> Overview | > Installation (MXM) | > Creation (Device) | > Commands (List Of) | > Variables (List Of) | > Support

Overview :

This mxm provides a way to control a third party software from Manager or Display Controller. The application to be controlled can reside on the local computer or on a remote computer.

If it resides on a remote computer it will run on this computer and vill be remotly controlled from the computer where Manager or Display Controller is running. The command set provides a wide range of commands including windows size, bring to top, etc to fully control software behaviour. Key commands are also provided : they simulate keyboard strokes in the application.

A command line can be added at startup to proceed tasks. A knowledge of the application that has to be controlled (command line documentation, shorcuts, menus...) is recommended. For example, this MxM can be used to control presentation software such as Microsoft PowerPoint ®, Macromedia Director® or any other software needed in an application.

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Installation (MXM) :

When the application to be controlled is running on a remote computer, the executable 'AppRemote.exe' must also be running on this computer. The MxM AppLauncher will communicate the actions to proceed to AppRemote through TCP/ IP.

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Creation (Device) :

A setup dialog requires informations for the creation of this mxm.



If the 'Remote connection to Medialon AppRemote' is not checked, the other parameters are grayed because they are not used by the mxm when it operates locally.

IP address (or host name): Address of the remote computer
Port: IP Port, must be the same as the one introduced in AppRemote.exe (default value is 4550)
Timeout on connection: Time that the MxM will wait for a response of AppRemote.exe before considering that the connection is not established.
Auto Reconnect: When checked the device will try to reconnect to the remote host if the connection is lost (this is the default behaviour).
Sense AppRemote before connection: When checked the device will first sense the presence of AppRemote (from version 2.1.0) before attempting a connection. This is safe when using Windows XP SP2 or above to avoid security restrictions to be enabled when the remote host is not present. Note that the remote computer address must be specified as an IP address (not a hostname) when using this option.

AppRemote Configuration:



Note: To show AppRemote application, double-click in the AppRemote icon located in the bottom right side of the task bar.

Communication Port: IP Port on which Appremote listens AppLauncher device connections, default value is 4550.
Client Connected: Indicates the number of AppLauncher client devices currently connected.
Status: Indicates the current status of AppRemote, available values are:

• Stopped: AppRemote is in stop mode, no connections are accepted.
• Listening: AppRemote is ready and listening for incomming connections.
• Listening (ND Failed): AppRemote is ready and listening for incomming connections, but the network detection service hasn't be able to start (this service is used for the "Sense AppRemote before connection" option of AppLauncher device).
• Error: Cannot Bind: AppRemote is in error, the server could not bind, generally because another application already uses the same IP Port.
• Client error: A client has caused an error, generally a network error.
• Command Error: A client has sent an unknown command or the command format is not valid.

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Commands (List Of) :

Start Program :

Description : Starts a new application (if a previous application was opened before by this device, it is closed)
Parameters :
Program path [Type : String] : the full path of the executable file.
Command line [Type : String] : optional command to apply to the application at startup (ex: open a doc).
Starting path [Type : String] : optional directory where the application can load files at startup
X position [Type : Integer] : left position of the main window of the application, in pixels.
Y position [Type : Integer] : top position of the main window of the application, in pixels.
Width [Type : Integer] : width of the main window of the application, in pixels.
Height [Type : Integer] : height of the main window of the application, in pixels.
Usage : Some programs will work if the path and the command are grouped into the 'Program path', separated by a blank, without any other parameters. if the size parameters values are null, default values are considered. 
The title of the window that will receive all the commands is contained in the variable CurrentTarget .

Description : Close the current opened application.
Parameters : None.
Usage : This command is available only for the program that has been opened by "Start Program", not to the one where the commands have been redirected by "Change target".

Description : Pause the current opened application.
Parameters : None.
Usage : This command is available only for the program that has been opened by "Start Program", not to the one where the commands have been redirected by "Change target".

Description : Restart the current opened application, if paused
Parameters : None.
Usage : This command is available only for the program that has been opened by "Start Program", not to the one where the commands have been redirected by "Change target".

Description : Move the current target window to a new position.
Parameters :
X position [Type : Integer] : Left position of the main window of the application, in pixels.
Y position [Type : Integer] : Top position of the main window of the application, in pixels.

Description : Resize current target window .
Parameters :
Width [Type : Integer] : Width of the main window of the application, in pixels.
Height [Type : Integer] : Height of the main window of the application, in pixels.

Description : Hide or show the current target window.
Parameters :
Visibility [Type : Enum] : "Off" as value hide window, "On" as value show window.

Description : Show the current target window full screen.
Parameters : None.

Description : Reduce current target window  to an iconic state.
Parameters : None.

Description : Resize current target window  to its initial size.
Parameters : None.

Description : Put the current target window  over any other windows.
Parameters : None.

Description : Change the text of the title bar of current target window.
Parameters :
Text : [Type : Integer] : Texte for title bar..

Description : This command will simulate the pressing of the specified keys into current target window.
Parameters :
Serie of keys [Type : String] : Key values.
Usage : if non litteral values are required, an hexadecimal value can be sent if preceded by an exclamation point '!'. for example, for sending a carriage return : !0D (0D is the hexadecimal value of the 'Enter' key). by the way, the syntax for one exclamation point is : !!
Non litteral key codes in hexadecimal values:
08 : BACKSPACE key
09 : TAB key
0C : CLEAR key
0D : ENTER key
10 : SHIFT key
11 : CTRL key
12 : ALT key
13 : PAUSE key
14 : CAPS LOCK key
1A : Undefined
1B : ESC key
21 : PAGE UP key
22 : PAGE DOWN key
23 : END key
24 : HOME key
25 : LEFT ARROW key
26 : UP ARROW key
27 : RIGHT ARROW key
28 : DOWN ARROW key
29 : SELECT key
2A : Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) specific
2B : EXECUTE key
2C : PRINT SCREEN key for Windows 3.0 and later
2D : INS key
2E : DEL key

Function Key :

Description : This command will simulate the pressing of the specified function key into current target window . The key is represented by its number (1 for F1, 2, for F2, ...).
Parameters :
Key number [Type : Integer] : Number of function key.

Description : This command will simulate the pressing of the specified keys into current target window  with the 'ALT' key pressed.
Parameters :
Serie of keys [Type : String] : Key values.

Description : This command will simulate the pressing of the specified keys into current target window  with the 'CONTROL' key pressed.
Parameters :
Serie of keys [Type : String] : Key values.

The next two functions have been added for the following reason : some application, when they start, opens several main windows and the mxm was able to send command only to one of these windows. With the command "List windows", you can now retreive all the windows opened on the desktop of the local or remote computer. With the command "Change target", you can redirect the AppLauncher commands to another window or back to the original window. The title of the window that receive commands is contained in the variable CurrentTarget.

List windows :

Description : List all the titles of the windows present on the local or remote desktop.
Parameters :
No parameters 
Usage : The list is a string variable ( WindowsList, see below ) that can be displayed in Manager list. These names can be used in the next command

Description : To redirect all the commands to a new window. 
Parameters :
Type [Type : Enum] : available values are "Current program" or "Specified window".
Specified window [Type : String] : the title of the specified window.
Usage :
When Type is "Specified window", the new window is referred by its title in the second parameter (which can be retreived by the previous command "List windows"). When Type is "Current program", the commands are redirected to the program launched if any. The title of the window is contained in the variable CurrentTarget (see below) which can be a way to check if the commands are effectively redirected to the desired window.
WARNING : the commands "Stop program", "Suspend program" and "Resume program" only apply to the program started vy "Start program"but  they have no effect on a redirected window. Thus, to shutdown one of these windows, you can use alt-f4.

Description : To retreive the executable program associated with files with the specified extension. 
Parameters :
Extension [Type : String] : the extension of the file (without dot).
Return file name [Type : String] : the variable that will contain the name of the executable program
Usage :
The name of the program can be used to open a document withe the specified extension, with the "start program" command.

Description : Reboot or shutdown the local or the remote computer. 
Parameters :
Mode [Type : Enum] : available values are "restart windows', "restart computer" or "shutdown".

Get Mac adresses :

Description :Return the list of the Mac adresses of the remote or local computer
Parameters :
Return list [Type : String] : the variable that will contain the lis of adresses in return.

Description : Send a "WakeOnLan" packet to the remote computer to switch it on :
Parameters :
Mac address[Type : String] : the Mac address of the computer's ethernet card.
Net address[Type : String] : the broadcast address of the network adapter used; a wizzard gives the list of broadcast addresses for each adapter present on the computer.
Usage :
The ethernet card present on the computer must support WakeOnLan. Not all the cards support it. Check your documentation about the card.
WARNING : if there is a main power loss, the wakeonlan will not work, setup the the computer to auto boot to prevent from this inconvenient.

Description : Change the remote computer to connect to:
Parameters :
Hostname [Type : String] : IP Address or hostname of the remote computer.
Usage :
This command allows specifying the address of the remote computer while the project is running. This is particularly useful if the remote computer address is determined at runtime or if the same device is used to control several remote computers. For example: a single device can be used to power down a whole set of remote computers by using the "Change Hostname" and "Reboot/Shutdown" commands.

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Variables (List Of) :

Status :

Type : Enum.
Description : Reflects the status of the current application.
Available Values :
"Iddle" : No application is running.
"Running" : Application is currently running.
"Suspended" : Application is currently suspened (paused).
"Error" : Application response error.
"IP Error" : Network error, only significant in case of remote application
"Connecting" : the device is connecting to the remote host.
Usage : This variable can be read for checking if the application is still running and if the connection is established on the network.

Type : Enum.
Description : Reflects the status of the current command.
Available Values :
(Ready, Busy, Error)
"Ready" : No command pending.
"Busy" : A command is in progress.
"Error" : a command error occured.
Usage : This variable can be read for checking if the current command has been completed.

Type : String.
Description : A list of the tittles of all the windows present on the desktop. This list is filled by the command "List windows".

Type : String.
Description : The title of the window that currently receive the commands.

Type : String.
Description : IP Address or Hostname of the remote host.

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Support (Difference with previous versions) :

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