Why Girder?

[rembetis]

OK, time to play "spot the newbie"...

Though I've had an HTPC for a while now, and used several different frontends, I am just now looking into Girder and trying to get up to speed. Until now I've used a JP-1 remote that I taught my Airboard commands, but I'm looking for something a bit more robust and flexible. Last week I bought a USB-UIRT, and have been slowly incorporating it into my system.

My question is, since Xlobby has a working IR component, why do I need Girder? What functions does it offer that Xlobby's IR control cannot?

Basically my aim is to have a limited set of buttons that change function depending on what Xlobby screen is in view, coupled with an "A/V Controls" screen that sends IR commands to my HT components (TV, Stereo, etc.). I am almost there already, but if Girder is a better option I don't want to waste any more time on something else.

[Naylia]

Sounds like you probabbly won't need girder. Some people use it because then they get access to more IR plugins and then have girder talk to xlobby. Others use it because xlobby doesn't provide enough different ways to control external apps. But for me with my usb-uirt and sendmessage support I don't need girder.

[rembetis]

Thanks Naylia. I may end up learning Girder if I ever get RS-232 control of my receiver set up but for now I think Xlobby is all I need.

Still, I'd be interested in hearing what others use Girder for that Xlobby can't do.

[Aaron]

what would be cool, since many Receivers now have RS-232 control, is if Steven can build in native support.

This would allow us to avoid any 3rd party apps like girder that are not necessary for anything else in our setups.

in a few years HDMI will be the "control" platform but we still have 2-3 years before that is introduced.

[m_ski]

You can't start xlobby with the xlobby IR plugin!

I have a menu button on my remote which will start xlobby if it is not already running, if it is already running then it sends an event to xlobby to go to the main menu. So whatever you are doing on the PC the menu button takes you to the xlobby main menu.

Girder allows you to program the codes to allow the USB-UIRT to wake the PC from standby mode.

Girder can be setup to run specific tasks on 'ResumefromStandby': i.e. I reset the settings of my TVout (via TVtool) to make sure that is setup correctly for the TV.

Girder is a bit complicated but very, very, very powerful.

[erikt]

I use Girder for a lot of the reasons m_ski mentioned, the most important
one being able to configure wake from standby using the USB-UIRT. I
also use Girder to wake my server machine whenever the HTPC wakes
up. Finally, I use Girder to control my VFD display, including re-acting to
the 5 control buttons on the front of my machine.

erikt

[rembetis]

Thanks for the replies, guys. All cool stuff, but fortunately nothing I need to do within my current setup.

Unfortunately, I've been experiencing really strange navigation problems within DVD menus again (no highlighted options, so I don't know where I am in the menu, menu lockups, etc.), so I might end up using Girder after all as I understand it to be a bit more robust re: focus problems and send message, etc.

[iGotNoTime]

I am new to the concept of Girder too. Everyone here has mentioned its power and versatility, yet at the same time they always bring up the waking from sleep thing. My desktop has been running stable now for 4 months 2 weeks 3 days and some odd hours. I don't use the the sleep or standby, and when I install xlobby and a fresh slim version of XP onto the main drive after I get the HTPC case I seriously doubt that I will begin using the Sleep functions out of the blue.

Can anyone name some of the other 'power' it has? I am feeling alot like the OP not seeing how I could use it, yet at the same time I hate finding software (like I did with Xlobby) and saying 'Damn I wish I would have started using this a long time ago'.

Thanks in advanced for any replies I get.

[vicom]

Check out
http://www.promixis.com/products.php?section=girder