New to VB.net and C# need help to interface with SDK

ws6vert · 08-13-2009, 06:09 PM

I'm working on writing a Console application that sends commandline parameters into RR. At the moment, I can output any command line paramters to the console, but I cannot figure out how to send these values into RR. I created a reference to RR in the project for both the VB and C# version, but I cannot seem to get even a simple command such as RRSDK.Execute("AUDIO") to occur. I have gone through the extension plugin examples, but cannot figure this out. Im using VS2008, and can do the application in VB.net or C#, whichever solution works best. Sorry for the noob question, I have never used any VB, C#, or C++ languages, only actionscript. Someone hold my hand and walk me through setting this up. Thanks

mitchjs · 08-13-2009, 06:50 PM

im not sure what ur tying to do...
c# is a great lang, and a RR PLUGIN can be made
if you want something to stand on its own, and get data from RR, that can be done too
its about making the COM reference
you should look at my C# example supplied with the installer

in the file RRExtension.cs
you will see
static public class SDK

copy that class to your program
dont forget the usings...
using System.Reflection;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;

if you're going to make a RR Extension in C#
remember generate unique GUIDS, do NOT use the ones in the example

/*
* Remember every new plug in must have new GUIDS, there are 3:
* The Interface class (IRRExtension.cs), the RRExtension class (RRExtsion.cs)
* and in the properties for the ASSEMBLY (AssemblyInfo.cs)
*/

mitchjs · 08-13-2009, 06:52 PM

oh, a beginner, might want to just USE Vb6 and make a activex dll

ws6vert · 08-14-2009, 01:52 AM

Ok, so here is a better description of the idea:
I was looking to further the integration of coverjuke into RR by writing a true plugin to interface the program with RR. At the moment, Coverjuke can communicate to other programs by passing command line arguments such as the folder path of the album or a list of the songs in the album. Since RR does not accept these command line arguments, I need to first write a simple Communicator EXE (console app), which I aptly plan to name CJRRCommunicator. This EXE will basically take the command line arguments sent to it, parse them into something usable and send it to RR (unlesss this can be done via dll by sending the command line args straight to RR?). The simple functionality at the moment is intended to read the folderpath of the selected album sent via command line, forward this path as a string into RR to either be played immediately or display a track list of the selected album.

In conjunction, I also intend to write an extension dll to add a few commands,labels, and sliders, specifically dealing with embedding coverjuke, sending keystrokes to CJ, emulating transparency, playing the folder path, that kinda thing. Originally this was accomplished with AutoIT scripts, but lately they have been shoddy at accomplishing the task.

I hope this clears up the idea, and will help you in helping me get this going. I agree that C# is a good language, and I am really leaning toward using it for this project as a good learning experience.

guino · 08-14-2009, 09:36 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by ws6vert

Ok, so here is a better description of the idea:
I was looking to further the integration of coverjuke into RR by writing a true plugin to interface the program with RR. At the moment, Coverjuke can communicate to other programs by passing command line arguments such as the folder path of the album or a list of the songs in the album. Since RR does not accept these command line arguments, I need to first write a simple Communicator EXE (console app), which I aptly plan to name CJRRCommunicator. This EXE will basically take the command line arguments sent to it, parse them into something usable and send it to RR (unlesss this can be done via dll by sending the command line args straight to RR?). The simple functionality at the moment is intended to read the folderpath of the selected album sent via command line, forward this path as a string into RR to either be played immediately or display a track list of the selected album.

In conjunction, I also intend to write an extension dll to add a few commands,labels, and sliders, specifically dealing with embedding coverjuke, sending keystrokes to CJ, emulating transparency, playing the folder path, that kinda thing. Originally this was accomplished with AutoIT scripts, but lately they have been shoddy at accomplishing the task.

I hope this clears up the idea, and will help you in helping me get this going. I agree that C# is a good language, and I am really leaning toward using it for this project as a good learning experience.

You can use EXEC.EXE to send commands to RR by command like.. you can execute standard commands, set custom labels and indicators, or better yet, set global variables -- I attached it to this post but it should come with RR. It is not the most desirable form of integration but works.

i.e.:
exec AUDIO
exec SETVAR;MYLBL;Hello / Label code: "=$MYLBL$"

ws6vert · 08-14-2009, 06:22 PM

Im not trying to pass commands to RR via cmdline, Im trying to use the SDK to send commands to RR. Maybe this will clear it up:

CoverJuke ---> CJRRCommunicator ---> RideRunner

I have the first part worked out. My CJRRCommunicator console App reads the parameters coverjuke sends via commandline. I cannot figure out how to then get CJRRCommunicator to output the parsed parameters into RR. Specifically I can't get the SDK set up to send any commands to RR. Does that make sense? My main question is how do I get the SDK set up in the console app to send messages to RR.

guino · 08-14-2009, 10:37 PM

from CJRRComm it just depends on the language it uses ? you can execute EXEC.EXE <RRCOMMAND> (like I posted above) or you can use COM to create the RRSDK object and send commands that way (there's a FAQ on explaining that).

ws6vert · 08-15-2009, 02:42 AM

Thanks for the help, I have finally got the SDK set up and working. I went away from a console app for the communicator and it is now a windows service app. Seems to work better for the need. Thanks again for the help on this side of the project.

ws6vert · 08-18-2009, 09:11 PM

Quick question: Has anyone ever had to deal with a blank properties window in Visual Studio 2008? It is only doing it in C#, VB works fine, but I have been developing everything in C#. I have repaired and reinstalled multiple times as well as searched the internet, but no solutions have worked thus far. Any suggestions would be a god-send!

ws6vert · 08-25-2009, 03:02 PM

Bump... I still have this problem only for C# in VS2008. Any suggestions are welcomed.

guino · 08-25-2009, 07:24 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by ws6vert

Bump... I still have this problem only for C# in VS2008. Any suggestions are welcomed.

Sounds weird, I'd try installing it on another machine to see if it happens as well.. if so maybe related to the install, if not, then it's probably machine (OS) related. That's what I'd try to do other than looking at VS2008 settings.. I'd be of more help if I had VS2008 installed (but .NET just doesn't get along well with my slow machine)..

ws6vert · 08-25-2009, 10:14 PM

Yeh I dont know... It was working fine, and then all of a sudden it just starts all this crazyness. Its only doing it for C#, and none of the other languages. Weird. Makes me think it was related to some sort of update or something.

ws6vert · 09-26-2009, 01:31 PM

Ok, revisiting this issue. I got VS2008 reinstalled and working right again. Updated to newest RR version. First thing I did was open the C# solution extension example, changed the GUIDs (all 3), built the solution, and placed the dll in the plugins folder. The problem is, the plugin mgr on the carwings lite skin does not find the myextension.dll. So what I do wrong, what am i missing to get RR to recognize the plugin?

guino · 09-26-2009, 06:18 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by ws6vert

Ok, revisiting this issue. I got VS2008 reinstalled and working right again. Updated to newest RR version. First thing I did was open the C# solution extension example, changed the GUIDs (all 3), built the solution, and placed the dll in the plugins folder. The problem is, the plugin mgr on the carwings lite skin does not find the myextension.dll. So what I do wrong, what am i missing to get RR to recognize the plugin?

My first question is if you did that regasm stuff to reg the DLL (since .NET doesn't register with regsvr32).. other than that, I'd say we need some insight from one of the .NET guys.. hehe

ws6vert · 09-29-2009, 09:21 AM

Bumping. Im doing another reinstall this time on Win7 machine. Let me know where I'm going wrong, I tried regsvr32 and regasm if I remember right.

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