Thread: Road Runner Plugin Manager Online! Submit Your Plugins Now!

Most of the plugins listed here have the author name, version, download link and image:
http://www.mp3car.com/wiki/index.php...unner#Plug-Ins

Wow! who did all that then?

Originally Posted by JohnWPB

I am willing to beta test if you want. Also, a couple things I am not sure if you thought of. When looking at the list, a way to show if it is installed or not, and if so, if it is active (in the plugins.txt file)

BlueZX3 has much of this code done already and can probably help you with that part. He put together a plugin manager for the DFX skin, that shows a list of available plugins, and then you can select one and either enable or disable it. It does this currently by looking in the plugin folder to see what dll's are available to make the list.

I noticed you said all that is needed from people is the download link. That is not going to give you the control needed to put things where they need to go I don't think. If it is a zipped or a rar'd archive, the folder structure as to what files go in what folders/subfolders ect. Hardly any of the plugins are simply just a .dll file. For instance the RRFusion plugin has it's sub folder with quite a few files (Road Runner\Plugins\RRFusion\), and in that there is a subfolder for the sample skin (Road Runner\Plugins\RRFusion\SAMPLE SKIN\). as well as if the files are online or offline being scattered all over the place ect. Going with a central location for all plugins to stored would probably be the best bet.

The last part would be a way to determine how it needs registered, either as a .net registration, or as a standard regsvr32.

Blue helped me out with the plugin controls.. and as of now the plugin already reads from plugin.txt for existing plugins. Its able to enable/disable/install/uninstall. As for compression method... its set up to extract zip files and copies all files and folders from the zip to the plugins folder exactly how they're compressed. I'm not doing ANYTHING with skin files because its really impossible to manage. Every plugin that needs its own .skin(s) will need the preferred skin modified to make use of it.. so users will have to copy/ paste there own skins.

in regards to downloading... if the site is offline the plugin wont show in the available plugins list. But if someone wanted to host all plugins in one location that'd be fine with me... It'll work either way.

Lastly, the plugin attempts 2 methods of .dll registration and will register the main .dll whether its done via regasm or regsvr32. If there are additional .dlls that need be registered the developer can register from within the plugin or simply tell me which files need to be registered and RRPM will register those too.

I Think that answers all of your questions.. i'll set you up with the beta on monday.

Ok, just installed the beta to test, and initial reaction is WOW! This is really gonna be nice when completed!!!!!

Initial comments:

- The progress bar when it is downloading is a very nice touch!

- I notice when clicking on a plugin, that it seems to pull the image from the web each time. The screen caps are in the Image folder, can it check there first and display the screen cap more quickly if already downloaded?

- Personally, I am not sure if the categories are necessary. Just a list of all plugins, again in my opinion, would be just find. Trying to categorize as a utility, entertainment ect seems a bit over kill and just confuses things having different sections to go through.

- When a plugin is installed, can you save the .zip files to a folder in side the RRPluginManager folder? This way those that do not have internet in the car, can just copy that folder to the car and do a manual install of any plugins that were downloaded.

- in my list on the plugin screen, displaying installed plugins I have:

- DAYNIGHTEVENTS
- GPSEVENTS
+ MOVIETIMES
- RRFUSION
- RRMEDIADB
- RRSCHED

Yet in the Plugins.txt file I have:

X,DAYNIGHTEVENTS
X,GPSEVENTS
X,MOVIETIMES
X,RRFUSION
X,RRMEDIADB
X,RRSCHED

For some reason the plugins are active in the plugins.txt, but not showing active in the plugin manager.

Also I installed RRMail with the installer, and it is not showing in the list of installed plugins, and also not showing in the Plugins.txt file in the skin folder.

Originally Posted by JohnWPB

- I notice when clicking on a plugin, that it seems to pull the image from the web each time. The screen caps are in the Image folder, can it check there first and display the screen cap more quickly if already downloaded?

i will add checks for existing images

- Personally, I am not sure if the categories are necessary. Just a list of all plugins, again in my opinion, would be just find. Trying to categorize as a utility, entertainment ect seems a bit over kill and just confuses things having different sections to go through.

can easily get rid of them.. i just added cause i figured it'd be requested.

- When a plugin is installed, can you save the .zip files to a folder in side the RRPluginManager folder? This way those that do not have internet in the car, can just copy that folder to the car and do a manual install of any plugins that were downloaded.

can do

- in my list on the plugin screen, displaying installed plugins I have:

- DAYNIGHTEVENTS
- GPSEVENTS
+ MOVIETIMES
- RRFUSION
- RRMEDIADB
- RRSCHED

Yet in the Plugins.txt file I have:

X,DAYNIGHTEVENTS
X,GPSEVENTS
X,MOVIETIMES
X,RRFUSION
X,RRMEDIADB
X,RRSCHED

For some reason the plugins are active in the plugins.txt, but not showing active in the plugin manager.

Also I installed RRMail with the installer, and it is not showing in the list of installed plugins, and also not showing in the Plugins.txt file in the skin folder.

The only part of the plugin i'm sketchy about is the active vs inactive plugins. Its not my code its code i found to check if a file is registered and i've noticed sometimes it returns incorrectly. I'll download some of the ones i dont see and see if its just ur pc or a problem with that function (probably the case)

in the case of RRMail it does the same thing to me too. It has something to do with the kwab.dll file i believe. The newer version doesnt give me that problem though.


I'll get those fixes in and post another version shortly!

My non testing opions..

I do agree with the overkill with the break down by categories. Don't get me wrong, its a nice professional touch but just don't think here is the place for it.

Add it as an option.

RRGrid info sent for inclusion.

Image can be grabbed from the thread.

ok i've gone ahead and made this public for more feedback. We're still in beta.. but i think i've fixed every issue/request to date. One thing i did not change is categories.. they're still there but can easily be skinned out if you prefer. Good luck to yas and be SURE to read the readme.txt and skin commands for changes and information.