Maddoc1007 Posted April 20, 2015 Author Share Posted April 20, 2015 Hi some of you probably know this already but i just figured it out, so i decided to share this with people who might not know. If you want to play movies or music or any programme word etc in Launchbox this is what you do- 1 Set up a default media player (i use potplayer because its full screen mode lets me watch my ripped movies without any borders totally the full size of my monitor). 2 Now set up a folder called shortcuts in you documents or launchbox folder. 3 Right click on a movie and click create shortcut. 4 Place this shortcut in your shortcut folder. 5 Open Launchbox 6 Go to bottom menu bar and click on add 7 When the add screen comes up on the right hand side in platform, type a name for your platform ie:-Movies or Music or what ever you like 8 In application path click on browse and go to where you placed your shortcut folder double click on shortcut folder and then double click on the shortcut you want to add 9 Click on OK, you now have placed your movie or music or programme into launchbox 10 If you want to add art to your movie etc just right click on the entry as you would a game and add a jpg or png you have downloaded or created for you movie ect I tried this for my media player my film folders which i have now placed in launchbox and it works flawlessly. Addendum:- Was playing around with potplayer and was able to set the autokey in it to close the player using the escape button. Also if you set you shortcuts to folders its easy to close them by just using alt+f4. So i now have a shortcut to my dvd player in Launchbox as well(potplayer), make sure you have AUTOPLAY on your DVD DRIVE turned off, then when you click on your player in Launchbox pressing ctrl+d will start the film thats in your drive or the film that your choose to play. I am sure there are similar methods for mapping keyboard shortcuts in what ever player you use. Further Addendum:- I was playing around with potplayer further and found how to make dvd's autoplay in the dvd drive. Right click on your link for your player (as you can see from my screenshot i have mine called A. CD/DVD Drive), click on edit and in the Application Command-Line Parametre type /DVD. Once you have a dvd in your dvd drive and click on your link for your media player (potplayer) it will proceed to play your dvd immediately, and the bonus is i have my media player (potplayer) closing also with the close key, as well as being able to fast forward or rewind by using the arrow keys. There is no need to put this command line parametre in to shortcuts you have for films you have ripped if you have a default player set for playing films that are already on your computer as they will launch the minute you click on the shortcut. I hope i havnt made this tutorial too hard to understand. A BIG BIG MASSIVE THANKS TO JASON CARR for developing this frontend the only thing i need now is a way to have launchbox open when windows starts as i can place shortcuts to internet, programmes and what ever into Launchbox and make it the defacto htpc and computer hub the only thing im short of now is getting a small wireless keyboard with touchpad if anyone knows a really good make please advise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddoc1007 Posted April 20, 2015 Author Share Posted April 20, 2015 For those that would like Launchbox to open up immediately after windows these are the steps:- 1 Go into your Launchbox folder and right click on Launchbox.exe and click on Create Shortcut. 2 Right click on the shortcut you created and click on Cut, close your launchbox folder and go to your homescreen. 3 Click on START, All Programmes and scroll down to you STARTUP folder. 4 Right click on STARTUP and click open. 5 Now right click in the folder and right click then click on paste. The next time you open Windows a few seconds later Launchbox will open. If you want to make it look like Launchbox has opened up as soon as Windows has loaded here is a little cheat until Launchbox has launched. Open Launchbox and let it boot up. Click on Print Scrn key on your keyboard and then close Launchbox. Now open up Paint and click on Paste, Then click on Save As, and save it as either jpg or png in your pictures folder. Go to your saved jpg or png and right click on it and set it as Desktop Background. Now go to your Desktop and delete all shortcuts and everything that is there. Lastly we right click on Start, then Properties, and click on the Taskbar tab and check the box Auto-hide the taskbar. Now your desktop looks like launchbox, so the next time you start windows you see Launchbox instead of windows and Launchbox itself will open up shortly. to get back to the desktop just press Alt+F4 and your back to windows, and to see your taskbar just put your mouse pointer where your taskbar was and it will open up. This is an easier way than using shell commands and also allows you to move freely into the windows environment if you need to update files etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOS76 Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 I added the program CDisplayEX which is a comic book reader since I have a sick collection of digital comics this does allow me to launch the program and add the platform but I was hoping I would somehow be able to then load all my comics into the platform through the import roms then add cover art and launch individual issues from there I really think a program identical to launch box that displayed your comic or even ebook library and then simply launched them from your favorite reader would be awesome I Wish I knew how to even start developing something like that (I would call it ComicBox as a tribute to the program that inspired the idea). As for the media you mentioned above I just use Plex it is an insane platform that works on Mac, Linux, Windows, Nas servers as well as having apps for IOS, Android, Windows Phone, Windows Store, X-Box 360, X-Box One, Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Roku and many major smart TV's. It also features DLNA capabilities and remote access which is great since it gives you the ability to start managed accounts and share your media with friends no matter where they may be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOS76 Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 I have multiple HTPC's throughout my home I opt for the Logitech K400R (I own 5) which isn't that small but is small enough (while still having almost all the functionality of a full keyboard) I also have a few Media Center remotes that act as secondary controllers plus running unified remote so I can also use my phone to control everything in a pinch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOS76 Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 Ok I kept playing with it and I figured out how to load individual files or folders just had to add the CDisplayEX as an emulator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Carr Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 Very nice guys. Thanks Maddoc for the tutorials. ...I use Plex too. And XBMC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOS76 Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 Are you refusing to call it Kodi like I am? But yeah before Plex updated a year or two ago to what they are now I preferred XBMC but now its all Plex all the time. I also have a Subsonic Server that I purchased for like 9 years for under what one year of Xbox Music pass cost. I rarely ever use it but still have it running. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddoc1007 Posted April 21, 2015 Author Share Posted April 21, 2015 Thanks DOS76 for the info especially the comics one and the controls. What i want to do with Launchbox is at present i am using my computer as a guinea pig machine to sort out how to only have one launcher opening up immediately after windows boots (which i have) of which Launchbox is the one i chose without having to many programmes for different purposes ie: plex, xbmc, primarily for games books music and movies and set them up for my 9 year old daughter. When i have everything set up i intend to build a kind of a portable mini arcade machine (have ideas for that already) she can use, but not be able to see the underlying operating system and tinker with that, but easy enough for me to get at to install or delete stuff as need arises. Launchbox at present is filling all these needs nicely as i invision starting to build machine in a month to 2 months time for her. The comics and books is a great idea as well, looked online for places to download comics, books for her but its a mine field as there doesnt seem to be much in the way for girls any suggestions DOS76 would be appreciated on this as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOS76 Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 Not sure where to get them legitimately I get all mine from torrent sites. I don't even begin to know what would be suitable for a young girl to read. KAT has a large collection of Disney comics that I recently added to my library plus there are Simpsons comics that would probably be suitable for children. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bd00 Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 Keep an eye on the Humble Bundle site (https://www.humblebundle.com/) They frequently have digital comic bundles in their "books bundle". Not sure about girl specific. My Little Pony maybe? https://www.comixology.com/My-Little-Pony-Friendship-Is-Magic-4/digital-comic/37847 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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