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Downloads Page:

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MPprogs software suite - About

MPprogs is a suite of software for the display and management of media files on a Windows PC. It is designed to be the navigation point for a dedicated media drive. This can be an internal drive partition, USB HD drive, an SD chip, or a optical disk(read only of course). Before setting up a disk it is imperative that the codecs and operating system files be installed. There is a Download MPupdates.zip containing all files necessary.

Codecs Framework & DirectX Download:

Suggested operating system files (these files are all downloadable from the Internet):

K-Lite Codec package

Framework 4.0

DirectX9.0

This .zip contains all necessary drivers, codecs, and OS uptates

Once these files have been installed you are ready to create a media drive. To create a media drive first format a drive creating a blank drive. I suggest formatting NTSF, unless you use MAC also, then format eXFAT as that will allow a mac to also read the media files. Once an empty drive has been created copy MPprogs to the root of the drive. You can then create some folders to contain the media like Pictures, Music, Movies, etc on the root of the drive. In order to have easy access to this collection of media files open the folder MPprogs and create a shortcut on your desktop to MPdir.exe.

MPdir is the main navigation tool for this newly created media drive and MPprogs understands the following file types and hands off the display to the following subordinate programs:

MPaudio - Pictures - JPG TIF BMP

MPaudio - Audio - MP3 WAV

MPvideo - Video - AVI MPG MP4 MTS M2TS M2T FLV

MPrtfView - Rich Text Files - RTF

Notepad - Text - TXT

OS -Executables - EXE BAT

Main GUI user interface for MPprogs is MPdir.exe shown here: Controls Buttons and text all large enough to be easily controlled with a RC mouse from your easy chair.

Important: How To Multi Select

I am amazed the number of Windows users that know nothing of multi select in a list. This is a standard MS convention used in almost all programs including MPprogs. There are two types of selection consecutive (hold shift key while selecting) and random (hold CTRL key while selecting). In MPdir for example you could go to a music folder and select a bunch of files while holding down the CTRL key. You can then press ALT-M and the selected files will be played using MPaudio.exe or for example press ALT-L and create a new list of the selected files.

More about MPdir

https://sites.google.com/site/electricphotoalbumsiteproject/mpdir---about

MPaudio.exe - .wav .mp3 .bmp .tif .jpg

each time one of these file types is selected in MPdir.exe, a call is made to the subordinate program, MPaudio.exe (dont let the name fool you it does images also) to display the file. The audio playback utilizes Mark Heaths nAudio library a quality .wav and .mp3 player. When an audio file is sent to MPaudio it automatically searches for an associated graphic file and plays both simultaneously. There is a control panel that is revealed when you move the mouse to the top of the image panel. There are options for Full Screen/Window that can be saved. You can slide the track bar to any position in the playback and save your current location and size for the next startup.

When a file is played from MPdir.exe the parent client is hidden for the duration of playback.

There are three mouse click commands

LB - return to the parent client (e.g. MPdir.exe)

Same as: Selecting the "Exit" button or pressing the 'ESC' key aborts playback and returns to the parent client.

RB - play the next selection and keep the parent client hidden

CB - Pause/Play

MPvideo.exe - .avi .mpg .mts .m2t .m2ts .mp4 .flv .wmv

Whenever one of these file types are selected the display task is handed off to MPvideo.exe which is a DirectX video player. This requires that DirectX9.0 be installed. Also the video codecs must be installed. I have used both CCCP and K-Lite.

There is a control panel that is revealed when you move the mouse to the top of the video panel.

There are three mouse click commands

LB - Back 30 sec

RB - Forward 30 sec

CB - Pause/Play

About MPdir work initiated 2016.07.01

Update: 2017.03.10 - MPdir.exe can now be operated from a mouse or keyboard. I have tested this by depriving myself from the use of the mouse for extended periods and also with mouse and no keyboard to see if all operations were possible with both.

Select a File : LB single click or updown arrow

Execute a File: LB double click or key 'Enter'

Processing and Editing Functions: RB single click or right arrow

if (.mml list loaded) Opens list edit functions

if (dir mode) Opens file Processing functions

Key shortcuts: It should be noted that all key shortcuts work in the main interface and all subordinate functions as they are independent of the GUI.

Keys.Escape) - Exit program

Keys.Enter) - Same as LB double click

Keys.Right) - Same as RB click

Keys.Up) - select --

Keys.Down) - select ++

Every button has one capitalized letter which is the key shortcut.

Keys.A) - "All drives" Show

Keys.E) -"Exit" subordinate panels and return to main

Keys.D) - "Drive" root

Keys.G) - "Gmail"

Keys.I) - "Internet"

Keys.L) - "List default"

Keys.N) -"gotoN' selected line number

Keys.O) - "Other options " off/on

Keys.P) - "Parent" directory

Keys.R) - "Refresh list " - reloads list from memory

Keys.S) - "Search"

Keys.T) - "uTilites"

Keys.U) - "User lists"

Media Keys: work on Bluetooth and RC devices

'|<<' - Previous

'>||' - Pause Play

'>>|' - Play next

There are also many revisions to increase performance. I have also eliminated the custom client control and "Remember Form Position which I had hoped would make use of the program with Win10 better.

Why have I done this?

It has become increasingly obvious that Win10 is not a good OS for our Media machines providing no advantage and countless disadvantages over Win7. For this reason I plan on continuing to use Win7 into the forseeable future as Win10 is loaded with features I neither use or want. The "Custom Client" in MOprogs was designed primarily to provide a client window which is visually more appealing rather than Win10 client which is greatly compromised for portable devices. Since I do not plan on updating to Win10 the custom client is no longer necessary and I have eliminated all the code relating to it (about 1000 lines). Also the Custom Client code was creating some compiler errors that I have never been able to completely resolve and they have now been eliminated.

Client Configuration

There are two primary screen modes used in MPprogs, Full Screen, and sizeable client for netbooks and LoRes TV's. I have now created a button "Full Screen / Sizable Client" which toggles between display modes. There is now a "SaveConfiguration" button which saves the current client location, size, and control settings. This seems to be working well and I feel there is little need for the "Remember Form Position" so I have eliminated this code (1000+ lines) as the program now opens according to its .cfg file.

Subordinate media progs

MPaudio.exe - is a complete rewrite. now also does image only .wav .mp3 .jpg .tif .bmp

MPvideo.exe - most Video formats .avi .mpg .m2t .mts..m2ts .mkv mp4 etc.

MPrtfView.exe - richTextFile display and edit .rtf files

It should be noted that these programs are independent threads and as such can be executed numerous times from one small executable file. This is what allows multitasking of several MPdir.exe's for example. Another example is the display and processing of image batches each display is a double buffered independent small executable "MPaudio.exe" capable of resizable window display or full screen. Dont let the name confuse you as this small independent thread also contains Mark Heaths "nAudio library" to provide very high quality audio playback while displaying HDTV images. You can multitask several threads from MPdir.exe and create as many subordinate threads as you require. Somewhere there has to be a limit to the number of executables possible but I have executed over 100 programs with no problem on my 16gb machine.

Development Log

2017.03.10 I have been working on making MPdir.exe fully compatible with both mouse and keyboard. Selection in the listview can be optionally controlled by the up and down arrow keys and 'Enter' is the same as LB double click. I have implemented right mouse button selection which in the file mode reveals the processing options and in the list mode reveals the list editing options. Right Arrow is the same as right mouse button. All the buttons have a Capitalized key short cut.

2017.03.03 While viewing .mml list the "Parent" button returns you to the current dir.

2017.03.01 ALT-E "Export" now has "Go to destination" checkBox

2017.02.27 This update is a significant rework of the memory arrays and refresh routines. Now .mml files are now loaded into memory array thus searchable and random playable. ALT5 - including subDirs also creates memory array thus searchable and random playable

Refresh list now always copies memory array to the List View

ListView is now hidden during rebuilds big performance improvement

In the paths panel the letter in caps is the key shortcut

Now click "Refresh List" and you are returned to the master list including sub dirs.

With these changes all list are random playable, searchable, and saveable.

2017.03.10 Reorganized export destinations

2017.02.19 Export - Goto destination when done

2017.02.10 Color keyed to desktop ( for mkv switch)

2017.02.02 More work on edit functions

2017.01.27 Actions after list edit improved.

2017.01.22 Edit functions return to position and mullti select bug corrected

2017.01.21 Refined MPscrCap.exe. client sizable, CTRL-F12 capture, Image Process

2017.01.18 All buttons in "Paths" panel have key shortcut in caps.

2017.01.17 Disabled ALT and CTRL keys where inaproppriate

2017.01.11 Corrected seeding of random number generator for random play.

2017.01.11 \MPprogs\Utilities\MPslider.exe - Slide show utility

2017.01.08 Total rewrite of export progress client, trackbar, resizing, text 12pt

2017.01.05 MPvideo better resizing and full/win

2017.01.02 Rename returns to edit postion.

2017.01.02 Search NetFlix for file ALT6

2017.01.01 Reworked MPvideo.exe

2016,12.30 Click in letterbox same as panel

2016.12 25 Fixed control for low res videos

2016.11.18 Fixed no .cfg new install

2016.11.17 Revamp Fullscreen/Window

2016.11.15 xloc and yloc always > 50

2016.11.13 MPscrcap.exe - Doing a lot of screen captures must streamline process

2016.11.13 Fixed MPaudio.exe "Save Configuration"

2016.11.13 Moved current dir info to title bar w/fullscreen label show/hide

2016.11.12 MPaudio now exports images to sequential file names

2016.11.11 MPaudio/Image Process/Export now error checks for existing file

2016.11.09 MPdir "Export" background worker reporting improved

2016.11.08 Fixed creation sorting

2016.10.31 MPaudio Widow/Fullscreen improved

2016.10.30 MPaudio now exports to JPG BMP and TIF

2016.10.29 MPaudio images can be exported

2016.10.28 MPaudio images are now double buffered so the file can be manipulated without incurring the "File In Use" problem "Delete" "Rotate" and "Process" done.

2016.10.27 MPaudio reveals a "Image Process" button on image display

2016.10.27 MPdir ALT - I cascading image display for multi select

2016.10.27 ALT keys for all file processing functions

2016.10.25 CTRL keys for all list editing functions

2016.10.24 Enter key now same as double_click

2016.10.22 Improved readability of source code MPdir MPaudio MPvideo

2016.10.18 Now recognises file type .sln for Vis compiler

2016.10.17 Improved readability of MPdir source code.

2016.10.15 Burn audio cd now works

2016.10.13 include sub dirs in list now works

2016.10.12 MPdir enlarged all small fonts to 12pt

2016.10.09 Improved list editiing

2016.10.05 Fixed "Set Creation Date".

2016.10.05 Improved Horizontal scroll

2016.09.15 "Read Dir" button now always present

2016.09.14 Speech

2016.09.12 Fixed "Parent" button

2016.09.05 Now recognizes .rtf

2016 08.27 Enable "About" and internet link

2016.08.20 "SaveConfiguration" xsize ysize xloc yloc and settings

2016.08.15 Eliminated RichTextbox display in favor of listView

2016.07.24 Total rewrite of audio player MPaudio.exe

2016.07.24 Total rewrite of video player MPvideo.exe

2016.07.20 Save .mml AS option

2016.07.19 All features of MOlaunch.exe now included in MPdir.exe

2016.07.19 Created \MOprogs\Sample list.mml

2016.07.19 Completed editing of source code

2016.07.18 Some adjustments to the GUI

2016.07.17 Fixed item count