RE: Didn't Work

Andy,

Ok. I started over by uninstalling. Because the uninstall does not clean
up the registry, a subsequent re-install failed. So I uninstalled again,
and manually deleted all references to freeguide in the registry. Then I
tried the install fresh.

With http_proxy already set before the install, the configure ran fairly
smoothly this time. The only glitch I experienced was the font on the
dialog box where I enter the username was messed up. I enter the
username and every character is a vertical bar. But it apparently
captured the username anyway because the rest of the configure and
subsequent download succeeded. In fact, help works now. Before, using
help took me to some null host path.

I believe the proxy needs to be set before the initial startup or one
seems to get into a quagmire. Uninstalls are problematic making
re-installs problematic (for me). The proxy is problematic even if it's
set. I'm on a laptop, I'm mobile, and some networks I use have firewalls
and some don't. If I set the http_proxy, I have to unset it on the
wireless network. Hard-wired environment variable proxy is problematic
for mobile users.

I noticed xmltv has commands to fetch icons. I didn't see any obvious
instruction on how to utilize icons with FreeGuide. I think icons would
be a really nice touch, particularly if they are available, and
automatically employed.

This is just a feature suggestion. If you dump the output from the
personalized TV guide to a xml file, then you could use the output as a
to-do list for recording by another program. I'm not sure if you guys
have some kind of solution like that already but it seems like it would
enhance the value of the FreeGuide.

Larry W


-----Original Message-----
From: Andy Balaam [mailto:andybalaam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] 
Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2004 7:01 AM
To: Woodgeard, Larry A
Cc: freeguide-tv-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [Freeguide-tv-users] Didn't Work


Hi Larry,  thanks for getting back to us.

Woodgeard, Larry A wrote:

>I got the FreeGuide shortcut to work by adding "C:\Program 
>Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_06\bin\javaw.exe" -jar before the command included

>with the shortcut.
>  
>
Yes, a similar change is planned for the next version.

>I am behind a firewall. I added http_proxy to the environment variables

>so I could connect.
>
>I still couldn't get xmltv to configure using the version in FreeGuide.
>  
>
What error messages did you get (in FreeGuide and/or outside of it)?

>I downloaded the latest standalone version of xmltv from sourceforge. I

>manually ran the configure successfully with that version 
>(XMLTV-0.5.37-win32). I figured I should now be able to use FreeGuide 
>with this version of XMLTV.
>
>I changed the default directories from your 
>Tools/Options/Advanced/Directories to point to my working directory and

>version of XMLTV conf. Pleasantly surprised that the download worked 
>fine.
>  
>
Good news.

>I've been playing around with it and it's pretty impressive. I 
>especially like the configurable channels set. That was a nice touch.
>  
>
Glad you like it :)

>I think it would be fantastic if we had some sorting capability by 
>channel. My download came all out of order by channel. It was a pain to

>have to create a channel set, and reorder the channels manually.
>  
>
Yes, we do plan to make it possible to re-order the default channel set 
without having to go through the whole process.

>Also, the left hand channel list is left justified and would be easier 
>on the eyes with a few spaces from the left edge, or possibly consider 
>centering it.
>  
>
Thanks for this.  I've added it to the TODO list.

>I didn't really get to test out your configure capability since I 
>couldn't get the XMLTV version you have working. I'll play around with 
>it some more when I get a chance.
>  
>
Please do, and send details of what is happening.  This should work with

no problems at all.

>The Guide seems to be compute intensive. Maybe if the processes where 
>backgrounded, they'd be nicer. I still think a C/C++ version would be 
>more responsive. But I understand the desire to use Java. Java just 
>doesn't run all the cleanly on the Microsoft OS.
>  
>
Yes, it does take quite a bit of CPU, and we have tracked it down to 2 
issues: first and most important is the fact that processing the XML is 
slow, and second there are a lot of label objects to be created.

I'm in the middle of a major re-write that provides mechanisms to 
improve both of those problems significantly.  The next major release 
should be a lot better, but at the moment my time is very limited, so it

may not happen soon.

Andy

*****

The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which 
it is addressed and may contain confidential, proprietary, and/or privileged 
material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking 
of any action in reliance upon this information by persons or entities other 
than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error, 
please contact the sender and delete the material from all computers. 117




-------------------------------------------------------
SF email is sponsored by - The IT Product Guide
Read honest & candid reviews on hundreds of IT Products from real users.
Discover which products truly live up to the hype. Start reading now.
http://productguide.itmanagersjournal.com/