Progress On Activex Wrapper

[old] ChrisRey · Post by **[old] ChrisRey** » December 3rd, 2004, 3:47 pm

Hi all, There seems to be an increasing level of activity in this forum which is great to see, by the posts I've seen and mails I've recieived we've got people interested in: Linux Mac Java Delphi .NET ActiveX I need to get on and produce a first drop of the ActiveX wrapper soon but I've been snowed under with job and family commitments so can't promise anything before Christmas if anyone wants it. As a matter of interest are people interested in using the API to: Create workouts on the PC to send to the PM3 or Create PC based displays based on workout data read from the PM3 or something else? Happy coding Cheers Chris

[old] Bubble · Post by **[old] Bubble** » December 3rd, 2004, 5:04 pm

Great to hear you're still on it Personally, I'd be most interested in gathering data from the PM3. I'd like to use it in a VB6 app to display and store training information. Sadly, I lack the programming skills to create an ActiveX component myself and am hoping to use yours.

[old] twenzel · Post by **[old] twenzel** » December 5th, 2004, 9:44 am

Hi, at the moment I'm writing a Delphi header conversion. I'm almost finished. It's a bite for me to build an activex control from this. I've put the Delphi header files and a wrapper class on my server, so you can download it. Files: <a href='http://www.wstudios.de/pm3header.zip' target='_blank'>http://www.wstudios.de/pm3header.zip</a> If there's a demand for an activex control, i'll make it. regards toni

[old] Daren C · Post by **[old] Daren C** » December 5th, 2004, 5:12 pm

I'm interested in your ActiveX control because it'll probably save me some effort in the long run. =) My application is an Internet "multiplayer" rowing utility, like e-Row or RowPro, but hopefully better and with a wider suite of "game types" that can be rowed. It'll probably be compatible with RowPro in terms of database and .row files, and also probably allow the import of e-Row stroke data.

[old] tomhz · Post by **[old] tomhz** » December 5th, 2004, 5:43 pm

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'>QUOTE (Daren C @ Dec 5 2004, 09:12 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>My application is an Internet "multiplayer" rowing utility, like e-Row or RowPro, but hopefully better and with a wider suite of "game types" that can be rowed. It'll probably be compatible with RowPro in terms of database and .row files, and also probably allow the import of e-Row stroke data. </td></tr></table> Wow! That sounds good. A concurrent program for the dead E-row and the buggy Rowpro. I hope you will choose a nice mix of functionalities from both programs. Personally I would advise to start with something like E-row: add support from PM2+ and PM3, concentrate on bug-free internet racing with a better and easier user interface than E-row and indeed a wider suite of game types. Show accurate pace from all opponents, with a choise between current pace, avarage pace and projected time. Output on the screen something like the aerial view of Rowpro. This showes the speed and stroke rate of the opponents but no fancy and difficult rower movement. Skip the current E-row race protocol. This was designed for slow dial-up connections. Faster broadband access allows more accurate and more frequent exchange of data. Good luck and have fun. Tom

[old] SteveV · Post by **[old] SteveV** » December 6th, 2004, 2:51 am

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'>QUOTE (tomhz @ Dec 5 2004, 04:43 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quote'> stroke rate of the opponents but no fancy and difficult rower movement.  </td></tr></table> Not sure this is right, I think I heard different on RowPro forum Rowpro aerial view doesn't reproduce stroke rate of your opponents. The e-row protocol doesn't send stroke rate across net. RowPro simulates the stroke rate for internet rows taking the pace as a guide.

[old] tomhz · Post by **[old] tomhz** » December 6th, 2004, 5:11 am

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'>QUOTE (SteveV @ Dec 6 2004, 06:51 AM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>Not sure this is right, I think I heard different on RowPro forum Rowpro aerial view doesn't reproduce stroke rate of your opponents. The e-row protocol doesn't send stroke rate across net. RowPro simulates the stroke rate for internet rows taking the pace as a guide. </td></tr></table> Steve, you are right. I was referring to Daren's software; how the view should be like for optimal internet racing. Tom

[old] Daren C · Post by **[old] Daren C** » December 6th, 2004, 5:50 am

My plan is to allow various settings, both for client->server comms and the other direction. For example, client settings for reporting progress may be: - send update once per second - send update with every stroke - send update with every 5th stroke Client settings for accepting updates may be: - receive every stroke from every boat - receive every 5th stroke from each boat - receive one update per second That sort of thing. This should allow individuals to find a balance between speed and accuracy of updates, and the quality of their connection, but since there's not much data to actually transfer anyway, I think the most informative default would do fine in most cases. As I've never used e-Row and don't have a PM2+ so I can't try it, can someone tell me how it displays boat updates? Is it like the RowPro 2D display wherein boats smoothly scroll along, or do boats "snap to position" as the upates come in?

[old] twenzel · Post by **[old] twenzel** » December 6th, 2004, 8:26 am

Ok, I'll upload the ActiveX Control in the next few days. I can promise the control won't work perfect at the moment. Please help me to make a stable and a high-functional control that we can use as a base for all forthcoming e-Row and RowPro copies. ~Toni p.s.: Please let me know which functions are important for you.

[old] tomhz · Post by **[old] tomhz** » December 6th, 2004, 4:05 pm

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'>QUOTE (Daren C @ Dec 6 2004, 09:50 AM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quote'> As I've never used e-Row and don't have a PM2+ so I can't try it, can someone tell me how it displays boat updates? Is it like the RowPro 2D display wherein boats smoothly scroll along, or do boats "snap to position" as the upates come in?  </td></tr></table> In E-row all boats look like the Rowpro 2D display and the boats smoothly scroll along. However, they move a little less smooth than in Rowpro. Tom

[old] Daren C · Post by **[old] Daren C** » December 6th, 2004, 5:15 pm

From what I know of animation, 12 frames per second are the bare minimum required for smooth animation, although this may differ on a PC monitor. More frames are better, if the hardware is up to the job. I'll bear this in mind.

[old] twenzel · Post by **[old] twenzel** » January 4th, 2005, 9:06 am

Hello again, at first I wish to all'ya a happy new year. I've upload a first version of an ActiveX Control that can communicate with the PM3. URL: <a href='http://www.wstudios.de/PM3ConX.zip' target='_blank'>http://www.wstudios.de/PM3ConX.zip</a> It's not tested. So please help me to make it stable. You can inform me at this email: toni@wenzel-frank.de I hope this control is helpful. ~Toni