PPCGeeks - WP-Pilot v2.0 - One-handed navigation of WeatherPanel

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WP-Pilot v2.0 - One-handed navigation of WeatherPanel

WeatherPanel Download Index

WP-Pilot v2.0
UranusWare ? 2006-2007

A Today plugin that allows one-handed navigation/operation of WeatherPanel (via the d-pad).

http://story.nventure.com/pics/WP-Pilot-v20-anim1.gif - http://story.nventure.com/pics/WP-Pilot-v20-anim2.gif

Overview

The WP-Pilot plugin can be one pixel in height or invisible. When activated, it displays a "pointer" over the WeatherPanel plugin.

Moving the d-pad left or right will move the pointer over each "clickable" item on the WeatherPanel layout.

Press the d-pad center button to activate.

Moving the d-pad up or down will move to the next/previous plugin.

WP-Pilot can be "skinned". Use the WP-Pilot Options to change colors and pointer types to match your overall Today (or WAD) theme.

Fixes/enhancements in version 2.0:

Enhancement: The plugin now has "Invisible" mode - zero pixel height.
Enhancement: New pointer type: Diamond
Enhancement: Device resolution aware - works with QVGA or VGA WeatherPanel themes, in either portrait or landscape orientation
Enhancement: Support for Windows Advance Desktop (plus other desktop management systems)
Enhancement: Option Dialog windows now use "property pages" - split into tabs
Enhancement: Option Color settings now have slider bars for each color component, plus color mixing window
Fix: Now properly passes control (focus) to WeatherPanel detail/pop-up windows - 5-way will continue working
Fix: Now better at computing the width of repeating forecast sections (tough one!)
Fix: Now works on international devices (such as Italian)
Fix: Now properly reads the last line of WeatherPanel layout files missing a cr/lf

Warning: When using "Invisible" mode, the Today plugin separator lines may disappear. Some people see this as "feature" :-) If you need your separator lines, use "1 pixel" mode.

Installation:

Depending on your preference, I've attached both CAB and PC install setup files (Readme.txt file included in each).

1. Download the desired install file to your PC and unzip it.
2. If WP-Pilot v1.0 is already installed, go into the Today settings (Start -> Options -> Personal -> Today) and uncheck it.
3a. PC setup method:
-> a. Cradle your device.
-> b. Run WP-Pilot-v20-WM5-Setup.msi (on your PC) to install.
3b. CAB file method:
-> a. Copy WP-Pilot-v20-WM5.CAB to your device
-> b. On your device, run File Explorer (or equilvalent) and click on the CAB file to install.
4. Open the Today settings (Start -> Options -> Personal -> Today) and access the Items tab.
5. Check the box next to WP-Pilot, then move it (Move Up/Move Down) directly above or below WeatherPanel.
6. Click the Options button to access WP-Pilot's options settings.

Currently WM5/WM6 only!

A special thanks goes to codyppc, Malatesta and Doreen for helping me test this! =D>

Enjoy!

Storyr...are you channeling the spirit of Martin? Keep up the outstanding work...it is very appreciated and needed!

Late,
Coz

This is simply awesome work, storyr. Will be installing it shortly.

Thanks storyr, will be installing tomorrow after my hard reset.

At least its still made by URANUSware :sign5: Thanks keep the great stuff coming storyr 8)

Is there a way to get Wp-Pilot to work while weatherpanel is in Pocketbreeze version 5.2 Beta 4? Thank you in advaned for your help.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtclark26

Is there a way to get Wp-Pilot to work while weatherpanel is in Pocketbreeze version 5.2 Beta 4? Thank you in advaned for your help.

I don't have the beta version, but I just tried 5.1.03. I can immediately see the issue: It only allows one plugin per tab. That's not going to work with WP-Pilot because it needs to be paired with WeatherPanel - it takes two to tango :wink:

If there's a way to get two plugins into a tab, it should work...

I am not aware of a way to have two plugins in one tab at least not with my experience with the application....

Storyr, quick question (and I don't remember if WP 1.0 did this, so please bear with me).

WP-Pilot 2.0 and Chameleon: In the current + 4-day screen, WP-Pilot works perfectly. But if I change it to any of the other screens, WP-Pilot will trace to the same points as on the current + 4-day screen (i.e. on the current condition, date, and moon screen, when using the 5-way to the right, it will bounce up and down between the non-existent icons and the toolbar.

Am I making sense here? Basically, on my end, it's always going to the same points regardless of what screen is being displayed... is this normal?

Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaiguy

Yes, you're making sense. This is why WP-Pilot (v1.0 and v2.0) behaves this way:

When WP-Pilot is activated, it scans the registry to determine which layout WeatherPanel is configured to use (Chameleon_01c.wpl for example). WP-Pilot then opens the layout file and reads it, looking for the screen coordinates of each "clickable" item. That's how it knows where to place the pointer.

When you change the layout on the Today screen, WP-Pilot has know way of knowing it - WeatherPanel does this dynamically and doesn't store any information about the new layout.

Here's what I do: I set the default layout to be 01a. That way, the navigation is consitent through all of the layouts (for the most part). I designed Chameleon-240 specifically to behave this way. Of course, the downside is you need to set it back to your favorite layout after each Today screen refresh...

Sorry for the long-winded explanation - I was wondering when it would come up! :)

Thanks for the clarification. That makes perfect sense! Excellent update on the program, by the way! Thanks again.

dude you rock this is so sweet. need any help let me know.

awesome little app, thanks storyr!

Thanks everyone for the kind words! That's really the whole point of contributing :)

Invisible Separator Lines

Invisible Separator Lines?! Absolutely this is a feature! Along with all the wasted margin space MS should have made these user definable. :evil:

Storyr,
I had forgotten about this program for a while. Now have a WM5 device.
I installed it, and it's working great.
Thanks again,
Steve

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catman51

Storyr,
I had forgotten about this program for a while. Now have a WM5 device.
I installed it, and it's working great.
Thanks again,
Steve

Thanks! You finally upgraded :shock: Posted any screen shots?

Just one in the Apache forum.
Actually, the 6600 kind of died, and thank heaven for insurance.
Sprint replaced it with a new 6700. Getting used to WM5!

More BIG THANKS!!!

I used WeatherPanel 3 or 4 years back (I think) and it was a bit of a resource hog and I had to sync to get updates, which usually took a while.

Having returned to it with my Treo 700WX, this application is sweet. Just wanted to say thanks to all the people (especially StoryR) here who have submitted helpful tips, created skins, given advice - you guys make this site and my Treo just absolutely ROCK!

Seriously, thanks for all your time and efforts!

David
(Treosophy)

Storyr,
I don't have a data plan with my wx, therefore, am I going to need it when I install this app to my phone? I don't know quite how it works with your plan, or how it updates its info in realtime.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigSlim (Post 145414)

WeatherPanel updates via the internet - a data plan wouldn't be a bad idea, but it depends on actual usage. You might wait a month and see what happens. I download multiple cities, plus multiple images every half-hour, plus direct-push email - I require a data plan.

BTW - WP-Pilot is a utility that I wrote to allow one-handed control of WeatherPanel. You need to first install WeatherPanel itself. Check this index for more information...

Storyr

First... I like the new avatar.

I installed WP Pilot 2.0 on my 6800 and I could never get the menu or icon to initialize. Worse yet when I tried to remove it, it locked out data connection, cleared out the "Remove Programs" list and I couldnt remove/rename/move/copy OR add programs, files, etc...

I had to perform a hard reset and revert back to a backup but I have yet to re-install in fear of repeat. I am running WP 2.5.1.

Any ideas/thoughts?

Quote:

Originally Posted by xweaponx (Post 160059)

First... I like the new avatar.

glurp...... glurp......

Quote:

Originally Posted by xweaponx (Post 160059)

I installed WP Pilot 2.0 on my 6800 and I could never get the menu or icon to initialize. Worse yet when I tried to remove it, it locked out data connection, cleared out the "Remove Programs" list and I couldnt remove/rename/move/copy OR add programs, files, etc...

I had to perform a hard reset and revert back to a backup but I have yet to re-install in fear of repeat. I am running WP 2.5.1.

Any ideas/thoughts?

Wow - talk about a worse case scenario. I've never heard of any issues with WP-Pilot (even small issues). I can't even imagine how WP-Pilot could cause all of this - it's just a Today plugin. It sounds like something trashed your RAM.

If you took the backup after the "install", I'd be worried about restoring it too. Since you just hard-reset, now's the time to try reinstalling WP and WP-Pilot - just to check it out. Worst case - you have to hard reset again...

Well the work you have done on WP is legendary. And the backup I have in reserve is a clean one. You are right... It would take me only 5min to try again and hard reset if it buggers. It may have been a coincidence that it pooped while launching WP-Pilot and may have been a conflict of interest on my PPC elsewhere.

I will re-attempt and let you know how I fare. Thanks for your reply storyr.
:occasion5:

Update (13 min later)...

I apologize if I blamed WP-Pilot for the disturbance on my device; as it turned out WP-Pilot loaded and works just fine and compliments WP greatly. Thanks for the support!