Please help me get Theatertek 2.1 to work

[rungabic]

When I try to play a movie from XLobby, it launches TT just fine, but it doesn't play the movie (ie, no files are even loaded in TT -- it simply launches it and that's it).

I'm using the very latest version of TT (2.1.x), my path to the TT executable is obviously OK, but I suspect that my "parameters" in the file types section of the XLobby setup probably aren't correct, and I'm really not sure what variables to use or how to use them.

Also, I'm currently using Baddabing's KISS skin, which I notice has no group for TT in the event manager -- only a group for Zoomplayer. Is that part of the problem, or does that mean I just won't have control of TT through the skin, once I solve the problem of getting the movie to play?

Any help is greatly appreciated,

Brent

[rungabic]

Just giving this a bump -- I've received such great help on this forum, I'm sure someone knows the answers to my stupid questions

Thanks,
Brent

[lar282]

what is your parameter for TT.
Also what are your settings inside TT? resume,play on execute TT and so on
//Lasse

[rungabic]

Honestly, I've messed with the parameters & variables so much by now that I don't know what they are -- the defaults didn't work, and neither did anything I tried, but clearly I didn't know what I was doing anyway.

As far as my settings within TT, I think it's set for autoplay on startup & multidrive off, although I tried multidrive on too...

If someone could give me a set of working XLobby parameters/variables for TT 2.1.x (and maybe explain them), that would be great.

But also, as I said, I need to know whether the fact that Baddabing's KISS skin only includes a Zoomplayer group has anything to do with movies not starting up after TT launches. If it's unrelated, I still need to know how the heck to get a group of TT functions added to that skin and working.

Thanks so much -- I'm very eager to get this presumably simple step accomplished!

Brent

[lar282]

sorry I dont run TT but I though if u posted what u had in the exe and parameter maybe I could tell if its wrong or not.

the TT group is usually only used for ppc screens but I think KISS skin uses zoomplayer for the player and has extended support for it.

what are u trying to play? plain dvd or iso file or media?



//Lasse

[rungabic]

Just trying to play ripped DVDs (.ifo files)...

Maybe I should post in the skins forum or at the TT forum? I'm surprised no one's come through with the answers for this one!

Thanks,
Brent

[Atlas]

Take a look at this thread and see if it helps

http://www.xlobby.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2852

Mainly change /PATH to /pl

[rungabic]

Thank you very much -- can't wait to get home & see if that works! I hadn't found that thread, despite my searches.

Now, assuming that does the trick, do you happen to know whether the skin's DVD controls will work, since there's no Theatertek group in the skin under the Event Manager (only a ZoomPlayer group full of stuff)?

I just don't understand how that part all works, and whether I need to somehow import a TT control group into the skin...

Thanks so much,
Brent

[Atlas]

The reason you need /pl is that in the KISS skin badda sets it up for a playlist. If you look under the "File Types" in setup (where you set the TT path) notice under Start he specifies "movies: load playlist". This is an event he has setup to create a playlist, load a trailer, launch the movie. This sticks all those files into another file (commandline.txt) that is passed to TT. Since he has more than one file to play you need the /pl. If you don't have trailers it doesn't include an entry and you end up with 1 file to play but it is still a playlist to TT.

The skin's DVD controls will NOT work. They are setup for Zoomplayer. If you look at his skin buttons (ppc and skin after launched) he associates the events under zoomplayer such as zoomplayer:play etc. Note that you will have to have a secondary display to use these (PPC, tablet, second monitor, etc) since TT will take up the entire display and you cannot see the skin buttons.

If you look under the Event Manager at zoomplayer you see names like close, play, dvd title, etc. Expand one and you see "send message" Click on it and to the right you will see parameters for that command -- Class Name ; Window Name ; Message ; wParam; lParam. Xlobby communicates with Zoomplayer through these send messages. TheaterTek has it's own set of these just not in the KISS skin. At the TT support you can download the latest 2.0 .gml file for girder (which is what I use). It should have the info you need if you what to use Xlobby sendmessage. I don't have a 2nd display (yet! ) so I just use remote commands through girder.

Hope that helps and didn't make things worse!

[rungabic]

Atlas,

Thank you -- that information is *extremely* helpful (and will probably make even more sense once I'm sitting in front of it, back home).

I do have a secondary display (touchscreen), so I'm all set there.

I guess I'm a little confused though as to how to use Baddabing's skins with TT (short of asking him to do it) -- I need to download that girder file from theatertek.com and then use the info in it (open with a text editor?) and somehow manually create a group in Badda's skin and then assign stuff to his DVD control buttons? Sounds like hell, but maybe it's not as bad as I imagine...

Brent

[Atlas]

The .gml file is an XML file best read with the girder tool but can be read as an XML file. Unless you open it with Internet Explorer or a tool to read XML, it will just run all together. Copy it over to a .xml extension then it will open auto for you.

Inside there look for

- <Command Name="Exit Application" blah blah blah>
<Target_name>TheaterTek DVD</Target_name>
<Target_class>TTWndClass</Target_class>
<iValue1>32776</iValue1>

"Target_name" is "Window Name" in Xlobby.
"Target_class" is "Class Name" in Xlobby.
Message is always "WM_COMMAND"
"iValue1" is "wParam" in Xlobby.
All lParam is "0"


Two things have to happen. You have to change/add the commands in the Events and the buttons in the skin. You can cheat and leave the eventgroup as zoomplayer and just change the parameters for each event, then you don't have to change the event group name for the buttons in the skin.

Also Steven has a theatertek group in his default skin. You could copy that file over and double check the commands. I believe those were for 1.5 TT on not 2.0. Some might be the same. The groups are saved as XML files under skins/<skin_name>/eventgroups/. If you get one working you might want to save it under <Xlobby_root>/eventgroups. That way it will be independant of the skin you choose. I think that is how it is suppose to work.

Most of this will make more sense once you look at Xlobby directly.

[BaddaBing]

Normally don't read theatertek posts since I don't use TT. But it seems to me there is any easier way to set up buttons to control TT than using girder. TheaterTek commands are included with the basic skin - why not just use them? I think I deleted the theatertek event group from the KISS skin because I was trying to get the file size down.. But its easy enough to fix, just follow these directions:

1) Go to the DEFAULT skin directory
2) Look in the EVENTGROUPS directory and find the 'theatertek.xml' file
3) Copy the file to the EVENTGROUPS directory of the skin you want to use (i.e: xlobby/skins/kiss/eventgroups)
4) Start Xlobby - go to the screen with the controls you want to control Theatertek
5) Bring up the SkinEditor (PrtScn+Break)
6) Click on the EVENTS tab
7) Click on the control you want to assign a command to (for example: 'pause') You will see a dashed white line appear around the control showing it has focus
Look at the SkinEditor - under click event you will see it says "zoomplayer:pause" You want to change it? Click the assign button.
9) The select event screen will appear. Expand the SKIN folder.
10) Find and expand the THEATERTEK folder
11) Find the command you want to assign to the button and click on it
12) Click the SELECT button at the botton of the window.
13) Done - now repeat for the rest of the buttons that you want to assign and delete any left over button or buttons you don't use from the screen

[rungabic]

Thanks guys! I'm gonna print out your posts & play around with this stuff this weekend (and also hope that the path/parameters that Atlas directed me to actually make TT launch the movies).

Brent

[rungabic]

OK -- here are my findings:

1. Atlas -- now that I entered the "/pl %playlist%" thing, XLobby now both launches TT and begins playing the movie -- thank you!

2. Baddabing -- your instructions were awesome -- unfortunately, the controls don't work. I then loaded the default skin itself, and those TT controls don't work either. Is this because all the commands somehow changed from TT 1.X to TT 2.X? If so, someone certainly *must* have an updated theatertek.xml file by now I would think (is the TT 2.0 girder .gml file on TT's website the same as the .xml file needed by XLobby?) I'll search, but if you know, or if there's something else you think is wrong with my setup, please let me know!

Thanks again guys,
Brent

[BaddaBing]

Sorry, it didn't work. As I don't own TT there was no way for me to test - I just knew about the existing commands - you are probably right about the commands changing with the new version of TT. I googled a search for TT sendmessage (the 'sendmessage' function is what is used by XL to control third party apps)) but couldn't fine anything. I tried the TT forum, but believe it or not there is no search function on their forum (a least not as a guest). Good luck with it - hope you get it working.