mci

The mci.dll is a plugin for LCDSmartie that displays information from Microsoft Media Center Edition. It gets the information from Media Center Information Server (MCIS) and this must be running on the PC running MCE. Settings are loaded from "LCDSmartie.exe.config". V2.0 supports caching which batches together requests for efficiency.

Constructor - Main entry point

Main entry point expected by Smartie 5.3 beta 3 and above. Initialisation of mci DLL. MCIS Pro must be running.

Media Information - Display on the LCD information from media center

The MCIS key (or keys) for the information type(s) (optional) If incuded, specifies the output format The text value returned from MCIS formatted as specified. Usage example is $dll(mci,1,track,prefix @ postscript). To obtain a full list of valid keys look in MCIS Control or run http://localhost/mci/all with MCIS Pro running. From V2.0 multiple keys can be given separated by any non-alphanumeric characters. The separators are included in the output unless "&" is used; to include a single "&" use "&&". An example is "track (artist)". See function10 for a description of the format parameter.

Scrolling Control - Stop scrolling text after a delay

The input string Numeric delay in seconds followed by "@" followed by numeric length of display. If the length is omited a default is used from the config file. The full inputText initially and after delay the text truncated to lengtht. Usage example is $dll(mci,2,text,120@16). The text is truncated to the specified length after the specified delay from a media change event. The length should be set to the LCD screen width and then this has the effect of stopping scrolling at the prescribed time.

Postscript - Add a postscript sequence to scrolling text

The input string Postscript text followed by "@" followed by numeric length of display. If the length is omited a default is used from the config file. The full inputText initially and after delay the text truncated to length. Usage example is $dll(mci,3,text,-postscript@16). Adds a postscript sequence to text but only if the text is longer than length. This has the effect of separating scrolling text with the postscript but not adding the postscript if the text is not scrolling. The length is the LCD width.

TV Channel - Display the name associated channel number

(numeric) The TV channel number (optional) If incuded, specifies the output format The full inputText initially and after delay the text truncated to length. Usage example is $dll(mci,4,22, [@]). See function10 for a description of the format parameter. Displays the channel name associated with track number channelnum with the format in format. If a name cannot be found "CH: n" is returned.

Play Symbol - Display symbols for play, pause, stop, etc

(optional) The status string, eg "Pause" (optional) If incuded, specifies the output format A two character sequence representing the play state. Usage example is $dll(mci,5,, ). See function10 for a description of the format parameter. Two characters are output from config according to play state in input parameter or the current media center play state if omitted. This function is not required at V2.0; use $dll(mci,1,playsym,) instead.

Mute Symbol - Display a symbol for mute if muted

(optional) The mute string, eg "Mute" (optional) If incuded, specifies the output format A two character sequence representing the play state. Usage example is $dll(mci,6,, ). See function10 for a description of the format parameter. One character is output from config according to mute state in input parameter or the current media center mute state if omitted. This function is not required at V2.0; use $dll(mci,1,mutesym,) instead.

Conditional Display - Display string dependent on conditional test

The condition test, eg "value=1" Specifies the output for true and false separated by "|" Value before the "|" if condition is true or the value after if false. Usage example is $dll(mci,7,$dll(mci,1,recording,)=1,R|x). Displays the value before the "|" if condition is true or the value after if false. If there is no "|" then nothing will be displayed for false. Valid conditions are =, <, >, <>, <=, >= or none. If the condition is not included then non-zero integer or non-zero length string is considered true. If both sides are integer numbers then this will compare numerically otherwise will compare strings. This function was introduced at version 1.1.

Track and Artist - Display track (artist)

Postscript text followed by "@" followed by numeric length of display. If the length is omited a default is used from the config file. Numeric delay in seconds followed by "@" followed by numeric length of display. If the length is omited a default is used from the config file. The track name folowed by the artist (if any) in brackets ( or parenthesis) Usage example is $dll(mci,9,... @16,120@16). This is included to simplify a fairly complex sequence of calls. This is the eqivalent of: "$dll(mci,2,$dll(mci,3,$dll(mci,1,trackx,)$dll(mci,1,artist, (@)),postscript),delayFormat)" or in c#: "function2(function3(function1("trackx", "") + function1("artist", " (@)"), postscript), delayFormat);".

Format - Surround text with prefix and postscript

The input string Prefix text followed by "@" followed postscrip text The prefix, followed by inputText, then postscript, if there is a value in input otherwise returns empty string. Usage example is $dll(mci,10,text,prefix @ postscript). Formats text so that separators can be added but only if there is a value. This function is not normally called directly since it is included in other functions.

Test characters - Sequence through characters

(optional)(numeric) Start sequence number (optional)(numeric) End sequence number Each character with its decimal numeric ANSI code Usage example is $dll(mci,11,1,31). Step through the range of characters to test display starting at fromCharNum from and ending at toCharNum. Then recycle from start.

Time Formatting - Convert time string to formatted time

(time) Unformatted Time (string) Format Formatted Time Usage example is $dll(mci,12,23:57,hh:nn:ss). Convert time in format hh:mm:ss or mm:ss or ss to a fixed format using either the Smartie $Time formats or .Net time formats. The TimeFormat setting determines the formatting standard used. This function was added at V2.2.

About - Display Version Information

Not used Not used The about information, including version Usage example is $dll(mci,20,,).

Give refresh interval to Smartie

300 ms or the value set in the configuration Define the minimum interval that a screen should get fresh data from this plugin. The actual value used by Smartie will be the higher of this value and of the "dll check interval" setting on the Misc tab.

Get internal version of MCI

Version string Called by function20 to get the internal version number.