Difference between revisions of "Control LinuxMCE using a Windows device as an Orbiter"

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(Manual Orbiter Setup on the Core)
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====Setup Instructions====
 
====Setup Instructions====
 
There are two things that need to be accomplished when setting up an Orbiter using a Windows device:
 
There are two things that need to be accomplished when setting up an Orbiter using a Windows device:
*Install the Orbiter application on a Windows device
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* Install the Orbiter application on a Windows device
*Set up the Orbiter on the core.
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* Set up the Orbiter on the core.
  
 
If all goes well, the Orbiter is set up on the Core automatically the first time the Orbiter application is launched on the Windows device.
 
If all goes well, the Orbiter is set up on the Core automatically the first time the Orbiter application is launched on the Windows device.
  
 
To set up an orbiter on a Windows device, follow these steps:
 
To set up an orbiter on a Windows device, follow these steps:
#Go to the [[LinuxMCE Admin Website]]-->Download Orbiter-->"Utilities and other software" to get the application installer that will run on your Windows device.
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# Go to the '''[[LinuxMCE Admin Website]]-->Device-->[[Orbiters]]'''
#Install the Orbiter application on the Windows device.
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## Click ''Download Orbiter Win Installer'' to get the application installer that will run on your Windows device.
#Launch the Orbiter application.  Under Windows XP it is installed as ''Pluto Orbiter'' in the Start Menu.   
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# Install the Orbiter application on the Windows device.
#It should prompt you to set up a new Orbiter. Select ''Yes - This is a new Orbiter''. Follow the on-screen prompts.  Select the ''Basic'' skin when prompted.  The Core will then generate the Orbiter, which can take a while.  Finally, click ''Yes - Reset it now'' when prompted.  The application will exit.
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# Launch the Orbiter application.  Under Windows XP it is installed as '''Pluto Orbiter''' in the Start Menu.   
#Launch the Orbiter application again.  You should now see LinuxMCE Orbiter controls.
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# It should prompt you to set up a new Orbiter. Select ''Yes - This is a new Orbiter''. Follow the on-screen prompts.  Select the ''Basic'' skin when prompted.  The Core will then generate the Orbiter, which can take a while.  Finally, click ''Yes - Reset it now'' when prompted.  The application will exit.
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# Launch the Orbiter application again.  You should now see LinuxMCE Orbiter controls.
  
 
Note: If the Windows device will be connecting to the core via the "External" home LAN network, you will need to configure the firewall to allow Orbiter access (or disable the firewall altogether) in order for the Orbiter application to connect.
 
Note: If the Windows device will be connecting to the core via the "External" home LAN network, you will need to configure the firewall to allow Orbiter access (or disable the firewall altogether) in order for the Orbiter application to connect.
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'''Note:''' You normally shouldn't have to manually set up an Orbiter running on a Windows Device if you follow the simple instructions above.  However, if they don't work for you, try following these instructions:
 
'''Note:''' You normally shouldn't have to manually set up an Orbiter running on a Windows Device if you follow the simple instructions above.  However, if they don't work for you, try following these instructions:
  
*Go to the [[LinuxMCE Admin Website]]-->Wizard-->Devices-->Orbiters-->'Add Orbiter'.  Note that two devices can never share the same Device ID.  So if you have two web pads you want to use as Orbiters, create 2 separate Orbiters, or devices, and give each one a unique name.  Specify the room, resolution, and language, choose a skin, and select a main menu or user interface. Click the 'help' button on that page for information about other [[Orbiters]].
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* Go to the '''[[LinuxMCE Admin Website]]-->Wizard-->Devices-->[[Orbiters]]''' then click ''Add Orbiter''.   
  
*DCERouter caches a list of all the devices in your home for better performanceGo to [[LinuxMCE Admin Website]]-->Wizard-->Restart-->Quick Reload RouterAll the devices will close and wait for the router to restart, which takes about 15 seconds. If you're adding lots of devices, you can add them all at once, then do a Quick Reload Router when you're all done.
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Note that two devices can never share the same Device IDSo if you have two web pads you want to use as Orbiters, create 2 separate Orbiters, or devices, and give each one a unique nameSpecify the room, resolution, and language, choose a skin, and select a main menu or user interface. Click the 'help' button on that page for information about other [[Orbiters]].
  
*The user interface for each Orbiter needs to be pre-built according to the language, skin, and resolution that you selected.  If you reboot the Core it will automatically rebuild all the Orbiter user interfacesHowever, you probably want to start using your Orbiter right away, so go back to Wizard-->Devices-->Orbiter-->"Quick Regen"You will see a message in red indicating the Orbiter's user interface is being generated.  This process can take from 5 to 20 minutes depending on the speed of your Core, the resolution, and the user interface.
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* [[DCERouter]] caches a list of all the devices in your home for better performanceGo to '''[[LinuxMCE Admin Website]]-->Wizard-->[[Restart]]'''  and click ''Quick Reload Router''All the devices will close and wait for the router to restart, which takes about 15 seconds. If you're adding lots of devices, you can add them all at once, then do a Quick Reload Router when you're all done.
  
*After the user interface has generated, make note of the device number for this new Orbiter (as shown in LinuxMCE Admin).  Then open a web browser on whatever device you want to run the Orbiter software, and bring up the LinuxMCE Admin web page.  There is a link "Download Orbiter Win Installer" on both the first LinuxMCE Admin login page, as well as on the Wizard-->Devices-->Orbiters page.  Click the link and run the Orbiter Installer -- either the Windows XP/2000 version or the CE Version.  Once installed, run the LinuxMCE Orbiter.  Type in the device number, and the IP address of your Core.  Also check 'full screen' if you want the Orbiter to run full-screen.  Click 'Apply'.  The Orbiter will start.  These settings are remembered, so you do not need to type them in again.
+
* The user interface for each Orbiter needs to be pre-built according to the language, skin, and resolution that you selected.  If you reboot the Core it will automatically rebuild all the Orbiter user interfaces.  However, you probably want to start using your Orbiter right away, so go back to '''[[LinuxMCE Admin Website]]-->Wizard-->Devices-->[[Orbiters]]''' and click "Quick Regen".  You will see a message in red indicating the Orbiter's user interface is being generated.  This process can take from 5 to 20 minutes depending on the speed of your Core, the resolution, and the user interface.
 +
 
 +
* After the user interface has generated, make note of the device number for this new Orbiter (as shown in [[LinuxMCE Admin Website]]).  Then open a web browser on whatever device you want to run the Orbiter software, and bring up the [[LinuxMCE Admin Website]] page.  There is a link "Download Orbiter Win Installer" on both the first LinuxMCE Admin login page, as well as on the '''[[LinuxMCE Admin Website]]-->Wizard-->Devices-->[[Orbiters]]''' page.  Click the link and run the Orbiter Installer -- either the Windows XP/2000 version or the CE Version.  Once installed, run the LinuxMCE Orbiter.  Type in the device number, and the IP address of your Core.  Also check 'full screen' if you want the Orbiter to run full-screen.  Click 'Apply'.  The Orbiter will start.  These settings are remembered, so you do not need to type them in again.
  
 
===Programmer's guide===
 
===Programmer's guide===

Revision as of 18:48, 29 November 2008

Setup Instructions

There are two things that need to be accomplished when setting up an Orbiter using a Windows device:

  • Install the Orbiter application on a Windows device
  • Set up the Orbiter on the core.

If all goes well, the Orbiter is set up on the Core automatically the first time the Orbiter application is launched on the Windows device.

To set up an orbiter on a Windows device, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the LinuxMCE Admin Website-->Device-->Orbiters
    1. Click Download Orbiter Win Installer to get the application installer that will run on your Windows device.
  2. Install the Orbiter application on the Windows device.
  3. Launch the Orbiter application. Under Windows XP it is installed as Pluto Orbiter in the Start Menu.
  4. It should prompt you to set up a new Orbiter. Select Yes - This is a new Orbiter. Follow the on-screen prompts. Select the Basic skin when prompted. The Core will then generate the Orbiter, which can take a while. Finally, click Yes - Reset it now when prompted. The application will exit.
  5. Launch the Orbiter application again. You should now see LinuxMCE Orbiter controls.

Note: If the Windows device will be connecting to the core via the "External" home LAN network, you will need to configure the firewall to allow Orbiter access (or disable the firewall altogether) in order for the Orbiter application to connect.

Manual Orbiter Setup on the Core

Note: You normally shouldn't have to manually set up an Orbiter running on a Windows Device if you follow the simple instructions above. However, if they don't work for you, try following these instructions:

Note that two devices can never share the same Device ID. So if you have two web pads you want to use as Orbiters, create 2 separate Orbiters, or devices, and give each one a unique name. Specify the room, resolution, and language, choose a skin, and select a main menu or user interface. Click the 'help' button on that page for information about other Orbiters.

  • DCERouter caches a list of all the devices in your home for better performance. Go to LinuxMCE Admin Website-->Wizard-->Restart and click Quick Reload Router. All the devices will close and wait for the router to restart, which takes about 15 seconds. If you're adding lots of devices, you can add them all at once, then do a Quick Reload Router when you're all done.
  • The user interface for each Orbiter needs to be pre-built according to the language, skin, and resolution that you selected. If you reboot the Core it will automatically rebuild all the Orbiter user interfaces. However, you probably want to start using your Orbiter right away, so go back to LinuxMCE Admin Website-->Wizard-->Devices-->Orbiters and click "Quick Regen". You will see a message in red indicating the Orbiter's user interface is being generated. This process can take from 5 to 20 minutes depending on the speed of your Core, the resolution, and the user interface.
  • After the user interface has generated, make note of the device number for this new Orbiter (as shown in LinuxMCE Admin Website). Then open a web browser on whatever device you want to run the Orbiter software, and bring up the LinuxMCE Admin Website page. There is a link "Download Orbiter Win Installer" on both the first LinuxMCE Admin login page, as well as on the LinuxMCE Admin Website-->Wizard-->Devices-->Orbiters page. Click the link and run the Orbiter Installer -- either the Windows XP/2000 version or the CE Version. Once installed, run the LinuxMCE Orbiter. Type in the device number, and the IP address of your Core. Also check 'full screen' if you want the Orbiter to run full-screen. Click 'Apply'. The Orbiter will start. These settings are remembered, so you do not need to type them in again.

Programmer's guide