Windows Now Playing

[Cariboudjan]

Couldn't I just use Window Messages to get the Windows 10 media player information from the OS directly instead of from every individual application?

I don't really care if its not compatible with every single application. If an app developer doesn't support the most basic s**t the OS has to offer, it's probably not a very good or popular application.

Less moving parts the better, I say. If the developer's application doesn't send their information to Windows, or Windows can't get that information from the player, then it's not worth my time.

[Yincognito]

Couldn't I just use Window Messages to get the Windows 10 media player information from the OS directly instead of from every individual application?

I don't really care if its not compatible with every single application. If an app developer doesn't support the most basic s**t the OS has to offer, it's probably not a very good or popular application.

Less moving parts the better, I say. If the developer's application doesn't send their information to Windows, or Windows can't get that information from the player, then it's not worth my time.

Agreed, but what I meant was that the app should expose its info through its window title. As far as the examples in the manual are concerned, that seems pretty much the only way the plugin can GET info. When it comes to SET stuff, I believe the plugin is much more potent, by using those message parameters. The former is where I see some possible shortcomings. I might be wrong though, and if I am, the better.

[JamHadar]

I have a question.

Is there any chance that you can show me source code of app? Or at least tell me on what language you wrote it.

I code as a hobby and really curious about this one, beacause i wanted to do something simailar.

[Yincognito]

Is there any chance that you can show me source code of app? Or at least tell me on what language you wrote it.

I code as a hobby and really curious about this one, beacause i wanted to do something simailar.

Source code of what app?

[JamHadar]

Source code of what app?

"WindowsNowPlaying.exe" that comes with the skin. I guess that it does all the job of getting the info.

[Yincognito]

"WindowsNowPlaying.exe" that comes with the skin. I guess that it does all the job of getting the info.

Ah yes, indeed. Well, it seems that the source code isn't available as far as I'm aware of, but who knows, maybe it will be released someday...

EDIT: Sorry, I typed without looking. It uses .NET, so it might be a C program (or another Microsoft based programming environment). Judging by its tiny size, it might just be a simple call to some Microsoft Common Object Runtime Library (mscorelib) function(s) or other Windows.Media related functions. At least that's what I could quickly get from disassembling it. Going a bit further, it might be similar in form to this or using this, this or this (just speculating here). This could be the way the standard NowPlaying plugin in Rainmeter approaches things as well - didn't check that out though.

[JamHadar]

Ah yes, indeed.

Wow. That's a lot of info! Thanks a lot. =)

[Yincognito]

Wow. That's a lot of info! Thanks a lot. =)

No problem - hopefully it's accurate as well, though I can't guarantee that part.

[PrincessPandaMeter]

Excuse me, but when attempting to implement the code for retrieving the title of the audio playing, all it does is return an apostrophe. The skin provided works normally, but for some reason, my code doesn't.

Here's the code for reference:

Code: Select all

[Rainmeter]
Update=1000
AccurateText=1
OnUpdateAction=[!CommandMeasure MeasureTitle "Run"]

[Metadata]
Name=
Author=
Information=
Version=
License=Creative Commons Attribution - Non - Commercial - Share Alike 3.0

[MeasureTitle]
Measure=Plugin
Plugin=RunCommand
Parameter=WindowsNowPlaying title 64 ...
OutputType=ANSI
DynamicVariables=1
OutputType=ANSI
OutputFile=#CURRENTPATH#title.txt

[NowPlaying]
Meter=String
X=0
Y=0
FontColor=197,252,223,255
FontSize=14
FontFace=PrincessPandaFont
ClipString=1
AntiAlias=1
Text="NOW PLAYING:"

[WhatsPlaying]
Meter=String
MeasureName=MeasureTitle
X=0
Y=16R
W=200
H=50
FontColor=197,252,223,255
FontSize=14
FontFace=PrincessPandaFont
AntiAlias=1
ClipString=1
Text="%1"

[balala]

Excuse me, but when attempting to implement the code for retrieving the title of the audio playing, all it does is return a comma. The skin provided works normally, but for some reason, my code doesn't.

Not sure why are you using a RunCommand plugin measure ([MeasureTitle]) to get the title. Is there any reason you're not using a NowPlaying measure? Also, not sure what provided skin are you talking about.
If there is not, replace the [MeasureTitle] measure with the following one:

Code: Select all

[MeasureTitle]
Measure=NowPlaying
PlayerName=WMP
PlayerType=TITLE

Along with this replacement, you can remove the OnUpdateAction option of the [Rainmeter] section, it not being needed anymore.
If needed (most probably it is), take care to replace the WMP value in the PlayerName option with the appropriate player name. These names are available here. Use the one related to the player you want to use the skin with.
If for any reason you can't or don't want to use NowPlaying measure, please come back and let us know.