Subject: From: Date:

RE: [ECS] Controling another computer's software Dan Hoehnen Tue, 20 Jun 2000 00:44:53 -0400

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Dan C.,

A few comments on various options.  David did write a very nice utility to
control Winamp.  But, I think it has to run on the same PC as ECS.  Comments
David?

Also, as Mark suggested, running ECS on the other PC and using a serial
connection is an option if a serial link will work.  I guess you would send
commands from ECS1 to ECS2 and ECS2 would turn them into keypresses sent to
the Winamp (or other music program) window.  From what I remember of the
Winamp user interface, most of its functions do have hot-key access, so
sending keystrokes should be able to do most, if not all, functions.

Finally, if Winamp is the music program you decide to use, then ACE supports
what you want to do, but only if a network link will work, not serial.  You
would run the ACE Server on the same pc as ECS and then run another ACE
module, called ACE-32, on whatever pc is running Winamp.  The ACE Server
connects to ACE-32 via a TCP/IP connection.  From ECS, you can send commands
to the ACE Server, which will then be sent to ACE-32 and finally to Winamp
(using the Winamp API) to play, stop, pause, load a playlist, etc.

ACE will run on 95, 98, NT4 and 2000.  However, I have to admit that I have
not tested the Winamp functionality yet on 2000.  But, I see no reason why
it wouldn't work.

I have done quite a bit of interfacing to Winamp, so feel free to ask
questions about what is possible to do via remote commands to it.

Dan H.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Don Stephens [mailto:donstephens@101freeway.com]
> Sent: Monday, June 19, 2000 8:07 PM
> To: ecs-list@netbloc.com
> Subject: Re: [ECS] Controling another computer's software
>
>
> Hi Dan:
>
> There was some talk of this on the ACE list...see below. Also
> David Kindred
> wrote a utility to access WinAMP.
>
> Don
>
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>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dan Carrington" <dc_grafx@microworks.net>
> To: "ECS newslist" <ecs-list@netbloc.com>
> Sent: Monday, June 19, 2000 4:17 PM
> Subject: [ECS] Controling another computer's software
>
>
> > I seem to remember there is a way to control another piece of
> software on
> the
> > automation computer, such as winamp or other utilities.  I have
> never had
> to do
> > this yet so I don't know how to do it.  I would suppose it is either a
> > keyboard/mouse stuffer or a scripting control type of thing.
> >
> > But, is there a way to control another piece of software on a separate
> > computer.  I am looking into a jukebox software, and I am trying a few
> out.  I
> > would like to setup another computer to do this function.  I
> would like to
> > control it from ECS, across a network or null modem serial
> connection.  Is
> this
> > possible?  If so, what operating systems work correctly (95,98,NT,2000)
> >
> > Dan Carrington
> >
>
>

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