tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80180356151397530742024-03-05T08:43:52.624-08:00CD Tray Ejector / LoaderCicerone Pavaloihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09884970372856305322noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8018035615139753074.post-52875524327080523182012-04-24T18:18:00.000-07:002012-04-24T18:18:48.713-07:005000 downloads...and counting! :)<br />
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Actually there are 5221 but I've been busy-busy and forgot to check the numbers around here...<br />
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Anyway, the good news is that I have decided to release the new 1.2 version in a few weeks, after I move this blog content to my personal site and set up a dedicated subdomain to host it. Also I'm going to add some new pages, most notably being the gallery for custom images. Hope that happens soon enough, fingers crossed.Cicerone Pavaloihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09884970372856305322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8018035615139753074.post-64918697888491200322010-07-03T21:33:00.000-07:002010-07-14T13:05:38.139-07:00Server is upLooks like the account has been re-enabled now, so everything should work again.<a name='more'></a> Anyway, when I'll be back home, I'll make some changes, starting with the update function, so this will force the new version to be released sooner than planned.Cicerone Pavaloihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09884970372856305322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8018035615139753074.post-65291152829289029902010-07-01T08:09:00.000-07:002010-07-14T13:05:27.058-07:00Ups, download server is down!... (update)I've been assured that the suspended hosting account will be re-enabled in a few days without files being lost<a name='more'></a>, so the download should be online soon and version check function will behave nice within the current 1.1 app version. Fingers crossed, this may happen before I return from vacation...Cicerone Pavaloihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09884970372856305322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8018035615139753074.post-91318786505827337592010-07-01T03:55:00.000-07:002010-07-14T13:06:39.113-07:00Ups, download server is down!...Starting today (July 1, 2010) the hosting account on which the <span style="font-weight:bold;">download zip file</span>, some images from this blog and the <span style="font-weight:bold;">current version info</span> are stored is suspended<a name='more'></a> (temporarily).<br /><br />So, the download will not work until I'll find a solution, sorry.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The bigger problem</span> is the fact that the current users will experience a check version error in the form of a ugly pop-up notification bubble...<br /><img style="width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXMiJbEHs_DgZOvCEXZaJUuvjFVcOwfSGc9NIgFC-_KMJP8YGshQbmT30UnkuJlx15J5qWXmHk5lUpvntiO6VkC9p6TkqWmSBtYoRgQ5-0xEWApn2PK5bAqYVpwKQB-WOBD-vP-LvN0rS5/s400/checkVersionError.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />The bad behaviour is generated by the update function, which checks the version info from the above mentioned suspended account and does not properly handle the failure.<br /><br /><span style="background: #ff0">The quick solution is to <span style="font-weight:bold;">uncheck the "Automatically check for updates" option in the "Preferences" window</span>. This does not affect the main functions of the application, so the CD Tray Ejector/Loader will work as expected.</span><br /><br />The best solution would be for me to update the application and enhance the update function to also handle this type of error. Unfortunately, I can't do so quick enough, because I'm preparing to go on vacation starting tomorrow... Funny thing, when I will update the application, no one will notice, because everybody will probably have the auto-check disabled...<br /><br />Bottom line, the fact that the application fails to correctly behave when checking the version is a programing mistake/oversight so I have to take full blame... <br /><br />My apologies for the inconveniences.<br /><br />I will try to fix what I can as soon as possible...Cicerone Pavaloihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09884970372856305322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8018035615139753074.post-27609559397836128552010-01-20T08:14:00.001-08:002010-08-24T04:59:50.956-07:00Version 1.1New in this version:<br />- <b>Customizable hotkeys</b>;<br />- <b>Support for multiple cd/dvd drives</b>;<br />- Customizable feedback image;<br />- Customizable vertical position of the feedback image;<br />- Optional system tray icon;<br />- Optional auto run on Windows log on;<br />- Optional check for opened trays on Windows log off;<br />- Version check function;<br />- <b>Preference window</b> to set all the above. ;)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://widgets.respectmedia.ro/test/cdejectload11-01.png" title="CD Tray Ejector / Loader 1.1 - Preferences window"><img src="http://widgets.respectmedia.ro/test/cdejectload11-01.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 220px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406707562352107650" /></a><a name='more'></a><br /><br /><b>Known misbehaviors</b>:<br />- You can set (in preferences) the same hotkey for more then one drives, but it will work only with the first drive that list it;<br />- If you try to use as "feedback image" a PNG file without transparency (no alpha channel), it will not display correctly.<br /><br /><b>Hardware limitations</b>:<br />- Some special keys on custom keyboards do not generate a key code, so, can not be set as hotkeys;<br />- Other special keys generate a code key but do not stop modifier keys (Shift, Ctrl...) to repeat itself while pressed, so can not be set in combinations (like "Ctrl + [special key]"). One way around is to hold the modifiers (say "Ctrl +"), then press a letter key (like "A", which will stop the modifier keys to repeat) and then press that special key (while still holding the modifiers).<br /><br /><s>In a few days</s> I will publish a "Feedback Images Gallery" post with some PNG files to download and use.<br /><br /><b>Please do comment on this post, I need to hear all the good and bad stuffs about this new version. :)</b><br />Thanks.Cicerone Pavaloihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09884970372856305322noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8018035615139753074.post-91701756040793303162010-01-19T14:27:00.000-08:002010-01-21T11:50:35.360-08:00Upgrading to version 1.1The cdEjectLoad version 1.0 beta has no uninstall capabilities. You have to manually remove it: just delete the exe file. :)<a name='more'></a><br />If you can't delete it, it's probably because it's running and Windows doesn't allow to remove an open file. Run it again so it will ask you to terminate itself, then you can delete it.<br /><br />IMPORTANT!<br />If you have added a shortcut for it in the "Startup" menu (or an entry in the run key of the registry) you have to remove that too. That is because the new version automatically adds an entry in the registry to auto run itself every time you log in (you can disable this behavior in the preferences window). If you keep your shortcut and leave the auto run option checked in preferences, the app will run twice at startup, which will trigger the display of the preferences window.<br /><br />To install the new version, first copy (or move) it to the folder you want to keep it and then just run it. The first time it runs it will create all the necessary keys in registry and set them to default values.<br /><br />Please comment to this post only if you have troubles upgrading.Cicerone Pavaloihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09884970372856305322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8018035615139753074.post-35907399372000438722009-11-21T10:40:00.000-08:002010-08-24T04:58:57.682-07:00version 1.0 betaMac users will recognize the screenshot below:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://widgets.respectmedia.ro/test/macEject.png" title="The Mac eject feedback window (OS X Tiger 10.4.11)"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrOR7wnXEkN1qftGJp-nRJvJRsYUS3hImQrZMeiHR7wjzIrzQlfMqfYHP5yS1I-Bo54dnoYUpVk4EeCT7eYrKS3ES3mOW-RBWt0gcpJ6uVuatdFgW6WF_wvJ9SU_E_eXyr7EzJp1gSpMy/s400/macEject.JPG" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406707562352107650" /></a><br />That is the "eject/load cd tray" feedback window that appears when one presses and holds the <b>eject key</b> on their mac keyboard.<a name='more'></a> Nice and very useful.<br /><br />Unfortunately, there is no such key on a PC keyboard. Mac users that are "forced" to use a PC keyboard still have the <b>F12</b> key to trigger the eject/insert feature of the Mac. The rest of us, PC users swimming in the realm of Windows, have to lean/bend/crumple toward the cd unit tray to get it out or push it in. Well, there is an "eject" menuitem on the contextual menu of a cd/dvd icon in Explorer, so one can eject the tray, but there is <b>no insert</b> menuitem... Also, out in the wild, there are some softwares (free or not) that add such a menuitem (duh...) or set global hotkeys for eject and insert (which is closer to what I want). But I didn't found one that will work (and look) like the mac. That is, <b>a single hotkey that will eject or insert the tray depending on its status</b>. So... I decided to kill some spare time and build one.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://widgets.respectmedia.ro/test/xpEject.png" title="CDEjectLoad (1.0 beta) running on Windows (XP Pro SP 3)"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMeYhyphenhyphena9xmxxHjN807McqYSFjC-G6NQ1G457XivBiwCpe4AUyK6pseWGDaTGQvCW9fdVqzQjAIJV-YEFCaObwZ8gLMWq5blXcJpaS_6Npkbweaq4dDhNwXl6tQ-vTrRTPmDk57seR5VJk/s400/xpEject.JPG" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406707562352107650" /></a><br />Now I have a small Windows application that looks and works (almost) like the Mac feature. Currently, the beta version is under "heavy" testing on several XP machines.<br /><br />It uses the "<b>Pause</b>" key as the hotkey, mainly because that is the most unused key in Windows, and, also, is located on the top left area of the keyboards. I didn't want to have to push two or more keys, so I didn't set any modifiers to go with. But, if I'll find more spare time, and if there will be enough interest for the <b>cdEjectLoad</b> app, I will make the hotkey customizable. And, probably, the feedback image too. For now, I'm happy with the current setup.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Grab it, test it and give me back some comments</span>.<br />How do you do that?<br /><b>Grab</b> is simple, you have a link to a zip file on the top-right area of this page. Download it and extract the app executable to a folder of your preference.<br /><b>Test</b> should be simple too. When you run it, you will see nothing happening. The app has no graphical user interface, it just loads in the memory and waits for the "Pause" key to be pushed. If nothing happens when you press it, check if the app is running. Simplest way to do that is to run it again. If it finds itself in the memory, it will tell you so (and ask if you want to terminate it or not). If you want to run it every time your system starts, add a shortcut for it in the Startup menu (I think you know how to do that, else, Google is your best friend).<br /><b>Give back comments</b> is the hardest part. You have to come back to this page and click on the <a href="http://cdejectload.blogspot.com/2009/11/version-10-beta.html#comment-form">feedback button</a>, then type words in that edit box. Kind of time consuming for a person in need for a quick hotkey to eject/insert the cd tray, isn't it?...Cicerone Pavaloihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09884970372856305322noreply@blogger.com19