Getting application to open in 2nd monitor

[Classic]

Ok, so I am new to Xlobby, but I have been reading a lot on these forums and working to get it set-up. I was having an insane time trying to get a mirrored system set-up with my VGA monitor in my study and my HDTV in my living room, you can read about my trials here:
http://htpcnews.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=12192

Which brings me to my current problem.... I finally figured out how to set up Xlobby to appear in my 2nd monitor (my HDTV) and I dragged zoom player to the 2nd desktop and closed it so it would open up correctly in the second window. But I realy want to be able to use Xlobby as a true front end, having nothing but it on the second desktop (the HDTV). How do I set up Xlobby to open files to the second monitor. For example if I open Internet Explorer through Xlobby I want it to always open it on the second desktop. So when I am in the study on the VGA monitor I can just open internet explorer normally there and it will open there on that desktop. I hope I am making sense. It would be cool if in Xlobby when you click on the Files option in the menu, anything you opened in there would open in the living room on the HDTV desktop and not on the VGA/Study desktop.

I have the newest version of Xlobby and I am using Steve's newest skin I found here:
http://www.xlobby.com/forum/viewtopic.p ... sc&start=0

Any and all help would be appreciated !!

THANKS !!!

[dgemily]

I'm very interesting for that too

anyone ?

[edgley]

I run dual monitors, and most programmes remember the last monitor that they were opened and closed in.

If IE is giving you problems, try firefox instead.

Also, try Ultramon, it gives you far more flexibility when running two monitors.

[Classic]

I realize most programs remember where they opened last, that's how I was able to get Zoom Player opening in the second monitor. The problem is if I open Internet Explorer in the second window and close it there, then it will reopen there, but if I want to open it in the first window, and I click on the shortcut in the first monitor, it's still going to open in the second monitor. I would like it so if you simply click on it in the first monitor it will open there, but if you open it through Xlobby in the second monitor, an instance of it will open in the second monitor, not effecting the fact that you can still click on it's shortcut in the first monitor and having it open there. Also, I have messed with Ultramon some, but even thought it is fairly simple to use, I am thinking of the wife factor, needs to be even easier to use.

Here are my thoughts on how to do this, I just don't know how to do the specifics. Ok, in Xlobby you can choose which monitor it appears in, under the Option Menu, under Misc., so obviously Xlobby can choose which monitor to open a program in. I am new to this and I have a ton to learn, but it couldn't you create an event that would include the monitor designation in it? The best way would be to be able to click on Files (in Steve's simplicity skin) and there would be an imbedded command that anything opened in that section would be forced to the second monitor, this would leave everything in the first monitor alone as far as where it would appear when you open it there. Less ideal, but still workable, would be to make individual buttons and events for each item you wanted to open with the same basic command. Ie.. A button that when clicked would open Internet Explorer on the second monitor and then when closed it would revert back to status quo, opening in the first monitor when the shortcut is clicked on. You might have to imbed a second command in the event that when item is closed it sends it back and closes it in first monitor..... not exaclty sure.... seems like someone should be able to do this if they knew what they were doing. I am planning on donating anyway, but I would certainly be inspired to donate faster if this was a working function.

THANKS !!

[sp00head]

If your using an Nvidia graphics card with the newer drivers, theres loads of options for opening programs on certain screens and places on that screen. only running on one screen so can see if it works at the moment, unless i go and "borrow" my brothers screen:)

[Classic]

I am using an Nvidia card, GeForce 6600 GT turbo force edition, and I know there are a lot of options on there. I have been messing with it and with Ultramon but have not really found the solution I am looking for. You have to take into account the wife factor.

Here is what I ultimately want to happen, if you have a solution on how to make it work I am willing to try it.

I want the ability to have someone in the living room with monitor 2 to be able to stay in that room with their own mouse and keyboard and be able to either watch a movie or surf the net or whatever, and have someone in the study on monitor 1 be able to surf the net or work on something at the same time. Now I realize, as far as I know, that you can only have one mouse pointer at a time, unless someone knows a way to have two mice and two keyboards working where their input appears on a specific monitor only, come to think of it, is there a way to trick my computer into thinking the second monitor is a network client PC? Anyway, if not, then my idea is still valid, someone can be using two different applications on two different monitors and just have to slide the mouse pointer to the appropriate monitor. Hopefully this makes sense...

THANKS !!

[m_masta]

Seems like a lot of work to get that happening.
Can I ask why you're not considering simply getting a 2nd computer? I know this is not helping you at all, but I was curious
Maybe you can use something similar to X-Windows in Linux which supports multiple desktops. I'm just talking aloud, because I have no idea how you can get it to work.
If you do, please share

masta

[Classic]

First, I don't think it would be that much work. If someone could tell me how to code it in, you would just have to change the part of the code to list the different programs for each event, cut and paste. Unless of course, even better someone knows how Xlobby can already do what I want it to.

Second, I just built this computer, my extra money is going to new hard drives right now for saving media. Plus, I want to have a client in my theater in the basement and in my bedroom to play movies from my HTPC, so that's more money.....

I can't believe I am the only one who has wanted to have dual funcunality out of two monitors. This doesn't seem that hard to me, I feel like I am right on the edge of figuring this out on my own. Somebody with some more knowledge should be able to gulde me easy....

THANKS !!

[dgemily]

I can't believe I am the only one who has wanted to have dual funcunality out of two monitors.

you are not the only one
it will be very nice if we can display xlobby on the first screen and choose where you want to display others programs (like TV, video, IE...) on the first screen, the second one or on both .
that should be wonderful

[Classic]

Well, I played with the XOAPWEATHER plugin last night and figured out some stuff about how the Xlobby program works, at least on the skin level. I am still at the very beginning stages of understanding this stuff, but if someone could help me along on this, I think I could figure something out, especially if I could get someone to get me the info or command that designates which desktop/monitor a window or program opens up in....

THANKS !!

[Classic]

ok, well, I figured some stuff out and got some more questions.... again I am using Steve's most recent simplicity skin. I remembered that the earlier skin, when you download Xlobby for the first time, had an internet section. I poked around in the new skin and found the settings were still in there. Keep in mind I am learning the as a go along, and just basically looked at what was there and tried to alter it to fit my needs. Anyway, I got rid of the Webcam button on the main screen and replaced it with an Internet button and used the old internet page settings Steve already had in there. Well, it partly does what I want it to, it opens the internet browser in the Xlobby page, so it shows up on the monitor I want it on and I was able to add some new navigation buttons, but when I resized the window with the Iinternet Explorer window in it, to make it bigger and fill up the screen more.... well, it didn't like that. It works fine as long as you don't re-load the program. When you do it takes the window with the IE in it and shifts it to the right and down. Anyone know why it does this? Also, because you lose the top of the Internet Explorer, ie... the menu controls, you can't change the text size in the window to make it big enough to comfortably read on a 55" TV. You just can't go to View and the change the text size, because you can't get into the IE controls. Anyone have any idea how to resize the text in this window?

If I can get this set-up better, it seems like the same thing could be repeated for programs, having them open up within the Xlobby window. I would really appreciate some help on this whole project/idea.


Edit: Hey, how come a donor button doesn't show up my name? I donated a little money last night to help the cause.
THANKS !!