Space Navigator PE Driver Development Thread - Page 9

cherrybomb · 02-13-2007, 01:42 PM

Okay, here's the latest binary.

This is now configurable from the XML file (a sample is included), can send window messages, or execute. It's technically setup to send key presses as well, though that part is not yet working due to an Asynchronous I/O issue I have to work out.

This doesn't do much validation of the configuration, so if you tweak the config file, be prepared for it to fail, and the app to crash.

It puts an icon in your system tray when it's running. The blue icon if the space navigator is present, red if it is not. Right clicking on the tray icon allows you to exit.

It's coming along, certainly more work to do.

*EDIT: Download removed, see latest download link on the SourceForge project site.

intervex · 02-13-2007, 02:19 PM

Hey Cherry,
Just transfered the new SNDriver to the test pc and received the following error...

Quote:

SpaceNavigatorApp.exe - Unable To Locate Component

This application has failed to start because xerces-c_2_7.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem.

cherrybomb · 02-13-2007, 02:59 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by intervex

Hey Cherry,
Just transfered the new SNDriver to the test pc and received the following error...

Right...

Forgot there are dependencies now. :-)

You can download the required DLL straight from the project site. Get the Windows Binary. The required DLL(s) should be in the "bin" directory. Either copy them to your WINDOWS\system32 directory, or into the same directory as the driver.

http://xml.apache.org/xerces-c/download.cgi

intervex · 02-13-2007, 03:54 PM

B-E-A-Utiful work Cherry! This thing works wonderful, in playing with the XML file, how do you arrive at the numerical equivalent of keys?

cherrybomb · 02-13-2007, 04:05 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by intervex

B-E-A-Utiful work Cherry! This thing works wonderful, in playing with the XML file, how do you arrive at the numerical equivalent of keys?

It's a "scancode" I'm going to include either a utility, or a dialog of the app to convert key presses into the scan codes.

However, the sending of keypresses isn't working right now anyway, due to some unresolved Asynch I/O stuff that prevents me from sending keyboard input, while the SN is producing output.

intervex · 02-13-2007, 04:13 PM

Ah, ok. I was going to try and set the twist posAction and negAction to the left/right arrow keys, and the pushPull posAction to return. This should allow me to navigate fairly easliy through a skin like iDrive... Are there any other current limitation in the config file?

cherrybomb · 02-13-2007, 05:07 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by intervex

Ah, ok. I was going to try and set the twist posAction and negAction to the left/right arrow keys, and the pushPull posAction to return. This should allow me to navigate fairly easliy through a skin like iDrive... Are there any other current limitation in the config file?

Nope, just what you see.

However, instead of using arrow keys (if you're using RoadRunner), you can just send the appropriate window message for next, or last button.

I.E. "CTRLLEFT" and "CTRLRIGHT". Read the "Skin Commands.txt" file for details. :-)

intervex · 02-13-2007, 05:36 PM

Perfect, that is working wonderfully(I appologize for my ignorance on the window messages... I have not used roadrunner but for a week or so...) What are the maximum values for the Threshold settings?

cherrybomb · 02-13-2007, 05:48 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by intervex

Perfect, that is working wonderfully(I appologize for my ignorance on the window messages... I have not used roadrunner but for a week or so...) What are the maximum values for the Threshold settings?

The range of any axis is -512 to 512, so the maximum threshold is technically 511 if you want anything to ever happen. However, I've never seen any axis get pegged.

intervex · 02-13-2007, 05:53 PM

posAction and negAction then simply multiply the integer by +1 or -1 respectively? (in other words, the Threshold would always be a positive number unless you want to invert the axes?)

cherrybomb · 02-13-2007, 06:14 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by intervex

posAction and negAction then simply multiply the integer by +1 or -1 respectively? (in other words, the Threshold would always be a positive number unless you want to invert the axes?)

Yes, the threshold is intended to be a positive integer always. The threshold determines the distance (either positive or negative) the controller has traveled on the axis.

Supplying a negative number for the threshold would likely do bad things.

intervex · 02-13-2007, 06:23 PM

lol, ok...

So, I have it working with limited success, it works but crashes intermittently... but that's to be expected I suppose at this stage in development...

That being said, this is an amazing little app you've put together, had I attempted something like this I would be sitting here, staring at my screen, eyes glazed over, repeatedly saying "I want me mum"

chiark · 02-14-2007, 09:51 AM

My SN has just arrived today, and I've just upgraded to VS.NET 2005 from 2003... All looking very good - at this rate it'll be finished before I plug the thing in

cherrybomb · 02-15-2007, 05:38 PM

Okay, the first (mostly) feature complete beta is ready.

Download Link

Lets start with what it does not do.
- Gestures
- Context switching (default context only)

What it does do
- Detects if the SN is present, and re-checks when devices are added or removed. The icon in the systray is blue when it's present, red when it's not.
- Sends keypresses (or multiple key presses)
- Sends WM_COPYDATA window messages containing strings (RoadRunners preferred method of receiving input)
- Simulates mouse movement and button clicks (right and left mouse buttons only)
- Executes programs/files with commandline parameters
- Get configured via a fairly self documenting XML config file

Please read the release notes before downloading and installing, since it does have a dependency upon Xerces C++, and there are some things to consider before using it.

It should work on anything newer than win2k (didn't bother with anything older than that).

I'll start work on context switching soon, not sure the best way to do this, though I'm considering using WM_COPYDATA messages with strings, similar to what RR does. When it receives one with the message "ContextUp" it'll go to the previous context, or "ContextDown" to the next context. This would allow you to easily assign the context switch to one of the actions, or allow other apps to do it, most notably RR. :-)

Let me know what you all think!

intervex · 02-15-2007, 06:09 PM

So far so good Cherry... Downloaded and installed latest build, loaded in the config file I sent to you via pm the other day... All seems well, I'll play with some of the other xml config options as time permits over the next hour or so and then I'll pick up on it again tomorrow... great work on this app!

So far I've had no crashes in the beta, did you isolate the source of the crashes from the alpha build?

Again great work Cherry if you were here in LA I'd buy ya a beer

keep up the great work and I'll let u know more as I know more!