Relaunch 1.X: A Launcher for Windows Media Center (Updated)
Relaunch 2.0 has been released. Find it here.
Relaunch is a little utility that will add a tile to the Extras Library in Windows Media Center. It can be downloaded here and the source is here. The .net Framework 4.x is required. Also let’s be clear, this is my first .net app. When Hulu Desktop came out there was a launcher written. There is a launcher for boxee. I got tired of the individual launchers and decided to write a universal one.
Relaunch will add any program to Extras. When launched from extras Media Center minimizes and waits for that program to close. It does so by using this method. It makes a little executable using an AutoIt script in the Public Documents folder. It adds a mcl file to the folder in local app data as described here. You can use any one of the browsers for webapps or choose program for any generic Windows program. The browsers will open in kiosk or fullscreen mode. Past the break there are a few images that you can use. If you find it useful, let me know! I’d love to get a little feedback to improve the utility. This is also my first attempt at c#, visual studio, and .net, so I am sure there is much to learn.
Download and Github Page
Update: Relaunch creates 3 files. An MCL file, an exe file and it copies the image. If you wish to delete or remove an extras tile that was created with Relaunch, delete these files and restart media center. The exe and image files are located in “C:UsersPublicDocumentsRelaunch” and the MCL file is located in “C:Users*USERNAME*AppDataRoamingMedia Center Programs” I hope to add an easier way to do this at some point.
Update: I added the ability to close the application by launching media center with the green button in version 1.5. There is a new drop down where you can specify the green button to close the app and relaunch media center or wait for the app to close to relaunch media center. The picture has also been updated to reflect the changes.
Sounds like there is some oddness with permissions or something. Email me at contact@barnesian.com and we can troubleshoot in more detail. Also if there is a fix to be coded I will certainly do so for everyone’s sake.
2.x I have been unable to get this to work. I am in my standard user account. If I don’t use admin privledges, it will not add anything. If I use admin privledges while in my standard account, it adds it to my admin account. I go to WMC in the standard account, nothing. I switch to the admin account and there is a tile in the extras folder and it starts the Daily Show. Unfortunately, I don’t use the admin account to watch anything.
Ron, I assume you mean Relaunch 2.x? It will only add links to the account you are currently using as the Media Center Programs folder is a per account directory that Media Center looks at for add ins. You’ll have to remote in as the standard user to get this to work. You should not need admin privileges anyway.
I loaded this on my 64 bit Win 7 to launch a browser for the Daily Show. However, the tile doesn’t show up in my standard user account, only my admin account which I don’t use to watch TV, only to remote desktop in. I ran Relaunch as an administrator in the standard account. Do I have to start Media center also as an administrator to see the tile?
Thanks! I really made it for myself. I am just glad others found it useful.
Thank you! i was searching for this prog! the only one that works for me keep developping!
Glad to hear it!
Hi Chris, just wanted to thank you for the 1.5 update – works a treat, I now have chrome launching perfectly. Cheers, Cam
That bug should be fixed in the latest version 1.5 as it now looks to the registry for the path to the browsers.
aha! That clears it up. I put a bug into my bug list at http://code.google.com/p/relaunch/issues/detail?id=11
Will fix that soon. Thanks for nailing that down!
Hi Chris! I’m having the same issue as posted above, with MCE disappearing for a second, but not actually launching Chrome. My Chrome exe is in program files, as mentioned above; this is because it was an ‘all user’ install, if you install for just a single user, then all the application files are contained in the ‘userfolder’ folder. Can you think of any tricks I could try? BTW, thanks for putting your time into such a useful little program.
No problem. By default chrome installs to the path I mentioned, so I am not sure what is going on with that. Anyway if you are happy using IE9 then that works.
Oh, my google default path is different “C:Program Files (x86)GoogleChromeApplication”, maybe Because I am using a 64-bit OS? That explains it thanks,but no need to make any chages because I am happy just using IE9. Thanks for your support on this.
Yeah Valve is seriously awesome 🙂 I doubt it would conflict though. Make sure chrome is installed in the default directory. It should be at “C:Users*USERNAME*AppDataLocalGoogleChromeApplicationchrome.exe” where *USERNAME* is your windows user name. If it is not there then Relaunch will not work for chrome at least. If you want to figure this out, either email contact@barnesian.com or open an issue at the Google code page at http://code.google.com/p/relaunch/issues/list
Chrome won’t launch whether the fullscreen box is checked or not. WMC starts to minimize like it does when other programs are launched, but immediately goes back to full screen. Chrome is not running in processes at all. No worries though, I realized IE9 can run Angry Birds online, which is what I wanted. IE9 works fine through Relaunch. Using Win7 Ultimate 64-bit, also running Mikinho’s Valve software and MCE7 Reset Toolbox. Maybe there is a conflict somewhere. Relaunch also won’t launch Fruit Ninja.
Chrome has worked in my experience. That is what I use to launch all my web apps. Can you give me more details?
IE9 works but Chrome does not (just goes back to Windows Media Center). No Angry Birds! Help please!
Thanks I will give at a look.
I use a program called intelliremote to map those buttons. Find it here http://melloware.com/products/intelliremote/
It is not free($24) but it maps any arbitrary button to any keyboard shortcut. If there are any buttons that have no function on your remote you can use it. Not sure if that would work with your remote since it looks like all buttons already serve a function of some sort.
Thanks Chris, no no error message on Chrome, just didn’t appear in extras menu. I am using IE9 now anyway on this box so not an issue to me now.
I only have a Emprex 3009URF remote so as far as I know can’t map controls. and the F11 is working now, I think I must have messed up somewhere.
Do you know a way to move cursor with Emprex remove on web page as this would be good to navigate to video play button to trigger the flash on the weather page? It works in another app I have milliesoft Tunerfree MCE so assume requires some code to pass to web page?
The app creates three files. If you go delete them then it will remove the new tile. Delete the MCL file in “C:Users*USERNAME*AppDataRoamingMedia Center Programs” and delete the exe and the image file in “C:UsersPublicDocumentsRelaunch” I hope to add a remove feature later! To exit from full screen you can hit f11 to goto regular mode and alt-f4 to exit entirely. I mapped a button on my remote to alt-f4 so that I could do this. Was there an error message when it failed to make the chrome link?
Thanks for the app found via http://thedigitallifestyle.com/
Have a couple of questions, how and I tidy up the extras that I have added while trying a few different setups with your app. I have disabled in view for extras but would like to un-install to keep the box tidy.
I also struggled exiting from full screen browsers and could not get your app to save a Chrome link.
Thanks
Jon Hill
What I need to do is make a readme. I updated the post to mention .net 4.x and named all the form controls. Thanks Camilo! Also I am still trying to figure out google code. It should really be versioned at like 0.1 or something. Anyway, baby steps.
Also, doesn’t work without .NET framework 4.x. Don’t know if that’s mentioned somewhere and steps on how to get it installed.
Tsk, tsk. You don’t name your form controls?