Sidebar Gadget for Windows Vista/7

[claydon_dan]

Hi Guys,

Apologies for my absence, I have had to redirect a bit more of more time, to running my business.

I must admit when I started designing the gadegt I was a complete 'Gadget Novice' but having a strong background in web design, I thought what the hell!!

Dane, has recently been in contact with me to ask my permission to use the gadget etc, which I have no problems with.

When I started the design, I didn't think about the 'bandwidth' issues with the xml, as my webserver happens to be sat by my right foot!!

Hopefully I might still be able to offer some support to people here.

[zumosol]

Hello all.. new here so.. please don't kill me..

One thing I don't understand is why the data has to be uploaded to a web-site to be downloaded before they can be shown on a desktop(-gadget).
Somehow the data are already on the PC..or is it just me ?
on my PC they are I could say..
And if on vacation I don't care if it is raining at home )

So the big question from me is:
is it possible to get the date into the gadget without a webpage?
I know I can open Cumulus , but I think it is more smart with a small gadget most of the time.

And I have no web-page...

Thanx in advance for any answer

[steve]

I'm guessing that it uses http to retrieve the file (so you can point it at any web site) so you could use it locally but would need to be running a web server.

[mcrossley]

I haven't looked at the code for a while, but I suspect specifying your realtime file as "file://path_to_file/realtime.txt" rather than using http would work.

Mark

[zumosol]

I haven't looked at the code for a while, but I suspect specifying your realtime file as "file://path_to_file/realtime.txt" rather than using http would work.

Mark

I tried , but it looks like it is not working that way.
Not possible to press "OK" in settings unless it's a URL..

[steve]

Yes, it uses XMLHttpRequest, so requires a web server to send the response.

[mcrossley]

OK, so it would work if the xml.status code check was changed from 200 to 0, twice in the main gadget.js, and once in the settings.js files.

[steve]

That just shows how much I (don't) know about javascript; I didn't realise that XMLHttpRequest could fetch a local file without requiring an http server!

[zumosol]

and...
ehmm next question .. how to do that?

[mcrossley]

I've attached the amended files, but haven't tested them - too busy writing some PowerShell cmdlets!

Install the gadget then replace the files in the "C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Sidebar\Gadgets\cumulusih.gadget\js" folder - rename the originals so you can go back to them if required.

Hope they work

[zumosol]

Thanx !!
I'll try..
and post the result..

[dane]

I tried - and it failed
- which is what I expected, I must admit: I do not believe one can use an XMLHttpRequest to access a local file without a web server.

But an ActiveXObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") file access would work OK - like the code does it for its .ini file.
It's a bit of a re-write and re-shuffle of the code, but I'll have a go at it.
It may take me a couple of days to find the time, though

[zumosol]

I tried - and it failed
- which is what I expected, I must admit: I do not believe one can use an XMLHttpRequest to access a local file without a web server.

But an ActiveXObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") file access would work OK - like the code does it for its .ini file.
It's a bit of a re-write and re-shuffle of the code, but I'll have a go at it.
It may take me a couple of days to find the time, though

yeah.. I tried too, it makes it possible to press "OK" in settings after typing the "realtime.txt" location, but all readings and graphics are missing..

It would be great if it could be possible and you can find the time, if not I will survive

And no matter how it ends, thanx for trying !!!

[mcrossley]

Doh, it is a 'security' feature in IE7+ that you cannot load local files that way any more - you get an 'Access Denied' error. If you force it to use the native ActiveX XMLHTTP is does work, but you really don't want to do that. I also works in Firefox, well older versions anyway, not checked the latest builds.

[zumosol]

Doh, it is a 'security' feature in IE7+ that you cannot load local files that way any more - you get an 'Access Denied' error. If you force it to use the native ActiveX XMLHTTP is does work, but you really don't want to do that. I also works in Firefox, well older versions anyway, not checked the latest builds.

Hmm yes..and I have been thinking ..that's something huh?
I realized, and maybe I should have long time ago ... that it is necessary to keep Cumulus running to update the "realtime.txt" file..
That means I seriously can not see it is smart to have the Gadget running next to it..
If Cumulus where running in background always- keeping "realtime.txt" updated, then it maybe was smart..?

The Gadget is smart on another PC, somewhere else, I can see that now ..hmmm
I like the forecast/ and graphics, that's for sure.

Now I wonder if it is possible to get the data appear in a Chrome extension, but that´s something totally different I guess.. or maybe just Cumulus in a kind of graphics mode

The conclusion for now is not to use too much time to re-write the Gadget the above in mind..