Animated Weather Radar

GizmoQ · 08-11-2006, 01:37 PM

I have modified the radar skin to load my animated radar gifs into Internet explorer on a generic skin. It took me a while to figure out how to insure there was only one instance of IE running (otherwise, RR would crash on exit), but my needs now have exceeded my expertise. I need your help with three issues:

1. Is there a way to load a new image into the existing IE window? I currently have to close the current IE window and open a new.

2. Is there a way to run these in kiosk mode?

3. IE resizes the image to fit its window, is there a way to disable this resizing?

The following command loads the skin:

B,660,410,50,65,"weathersat||Run;C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe|http://image.weather.com/images/maps...05.jpg;Current Map","radar"

And below is an excerpt of my radar.skin:

B00,439,415,68,66,"closewindow;http://||Run;C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe|http://image.weather.com/images/maps...05.jpg;Current Map"
B00,508,415,74,66,"closewindow;http://||Run;C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe|http://icons.wunderground.com/data/6...sf_anim.gif;US Fronts"
B00,583,415,73,66,"closewindow;http://||Run;C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe|http://icons.wunderground.com/data/6...m.gif;REGional radar"
B00,657,415,70,66,"closewindow;http://||Run;C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe|http://radblast-aa.wunderground.com/.../WUNIDS;nexrad radar"
B00,728,415,72,66,"CLOSE",""

Thanx in advance

liquid_smoke · 08-11-2006, 02:34 PM

1. I dont think so, currently if a link gets sent to IE in RR, or if you type in a URL it will close IE and open a new instance.

2.you can run in kiosk mode but not inside of RR

3. image resizeing can be turned off in IE settings Tools>Internet Options>Advanced>multimedia>second option under multimedia

some work still needs to be done with the web intergration in RR, personally i just open the browser outside RR

JohnWPB · 08-11-2006, 08:14 PM

If you are using IE to display the image, why not put a couple buttons on the IE page that match your skin to load diffferent images. If you do it this way, you have the ability to take full advantage of all of the html/asp code at your disposal.
You can do rollovers to match your skin's look and feel, Click on a button to change an existing image on the page and so many other options.

You can say, have your RR menu bar at the top of the page, and a html button bar at the bottom of the page to control the images in the center of the page either with frames, iframes, tables ect.

My house is automated, with a few touch screens throughout, as well as a couple viewsonic smart displays. I have designed the interface totally in html/asp so that it will work from any web broswer, either in the house, or from the internet.

Here is a capture of my weather screen I use in the automated screens throughout the house.

the buttons along the bottom of the screen change the display in the center of the page.

Here is what it look slike when the "Radar" button is pressed:

The images are also all animated, as is what you seem to be trying to do in RR.

GizmoQ · 08-11-2006, 09:31 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by JohnWPB

If you are using IE to display the image, why not put a couple buttons on the IE page that match your skin to load diffferent images. If you do it this way, you have the ability to take full advantage of all of the html/asp code at your disposal.

Cause I haven't coded html since college (and never thought of it for this.) Good call. Let's see where's a good UP TO DATE html manual.

Evolution VIII · 08-12-2006, 02:39 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by GizmoQ

I have modified the radar skin to load my animated radar gifs into Internet explorer on a generic skin. It took me a while to figure out how to insure there was only one instance of IE running (otherwise, RR would crash on exit), but my needs now have exceeded my expertise. I need your help with three issues:

1. Is there a way to load a new image into the existing IE window? I currently have to close the current IE window and open a new.

2. Is there a way to run these in kiosk mode?

3. IE resizes the image to fit its window, is there a way to disable this resizing?

The following command loads the skin:

B,660,410,50,65,"weathersat||Run;C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe|http://image.weather.com/images/maps...05.jpg;Current Map","radar"

And below is an excerpt of my radar.skin:

B00,439,415,68,66,"closewindow;http://||Run;C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe|http://image.weather.com/images/maps...05.jpg;Current Map"
B00,508,415,74,66,"closewindow;http://||Run;C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe|http://icons.wunderground.com/data/6...sf_anim.gif;US Fronts"
B00,583,415,73,66,"closewindow;http://||Run;C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe|http://icons.wunderground.com/data/6...m.gif;REGional radar"
B00,657,415,70,66,"closewindow;http://||Run;C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe|http://radblast-aa.wunderground.com/.../WUNIDS;nexrad radar"
B00,728,415,72,66,"CLOSE",""

I think to include native animated gif support in RR would be a better idea.

GizmoQ · 08-12-2006, 05:05 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Evolution VIII

I think to include native animated gif support in RR would be a better idea.

Already available I thought, but only as images, i.e., I'd have to download the pics each time, create separate skins for each and unfortunately one of them doesn't download well.

Evolution VIII · 08-12-2006, 06:30 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by GizmoQ

Already available I thought, but only as images, i.e., I'd have to download the pics each time, create separate skins for each and unfortunately one of them doesn't download well.

I can make an executable to download new picture every time you accessing the skin.

GizmoQ · 08-12-2006, 06:45 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Evolution VIII

I can make an executable to download new picture every time you accessing the skin.

Websites listed above. First one is easy - std jpg. Second and third are just long web addresses for current gif. Fourth is a pain in the *** to actually define for download but it too is an animated gif.

drdream · 10-17-2006, 08:35 AM

Yes I was about to post on this issue but stumbled accross this post. I have RR installed on a laptop and found several sources of animated gif's for radar and sattellite. When changing the url in weather.ini, only one of the frames loads. Is there a way to "turn on" animated gifs? OR perhaps some way to convert them to SWF then load them in the same place? I really need to see the radar moving or else the image is pretty useless if you cant see which direction a storm is moving.