from: Tirea Aean on December 21, 2010, 10:48:03 PM
I have succeeded at getting it to work quite nicely on linux wine...

but the "Open LN forums" link returns a failure. what is the mechanism of that link? what does it do exactly?
It's a single line of code - a ShellExecute() call. ShellExecute basically looks at the type of item (in this case it sees it's an HTTP URL), looks up it's association in the registry (on windows, HTTP is assigned to your default browser), and uses whatever is associated to open the item. If it's failing, it's probably either that the association doesn't exist, or because it doesn't like the associated application.

I can add some options to work around the ShellExecute issue, but it'd require a Windows browser be installed in Wine. If you can launch programs from the "Applications" menu, this method should work.

Quote from: Eana Nantang 'Rrtayä on December 21, 2010, 11:39:25 PM
(It won't let me change the paths to point to my LN pdf files... I don't think it likes me...)

Config file edit always works.
Hm...settings are working fine on XP. What OS are you on? If it's Vista or 7, try running it as an admin and see if it works.

I'm going to add a debug log option in v0.2.1. The logs will give some insight into what's going on internally.

I'll post v0.2.1 later tonight or tomorrow...

XP Pro SP2.

Swoka Ikran

Quote from: Eana Nantang 'Rrtayä on December 22, 2010, 05:42:33 PM
XP Pro SP2.
Hm...weird. I've tried it on 4 different PCs now (3 XP SP3, 1 XP SP2), and it works flawlessly. It might be something installed on your PC...

When I release 0.2.1, the new debug logger will likely be able to tell me more about this issue...
2010 was the year of the Na'vi.Vivar 'ivong Na'vi!


 
Avatray | NWOTD Sigbars | Sacred's Sigbar Tool | My collection of Avatar merchandise

guest2859

Quote from: Swoka Ikran on December 22, 2010, 06:01:06 PM
Quote from: Eana Nantang 'Rrtayä on December 22, 2010, 05:42:33 PM
XP Pro SP2.
Hm...weird. I've tried it on 4 different PCs now (3 XP SP3, 1 XP SP2), and it works flawlessly. It might be something installed on your PC...

When I release 0.2.1, the new debug logger will likely be able to tell me more about this issue...

I tried it again, for some reason it's working now.
BTW, I want to do some designing for it, if you don't mind...

Swoka Ikran

Quote from: Eana Nantang 'Rrtayä on December 22, 2010, 06:12:09 PM
I tried it again, for some reason it's working now.
BTW, I want to do some designing for it, if you don't mind...
Glad it's working again.

When you say "designing for it", what do you want to design? Layout? Tray menu colors? Icons?
2010 was the year of the Na'vi.Vivar 'ivong Na'vi!


 
Avatray | NWOTD Sigbars | Sacred's Sigbar Tool | My collection of Avatar merchandise

guest2859

Quote from: Swoka Ikran on December 22, 2010, 06:42:41 PM
Quote from: Eana Nantang 'Rrtayä on December 22, 2010, 06:12:09 PM
I tried it again, for some reason it's working now.
BTW, I want to do some designing for it, if you don't mind...
Glad it's working again.

When you say "designing for it", what do you want to design? Layout? Tray menu colors? Icons?

Primarily the menu and icons. The layout is fine. Can it only use defined colors and not a kind of image background?

Swoka Ikran

Quote from: Eana Nantang 'Rrtayä on December 22, 2010, 06:45:38 PM
Primarily the menu and icons. The layout is fine. Can it only use defined colors and not a kind of image background?
I specify the colors as RGB hex codes, so the menu, side gradient, and most everything else in the tray menu can be any color. An HTML color code picker will work for generating them. I need the hexcode in the top center (the white box next to the # sign) of the site I linked.

The menu background cannot be an image. The menu library doesn't support it. :(

If you make icons, they can be 32x32 or 16x16, and should be in .ICO or .BMP format.

The gradient that says "Avatar" can be replaced with an image. If you want to make one, it needs to be a bitmap (.BMP). Currently, the size should be 18x192, but the 192 is subject to change. v0.3 may need an 18x216 or 18x240.
2010 was the year of the Na'vi.Vivar 'ivong Na'vi!


 
Avatray | NWOTD Sigbars | Sacred's Sigbar Tool | My collection of Avatar merchandise

guest2859


Swoka Ikran

Quote from: Eana Nantang 'Rrtayä on December 22, 2010, 08:47:14 PM
Hm... this outta be fun. I'll get started.
Let me know how it goes :)

I just released v0.2.1. Changes/download are in the first post.

@Tirea Aean: In regards to the ShellExecute() issue under Wine, try out the 2 alternate URL launching modes in the [Web] section of 0.2.1's INI file. Hopefully one of them will get it working. Mode 1 uses Run() to start the browser specified in the INI. Mode 2 launches the browser specified in the INI as if it were an Application entry. The URL is passed to the browser as a parameter in both modes.
2010 was the year of the Na'vi.Vivar 'ivong Na'vi!


 
Avatray | NWOTD Sigbars | Sacred's Sigbar Tool | My collection of Avatar merchandise

Tirea Aean

Quote from: Swoka Ikran on December 23, 2010, 12:25:39 AM
Quote from: Eana Nantang 'Rrtayä on December 22, 2010, 08:47:14 PM
Hm... this outta be fun. I'll get started.
Let me know how it goes :)

I just released v0.2.1. Changes/download are in the first post.

@Tirea Aean: In regards to the ShellExecute() issue under Wine, try out the 2 alternate URL launching modes in the [Web] section of 0.2.1's INI file. Hopefully one of them will get it working. Mode 1 uses Run() to start the browser specified in the INI. Mode 2 launches the browser specified in the INI as if it were an Application entry. The URL is passed to the browser as a parameter in both modes.

worked brilliantly to start the wine firefox and go to forum...NOW i need a good PDF reader for wine... cuz the same error from before is happening to the dictionaries and Nutshell. I renamed them and put them in the correct dir. but there is no associated program.

is there a way that instead of launching the wine firefox it will launch the regular one? i got it to do that successfully with the manage applications section. perhaps a way for it to launch Adobe reader too? or do i have to just settle for managing apps and adding these? :/ that would be kinda meh.

So far so good tho. ;D

Swoka Ikran

#19
Quote from: Tirea Aean on December 23, 2010, 12:48:00 AM
worked brilliantly to start the wine firefox and go to forum...NOW i need a good PDF reader for wine... cuz the same error from before is happening to the dictionaries and Nutshell. I renamed them and put them in the correct dir. but there is no associated program.
Good to see the URL launcher is working for you now :) :)

As for PDFs, install a PDF reader in Wine and make it the default PDF reader. I've added an alternative PDF launching method in 0.2.2.

Quote from: Tirea Aean on December 23, 2010, 12:48:00 AM
is there a way that instead of launching the wine firefox it will launch the regular one? i got it to do that successfully with the manage applications section. perhaps a way for it to launch Adobe reader too? or do i have to just settle for managing apps and adding these? :/ that would be kinda meh.

So far so good tho. ;D
Removed...see the post below this one.

For 0.2.2 so far:
* A new GUI settings tab for configuring alternate browser launching.
* PDF association fix (it'll work exactly like the URL fix...), and related GUI options.

It's released...

EDIT: Removed response to "native firefox" quote...see the post below.
2010 was the year of the Na'vi.Vivar 'ivong Na'vi!


 
Avatray | NWOTD Sigbars | Sacred's Sigbar Tool | My collection of Avatar merchandise