STV: MalDude v1.0: A Combo Malore + MlbDude STV (Latest: July 2)

[Opus4]

MalDude v1.0 STV Information Page

Edit: Link removed. This STV was for SageTV 2.0 only. Since 2.1 has been released, this STV is no longer available.

If you can't decide between mlbdude's or malore's STVs... don't! MalDude combines them both into a single STV for your SageTV enjoyment! :dance:

(See the link at the top of this post for details and the file to download.)


MalDude STV Features: MlbDude: All features as of version 1.8.6 - June 27 2004

malore: Most features of the Jun 26 2004 version, including the Custom Menus, Sage Recordings, and CC in both OSD styles.

Note that to use malore's SageTV recordings list style, the mlbdude style for that menu must be set to Default (Detailed Setup -> Enhancements) and malore's style must be set to malore (Custom Menus -> Settings).

Additional changes: The Recording Schedule and malore's lists views have wrap-around scrolling enabled.

The watched command can be used during video playback to toggle a recording’s watched status.

The middle mouse button toggles play/pause during playback.

The LiveTV Guide displays channel number & name on one line (if no channel logo is present), since I display 10 lines of data there & using 2 lines for the channel ID just doesn’t work well that way.

I think that's it, though there may be minor things here & there.


Notes:

As the web page states... combining these 2 STVs takes quite a bit of work, so don't expect an update every time malore or mlbdude updates their STVs. I will consider updates when teh new features warrant the work, but I can't promise how often that will be.

I would like to thank malore and mlbdude for allowing me to plagiarize their STVs in this way, and for the assistance I received in doing so. And, of course: thanks for your hard work making all these useful features available in the first place! :goodjob:


History:

July 2, 2004 Version 1.0, initial release

- Andy

[justme]

Very big thanks.:thumbup: I'm sure this STV will make many people very happy. I've always loved Malore's for TV(CC support, metadata export, IR history management, etc) viweing and MlbDude's for his library extenxions, timeslot Favorites, and .my metadat import features. Now I don't need to keep switching STV's anymore. :)

Keep up the great work, :)
Jusme

[DCipher]

Thanks you!

This is the best of both worlds. What a great customization.

Thanks for the great effort.

Jeff

[ckron]

Great work. Thanks for the effort.

[ToxMox]

/Me weeping as it seems another user has gotten a hold of Studio.

Nice job! :)

[heffe2001]

I wouldn't say any old user :). Check his title now...

[RenHoek]

:goodjob: Atta-boyz all around!!

Might I suggest that if/when either mlbdude or malore gets the itch for new features, they start with THIS combined version?? Thata ways nobody has to do anymore "re-combining" of the updated versions in the future, and the community as a whole can benefit immediately from the GREAT NEW IDEAS!

-RenHoek

[Opus4]

Originally posted by RenHoek
Might I suggest that if/when either mlbdude or malore gets the itch for new features, they start with THIS combined version?? Thata ways nobody has to do anymore "re-combining" of the updated versions in the future, and the community as a whole can benefit immediately from the GREAT NEW IDEAS!Um.. hmmm.. uh.. well... 1 day on the job and I'm already fired!? :eek:

Actually, that woudn't be too bad an idea, except that everyone involved would then have to coordinate any changes with each other. (Plus there's that nasty little preference/disdain for wrap around scrolling...)

Glad you all like it so far. :)

- Andy

[Deadbolt]

Can the pvr-350 fixes from http://forums.freytechnologies.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=47475#post47475
STV incorporated? Malore is looking into incorporating the fixes...now, but they are not yet implemented.

[justme]

Can the pvr-350 fixes from http://forums.freytechnologies.com/...47475#post47475
STV incorporated? Malore is looking into incorporating the fixes...now, but they are not yet implemented.:rofl: I told you that would be one of the first requests.;)
heffe2001 wrote:I wouldn't say any old user . Check his title now...We're all glad to have Opus4 on the Mod team. :)

/justme

[Opus4]

Are they proven to be real fixes, or experimental? I don't have a 350, so I haven't been following it. I don't plan to look into it real soon, however, as I'm not sure I want to try integrating a _3rd_ STV's changes -- especilly ones that I can't even test or use. (I guess it also depends on how extensive Lauren's changes are for this fix...)

- Andy

[Crashless]

It seems as though it's a custom command. You push a button, and it resets the GUI. I think. I haven't tried it yet, but he says it seems to help things after lockups. Which I've noticed lately, especially with mlbdude's stv, the gui shuts off a lot. The system doesn't crash, but it definitly shuts the 350 tv out off a lot.

[kny3twalker]

Well you have Studio now
Can you make a OSD for the X card?

[Opus4]

Originally posted by kny3twalker
Can you make a OSD for the X card? Only if I use an erasable marker while standing in front of my TV. :p

That would be a SageTV core item that I don't believe can be added with Studio.

- Andy

[kny3twalker]

Figured

[JUC]

Great work...so many options I don't know what to do. I will now have to become learned in Malores STV too---definately not a bad thing though!
JUC

[xlr8shun]

this is fantastic

i was using mlbdude1 cause 2 would give me weird fill when i use video backgrounds (see here (http://forums.freytechnologies.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=45765) and here (http://forums.freytechnologies.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=45769) )

this doesnt happen for me with maldude 1.0, and i get the best of both worlds..

thanks opus4

edit> and congrats on the promotion ;)

[Deadbolt]

Can you add Mlbdude's latest weather module in? that is a major feature...and it works great.

Also, is the "Malore Custom Menus" titel able to be switched to "Custom Menus"

Great job!

[Opus4]

I was wondering how long it would be between the release of a new MlbDude2 version and the first request to merge the new features... :) As I said on the MalDude site, I'll consider new features as they come along, but I can't promise anything will be added right away.

- Andy

[jbuszkie]

1st.. Great job on maldude!

2nd.. Where do I change the live guide font??

My client screen is pretty big so I can fit a lot of guide data on it.

I thought I had this set with Malore's version but when I went to maldude, I couldn't seem to change it!

See screen capture below...

Also what is

ui/dfont?
multimenu_fontsize?

In the properties file...


Thanks,

Jim

[Opus4]

The size of the font for the LiveTV Guide in malore's STV is based on ui/base_font_size. The same size in MlbDude2 is hardcoded to be 18 for some reason. Since I used MlbDude2 as the base STV & then added some of malore's features, you can't currently change it.

- Andy

[jbuszkie]

*pout* :(

I hope this is something that he will change in future!
It works well with the smaller tv, but on the big TV... well you saw the jpg.. I guess I'll stick with malore for the big tv and maldude with the small tv until this is changed/fixed

Has anyone else complained about this?? (not that we can complain about anything they are doing since this is all voluntary!)

Jim

[Opus4]

Oh -- and many properties are defined in the SageTV Configuration Properties (http://www.freytechnologies.com/2_papers/SageAdjustableProperties.txt) document from Frey. Some are specific to v1.4, not v2.

I believe the property "multimenu_fontsize", on the other hand, is specific to malore's STV & can be set from within SageTV at Custom Menus -> Settings -> Fontsize. (Edit: MalDude too).

Edit2: There seems to have been a reply that went away suggesting that you post in the MlbDude2 thread asking if that hardcoded setting to size 18 was on purpose, instead of leaving it at the default property setting mentioned above.

- Andy

[jbuszkie]

Originally posted by Opus4
Oh -- and many properties are defined in the SageTV Configuration Properties (http://www.freytechnologies.com/2_papers/SageAdjustableProperties.txt) document from Frey. Some are specific to v1.4, not v2.

I didn't see dfont listed in the doc... unless I missed it...


Edit2: There seems to have been a reply that went away suggesting that you post in the MlbDude2 thread asking if that hardcoded setting to size 18 was on purpose, instead of leaving it at the default property setting mentioned above.

I'll post my question there as well...

Thanks,

Jim

[Opus4]

Originally posted by jbuszkie
I didn't see dfont listed in the doc... unless I missed it...You missed it. :) That's why I commented that some properties are for v1.4 only.

- Andy

[jbuszkie]

Yes I did! D'oh! I stopped when I got to 1.4. I didn't think about legacy stuff when I first looked at that file before my first post!

live and learn! :D

Jim

[Opus4]

I forgot to say... I like having more info on that screen too, so if mlbdude has a personal preference for that setting, I may make changes to enable reducing teh font size in the LiveTV Guide. But, there are no guarantees on how soon I'll be changing anything.

- Andy

[jbuszkie]

Originally posted by Opus4
But, there are no guarantees on how soon I'll be changing anything.
Come on!!! Get on it!! What do you think we are paying you for??? Oh wait... We're not.. Never mind! :D

[Deadbolt]

...also the weather mod??? :)

[Opus4]

I've been waiting for the weather mod to settle down a bit. :)

- Andy

[Deadbolt]

But the I think the STV just links to the weather mod program...it doesn't change, what changes is the C# vs Java and those programs use of a source. In otherwords...you wouldn't need to keep updating your STV...we would just download the weather mod program we wanted to use.

[mlbdude]

I am seriously upgrading the Weather STV portion for the next release. However, we will also be making sure that everything is backwards compatible.

[follower]

Is there a way of shutting off the auto wrapping? When trying to go to the top to see the last items recorded it really is a pain.


Follower

[Opus4]

Sorry... but that's my preference: I can't stand being at the last item & having to scroll ALL the way back to the first one. Both malore & mlbdude have it set to not wrap in their STVs if you prefer no wrapping. It might help to know that while using one of malore's lists, you can use the numbers 1-0 to immediately go to various places in a list, where 1 = first item, 0 = last item, & 2-9 are points in between. Using those numbers plus the fact that you can wrap from the last item back to the beginning makes it so much easier for me to get to either end of a long list.

- Andy

[follower]

Thank... I'll try that with the Maldude!

Follower

[justme]

Has anybody built a bridge(automated) from the MalDude(Malore code) XML metadata export to the .my metadata import files used by the MalDude(MlbDude code) import library?

This seems like such an obvious jump, especially for MalDude users. Whenever I plan to compress(for easier library storage) a Sage recording I always export the metadata. I've built up quite a collection of XML files from Malore and more recently MalDude's ability to expoxt recorded show metadata. I've also got a large collection of XML files for anime shows that have been on my HD for a long time. The shows are now being played back using Maldude's library functions and it would be nice to add the metadata to the display. I know how to do all this by hand, but has anyone automated it?

I posted in this thread since I use MalDude and it seemed logical if anyone had done such a thing it would be another MalDude user.

Opus4,
If you feel this post should be someplace else, than don't hesitate to move/delete it. No offense will be taken. :)

/Justme

[rrussell]

I'm sorry if this is covered elsewhere, but I noticed that when I select "LiveTV Guide" from the main menu, it takes me to actual Live TV, and bypasses the guide altogether.

Is this a setting I can change somewhere to actually take me to the guide first?

Thanks for a great job, Andy! (Oh, and I suppose those other two guys who made the original mods too... what were their names again?)

R

[Opus4]

Originally posted by rrussell
I noticed that when I select "LiveTV Guide" from the main menu, it takes me to actual Live TV, and bypasses the guide altogether.

Is this a setting I can change somewhere to actually take me to the guide first?That is part of the MlbDude2 STV. I believe you want to set the following properties (while SageTV is completely closed, not just sleeping):

ui/main_menu_epg_enabled=true
ui/main_menu_livetv_enabled=false

Your "LiveTV Guide" should probably be called "LiveTV" via:

ui/main_menu_livetv_text=Live TV

... since it goes directly to playing live TV.

- Andy

[nielm]

Originally posted by justme
Has anybody built a bridge(automated) from the MalDude(Malore code) XML metadata export to the .my metadata import files used by the MalDude(MlbDude code) import library?
You mean like this:
http://forums.freytechnologies.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=49291#post49291

[rrussell]

Originally posted by Opus4
ui/main_menu_epg_enabled=true
ui/main_menu_livetv_enabled=false


Thaaaaaanks!

[dragon]

BUG report -- Browse by Category problem.

Versions with issue:
SageTV v2.0.20,
MlbDude_1_0a.zip,
MalDude2_1_8_5.zip

Commands with issue:
LiveTV Guide(a.k.a. Program Guide) / Browse by Category
AND
Schedule Recordings / Seach for Programs / Browse by Category

On a Browse by Category page, with each screen displaying 5 Categories and 5 Shows (the default in MalDude's), shows 1-5 of any category work fine. However, as of the second screen in a category, there is a problem. The shows are listed (e.g. shows 6 through 10), and the highlighting of individual shows works correctly with mouse, keyboard or remote. However, the displayed details of the show remain those of the last show listed on the page (e.g., of #10 when showing 6 to 10). Further, if I select a show other than #10 (on the 6-10 page), the next screen shows the details, record, etc of #10. Similarly, I'm selecting out of 11-15, then it shows #15.

The problems occur in MlbDude_1_0a.zip and in MalDude2_1_8_5.zip. Note that the problem is in the "Browse by Category" function. The "Browse by Station" works fine.

The problem also shows in the vanilla SageTV v2.0.20, if you set "enable_mlbdude_browse_by_category=true". Maybe that's why is shows in the other STV's too.

Second issue (design, not bug, probably)
MlbDude2.stv and MalDude.stv -- Even if the Detailed Setup / General /Show Mouse Icons = Enabled, they mouse icons to scroll the time are not shown on the Program Guide. The Date scroll section is missing in both of these. I normally work with a mouse, not a keyboard or remote control, so I use these.

[Opus4]

That's a known problem with those 2-column views. You can set up some of malore's custom menus to essentially mimic a browse by category or station style.

I don't remember why mlbdude removed those mouse icons frmo the LiveTV Guide screen.

- Andy

[rrussell]

Hey, Andy -

Since you were so good at instantly pointing out where I need to go to fix a UI problem, you have become my reference guide. Aren't you happy! Of course, others are free to answer this too, if'n you feel the mood strike. Aren't you happy too!

Anyway, when looking at the recorded programs, I have them grouped by title and sorted by date. The way it ends up, I have the show's name in the left column, and 8 rows of episodes listed on the right, listing the show name and episode title.

My question is, can I get the text blurbs in the individual episodes to omit the show name, and only show the episode title? My screen res doesn't allow for much text, so I end up seeing the show name once on the left, and 8 more times on the right. I have to select each episode individually to get a description in the top pane.

Does that make sense?

Thanks!
R

[Opus4]

Off the top of my head, I don't believe there is a configuration option to change how that is displayed.

- Andy

P.S. If anyone posts a question directed to me & doesn't get a reply... it is because I am out for the weekend. I definitely may or may not be checking messages.

[jbuszkie]

Originally posted by Opus4
P.S. If anyone posts a question directed to me & doesn't get a reply... it is because I am out for the weekend. I may or may not be checking messages.
What??? I don't think we gave you permission to take a vacation!!! :D
Have fun! :goodjob:

[rrussell]

Oh, mannnnn - you mean I have to actually do some RESEARCH now?

(sulk)

Kidding, of course. Thanks for the quick reply - have a great weekend!

R

[malore]

Originally posted by rrussell
Anyway, when looking at the recorded programs, I have them grouped by title and sorted by date. The way it ends up, I have the show's name in the left column, and 8 rows of episodes listed on the right, listing the show name and episode title.

My question is, can I get the text blurbs in the individual episodes to omit the show name, and only show the episode title?

I hadn't noticed that before. The episode list works the way you want for all the sortings except by date. I'll fix this in my next release, then it will be up to Opus if he has the time or inclination to update MalDude.

[rrussell]

Funky.

Thanks!

[kny3twalker]

can we get an update soon
I want commercial skip but without the overkill of malore
(sorry malore)

[mikejaner]

Me too....

[Opus4]

Originally posted by kny3twalker
can we get an update soon
I want commercial skip but without the overkill of maloreUm... if you thought his was overkill, isn't mine even _more_ overkill?? :p

I had wanted to do a remerge a week ago to get all the latest features, but I've just been too busy to do any Studio work.

- Andy

[kny3twalker]

I will find out once you add commercial skip unless mlbdude bets you to it

but I doubt that with his new STV project for some company

[White94Cobra]

Opus4 - I must say, I have become addicted to your STV file. So much so that I don't think even CA can drag me away. Since it is seeming more and more likely that Studio will never make it public, those without depend on you ;) Thanks for your hard work.

[Opus4]

If it is any consolation to you... when I don't have time for any work in Studio, I don't get the latest stuff in my own STV either.

- Andy

[ratt57]

I'm kind of a newbie, but think this is a great replacement for the original menu... I have two observations, tho, and they may just be limited to my configuration setup...

1: I get a blank video window - with sound - on the main menu. The Program Guide menus all have live video in the window, as do the menus in Malore Custom Menus.

2: What happened to the original media player in the Video Import Library? I'm able to pause this player, but it won't start again when I repeatedly click on the pause icon. It advances one frame per click, but never starts playing again. I have to close the file and re-open it again to get it to play.

Is anybody else noticing these litrle glitches?

One thing that would be great is if someone could incorporate more video features in a future update. I have a ton of videos, and it seems as though the area (not only in SageTV, but also in myHTPC and BeyondTV) tends to get overlooked. As an example, opening menus with .jpg files besides just text... (and I know one of the earlier custom releases gave instructions on how to do it, but I couldn't get the feature to work). Something similar to the Itunes layout would be ideal.

[salsbst]

2: What happened to the original media player in the Video Import Library? I'm able to pause this player, but it won't start again when I repeatedly click on the pause icon. It advances one frame per click, but never starts playing again. I have to close the file and re-open it again to get it to play. What happens if you hit the Play button?

[ratt57]

There is no play button once it's set to pause... just the pause icon ( ll ). I'm unable to start it playing again when I click on it, it just advances one frame at a time.

[Opus4]

BTW: you are still using the original OSD from your description, rather than mlbdude's enhanced OSD.

You paused by clicking on the icon next to the current playback time, right? Look to the right & click on the Play icon between the REW and FF icons.

I don't know why the video window on the main menu isn't showing correctly -- I tried that too & it played video & sound on the main menu, in the upper right window. I don't know why it would display on other menus, but not the main menu.

- Andy

[ratt57]

Opus: you're right... went into mlbdude's osd and enhanced it in detailled settings.

Now I don't have any icons at all on the video controls... just a green line with an arrow. I'm able to click on a point in the green line to advance or go back in the video, but no pause, play, rew or ff icons at all... I have beginning and end times on both ends of the green status line, with an arrow in the middle. but that's it.

Any idea what's going on?

[Opus4]

I didn't mean that you had to turn on the mlbdude enhanced OSD -- all those buttons were on the original OSD too, or should be. But, I just figured out what is going on. At some point, I think you turned off the mouse icons, since I believe those are on by default. Go to Detailed Setup -> General, and enable "Show Mouse Icons".

- Andy

[ratt57]

Whoops... you're right, I just checked it and changed my settings and I have the icons again. Thanks.

Well, I told you I was a newbie at this...

[ratt57]

Okay, two more questions:

1. The recording schedule has wrap-around scrolling... how do I advance forward (using a mouse) to see future listings?

2. Where can I get info re: setting up Music Jukebox? The media pc system I've modified had ITunes installed... however, when I add my own .mp3 files (for instance, adding a folder with another CD from the same band, with tracks, etc listed), they often don't show up... is there another format that can be used besides ITunes that will also put out images also?

Thanks ---

Doug

[Opus4]

Regarding scrolling with the mouse: I use the wheel. Some screen with scrolling lists have arrows near the top & bottom of the list that you can click to scroll.

- Andy

[ratt57]

Sorry, guess I wasn't clear: I want to scroll AHEAD - like, four or five hours away - on one channel. I have an arrow icon at the end of the listing pointing to the right, but if I click it it takes me to the scheduling menu...

[Opus4]

Let's start this one over... exactly what menu are you on? The LiveTV Guide?

- Andy

[ratt57]

Yes... using the mouse, I'm unable to move ahead to see what's on later that day... I get only about four hours of scheduling for all the channels.

[Opus4]

Originally posted by ratt57
Yes... using the mouse, I'm unable to move ahead to see what's on later that day... I get only about four hours of scheduling for all the channels. The original LiveTV Guide screen has buttons for mousing. This was mentioned earlier in this thread: see post 41 (http://forums.freytechnologies.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=49657#post49657) (last paragraph) and my reply in post 42 (http://forums.freytechnologies.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=49672#post49672) (last sentence).

I keep forgetting to look to see if there is a property that can be set to use the original LiveTV Guide screen.

In short: the mouse won't do it on that customized screen. You'll have to use the keyboard or remote.

- Andy