Count Detector

Readme

Count Detector is a plugin for Messenger Plus!.

Features:

  • Supports multiple user configuration.
  • User configuration is stored in a XML file (count_detector.xml) located in the "<plugin dir>\Count Detector\Email Address\".
  • Able to insert a countdown to an event in the display name.
  • Countdown is able to count in days and hours.
  • Able to detect application running in the foreground and display a customise personal message.

Minimium Requirements:

  • Microsoft .Net Framework Version 1.1.4322
  • MSN Messenger Version 7
  • Messenger Plus! Version 3.5

Files included in the zip:

  • Count Detector.dll (v1.4.0) - the plugin.
  • [Count Detector] - the folder where Count Detector contains the necessary files and user's configuration.
    • Count Detector.xml - contains the default settings for Count Detector.
    • Add_Remove (language).vbs (v1.1) - running this file will install/remove the plugin.
    • read_me.html - the help file for Count Detector.

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Installation

Installation:

  • Ensure that MSN Messenger is not running.
  • Unzipped the files into Messenger Plus! plugin directory. (Default: "C:\Program Files\Messenger Plus! X\Plugins\", where "X" is Messenger Plus! version.)
  • Run file "Add_Remove (language).vbs, located in the "Count Detector" folder.
  • If the following dialog appears "Type successfully registered." means the installation is done.
  • Run MSN Messenger.

OR

Manual Installation:

  • Ensure that MSN Messenger is not running.
  • Unzipped the files into Messenger Plus! plugin directory. (Default: "C:\Program Files\Messenger Plus! X\Plugins\", where "X" is Messenger Plus! version.)
  • Open command prompt.
  • Navigate to "C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v1.1.4322" or equivalent.
  • Type ' regasm /codebase "C:\Program Files\MessengerPlus! 3\Plugins\Count Detector.dll" ' without the quotes (' ').
  • If the following dialog appears "Type successfully registered." means the installation is done.
  • Run MSN Messenger.

Removal:

  • Ensure that MSN Messenger is not running.
  • Run file "Add_Remove (language).vbs, located in the "Count Detector" folder.
  • If the following dialog appears "Type successfully unregistered." means the removal is done.
  • It is safe to delete any files related to Count Detector in the plugin directory.

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Usage

Configuration:

  • Open MSN Messenger.
  • Navigate from the menu: Plus! -> Preferences... -> Plugins
  • Select Count Detector.
  • Click on "Configure...".

OR

  • Open MSN Messenger.
  • Open a conversation window with any of your contacts.
  • Type "/xcdoption" without the quotes.

Timer:

This controls the amount of time the count detector will update itself.

  • Interval is in seconds.
  • Minimum of 1 seconds to a maximum of 900 seconds.

Counter:

The counter is a way to display a countdown in your display name. It's a countdown to any major events that will happen in the future.

  • Select the day of event.
  • Enter the display name you want.
  • The keyword "%d" without the quotes will specify where the counter will be in your nickname

    Example: "Nickname %d days to ORD." will display "Nickname 100 days to ORD."

  • Click on "Apply".

List of variables:

This variables can be use in conjunction with the display name.

  • %d -> Will display the amount of days.
  • %D -> If amount of days is a negative, i.e. the event has already over, it will display a positive value instead of a negative.
  • %h -> Will display the amount of hours.
  • %H -> If amount of hours is a negative, i.e. the event has already over, it will display a positive value instead of a negative.

Detector:

Detector will detect any program in the foreground that you specify and display a personal message related to the program.

  • Click on Add.
  • Enter the executable's (exe) name.
  • Enter the personal message you want.
  • Click on "Add".
  • Click on "Apply".

List of variables:

This variables can be use in conjunction with the personal message.

  • %s -> Will display the application title.

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Known Issues

  • On fresh installation of the plugin, the following error occurs:-

    msnmsgr.exe - MSCOREE.DLL load error (Error code...)

    Two different copies of MSCOREE.DLL have been loaded.

    First copy:
    <Unknown>

    Second copy:
    C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\vX.X.XXXX\mscorwks.dll

    This is typically caused by having a registered MSCOREE.DLL that is different from the one that is statically linked with the application.


    Resolution:
    Restart MSN Messenger. Upon restart the error message will not appear again. The plugin will operate as normal.

    Remarks:
    This error is a known issue that occurs in Microsoft .NET Framework version 1.0 and 1.1. It is believed to be fixed when version 2.0 comes out.


  • If there are two or more identical items where the "exe name" is the same in the Detector list. When deleting any one of that item, only the FIRST occurance of that said item will be deleted, even though the second/third/e.t.c. item was selected.

    Resolution:
    None.

    Remarks:
    This is a low priority bug as it does not affect the plugin in any way. There should not be a need to have a duplicate exe name anyway.


  • If the user's Windows theme is not the official Microsoft ones, there might be some skinning issues. Like minor overlapping of controls or missing letters in the buttons.

    Resolution:
    None.

    Remarks:
    This is just a skinning issue, it will not affect the plugin in any way. Possible fixs will occur when Microsoft .NET Framework version 2.0 appears. For now, no solution is available.

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Changelog

Version 1.4 Build 0 (17 September 2005 15:40)

  • Major internal change to the way countdown is being counted; code simplified.

Version 1.3 Build 1 (14 September 2005 19:06)

  • Fixed an unhandled exception when adding an item to an empty detector list.
  • Count detector now supports multiple users.
  • Count detector is now able to display the hours for the countdown.

Version 1.2 Build 5 (12 September 2005 14:48)

  • Fixed problems with settings not applying properly.
  • Improved detection of the number of days left when signing on to MSN Messenger. Display name will change accordingly.
  • Corrected Timer Settings label "Interval (mins)" to show that the timer counts in seconds not minutes.
  • When using the command string ("/xcdoption") to open the configuration of the plugin, the proper command is now shown in the dropdown box.
  • When there isn't a counter placement specified ("%d"), display name will not change.

Version 1.2 Build 4 (03 September 2005 14:03)

  • Fixed detection of process which was making redundant changes to the Personal Message.
  • Fixed when entering full screen, like when Windows Media Player enters full screen, plugin will not detect the process properly.
  • Corrected Timer Settings label "Interval (mins)" to show that the timer counts in seconds not minutes.
  • Updated the GUI to make it more compatible with system skin.

Version 1.2 Build 3 (28 August 2005 18:12)

  • Fixed problem in creating a new config file when config directory does not exist.
  • Detects whether the application is in the foreground before changing the personal message.
  • Changes are applied immediately after pressing the "Apply" button in the options.
  • Timer interval is in seconds instead of minutes.

Version 1.1 (27 August 2005 14:30)

  • Added the ability to change icon type.
  • Changed Add Game form title.

Version 1.0 (27 August 2005 00:36)

  • Release.

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Credits

Developers

  • Gareth Tang

Copyrights

  • There isn't any.
  • Free to distribute, hack, whatever.

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