Zoom driver uploaded

[avid]

I have uploaded my driver for Zoom Player to the user download area.

The Zoom Driver is a NetRemote driver for controlling the playing of DVDs and media files via Zoom Player.

It is intended to avoid the need to use Girder and DVDSpy in order to control and get feedback from Zoom Player. The driver talks directly with Zoom Player via its TCP interface.

The driver runs with NetRemote version 0.996 or above and communicates with Zoom Player version 4.0 RC3 or above.

The driver supports:
* Execution of any Zoom Player function that can be assigned to a key. This means any standard function, any extended function, or any "special operation" such as the DVD menu navigation arrows.
* Feedback of the state of the playing DVD or media file via a wide range of NetRemote variables.
* A position slider control for rapid navigation within the playing DVD or media file.
* Automatic jumping to configured NetRemote panels whenever Zoom Player enters or leaves "Menu mode".

It comes with documentation, sample CCF and source. Use it as you will & let me know how you get on.

Brian

[Aaron]

Sweet... I cannot wait to try it!

[Mastiff]

Man, you really know about timing! Today I got my new HTPCspinning in it's right place - P4 3.0 @ 3.8 (air cooled!) built specially for ffdshow and ZoomPlayer! I will grab the downloads and try to check it out this weekend. I still have a few things not installed in the HTPC, and I still have a few tests to do (I have to know that this computer is able to play movies all day long without skipping a beat before I let my wife and kids loose on it). but then I will certainly go to your new driver. I really appreciate it, it will make everything easier for me! Thank you for your work! :D

[Mastiff]

Well, of course I had to download it and try it out at once...and I have a problem: When I use the search bar (which is the main thing I have been waiting for when it comes to ZoomPlayer and NetRemote) ZoomPlayer locks up. Totally. I have to force it to close (usually a sledgehammer will do...) and then fire it up again. I gather that's not something you have seen on your system? I use overlay and WinDVD 5, with ffdshow on some pretty radical settings (resize to 1920x1728, denoise 3D and DSCaler sharpen), so the processor load is pretty high (normally around 80-90 %) even on my new monster. Can that be the reason? This does not happen when I click on the position bar in ZoomPlayer's skin.

[avid]

Mastiff,

No - I had this lockup problem with RC2, but I believed it was fixed in RC3 - I have not seen the problem myself with the latest ZP. But Blight says the Zoom Player TCP mechanism was re-written between RC2 and RC3, so I guess it's pretty new.

One thing that the NetRemote slider does is to send reposition info to ZP as fast as it can. I understand that ZP then takes responsibility for not overloading the filters with too frequent seeks. Maybe you could confirm this on the ZP forum?

I could add some sort of throttling to the NR driver instead (as well?) if there was the need to. It would not be difficult. I just need to think it is the right thing to do.

Also, note that you don't *need* to use the new driver to get slider capability. I have been using a Zoom CCF for several weeks with a responsive slider implemented through Girder. However, I do think that the driver is the way to go, as it should be more responsive and much easier to maintain.

Brian

[Mastiff]

Well, this is RC3. Do you speak to Blight? If you do, maybe you could tell him. If not I'll jump in.

[avid]

No I don't speak to Blight - I only communicate throuh the forum. The main thread on the topic (so far) was http://forum.inmatrix.com/index.php?showtopic=374

Brian

[Mastiff]

OK, I'm on it. btw do you recon your guys will kick France's ass? :wink:

edit: I'm not yet a member of the new board, and the e-mail that makes me one takes it's sweet time... I'll jump in when I get it.

[avid]

No I don't speak to Blight - I only communicate throuh the forum. The main thread on the topic (so far) was http://forum.inmatrix.com/index.php?showtopic=374

Brian

[Ben S]

Nice work, Avid. I'm looking forward to trying it.

Can you believe I've kept the plugin model the same for so long? (2 weeks, maybe?) :)

I have one or two changes for both of your plugins that I need to brief you on. I've added a "GetInstanceName" so that the list of plugins can show more than just the ID (mine now show host:post (id)) and I've flipped around some of the socket code. Should be almost pluggable, just the class name and constructor/destructor have changed.

[avid]

Aaaargh.

Just when I thought things were stable enough to post for general use ...

OK. Let me know the changes & send me the headers and I will change things around again. I assume that you will change the NR release number so that I can document what version is required.

I had planned to upload another couple of drivers (I'm working on #4) - I will hold back until this change goes through and sems to have settled down.

Brian

[avid]

Mastiff,

I have posted a question to Blight as http://forum.inmatrix.com/index.php?showtopic=465.

Let's see what the response is.

Brian

[Mastiff]

Thanks! I've been trying like crazy to come in to that forum since yesterday. I don't get validation e-mail, probably because of some spamfilter that my ISP employs. Annoying! I have sendt an E-mail to info@, so we'll see.

[Mastiff]

Avid, I have a bit more info on this crash. It seems like it only happens on some DVDs. A ripped The Two Towers that I have used for testing under this installation was the one it originally happened on. It worked on the unripped DVD of Return of the King for a few jumps, but then that locked up as well. The ripped DVD of Fellowship of the Ring was no problem, I could jump back and forth like crazy. (Does it show that I'm kind of partial towards the Lord of the Rings movies? :oops: )

[avid]

See further activity on http://forum.inmatrix.com/index.php?showtopic=465

Brian

[avid]

I've uploaded a revised version. This adds a "Throttle slider" checkbox, which just *might* make a difference. I am not that happy with the way I've implemented it, but I need a new API from Ben to do it the way I would want.

I have also fixed a problem where I was attempting to parse the timeline information to determine the position, not remembering that the timeline format can be configured in lots of ways. This is now done "properly".

There are another couple of fixes additions as well, but nothing significant.

Brian

[Mastiff]

Yes, it's better now, I can take shorter jumps. But on longer jumps on that Two Towers file it still locks up. Anyway, it's obvious that you're on to something! :D

[avid]

If you want me to try some more agressive throttling in the same cludgy way, I can make you up another version wit longer delays. Do you use PC or PPC? But I suspect that it will start to feel a bit too unresponsive.

I really need the timer enhancement from Ben (the one that blue-screened your brain) to do it properly. I will chase him on that.

Brian

[Mastiff]

Yes, please! So far I have only tested it with Win32, so you could make one for that. So what's happening is that a lot of rapid, small changes swamps Zoom's interface and stops the program, especially under higher CPU loads?

[avid]

Try http://brianavid.com/avid/zoomDriverWin32.zip, but it might be a bit unresponsive

Brian

[Mastiff]

You're not going to believe this, but it's actually a lot more responsive on my system! I think that's because the former sendt too many events to ZoomPlayer, while this one only sends the final event, when I let go of the slider. Remember that Zoom runs with around 90 % CPU or even more at times. Thanks!

Edit, no it sends events when I pause too long as well, but all in all this is a lot better, it's actually to whereI can live with it without any problems!

[avid]

When (if) I get the new timer API from Ben, the intention is that the ZP.Position variable on the NR screen will update very quickly as you slide, but ZP itself will only be repositioned every second (or maybe a bit less).

At the moment I actually pause NR completely for half a second as you slide, which is why I said it would be unresponsive. I could make the half second even longer if you thought it would help, but that might get a bit silly.

Brian

[Mastiff]

Nah, I think it's perfect now. And for the version you're thinking about with an eventual new timerAPI (damn, brain bluescreen again!) I would suggest either an option to decide for yourself how long before the Zoom slider moves (which in my case would be a subject of experiment, and I would guess I'd arrive at around 4 seconds) or even better: It moves when you let go of the slider (sort of a mouse up event, if that's possible).

[esajesa]

Hey!

Great stuff, made me purchase Zoomplayer 4.0 straight up! Anyways, do you have a document with all the functions documented?? I've found most of the stuff from an old zoomplayer.gml I exported from Zoomplayer version 2.x something, but with the latest version it doesn't export the function names anymore. Would be grrrreat!

Cheers dude, excellent work!!

[avid]

do you have a document with all the functions documented??
The best place for now is in the "default.key" file in the Zoom Player directory, but you have to use a bit of guesswork to work out which function does what.

The *ideal* solution, as the names are precisely those supported by ZP's new TCP interface, is to ask Blight on the Zoom forum to maintain a list. Maybe ZP could export the list as text in the same way as it can generate a complete GML file. Why not suggest it?

I could possibly make a list myself, but it would tricky to keep up-to-date with a fast moving product. So I would rather not.

Brian

[avid]

I've posted an enhancement request for this information to the Zoom forum.

Brian

[avid]

The response from Blight was just to look in skin\brownish.skn and in default.key in the installed Zoom directory

When I next upload the ZoomDriver (after the current pre-release is made available, as the driver APIs are changing), I will include a text file containing the 4.0 snapshot of these codes - with a disclaimer that there may have been more codes added post 4.0.

Brian

[esajesa]

Cool, thanks a lot, that gives me something to work with...

Btw, the variables, is it possible to get some more?? I'd like to have the following:

ZP.Volume
ZP.AspectRatio
ZP.Playstate (Pause, Play, Stop, Slowmotion, FF etc)
ZP.Speed (Playrate)

I guess I could do it in LUA though, but it'd be nice to have it straight up.

Anyways, GREAT work man! I'm really impressed!

Cheers,
Jens

[avid]

Btw, the variables, is it possible to get some more?? I'd like to have the following ...
Well the simple answer is "sorry - 'fraid not".

But the real answer is more complicated.

ZP.AspectRatio would be possible now, and something Blight calls "Video Frame Rate" (is this the same as speed?). I will aim to add them for you. PlayState just has Playing/Paused reported via TCP.

If you can get Blight to provide any other information through the TCP interface, then I can trivially stick it in an NR variable for you. But these are just not there at the moment.

So make your case on the Zoom forum and let me know when they are provided for you. It might be worth waiting until he has finished the documentation (which I assume will include the TCP info) and then ask Blight for things that are missing, and me for things I am not passing through.

Brian

[Chazotta]

Brian

I can't see the Zoom driver in the either the Win32 or PPC Netremote client?

I have placed the dll file in the corresponding NetRemote directory. I don't seem to have a plugins directory in either case. The other drivers are in the root directory and both the PPC and Win32 clients have no difficulty picking up the other drivers??

Mark

[avid]

In that case I guess you are running 0.99 and not 0.996. The versioning is all very confusing - even Ben would admit that!

Get 0.996 (FAR FAR better) from the forum: http://www.netremote.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=986

Brian

[Chazotta]

Yes I only had 0.99, have installed .996 and Zoom 4. Now I have an audio rendering problem with Zoom4. I will report soon.

[Chazotta]

Brian,

Haven't solved the audio render problem in Zoom 4, but just disabled audio for the moment. The Zoom filter works great, except that I can't actually launch the movie. I can't press the play movie button from the root menu of the DVD in Zoom? Once the movie is playing, all the navigation functions work.

I have noticed that when I quit netremote from my PPC, it does not save my settings in the Zoom filter the next time I run netremote (and I have to manually set it). It is not keeping the Logging box unchecked and is not keeping the Throtle box checked?and

Is there a way of bringing up the open files tab in Zoom, so that you can the select what movie you want from your hard drive? A similar feedback situation as with Media Center?

- Mark

[avid]

Mark,


I can't press the play movie button from the root menu of the DVD in Zoom
Have you set up the "auto-jump" config? (although you don't need to) And if so, are you starting NR before starting Zoom? I can press the "play movie button" on my demo CCF's "DVD Menu" panel and it does start playing.


It does not save my settings in the Zoom filter the next time I run netremote
Looks like a bug to me. I can't spot anything trivially obvious - will investigate. Does it save any auto-jump settings?


Is there a way of bringing up the open files tab in Zoom
Two ways. I am fairly sure you can bring up the file navigator in Zoom and then use the arrow keys and Return key (like for the menu).
But .. I am working on a separate "player picker" driver that I will be using to launch Zoom (or any other player) with a file picked from the list presented on the PPC. I already use such a system myself, but I am in the middle of breaking it out into a separate, more generally useful capability.

Brian

[Chazotta]

Brian,

I copied what you had in the readme file for the auto jump settings, but it came up with some device not found (or similar) error....so then I left it all blank.

I have read your readme file again about these settings, but I don't understand it. For staters, which of the four designated areas relates to/specifies the panel name and which is the device name? Can you break this down for dummies? Its a bit late here in Oz, time for bed!

Just on the menu thing, is it possible to make it work so that you have an up and down arrow for navigating within the (total) menu system of the DVD and an enter key (this way audio settings etc can be selected)?

Mark

[avid]

which of the four designated areas relates to/specifies the panel name and which is the device name? Can you break this down for dummies?
The left is the device name (as defined in Tonto). If this is the "Home" device (which is special in a CCF), it is necessary to leave this blank. The right field is the panel within the device. (again as defined in Tonto).


on the menu thing, is it possible to make it work so that you have an up and down arrow for navigating within the (total) menu system of the DVD and an enter key
If you look at the actions on the DVD Menu panel, the arrows and OK *should* work anywhere in Zoom where you can press the four arrows and return. I undertstand that the Zoom navigators are all designed in such a way that they can controlled by these 5 buttons alone.

Obviously you can copy these buttons (or the actions of the buttons) and stick them anywhere on any panel. It might make sense to put them on the PPC's 4-way hardware button for all your Zoom panels.

Brian

[Chazotta]

Brian,


If you look at the actions on the DVD Menu panel, the arrows and OK *should* work anywhere in Zoom where you can press the four arrows and return.

I can't see these five action buttons. Should they appear when you press the "MENU" button (or are you talking about the five buttons which are below the tracking bar, ie: the 2 chapter, 2 fast forward/rewind and play/pause buttons?)? When I press the menu button nothing happens other than it takes me to the root menu of the DVD and the words "Root Menu" appear very briefly in NetRemote above the word "Playing:0:00... etc".

I have entered the same information in the jump-to panels as in your word doc.

Mark

[avid]

Ah - I'm beginning to see your confusion. Are you using my CCF as is? Have you edited it in Tonto to make your own CCF, which is what I would expect?

My demo CCF has two panels. One is the transport controls - a panel called "DVD". The other are the "menu" controls in a separate panel called "DVDMenu". The menu panel contains 5 buttons - 4 arrows and an "OK". These are the ones you want to be using with navigators. If you look at it in Tonto, it should be fairly clear. You can copy and paste either the buttons or the actions from the buttons onto other panels.

The CCF is intended to show "auto-jumping" where the panes will switch of their own accord as the playing DVD enters and leaves "menu mode". The "Root Menu" buton tells Zoom to go into menu mode, and then the panels should switch automatically - the CCF does not explicitly jump. If you are using the demo CCF unmodified, then the auto-jump config should have both the (left side) device names blank (because this is the "Home" device) and the (right side) panel names are "DVDMenu" and "DVD".

Is this clearer?

BTW, I have found the bug where editing any config always switched onlogging and throttling. It will be fixed in version accompanying the 1.0 release of NetRemote.

Brian

[Chazotta]

Brian,

I understand now. I'm now reading up on how to use Tonto. I will report soon. Thanks again for your help.

Mark

EDIT: Brian, would you mind sending me a copy of your CCF with the devices added so I can see how it works/links?

[windtrader]

avid - just wanted to say THANK YOU for creating the Zoom-Netremote integration. It is excellent and my remote controller is functionally at a new level with the messages I get from Zoom. It is very cool to have the new information on my DVD control panel, showing status, time played, movie length, chapter, etc.

Any plans for new tweaks or enhancements from Blight?

thx again

ps - your example ccf was perfect and got me going in no time.

[avid]

windtrader,

Thank you for the kind words.

I have a new version waiting for 1.0 (the interfaces are not compatible, so I need to wait). This fixes a couple of minor bugs and uses a better slider. It also will change the way in which "auto-jump" is specified, avoiding the need to use the configuration panel, which I always disliked. And I include a listing of the fnXXX and exYYY as they are at Zoom version 4.0. Finally I have replaced the demo CCF with a fuller-featured one that shows a few more examples.

I am aware of no new or forthcoming features from Blight. But I have just rechecked his newly updated documentation and there is no listing of the TCP message codes that ZP sends, and I suspect he has added more recently without telling anyone. So I will prompt him on this missing documentatation via his forum, and if I then discover other useful feedback snippets of information, I will add them.

I'm pleased to have a satisfied customer!

Brian

[esajesa]

Hey Brian,

I found a bug, I'm sure you're already aware of it. If the video file I watch is over one hour long, once the time passed hits one hour it restarts from zero, eg. say I've been watching a move for 1hr30min12secs the timepassed would show 00:30:12, instead of 01:30:12 as it should.

Other thing I'd like to give u some feedback on is the speed of which ZP reacts when I push a button; I find it quite a bit slower than if I do it the old fashion way (Girder).

Otherwise, I love your dll! It made life a hell of a lot easier!

Cheers,
Jens

[avid]

Hi Jens,

Yes, the hour display bug is fixed for the 1.0 version.

I'm surprised about the speed thing. If anything, it should be faster (cutting out the middle man). I can't really notice any difference myself.

Of course, there is nothing to stop you using Girder for control and the Zoom driver for feedback and the slider alone. Seems a bit silly though.

But I'm glad you like it.

Brian

[esajesa]

Cool, I knew u had it under control.

yeah, the speed thing is a bit weird.. but the advantages uphold the speed disadvantage, so I don't care. Great piece of work!

Cheers!

[cdebuhr]

hi,

i´d like to have the zp: media library-views on my NR/ppc in order to then choose one of the items and play it. like it is with jrmc-playlists.
(i can´t use mc10 for video-playlists because it won´t work with my mp4! too bad)

is there a way to do this and if yes -> how?

tia
chris

[jwilson56]

Ok I am going to look really dumb here.... but as one that has not looked much into playing DVD's or AVI's from the hard drive maybe someone could enlighten me some. I suspect that the Zoomplayer sits on the 'server' like JRMC and that the netrmore server side controls it from a NR client. Also what information gets sent back to NR from Zoomplayer? Can it act as DVDLobby and show all the DVD covers? Will these covers be shown in a NR GAC view like CD covers or on the TV screen from the server?

As you can tell Ihave never seen this in action. Care to share some info with me. I get asked these questions all the time on other forums.

John

[cdebuhr]

hi john,

well afaik you won´t get covers, lists etc. with zp on your ppc. only control via nr seems possible.

with jrmc10 you get covers etc. - but it has problems with some codecs (i.e. nero mp4) and you have to use jrmc as the videoplayer (which is not optimal in regards of pic-quality). but take a look on jlee´s ccf/gml for jrmc.

or take a look here:
http://www.promixis.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=103907#103907

chris

[jwilson56]

Will Zoomplayer play DVD ISO files ripped with programs like dvd decryptor?

John

[Promixis]

I believe it will play them directly without requiring daemon tools....

[ukmike]

Zoomplayer will definately play disk based DVDs.
I've ripped a few using DVD Decrypter to a single .VOBs and then use avid's PlayPick to select what to play in my ccf, works reasonably well.

Mike

[danward79]

John,

Using zoomplayer and ldj, you can do a DVD Lobby style layout, see http://www.promixis.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=103907#103907

You can also have lists, filters, etc... You can also display dvdprofiler info.

You do not have to use ZoomPlayer, it is what I recommend as do a lot of others. You can for example control a DVD Changer with ldj.

As far as playing files is concerned, your media playing software is your limitation. i.e. If it does not play it you need to find one that does.

[danward79]

Brian,

Is there anychance of getting a ZP.LinkActive variable added to your driver? Similar to MP.LinkActive?

Also would it be possible, to get the DVD Title. I tried using ZP.Title, but it did not give me the name of the DVD. It just returns 0 or 1. On that note, perhaps it could also return the volume name of the disk?

[arbujl]

Dan,

I am used LDJ to browse my collection of DVD.
How it's possible to display DVDProfiler Info with LDJ ?
Can you share your CCF, GML and LUA files ?

I am very interested by this functionality...

Thanks very much.

[avid]

Brian,

Is there anychance of getting a ZP.LinkActive variable added to your driver? Similar to MP.LinkActive?

Also would it be possible, to get the DVD Title. I tried using ZP.Title, but it did not give me the name of the DVD. It just returns 0 or 1. On that note, perhaps it could also return the volume name of the disk?
Hi Dan,

I don't use JRMC, so I don't know what MP.LinkActive does. Can you clarify?

Unfortunately, ZP.Title is the title *within* the disk (for multi-title disks). There is a minor bug where I initialise it to "0" instead of empty, but even so it's not what you are asking for anyway. Zoom does not have this string AFIK - certainly not through its communications interface. Maybe you could post a question or request on the Zoom forum. If Zoom makes the info available, I will happily add it as a ZP NR variable.

Brian

[danward79]

Hi Brian,

MP.LinkActive, baiscally sets to 1 id nr has an active connection to JRMC. if the wifi link or software closes and it is unable to communicate with JRMC to set's it's self to zero.

[avid]

Thanks for the clarification Dan. I will add this. I already track the link state anyway.

Brian

[danward79]

Cool, Then I will be able to remove my Girder hack!

[avid]

I've uploaded a new Zoom driver to my site and the Promixis download area. This adds 3 new variables - ZP.LinkActive, ZP.Resolution and ZP.Navigator.

Could a Promixis site admin (Mike? Ben?) please remove the two older Zoom downloads to avoid confusion? I can't find a way to replace a previous upload with a later version.

Brian

[cdebuhr]

wow. you are fast, avid! ;-)

[danward79]

Is it LinkActive or LinkeState?...

[avid]

Is it LinkActive or LinkeState?...
Oops - It's LinkActive. I've edited the posting to be correct.

Brian

[danward79]

Thanks I checked in your source. Scratching my head for a minute...
:lol:

[danward79]

Hi Brian,

I am asking for another favour!

I want to use "fnLoop" to set the state of a repeat button. Could you add a loop state to your driver, please!!!

I tried to set the state using it but it does not work. :cry:

Do you have any other ideas for doing what I need to do?

[avid]

Sorry Dan,

I'm not sure what you are asking for is possible. Zoom Player has (within itself) a concept of a "looping" state and exposes a single action code (fnLoop) to toggle it. When NR connects or reconnects to Zoom, it has no way of knowing the current state. So if you want this capability, you woud have to request Blight to provide a query message and state message through Zoom's TCP interface, to access this state. Given that this is just one state out of (it sometimes feels like) hundreds, it would be difficult to justify unless he adds a whole new generic "state" capability.

Also, from my own point of view, the NR driver for Zoom currently does not look at any of the request actions (the fnXXX and exYYY codes). For example it does not have a table of allowed functions. It simply passes the text (in the IR name) to Zoom Player. If the driver started doing things locally on the basis of guessing what the action really means, then it might be the start of slippery slope to a very messy end!

Brian

[danward79]

OK, Thanks for the answer.

I think I can get a "State" another way. I may be able to use the on variable change and "ZP.MediaMessage".

Will let you know how it goes.

Thanks Again

[heysurreal]

Avid,

I think you need to update the docs included in the Zoom driver. It still mentions the "ZP.LinkState" variable. Been banging my head off a wall trying to work out why this wasn't working... then thought I ought to go searching on the forums.

Great plug-in though. I'm working on creating a CCF that controls Meedio, but then auto switches to the Zoom panel when Zoom is launched and then auto switches back when Zoom closed. Shouldn't be too difficult when I use the right variable!

Thanks

Mark

[avid]

Avid,

I think you need to update the docs included in the Zoom driver. It still mentions the "ZP.LinkState" variable. Been banging my head off a wall trying to work out why this wasn't working... then thought I ought to go searching on the forums.

Great plug-in though. I'm working on creating a CCF that controls Meedio, but then auto switches to the Zoom panel when Zoom is launched and then auto switches back when Zoom closed. Shouldn't be too difficult when I use the right variable!

Thanks

Mark
Sorry Mark,

I will change the doc, but in future the driver will set *both* ZP.LinkState *and* ZP.LinkActive. I suspect that the confusion is spread more widely. I *think* MediaBridge has MP.LinkSaate, but Girder now had Girder.LinkActive!

GIve me a few days to get it distributed - things are in flux with changes to suport the new designer UI.

Brian