Hot Weather 2 - watch the climate change

Hi there -

this is the next version of my "HotWeather" desklet for AveDesk (not just a bad pun).

Requires AveScripter version 1.0.7.5!!!

Featuring:

----------

- A rotationg Sky with Sunrise,-set and Moon phases!

- Detailed Weather forecast (Hover over small icons to change High/Low temp, probability of rain info & text forecast)

- Even more detailed information for present day: Present temp, humidity, wind speed & direction and local time

- Skinable!! Comes with 3 skins...

- Two (transparent) color masks for colorizing the skin

- Choose different weather icons and sky images (Download includes default icons/images only, it's big enough as it is)

- Switch between your favourite cities via a dropdown menu at the front of the desklet

- Satellite map

- Hotkey for showing/hiding the desklet (see help file for Ascii-Codes of the letters, e.g. "082"="R" as in the preview for ALT+R)

FIRST Run:

----------

Will take 1 or 2 minutes to start and slow your PC down - on first run the desklet will create images for the sky (only ONCE).

No worries!

(Due to the fact, that it's not possible to rotate an image without rotating it's mask (hiding parts of the sky), too.)

Installation:

---------------

Rename HotW........ZIP to HW2.AVEINST and doubleclick it while AveDesk is running... DONE!

..I really don't know, why deviantArt keeps on renaming the files - there are so many skin formats that are based on zip and shouldn't be renamed...

Preview & Download:

------------------------

http://spider4webdesign.deviantart.com/art...er1075-75458911

Important:

----------

- Default skin uses a LCD font, which normally should be installed automatically - if not, just copy it from

...AveDesk/Desklets/AveScripter/HotWeather2/Fonts to C:/Windows/Fonts

- If you want to use other icons, just copy the set to .../HotWeather2/Small_Icons and/or .../HotWeather2/Big_Icons respectively

- Making your own skin: Easiest way is copying a folder in .../HotWeather2/Skins, renaming it and changing images/xml-file (the default one is best commented)

- Changing to a new city: Go to HotWeather Options via Rightclick, Type in "Cityname(, Country)" without Enter/Return and select a city from the dropdownmenu... it will be added top to your favourite cities list

- Requires AveScripter version 1.0.7.5

Thanks to

---------

- Pierre-e Gougelet / http://www.xnview.com for "nconvert" (needed to rotate the images)

- Southern Software, Inc. for the LCDDisplayCapsSSi font used with the default skin (from http://www.fonts101.com)

- redheadstock aka Stephanie Shimerdla at http://redheadstock.deviantart.com / www.brushes.obsidiandawn.com for her glitter brushes (helping me crating a night sky in less than a minute...)

- Vladstudio for his great wallpapers (as in the preview)

#488908

awesome! especially - A rotationg Sky with Sunrise,-set and Moon phases! keep up the good work

#489124

Unbelievably cool

#489446

Hi there -

Thanks a lot!!

...and I'm really glad it seems to work fine, was really troubled about bugs!

P.S. @Ave:

I tried AveTool with some AveScripter desklets.

It works fine, but it doesn't include the aveimg.dll in the zip/exe (I solved this by adding the dll to the zip manually after a first compile, setting the zip to write protected to pretend the file from overwriting and then compiled again).

AveTool's a great idea by the way, you actually could make it profitable the way DesktopX Pro does: E.g. someone uses it to create a standalone gadget he wants to sell - charge him...

#489478

wow. almost makes me wanna dump linux. nice work!

#489503

Thanks shmengie -

What makes me wanna dumb linux is Gutsy... Feisty was just great, but now it's all messed up... Well, it's never too late for XP

#489798

i'm a total linux noob (using as my full-time os for about 4 months). i've tried just about every major distro over the past several years, but never found one that i thought was usable on a daily basis until gutsy. what's wrong with gutsy? what do/did you like better about feisty?

#489803

This is really cool, thanks! Also, like shmengie said Gusty is great, I'm able to use it on a daily basis with all the programs I need and windows apps under wine which run well

#489825

It's very cool!

It would be cooler if it had animated clouds or something like that, but it's already cool as it is now.

#489865

Looks fantastic next to AveTunes Thanks

#489868

Thanks a lot again!

@Matonga:

This is what I wanted to do first, animate it on mouseover (it's easy to do). But decided against as

- the download would be 10MB at least, even more with detailed animations...

- The default weather icons would be the only one to use with the desklet - you couldn't use e.g. the original Mac ones (and that's probably what people are most fond of).

@Shmengie/Alxz310:

Well, as said - I loved Feisty Fawn, it took me days to set it up the way I wanted it to be and then it was running just fine. But in an experimental mood I thought - Hey, Gutsy must be even better... and made a new clean install.

First surprise: Gutsy claims, Compiz (Fusion) is now integrated - yeah, a limited version...

You know, that's why Linux can't make it - there are so many talented developers, but they can't work together. They fight with each other more than they fight MS...

Compiz (Beryl!,...) "Fusion" is the best example if you look at its history.

So Compiz is integrated, you just have to fight your way through the internet to find out how to enable it and get your lovely Compiz Manager back.

I spent 2 whole days again to set Gutsy up with everything running fine (turning my back on MS to fraternize with Google - to find out how).

Unfortunately I didn't disable all updates then -

Suddenly the Compiz Settings Manager isn't running anymore, but I've got a second Compiz Settings Manager (??), which unfortunately has only the minimum features (talk about MS not giving you full control...).

No description/explanation on the Compiz site though...

Kiba Dock lost all its settings, too...

O.K. I could just set it up all again, spending another full day - but I just don't want anymore... Oh I'm missing my Feisty...

#489889

This looks really cool! I like it.

A+

#489907

Thanks a lot -

both for comment and 'scripting lessons'

#490703

I think a lot of the apps that get their weather data from weather.com are failing because of a change in the url to request the data..

If you test a link with a simple request like this:

http://xoap.weather.com/weather/local/02134?cc=*&dayf=5

you get:

<error>
<err type="14">Missing XOAP 'link' parameter in request.</err>
</error>

Is seems that it now requires

&link=xoap&prod=xoap

But testing that using:

http://xoap.weather.com/weather/local/02134?cc=*&dayf=5&link=xoap&prod=xoap

Just returns:

<error>
<err type="100">Invalid Partner Code.</err>
</error>

From what I can put together you now need to send a partnerID/license value pair that you request through:

http://www.weather.com/services/xmloap.html

It seems to be free but limits you to a 5 day forecast.

I'm kind of new to how all this works.. but thought the info might be helpful to someone..

#529408

Yes folks

Weather.com has permanently cut off their old XOAP page, and any advancement will require the sign up of an account.

But there are other solution.

We at the Rainmeter community are switching to AccuWeather.

Until Weather.com irons it self out. they are being a bit uncooperative with regards to thei rnew standards, but Accuweather has been good to us.

Mr. Sylvie at AccuWeather is on standby to assist any who come.

For more details for developers and community response, we are on top of it at the Rainmeter community

www.rainmeter.com

#529412

Weather Underground also has a XML API available here:

http://wiki.wunderground.com/index.php/API_-_XML

#529430

Weatherunderground does provide excellent weather with 2 exceptions

1.) Slow. Weather underground is slow to feed and update their weather

2.) areas of weather coverage. AccuWeather.com covers at least 3 times more areas internationally and nationally

#529443

Hi there -

actually someone seems to have found an easy solution already:

http://www.aqua-soft.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=52367

Thanks a lot rpliego!

However as there could be legal problems if I understand ChalkTrauma correctly, I won't provide an updated version as long as this isn't cleared.

So I have to ask everyone to change the xml at his own risk - it's easy however:

1. Open the HW2.xml in the Hotweather desklet folder with any editor

2. Change

<xmls>

<xml src="../../unavailable.html";http%3A//xoap.weather.com/weather/local/%25LOCALCODE%25?cc=*&unit=%25UNIT%25&dayf=6">;http://xoap.weather.com/weather/local/%LOCALCODE%?cc=*&unit=%UNIT%&dayf=6" ...

<xml src="../../unavailable.html";http%3A//xoap.weather.com/weather/local/...">;http://xoap.weather.com/weather/local/...

<xml src="../../unavailable.html";http%3A//xoap.weather.com/search/search?...">;http://xoap.weather.com/search/search?...

(line 27-29) to

3. http://xml.weather.com instead of http://xoap.weather.com in all lines

and

4. dayf=7" instead of dayf=6" in the first xml...

#529528

Now yes the XML over XOAP URL is working for now, but I question for how long.

This fix has been floating for a couple of days, and it is the weekend.

I expect as this sites bandwidth spikes, it will not last very long, but this is my opinion.

I would not overly concern your self over any legal issues, as I have covered these in depth on the Rainmeter forum:

http://www.rainmeter.net/forum/viewtopic.p...amp;t=622#p4333

My suggestion: Start insesting and researching a long term solution now!

I am of the opinion that this XML site will not last, since weather.com is updating their system to a monitored and regulated system, and any unregulated sites I would expect to be shut down.

Understand that this XML was Weather.com's back up site in case the XOAP site went down.

How long will it be before they shut it down? I have no idea, but I am not depending on I to last!

#529533

Thanks for the additional info.

So well, looks like with avedesk (although I'm not sure it's Windows7 compatible and will continue) we'll have to look int Accuweather, too!

#529552

I have already been in communication with Mr. Sylvie at AccuWeather.com and he is willing to work with anyone.

You will have to review the contract and compromise on portions of it, but at Rainmeter, we came away with a very amicable agreement.

Give Mr. Sylvie a contact at:

New Developer Information and Assistance

Michael Sylvie

Business Development Manager

email:

developer@accuweather.com

Phone:

814.235.8638

He's good people, give him a ring

#529557

Hey guys. I just installed this as well as the newest AveScripter. Everything works fine, except the info in the middle like the current temperature is not displaying (EXCEPT for the current time), and yes I have the font. What should I check?

#529845

Hi -

sounds like the font coming with the desklet was not installed properly...

(Or it does just need an AveDesk restart to work - not sure)

So, simplest solution would be to copy the font voming with the desklet into your fonts folder.

#529862

Nope, still does not work. In fact, I can see the "lcd writing" but the numbers are all 0 and greyed out as if there is no data. However the current time, shows up as well as the sun, clouds, and temperatures for the days coming up.

#529874

Hi there -

yes, this looks exactly like the font is missing.

The Desklets gets the weather data, otherwise all data would be missing.

The shaded LCD-background is not the font showing '88', but an image - the time should be using the LCD-font, too.

So, if you installed AveDesk to C:\Programs, go to C:\Programs\AveDesk\Desklets\AveScripter\HotWeather2\Fonts.

In this folder you'll find a font called 'lcddcs__.ttf'.

Copy it to C:\WINDOWS\Fonts if you installed Windows in C:\

That should do the trick...

#529897