Creating Image-based Launcher Skins

[idstealth]

Hi all,

I'm new to Rainmeter and all, and would like to create a launcher skin to open up VLC Media Player. I am using the white VLC Icon from the ecqlipse 2 icon pack.

This is my code:

Code: Select all

[Rainmeter]
Author=Idstealth
BackgroundMode=1
Update=1000


[Metadata]
Name=VLC Launcher
Config=Stealth|VLC
Description=Launches VLC
Instructions=CLICK
Version=1.0

[MeterVLC]
Meter=Image
ImageName="VLC.ico"
AntiAlias=1
LeftMouseDownAction=!Execute ["C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe"]

Yes it's saved as an .ini file, but when I use RainBrowser to try and load it, it never works. What am I missing/ What have I done wrong?

Yours Sincerely,

'Stealth

[jsmorley]

Hi all,

I'm new to Rainmeter and all, and would like to create a launcher skin to open up VLC Media Player. I am using the white VLC Icon from the ecqlipse 2 icon pack.

This is my code:

Code: Select all

[Rainmeter]
Author=Idstealth
BackgroundMode=1
Update=1000


[Metadata]
Name=VLC Launcher
Config=Stealth|VLC
Description=Launches VLC
Instructions=CLICK
Version=1.0

[MeterVLC]
Meter=Image
ImageName="VLC.ico"
AntiAlias=1
LeftMouseDownAction=!Execute ["C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe"]

Yes it's saved as an .ini file, but when I use RainBrowser to try and load it, it never works. What am I missing/ What have I done wrong?

Yours Sincerely,

'Stealth

Make sure you have done a "Refresh All" of Rainmeter before loading a new skin.

[idstealth]

Thanks, Jsmorely,

Is there any way to specify which file/folder to open using which program? I want this Launcher to immediately open my Music folder using VLC. (If you use VLC to open a folder, it will queue all the audio files in that folder for playback). It's sort of an instant music button.

Yours Sincerely,

'Stealth

[jsmorley]

Thanks, Jsmorely,

Is there any way to specify which file/folder to open using which program? I want this Launcher to immediately open my Music folder using VLC. (If you use VLC to open a folder, it will queue all the audio files in that folder for playback). It's sort of an instant music button.

Yours Sincerely,

'Stealth

Not sure what command line options that VLC supports, but I suspect you can. Just as an example of how it MIGHT work:

LeftMouseUpAction=!Execute ["C:\Program Files\vlc\vlc.exe" "/load C:\users\jsmorley\music\The Doors\"]

You will need to check the help / website for vlc to see how to do things via the command line.

[idstealth]

Alright, I guess I'll be working on this for quite some time, the VLC Command Line help page is LONG... Thanks!

Yours Sincerely,

'Stealth

[idstealth]

Hi Jsmorely,

After a bit of experimentation, I have found that the answer is actually VERY simple. This was the execution code that worked:

Code: Select all

LeftMouseDownAction=!Execute ["C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe" "C:\Users\Idstealth\Documents\Music"]

That was all that it took! Although, it would be nice to see a VLC plugin developed for Rainmeter in the future!

Thanks for your help!

Yours Sincerely,

'Stealth

[jsmorley]

Cool beans.

One hint: I would stay with LeftMouseUpAction instead of LeftMouseDownAction in most cases, as that setting allows you to both assign an action to a "click" and still drag the skin by holding down the mouse and dragging on that meter. With MouseDown, you can no longer drag, as the "action" is immediately executed on the down mouse stroke instead of on the down/up stationary combination when you "click" the meter.

[idstealth]

Yes, I guess that makes more sense. Thanks for the help!

[idstealth]

Hi all, I have been tinkering around with VLCCTRL.exe which for some reason can only be used properly if accessed from the Command Prompt. My current code, initializes VLC (with the HTTP interface already enabled). I want it to also initialize the command prompt. So, I did this:

Code: Select all

[Rainmeter]
Author=Idstealth
BackgroundMode=1
Update=1000

[MeterVLC]
Meter=Image
ImageName="VLC.ico"
W=75
H=75
AntiAlias=1
LeftMouseUpAction=!Execute ["C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe" "C:\Users\Idstealth\Documents\Music"][!"C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe"]

The problem that then occurs is 'Unknown !bang: !"C:\WIndows\System32\cmd.exe" '

Why does this happen? Does Rainmeter allow you to !execute multiple programs at once?

Yours Sincerely,

'Stealth

[dragonmage]

Drop the ! from [!"C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe"]

Starting with a ! tells Rainmeter to look for a bang. Your path is not a bang.