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Rainmeter 1.1 Portable Development Test 3
Submitted by TaffinFoxcroft on August 7, 2009 - 8:23pm
Application: Rainmeter
Category: Utilities
Description: Rainmeter is a desktop customisation tool that can display anything from tomorrow's weather to your GMail account in a stylish and functional way.
Download:
http://padp.googlecode.com/files/RainmeterPortable_1.1_English.paf.exe
Release Notes:
Development Test 3 (05NOV09):
Updated to Rainmeter 1.1. Had to make a modification to RainThemes in order for it to run portably properly, the changed source can be found in Other\Source\RainThemes
Development Test 2 (09AUG09):
Included RainThemes (some modifications were made for portability, and they were approved by the original author).
Copies DefaultData silently now, as it was causing problems with Vista.
Development Test 1 (08AUG09):
Initial Release.
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Thank you
saw this on lifehacker and think it looks awesome, will test and report back as soon as possible (which may be a while, going on vacation for 2 weeks).
May the Shwartz be with you
Nice
There are only a couple things you need to add/fix.
1. You need to add support for a Fonts folder. This folder goes in the Rainmeter folder just like the skins folder. This is where you put custom fonts to be used with skins.
2. The theme manager is a major upgrade. Support for this would be extremely useful and I think you should allow for this.
Overall, everything included works as it should, but I don't think you should remove functionality in order to make it portable.
Answers
Thanks for testing this out. The Fonts folder thing would be difficult to implement in the launcher, but I'll file a bug report on the GC site and hopefully it should be added to the main app.
RainThemes was slightly problematic, as it was closed source when I released this. But now the source is in the SVN and I've modified it to be portable and it fits in well with the whole PAF compliance thing. I'll release an updated version with RainThemes in a sec.
Twoflower: Rincewind, I think there's a broomstick in this cupboard.
Rincewind: Well, what's so unusual about that?
Twoflower: This one's got handlebars.
Platform
The next version of the platform incorporate portable fonts that can be used across all portable apps. It would probably make sense to have people use that.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
LifeHacker ftw
I have also saw this on LifeHacker so I'm going to give it a try.
Thanks Taffin
I'll try testing today.
Some Issues
Ok Taffin the default data isn't getting copied to PortableApps\RainmeterPortable\Data\settings\. I assume that's were you want to store and run everything from. There's also some issues with your directory structure. Try to catch me in IRC to discuss some things.
Any news?
You get the update out for this yet Taffin?
Here's another request...
I know you provide the ability to edit the skins in Notepad++. This is a great feature, my only problem is that I do not use the standard PortableApps file structure so this feature doesn't work for me.
Is there any way you can change this function so we can put in the path for Notepad++ rather than have it default to the PortableApps format?
You Can
For a standard PAP directory structure, you just have to add the line
ConfigEditor="..\..\..\Notepad++Portable\Notepad++Portable.exe\"
under the [Rainmeter] section of your Rainmeter.ini. Be sure to add it to each Theme you create using RainThemes also.
I don't think it would be a good idea for Taffin to add it in by default, because some users may not use notepad++ and defaulting to notepad, pretty much guarantees an editor.
Also Taffin are you moving rainmeter.ini from the app folder to the settings folder each time? I just wanted to make sure.
Add new entry to ini
I don't think that having the ability to add a custom path to Notepad++ would remove the default to notepad on the local computer. It's just another option.
Maybe create a new ini file like this:
If the CustomNotepad++ entry is left blank, then it will use the default PortableApps.com directory structure.
update
I think I shall have it so if SetNotepad++ is true, than it loads it from the default location, otherwise it reads the value and sets that, so you could use:
SetNotepad++=true, or
SetNotepad++=..\..\..\Notepad++Portable\Notepad++Portable.exe .
I talked to the RainThemes dev. about the way that I implemented it, but he wanted it done a different way, so I'll fix that in the next release.
Disclaimer: my laptop recently died (screen failed), so I can't do any work until it's fixed.
Twoflower: Rincewind, I think there's a broomstick in this cupboard.
Rincewind: Well, what's so unusual about that?
Twoflower: This one's got handlebars.
I like that idea even better.
I like that idea even better. I think having it be false or blank should use the default program on the computer though, just in case.
Misunderstood
I mean that Rainmeter allows you to specify the editor you want, Taffin doesn't have to do any work for it. I am trying to get a system implemented now where thing like ConfigEditor will be in a separate file so that you don't have to add it to each .thm you download.
I have a multiboot system.
I have a multiboot system. Aside from linux I have win2000 and I just added XP.
I installed this and tried to run it on the XP first and no go. even tried to run it as administrator. I made sure all the *.ini files pointed to the correct locations for skins and whatever.
still nothing. the PAF window pops up but i see no rain program.
ok, so I booted into my win2000 and tried it there. now i get something!!
but when I try to get the weather I get a notification that "SysInfo.dll" is not found. I looked and it's not in F:\Program Files\Portable\PortableApps\RainmeterPortable\App\Rainmeter\Plugins
"No one man can terrorize a whole nation unless we are all his accomplices." - Edward R. Murrow
Same problem in Windows XP
I have Windows XP SP3. I get the splash screen and nothing else with RainmeterPortable.exe.
RainThemesPortable.exe runs, but when I try to load a theme I get the message that .\App\Rainmeter\Rainmeter.exe failed to start because the application configuration is incorrect.
It might be a problem with
It might be a problem with sp3 . I have sp2 and it works fine.
Just tested on xp
Just tested on xp professional service pack 3 and it runs fine.
Too many lonely hearts in the real world
Too many bridges you can burn
Too many tables you can't turn
Don't wanna live my life in the real world
Rainmeter 1.1 is available
And we also have a zipped version from the main page.
We hope this will also assist in Rainmeter eventually being feature as a portable App her at PA.com
If this ever comes to fruition, we are still intent on adding a link to teh PA lauch and download page.
If you require anything you know where to find us.
Regards
SGT. E. V. McKay
We're Ready
I think as long as Taffin updates it and the test goes well, we're good on releasing this as official and promoting it to the community. We're happy either with us doing the packaging and hosting it, or you doing one or both and us linking to you, so it's whatever you're more comfortable with. I'm a fan of Rainmeter, so the sooner we get it available for all to run everywhere, the better!
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
They feature Rainmeter
They feature Rainmeter desktops on Lifehacker all the time, so as soon as this is official I'd be surprised not to find it mentioned on LH also.
Ya'll are just fine
You folks keeping the Rainmeter Portable here is good with us.
It can be our way of supporting this site and the great programs that come from it.
We will just have re-direct Link URL to the appropriate page when you are ready.
If it is a matter of you folks need us to host Rainmeter Portable do to bandwidth and/or space concerns, just let us know.
Also we will get some plugs going on the portable app sites in general....I am working up a release now, and the folks at LifeHacker will love this one.
We all agree we will also do as much support as we can at the Rainmeter forums.
No matter where it comes from it is Rainmeter
I want to thank you folks now for the work you have all put into this.
If you require anything from us, just let us know, and if available, we will have it for you shortly.
Regards
SGT. E. V. McKay
Rainmeter Dev Team Member
Rainmeter Forum Admin.
New Version
Ok, here's Rainmeter 1.1 Portable. Can we get some testers?
Twoflower: Rincewind, I think there's a broomstick in this cupboard.
Rincewind: Well, what's so unusual about that?
Twoflower: This one's got handlebars.
AntiVir Guard: Attention, Detection!
"J:\PortableApps\RainmeterPortable\App\Rainmeter\Plugins\WebParser.dll
Is the TR/Downloader.Gen Trojan"
False Positive
It's safe.
Changing Themes
Taffin for some reason after changing a Theme, when I close RainThemes.exe the launcher acts as if Rainmeter.exe closed and moves the files back to \settings then exits while Rainmeter.exe is still running.
Also jsmorley put up a new version of RainThemes here http://www.rainmeter.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=81&t=1848 that uses the quit command rather than killing the Rainmeter process. It should stop us from having the "ghost" tray icon, when changing themes.
Other RainApps
I was also thinking we should consider working some of jsmorley's other creations into the portable mix. He made some apps that could be very useful to portability, at my nudging.
RainRez: Checks the resolution and loads predefined themes based on what the resolution is.
RainComputer: Checks computer name and loads predefined theme based on the computer name.
Is it just me,
Or is this program incredibly slow? I've used it on multiple computers (portable and non-portable) and they're all the same. I wish I could use this program, but for how slow it is I just can't at the moment.
Slow???
Could you be more descriptive?
Slow being a general term, and there is any number of reasons hat Rainmeter may appear slow.
ie:
Size or number of skins loading
Number of resources
Anti-Virus (Major Culprit)
Firewall (Major Culprit)
Parsing from a slow page (Weather or large RSS Feeds)
Or any number of other reasons outside of Rainmeter control.
I would also invite you to the Rainmeter forums to discuss this situation and maybe we can iron it out
http://www.rainmeter.net/forum
Drive-Related
It's also possible that one of the skins or additions he is using is writing a lot to a flash drive, is it not? If that is the case, it will slow down all apps running from that drive including Rainmeter.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
It could be possible
Normally what is written to is the Rainmeter.ini file (Once written it is set), but there is the parse situation.
If you are using tons of RSS and a large weather skin a lot of this has to be cached.
That being said, the slowness may also be dictated by by your drives access rates.
Nominally the information is posted, and what you see is what you get , without further resource drag until the next "refresh" or update", the resource spike will be predicated on what you are parsing or updating.
Although the user in this case states that he has tested the Portable App and a normal install, so I am curious.
The Slowest loading skin I have I created, and it is a weather monster listing over 200 attributes, and it still loads on this very slow laptop in about 11 seconds.
Then my resources all but zero out.
I may be completely wrong in this, but the only way I can see Rainmeter slowing drive information I/O is if the drive itself is limited in access speed, other wise you have a bad skin build and it is updating at un-needed or un-realistic speed.
If all applications are affected, then it would be my guess there is a bad skin update ratio.
If it is only Rainmeter, then my guess is slow I/O speeds
Again Rainmeter will normally spike resources and very quickly to get what it needs and get out.
I have even found Rainmeter to have impressive response Parsing web XML over dial up.
There is this, as the Rainmeter.ini file gets inundated with skin information, it will slow Rainmeter as it has to search an ever expanding list of skin placements and variables, this will eventually slow Rainmeter's skin loading time, but you would have to have well over 20,000 entries (I have had this before) to the Rainmeter.ini file.
Video Driver
The only other guess I had was the video driver if something being overlayed is slowing things down (I've seen it in other apps where you wouldn't think it would affect it). But I think he said he tried a second PC as well.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Forgot something
There is one other possibility that I would be remiss not to mention.
the more skins, and the more complex (ie, graphics, parse size, etc) the longer it takes to load skins.
So I guess I have to ask to narrow this down:
Is this a skin loading time issue?
Are you noticing a lag in update performance from Rainmeter?
If so how?
Is there a constant drag on the drive in question?
Is there a constant systems drag, or are the system resources very high?
The more information I can get the more I know what to look at, and see if there is something we can do to fix it.
especially as we make every attempt to keep Rainmeter lean and clean
The strangest thing.
I did another reinstall on my laptop (I think this is the third for this computer), and things seem to not be as bad as before. Not sure what to think of that, but if I find that it occurs again I'll try to pinpoint the problem for you.
This is not including the other computers I have tested Rainmeter and this is not the PA.c version.
This also applies to John's
This also applies to John's response as well, I've also tried the official version (non-PA.c) and I get the same results. I'll further look into this sometime later, but what I can tell you now is that it's slow immediately after install (so everything is at their defaults) and with the few things I've tried after (switching themes, etc.).
I run Comodo Firewall and Avira AntiVir on both my desktop and laptop in case these are known culprits with this. I've also tried using the PA.c version on both these computers as well as a computer in the computer lab where I work (not sure about all the AV+Firewall details about the lab computers as I am not the one in charge of that).