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Geoff Bacon

Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2010 9:35 am

Frequent contributor Joined: 11 Jan 2007 Posts: 2339 Location: Bristol ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Windows XP, USB

TopManager is a Windows program to ease the management of a Topfield PVR system.

It can be downloaded from www.GeeCeeBee.co.uk

Key Features:

Access a Toppy connected to a Windows PC via a USB cable, or connected to a network device using FTP
Can handle more than one Toppy
Ability to browse the \ProgramFiles tree of a Toppy file system
Easy display of key Toppy files
Editing of TAP input files
Creation, Deletion and/or Renaming of Files
Identification of differences from a previously saved baseline file
Update of the user's profile on the Toppy.org.uk Forum
Analysis of files in the \ProgramFiles tree
Check MyStuff setup for inconsistencies
Remove Bad EPG Files
Allow a snapshot of the \ProgramFiles tree to be stored on the pc and provide the ability to recover files back to the toppy
Printing of files
Browsing also supports "Drag and Drop" to
+ Relocate files and folders in the \ProgramFiles tree
+ Import files from Windows Explorer
+ Export files to Windows Explorer
+ Files can also be imported via a dialog
Easy installation of commonly used TAPs and update of MyStuff Logo files
Remotely manage the Toppy (uses the PcControl tap) New in V4.0
+ Scanning and channel deletion
+ TapCommander functions plus "Launch a tap"
+ Signal Measurement Updated in V4.5 to allow plotting of signals
+ Display timers
+ Display HDD statistics
+ Manage Favourites files
+ Take a picture of the TV
+ Display/Change System Settings New in V4.2
+ Display PcC Info (similar to MyInfo but based on running system) New in V4.2
Purge/Restore MyStuff Backup files New in V4.4

The Drag and Drop capability makes TopManager a viable alternative to using Altair when working in the \ProgramFiles tree. You will still need Altair, Topset or Antares to manipulate files in other top level folders (e.g. recordings in \DataFiles ).

TopManager has been developed on Windows XP but should work on Vista and Windows 7 (including 64 bit OS). It may also work on a Mac running Windows over Snow Leopard (assuming Altair works on your system).

The program can be installed into the standard Windows Program Files folder tree or installed away from the operating system into a user specified folder. The help file provides information on how to uninstall TopManager and its data files.

Things you might like to do once the program has been installed:

"Tools| Install Files| PcControl" (enables PcControl menu items)
Display MyStuffOptionsExport
Display MyInfo Log.txt (this enables the Update profile option)
Update profile on this forum - you may prefer to wait until after you have cleaned up the file system.
Check MyStuff
Analyze ProgramFiles
Compare EPG2MEI.ini and Extend.ini
If any file changes made, reboot toppy and check working as expected; then Display MyInfo Log.txt to see if forum profile needs updating.
Save baseline copies of MyInfo Log, MyStuffOptionsExport etc
Check Windows DLLs support USB accelerator patches
Oh! - and, if you haven't done so already, read the online help file (press F1 when running TopManager)

If you have any problems with TopManager, or have any comments or suggestions, please post on this thread.

Last edited by Geoff Bacon on Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:07 pm; edited 16 times in total
_________________
TopManager program
TF5800, IA On, TS On, F/W: MS6 Recommended F/W 12/9/2009 -FmSy+EvEzHsPfUUuZ
TAPs: PcControl B1.3; StopExit v1.01; QuickJump 1.72; MyInfo B5.6; Font Manager 1.0d; EPG2MEI v0.96; EIT Sub (Game) v0.6; Extend v1.7; SecCache (UK) v0.4; Channel Organiser B2X7; CrashTrace v0.4; MyStuff 6.5 Beta 3j;
Sig generated by MyInfo on 30/3/13™

Darucla

Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2010 2:25 pm

Frequent contributor Joined: 06 Jun 2007 Posts: 1388 Location: Norwich

Handy little app. Nice to be able to get at those files with minimum fuss.

Is there any chance, or have I just missed it, that it could allow editing of ini files when in the compare mode? That would make it easy to homogenize all of the settings more easily. (Obviously, guess who found out that some of the ini files didn't match?)

_________________
TF5800, TS On, F/W: MS6 Recommended F/W 12/9/2009 -CpFm+C0EgIPeUUsUuUyVyWf
TAPs: EIT Sub v0.6; EPG2MEI v0.96; MyInfo B5.5; MHEG Control B2; MyStuff 6.4; Extend v1.7; SecCache (UK) v0.4;
Sig generated by MyInfo on 24/5/11

Geoff Bacon

Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2010 2:51 pm

Frequent contributor Joined: 11 Jan 2007 Posts: 2339 Location: Bristol ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Windows XP, USB

@Darucla
Thanks for the comment; I had fun writing it and now just hope it is useful to someone!.

There isn't a mechanism for editing the files from the "compare EPG2MEI and Extend.ini" option (I assume this is the one you are talking about) - I'll consider it for a future update. As an interim measure where there are lots of differences, the easiest approach would be to cut and paste the display into Notepad so that you could consult when editing (I suspect you have already done this).

By the way, what operating system are you using ? - I'd really like someone to confirm that it works properly on Vista, Windows 7 (32/64 bit) and Snow Leopard.

Cheers
Geoff

_________________
TopManager program
TF5800, IA On, TS On, F/W: MS6 Recommended F/W 12/9/2009 -FmSy+EvEzHsPfUUuZ
TAPs: PcControl B1.3; StopExit v1.01; QuickJump 1.72; MyInfo B5.6; Font Manager 1.0d; EPG2MEI v0.96; EIT Sub (Game) v0.6; Extend v1.7; SecCache (UK) v0.4; Channel Organiser B2X7; CrashTrace v0.4; MyStuff 6.5 Beta 3j;
Sig generated by MyInfo on 30/3/13™

Darucla

Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2010 3:41 pm

Frequent contributor Joined: 06 Jun 2007 Posts: 1388 Location: Norwich

Currently using Win 7 32 bit, on the only computer that I have that still works after a recent simultaneous crash.

Geoff Bacon

Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2010 3:45 pm

Frequent contributor Joined: 11 Jan 2007 Posts: 2339 Location: Bristol ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Windows XP, USB

Many thanks for the info

Geoff

Valiant

Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2010 4:22 pm

Frequent contributor Joined: 19 May 2008 Posts: 254 Location: UK

So far so good on Vista to 5810 via USB. Editing files directly on the Toppy from the PC (or editing locally and saving down to the Toppy) would be the ideal, and this is a great first step.

_________________
TF5810, F/W: MS6 Recommended F/W 12/9/2009 -Fm+BmFsIPsUUuUxZ
TAPs: SecCache (UK) v0.4; EPG2MEI v0.96; Extend v1.7; MyStuff 6.4; MyInfo B5.6; (EIT Sub v0.6 SnG); (CorrectMsFp X1); (FastScanGUI v0.6d);
Sig generated by MyInfo on 18/7/11

Geoff Bacon

Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2010 5:06 pm

Frequent contributor Joined: 11 Jan 2007 Posts: 2339 Location: Bristol ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Windows XP, USB

@Valiant

Thanks for the info about Vista being OK.

TopManager does allow you to edit the files directly from the PC. Either browse to the file you want to edit or select a file on the Analyse \ProgramFiles\ screen, Then either click Edit on the main menu bar or right click with the mouse and select edit from the popup menu.

Please note, Topmanager only enables Edit when it is a reasonable operation (typically a .ini file but some others are allowed). Should it really be necessary to edit a text file when the program doesn't allow it, you can rename it to a .ini, edit it and then rename it back again (a fiddle but always handy as a fall back).

Cheers
Geoff

TopTapper

Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:05 pm

Frequent contributor Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 138 Location: London, UK

Thanks for a great utility - it's packed with goodness. It's particularly useful for people like me who tend to avoid automatic install options and introduce errors manually. Wink

I've only tested on 32bit vista.

Compare EPG2MEI & Extend reveals a number of mismatches:

Code:

LCN LCN Name EPG2MEI.ini Extend.ini
---- ------------------ ---------------- ----------------
1 BBC ONE Include
2 BBC TWO Include
3 ITV1 Include
4 Channel 4 Include
5 FIVE Include
6 ITV2 Include
7 BBC THREE 1900-0600 1900-0530
9 BBC FOUR 1900-0600 1900-0530
10 ITV3 Include
11 SKY THREE Include
12 Yesterday 0600-1800 0600-0100
13 Channel 4+1 Include
14 More 4 Include
15 Film4 0945-0400 1100-0300
19 Dave 0700-0300 As EPG2MEI
20 Channel One 0900-0300 As EPG2MEI
24 ITV4 Include
25 Dave ja vu 0800-0400 0600-0400
28 E4 Include
29 E4+1 Include
30 FIVER 0600-2300
31 FIVE USA 0600-0100 As EPG2MEI
33 ITV2 +1 Include
38 QUEST 0700-0000 1100-0100
44 Sky3+1 Include
80 BBC NEWS Include
81 BBC Parliament Include
84 CNN 1900-0200 As EPG2MEI
301 301 Include Exclude
303 303 Exclude
702 BBC Radio 2 Include
703 BBC Radio 3 Include
704 BBC Radio 4 Include
705 BBC R5L Include
706 BBC R5SX Include
707 BBC 6 Music Include
708 BBC Radio 7 Include
Lines processed 57 60
Errors in file 0 1

... but looking at /Settings/EPG2MEI.ini with the internal Editor (or elsewhere) gives different values to those shown in the Compare - e.g., LCN 7 & 9:

Code:

# File updated by Channel Organiser B1.0 on 13/9/2010 at 17:36

[Control]
Debug=0
Output=EPG.mei
External=RT.mei
Demangle
MergeExt
UseExtGenre
StripDups
AddExtendedInfo
EuroDST
DescSeparator=¬
DescTerminator=

[Include]
1-350

[Restrict]
7=1900-0530
8=1800-1900
9=1900-0530
12=0600-0100
15=1100-0300
17=1800-2300
19=0700-0300
20=0900-0300
22=0500-0000
25=0600-0400
26=1000-1100
31=0600-0100
32=0400-0600
34=1200-0400
36=0800-1300
37=0800-0100
38=1100-0100
40=1300-1800
43=0100-1100
70=0530-1900
71=0530-1900
72=0600-1800
84=1900-0200
86=0900-1800
87=0500-0800
88=1600-1800
89=1800-2300
93=2300-0300
94=0000-0500
95=0100-0600
96=2300-0445
97=0100-0600
98=0300-0900
307=0400-1200
308=0200-0600
309=0300-1600

Looking at http://www.unsatisfactorysoftware.co.uk/dtt/dtt.cgi suggests that I've spurious/incorrect entries in both .ini. Ideally, the mechanism would refer to a definitive source - dtt.cgi or freeview.dat? - and then look for differences amongst rt2mei.cfg, EPG2MEI.ini and Extend.ini -- but that could take a lot of organising and duplicate Channel Organiser functionality. (In fact, I'm now wondering how the mechanism identified that Extend.ini was in error, not EPG2MEI.ini - perhaps you're using a trusted source [and that's where the unexpected values came from]).

On a separate note, I was notified about a lost connection during my first session (whilst using Edit to look at an .ini). After a Toppy reboot and an attempt to reconnect (possibly before the Toppy had booted) an information window showed:

Code:

Connecting to 5800BP...
<<< Connection failed
TopManager has not detected any programs that would prevent use e.g. Altair
<<< Check Toppy is switched on and cable is connected

... then a series of TopManager error dialogs: "Access violation at address 00000000. Write of address 00000000" repeating about every two seconds until TopManager.exe termination under the Task Manager.

It's repeatable - open a session, shutdown toppy, hit 'Close connection' to enable 'Open connection' for connection info and error dialogs.

_________________
TF5800 Ts: On Fw: MS6 Rec 12/09/09 -Sy+B2CfCtDDsEvEzFsHsIMPePfPsScUUuUxVbWfWs (decode)
TAPs: SecCache (UK) v0.4; MHEG On/Off A3; Goldfish 0.5; Font Manager 1.0d; MyStuff 6.4; Extend v1.7; EPG2MEI v0.96; MyInfo B5.6 RC1; (EIT Sub v0.6 SnG; FastScanGUI v0.6d)
Sig via MyInfo 16/12/11

Geoff Bacon

Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2010 12:48 pm

Frequent contributor Joined: 11 Jan 2007 Posts: 2339 Location: Bristol ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Windows XP, USB

@TopTapper

Thanks for the feedback and error report.

I can reproduce the access violations so will investigate. BTW, on my system, these only occur if the PC can't subsequently reconnect to the toppy, it works fine if the toppy is back online again.

Compare EPG2MEI and Extend ini only checks the two files for inconsistencies i.e it does not know the correct times that a channel broadcasts or which file is correct, it only compares the values in the two files.

I have eyeballed the Compare code and cannot see any obvious errors in it to explain why it is showing 1900-0600 when the file has 1900-0530. However, I did notice that TM does not assume that the EPG2MEI file is in the settings folder (I believe EPG2MEI uses the Firebird library).
Can you please run the Tools\Analyse option, scroll to the EPG2MEI section and expand it. Does it show multiple locations for the .ini file? While you have the Analyse screen displayed, you could also try displaying the file (use right click, display)

Cheers
Geoff

Darucla

Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2010 1:08 pm

Frequent contributor Joined: 06 Jun 2007 Posts: 1388 Location: Norwich

I noticed that I had two sets of ini files for Epg2mei and maybe another. I would have sworn that I didn't, but TM read the file in Autostart, whereas I was always using the one in settings. Having discovered this thanks to using TM, I have definitely removed the Autostart entries now. Useful. As a result, the two files now agree with each other. Very Happy

Geoff Bacon

Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2010 1:27 pm

Frequent contributor Joined: 11 Jan 2007 Posts: 2339 Location: Bristol ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Windows XP, USB

@Darucla

Thanks for that info

TAPs that are linked with the FireBird library search for .ini files in the following order:
1) the same folder as the tap
2) in ProgramFiles
3) in ProgramFiles\Settings or
4) in ProgramFiles\Settings\tapname
Edited 25-Oct- 2010: Note the above search order is incorrect; see here

From a programming point of view, this is a nightmare and it would be much easier if .ini files were all stored in the same folder (ideally ProgramFiles\Settings)

Cheers
Geoff

Last edited by Geoff Bacon on Mon Oct 25, 2010 11:23 am; edited 2 times in total
_________________
TopManager program
TF5800, IA On, TS On, F/W: MS6 Recommended F/W 12/9/2009 -FmSy+EvEzHsPfUUuZ
TAPs: PcControl B1.3; StopExit v1.01; QuickJump 1.72; MyInfo B5.6; Font Manager 1.0d; EPG2MEI v0.96; EIT Sub (Game) v0.6; Extend v1.7; SecCache (UK) v0.4; Channel Organiser B2X7; CrashTrace v0.4; MyStuff 6.5 Beta 3j;
Sig generated by MyInfo on 30/3/13™

TopTapper

Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2010 2:05 pm

Frequent contributor Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 138 Location: London, UK

Thanks for the rapid response, Geoff. The EPG2MEI tree shows...

Code:

[-] EPG2MEI
<> \ProgramFiles\AutoStart\EPG2MEI.tap
<> \ProgramFiles\EPG.mei
[] \ProgramFiles\EPG.raw
[] \ProgramFiles\EPG_diff.mei
[] \ProgramFiles\Settings\EPG2MEI.COB
<> \ProgramFiles\Settings\EPG2MEI.ini

However, yes, another instance of EPG2MEI.ini lives in \ProgramFiles (as shown under [-] Unrecognised Files) - and this is the one that contains the data used for the Compare.

Analysis also shows a 'Wrong folder' warning for \ProgramFiles\EPG2MEI.ini which I didn't notice before:

Code:

Scanning Toppy folders, please wait ...
Scanning complete, sorting retrieved data ...
Analysing Data ...
<<< Missing file: \ProgramFiles\Settings\MHEGControl_mode.ini
<<< Folder missing: \ProgramFiles\ScreenCapture
<<< Some folders were not recognised
<<< Some files were not recognised
<<< Wrong folder: \ProgramFiles\EPG2MEI.ini - expected in folder \ProgramFiles\Auto Start
<<< Wrong folder: \ProgramFiles\HDFW_Firmware\Firmware.dat - expected in folder \ProgramFiles\ChannelOrganiser
<<< Elsewhere: \ProgramFiles\MHEGControl_text.ini - already in folder \ProgramFiles\Settings
<<< Wrong folder: \ProgramFiles\Settings\Channel Manager log.txt - expected in folder \ProgramFiles
<<< Wrong folder: \ProgramFiles\Settings\LcnList.xls - expected in folder \ProgramFiles
<<< Elsewhere: \ProgramFiles\Settings\MyStuff\MyStuff.tap - already in folder \ProgramFiles\Auto Start
<<< Wrong folder: \ProgramFiles\SignalMonitor\SignalMonitor.ini - expected in folder \ProgramFiles\Settings
<<< Elsewhere: \ProgramFiles\TAPCommander.ini - already in folder \ProgramFiles\Settings
Analysis Complete

Deleting \ProgramFiles\EPG2MEI.ini and re-running Compare gives:

Code:

LCN LCN Name EPG2MEI.ini Extend.ini
---- ------------------ ---------------- ----------------
1 BBC ONE Include
2 BBC TWO Include
3 ITV1 Include
4 Channel 4 Include
5 FIVE Include
6 ITV2 Include
7 BBC THREE 1900-0530 As EPG2MEI
9 BBC FOUR 1900-0530 As EPG2MEI
10 ITV3 Include
11 SKY THREE Include
12 Yesterday 0600-0100 As EPG2MEI
13 Channel 4+1 Include
14 More 4 Include
15 Film4 1100-0300 As EPG2MEI
19 Dave 0700-0300 As EPG2MEI
20 Channel One 0900-0300 As EPG2MEI
24 ITV4 Include
25 Dave ja vu 0600-0400 As EPG2MEI
28 E4 Include
29 E4+1 Include
30 FIVER Include
31 FIVE USA 0600-0100 As EPG2MEI
33 ITV2 +1 Include
38 QUEST 1100-0100 As EPG2MEI
44 Sky3+1 Include
80 BBC NEWS Include
81 BBC Parliament Include
84 CNN 1900-0200 As EPG2MEI
301 301 Include Exclude
303 303 Include Exclude
702 BBC Radio 2
703 BBC Radio 3
704 BBC Radio 4
705 BBC R5L
706 BBC R5SX
707 BBC 6 Music
708 BBC Radio 7
Lines processed 56 60
Errors in file 0 1

I'm not sure what triggers the Extend.ini error but I can see some common entries that need correcting.

Geoff Bacon

Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2010 2:45 pm

Frequent contributor Joined: 11 Jan 2007 Posts: 2339 Location: Bristol ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Windows XP, USB

@TopTapper

Thanks for the update.
Both EPG2MEI and Extend use the Firebird library so they will pick up their .ini file in \ProgramFiles\Auto Start or \ProgramFiles in preference to another in \ProgramFiles\Settings.
Edited 25-Oct-2010: the above statement is incorrect; see next post

I'm still working on the AV problem but I'm finding it difficult to determine the cause. I had thought it was accessing an uninitialised object but there doesn't seem to be a problem with the code (suspect the problem is emanating from the dll used to make the connection). I will investigate further.

Note: this AV problem shouldn't put others off from trying out the program

Cheers
Geoff

Last edited by Geoff Bacon on Mon Oct 25, 2010 11:26 am; edited 1 time in total
_________________
TopManager program
TF5800, IA On, TS On, F/W: MS6 Recommended F/W 12/9/2009 -FmSy+EvEzHsPfUUuZ
TAPs: PcControl B1.3; StopExit v1.01; QuickJump 1.72; MyInfo B5.6; Font Manager 1.0d; EPG2MEI v0.96; EIT Sub (Game) v0.6; Extend v1.7; SecCache (UK) v0.4; Channel Organiser B2X7; CrashTrace v0.4; MyStuff 6.5 Beta 3j;
Sig generated by MyInfo on 30/3/13™

Geoff Bacon

Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 11:16 am

Frequent contributor Joined: 11 Jan 2007 Posts: 2339 Location: Bristol ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ Windows XP, USB

I intend releasing a new version of TopManager today or tomorrow. This will correct the AV problem experienced by TopTapper.

Also, I have checked the FireBird source code that locates .ini files and noticed that it uses a different search order to that implied by the pdf manual (confirmed by R2-D2). I will therefore be changing the TM search order so that it conforms to that used by FireBird i.e.
1) tapfolder
2) /ProgramFiles/Settings/<TapName>
3) /ProgramFiles/Settings
4) /ProgramFiles

For anyone rationalising multiple copies of .ini files, the recommended location is to put the single copy in /ProgramFiles/Settings

Apologies for issuing an update so soon after release - I had performed many checks but there is a lot of code!

Geoff

andyfras

Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 2:10 pm

Frequent contributor Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 2814 Location: Fleet, Hampshire (Hannington)

I have just tried it on XP Home and all seems OK. I think that this could be very useful.

Here are a few observations:
After the first time that I shut TopManager down, I was unable to use Altair until I disconnected and reconnected the USB connection. This has not been repeated subsequently.

Check MyStuff gave some errors - one was in 'All 5.mcl' where it didn't like that the order was 5, 31, 30. When I changed this to 5, 30, 31 it was happy again.

The other error was 'Oops: Failed to process #:\ProgramFiles\Settings\PowerManager.ini
<<< PowerManager 'TF5800' option needs to be changed to 'Yes''. I intentionally have an old version (v1.2) of Power Manager that uses a different form of PowerManager.ini which is stored in ProgramFiles.

_________________
Toppy PSU repair service or capacitor kits for DIY available - PM me for details.
MyStuff 6.4 : Little Clock : MHEGOnOff : Extend : EPG2MEI : SecCache : EIT_Sub : TSSaver
FastScanGUI : Channel Organiser : Tap Commander : USB Accelerator : RecFixer : HDD Info : PCControl : Signal Monitor : MyInfo
URC-7555 remote: TF5800 1TB with fan, Recommended_5800.tfd + CfPePsScWfZ

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