Modding Buttons/switches to activate a software program?

Discussion in 'Modding' started by PrnkstrO, 9 Jul 2003.

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  1. PrnkstrO

    PrnkstrO What's a Dremel?

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    Is it possible to make a switch or button of some sort ( kind of like the buttons you would find on the top of an internet keyboard or remote ) that when pressed or switched would activate a program? For example a button on the front of my pc that would start up winamp. If its possible how would I go about doing this?
     
    PrnkstrO, 9 Jul 2003
    #1
  2. Smilodon

    Smilodon The Antagonist

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    if you want winamp only you could always check out this one:

    http://diba.by.ru/comctrl/index.html

    it's a wired remote for winamp... you can set it to open winamp when you press one of the buttons...
     
    Smilodon, 9 Jul 2003
    #2
  3. PrnkstrO

    PrnkstrO What's a Dremel?

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    I was just using winamp as an example. I want the butons to do other things. It would kind of be nice if I could just program the buttons like you can do on the keyboards.
     
    PrnkstrO, 9 Jul 2003
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  4. fishthecat

    fishthecat What's a Dremel?

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    I recently used that plugin on my HTPC. It's a really slick and pro looking piece of software. I had trouble getting to that site though, so I just downloaded it off winamp.com.
     
    fishthecat, 9 Jul 2003
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  5. Smilodon

    Smilodon The Antagonist

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    i have tested it myself for a few days... looks really cool... going to make a 15 button panel.. but i need to get parts first... anyway.. me neither could download from the page... got it from winamp.com aswell..
     
    Smilodon, 9 Jul 2003
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  6. djgizmo

    djgizmo 1337 pimp

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    right click on desktop shortcut>properties>click on area labeled "shortcut key"> press some key on the numpad or to the right of/ ontop of it(excluding padenter or DEL)...
     
    Last edited: 10 Jul 2003
    djgizmo, 9 Jul 2003
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  7. PrnkstrO

    PrnkstrO What's a Dremel?

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    is there anything that I could use that would start up other programs besides winamp?
     
    PrnkstrO, 9 Jul 2003
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  8. loply

    loply What's a Dremel?

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    You could use the parallel port for this, I wrote an app for Linux and had 4 push-to-make switches on the parport which triggered shell scripts for me, but I never made any kind of case for the buttons...

    Its pretty simple but if youve got no idea where to start it will take a bit of research etc - plus youll need to know how to write a few lines of VB/Delphi/C wahtever.
     
    loply, 9 Jul 2003
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  9. PrnkstrO

    PrnkstrO What's a Dremel?

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    Do you know where I could find the info I would need to do this? Ive looked around but come up with nothing useful.
     
    PrnkstrO, 10 Jul 2003
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  10. malcs

    malcs oops! i put a hole in the ***** :(

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    you could make ur own USB device with driver :D
     
    malcs, 10 Jul 2003
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  11. PrnkstrO

    PrnkstrO What's a Dremel?

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    Im looking for something that is simple to make. I dont know anything about writing drivers, so thats pretty much out of the question. So far the parallel port idea seems like the best one, just need more info on it.

    loply - could you send me the script you wrote to control this?
     
    Last edited: 10 Jul 2003
    PrnkstrO, 10 Jul 2003
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  12. Jivecat

    Jivecat What's a Dremel?

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    Check out Girder.

    It 'listens' for keypresses from a variety of devices (keyboard,ir,etc.). It is pretty much limitless in terms of what devices it can accept keypresses from as it has a great plugin architecture.

    I use it on my HTPC in conjunction with an ATI Remote Wonder (rf remote control) as an awsome universal remote. I can control all my programs with one remote! (winamp, WMP, quicktime, TV, etc.)

    Good stuff. It takes some time to learn it, but stick with it because it's really powerful.
     
    Jivecat, 10 Jul 2003
    #12
  13. PrnkstrO

    PrnkstrO What's a Dremel?

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    Wow thats just what I was looking for!

    There is a plugin that allows grider to work with a serial port. In the plugin download there is a very simple schematic that does exactly what I want to do. Thanks a lot for the help everyone!
     
    PrnkstrO, 10 Jul 2003
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  14. apoogod

    apoogod trix arent just for kids

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    nice
     
    apoogod, 11 Jul 2003
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  15. PrnkstrO

    PrnkstrO What's a Dremel?

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    Well the search is on again. Seems like the devs for the serial port plugin for girder are having problems getting the serial port switches to work correctly. So if anyone has any other suggestions Im open to them...
     
    PrnkstrO, 16 Jul 2003
    #15
  16. Dad

    Dad You talkin to me?

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    Think arcade emulator cabinets that run MAME. Last summer I built one to play arcade ROMs using a keyboard encoder ripped out of a cheap keyboard. If you use a ps/2 keyboard as your "regular" keyboard, you can split your keyboard port for both your keyboard and your buttons or if you use a usb keyboard as your "regular" keyboard, just plug your app launching thing into your ps/2 port. Either way it works perfectly fine. You can wire up your buttons so that a single button push will make the computer see a key sequence like ctrl/alt/Y or whatever which all you need to do is to create some macros within Windows to recognize what you want the system to do.

    I know that my explination is probably pretty confusing, so check out the site below, it has a TON of information about keyboard hacking...

    http://www.arcadecontrols.com/arcade.htm
     
    Dad, 16 Jul 2003
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  17. loply

    loply What's a Dremel?

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    Just a thought - can you not use a second keyboard (but hack it up so that its just got a few buttons)?

    You can plug two keyboards into one motherboard via a Y-Splitter...

    if the number of keys you need is not too many you could just use this method - although it means that pressing them on the normal keyboard would also launch the program (so youd have to use like scroll-lock and stuff not real letters)
     
    loply, 16 Jul 2003
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  18. Meblin

    Meblin Supposed IR God!

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    You could always use an Infrared remote and Receiver unit (look here) :naughty:

    Meblin
     
    Meblin, 16 Jul 2003
    #18
  19. PrnkstrO

    PrnkstrO What's a Dremel?

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    Ok never mind my last post. I finally got the serial switches to work! Turns out I need 2 plugins to make girder react right to the switches.
     
    PrnkstrO, 17 Jul 2003
    #19
  20. 1398342003

    1398342003 Ubermodder

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    How do you make drivers?
     
    1398342003, 17 Jul 2003
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