I want to make a plugin

frente69 · **26th August 2006, 02:34 PM**

I want to make a plug in,... Where should i start?

I want to make something that displays similarly to My Videos.
I want it to list all folders in a particular folder.
If there is a pic call folder.jpg then that should be the folder icon.
These folders will contain standard windows .lnk shortcuts that point to applications.
I want to be able to navigate to these and click on them which will in turn launch the short cut. Does what i am suggesting sound difficult? I thought it sounds a lot more basic then heaps of the other plugins out there now.

I have tried the apps like gamex and Doemondo Media Launcher but they seem to be pretty slow and don't really have that "MCE" feel to them.

This would be my first time making a plugin type thing.
I have html/php/css and a little java script experience.

What resources are there for me to use when making it and are there any suggestions that i should use during development?

Z0r0b · **26th August 2006, 03:08 PM**

Wouldn't it be easier to work out how to add your shortcuts to More Programs? It couldn't be that difficult. As for browsing media files, My Videos already does what you need so why re-invent the wheel?

frente69 · **27th August 2006, 01:38 PM**

I want to make it look "kinda" like my videos but it may be called my stuff because it can have windows shortcuts to launch applications like word or media player. The idea is you can have different folders.

These folders can have sub-folders if desired.
each folder has windows shortcuts in it. Like those found in the start menu.

So i might have a Games folder with links to different games, an application folder with links to different apps and a utils folder for system utilities.

I can make links in more programs but there is no organisation in it. If i have for example 100 different things that you want to be able to run at various times,..then thats 100 links in the more programs menu item. I imagine it would add to the loading time of MCE and would be a pain to go through.

All I want to make is something that lists folders and sub folders and also lists links in those folders. Hopefully something really simple.

I am just after a few pointers to resources used by the devs that might help me with where i should begin. :-)

Cheers,
Frente

Z0r0b · **27th August 2006, 02:49 PM**

Fair enough. You could try here for an intro into plugin dev via the very handy jump to time mod.

boldechidna · **5th September 2006, 11:28 PM**

check out Ignorance's BounceParse so you can develop your plugin in PHP.

warren13 · **6th September 2006, 03:14 AM**

I would look at assisting with this if you like...I don't have much dev experience but if we could colaborate and share the load on this I think it is a worthwhile app and one I want also. MCE feel and good simple speed to be able to open apps under MCE would be great!

regards,
warren13

Ignorance · **19th September 2006, 09:21 AM**

Yeah - I'd suggest BounceParse, if most of your experience is in PHP/Javascript. Normally to add REAL functionality, you will need to use or create ActiveX controls, and those are best created in VB or C++, neither of which you listed. Still, you may be able to make it with existing controls and save yourself some hassle.

To be honest though, I don't see many people bothering with the plugin as you are describing it - really, all you are making is a 'More Programs' with a directory structure (which is pretty much what happens in Media Center on Vista).

I've just released 'My Games', which allows you to launch your games from the Media Center interface...these work because most games are fullscreen, but still controllable from a 'front of the television' device.

System utilities, applications etc. tend to be non-10' programs and impossible to use without a proper mouse-keyboard combination and a high-resolution screen - but if you would like to use those sorts of applications, there's nothing stopping you from adding them to 'My Games' too.

Still, if you are going to go ahead with it, My Games is so similar that I may be able to give you some advice or some code. With the right C++ code and some serious time on your interface, it's not a very difficult app to do.

frente69 · **19th September 2006, 10:43 AM**

Hey Ignorance,
I have not made the time to start my plugin yet, but from the screen shot that i saw with yours it looks like it might fit the bill of what i have been looking for. I will test it tonight when i get home.

Cheers,
Frente

HackySack · **19th September 2006, 11:16 AM**

Hi Frente,

Have a look at Aaron Stebner's blog if you're still keen to do some development. He covers a lot of stuff about MCE application development & deployment etc, including dev for Vista.

Main Blog

MCE App Setup article

Cheers,

Ben

Ignorance · **19th September 2006, 07:36 PM**

If you want to, you can always edit the HTML and the registry entry to call it 'My Programs' or 'Launcher' - something a little less game-centric.