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_2.1_English_DT2.paf.exe
Release Notes:
2.1 Development Test 2 (24SEP11):
Included the VC2010 runtime.
2.1 Development Test 1 (20SEP11):
Major overhaul. Rainstaller stub launcher included, updated to latest version (which fixed problems with RainThemes and RainBrowser) and UPX'd the lot. Included themes are Illustro, ABP, Enigma and and Gnometer.
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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Rainmeter 2.1 Portable Development Test 2
August 7, 2009 - 9:23pm
#1
Rainmeter 2.1 Portable Development Test 2
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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
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.
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.
But there’s no sense crying over every mistake,
You just keep on trying till you run out of cake.
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!
I have also saw this on LifeHacker so I'm going to give it a try.
I'll try testing today.
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.
You get the update out for this yet Taffin?
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?
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.
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.
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.
But there’s no sense crying over every mistake,
You just keep on trying till you run out of cake.
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.
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. 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
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 sp3 . I have sp2 and it works fine.
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
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
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 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.
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.
Ok, here's Rainmeter 1.1 Portable. Can we get some testers?
But there’s no sense crying over every mistake,
You just keep on trying till you run out of cake.
"J:\PortableApps\RainmeterPortable\App\Rainmeter\Plugins\WebParser.dll
Is the TR/Downloader.Gen Trojan"
It's safe.
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.
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.
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.
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
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!
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.
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!
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
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 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).
Just to keep you folks up to date.
I have been doing some serious testing with regards to many issues. It started attempting to track resource usage over several drive types and has expanded.
I should have results for everyone in teh next few weeks, unfortunately nothing sooner.
Also a number of folks are on teh move and revamping their skins to work in a portable enviro. in Particular at this time is the folks for RainBar....This should be compliant by now.
I will get back to you all as soon as I can with my finished documentation.
Hopefully this is still in development, but I wanted to post some updates about Rainmeter. First of all, Rainmater finally has a home page for skins, it's on deviantART. Along with the skins page, they have released Rainstaller, which is supposed to be used by developers to make it easier to install skins. I'm not sure how this is going to affect portability, but you should probably take a look at it. I think this is the way installing skins is supposed to be done, but I don't really know anything about it.
I just wanted to let people know what was going on and hopefully the launcher can be updated to incorporate any changes that have been made.
Hopefully someone will pick up development of this app. It looks like it's falling through the cracks.
There is a bug that needs to be fixed. When using RainThemes, you have the option to save the background with the theme. This is great, the problem comes when applying the theme. If you apply the theme the saved background is applied, but when you close RainMeter or switch to a different theme the background doesn't switch back to the original. This seems like it is a spec issue since the app is not supposed to make any changes to the host computer.
Again, I hope someone picks up development of this since it seems like Taffin hasn't been here in awhile.
I'm not dead... yet. Hibernating maybe, but not dead. ;P
I've been working with the Rainmeter dev team over the past few days, and I've got a new version to put up, which fixes all of the problems mentioned here. Plus it works with Rainstaller.
However, I'm going to wait until 1.2 final drops and update it to that instead, because:
a. Not many people like the word "beta."
b. It's a bit of a patchjob solution at the moment, but it'll be consistent when 1.2 gets put in place.
Hang tight, folks!
But there’s no sense crying over every mistake,
You just keep on trying till you run out of cake.
Hey Taffin, jsmorley and I had discussed combining RainComputer and RainRez into one program. You would basically have a list of known computer names, with a list of possible resolutions and a theme specified for each name/res combo. The program would on start check computer name and res, then place the appropriate theme and start Rainmeter. It would then sit in the background to monitor res changes and change themes accordingly. You can see how this would be extremely useful in portable situations.
I was wondering, as I don't think there is any precedence for this, could that functionality be built into the RainmeterPortable launcher. This would save a lot of work in trying to incorporate the additional program into a RainmeterPortable scenario.
Looks like Rainmeter has been updated to 1.2 so get on that update if you are still in it.
May the Shwartz be with you
Ah yes, an update shall be arriving within the next couple of days. I've got a busy schedule tomorrow, but I'm good for the weekend.
But there’s no sense crying over every mistake,
You just keep on trying till you run out of cake.
Rainmeter 1.3 has been released a while back, and work has started on 1.4
1.1 is slightly outdated - are you still working in this project?
Rainmeter updated the other day and made it immensely easier to portablise, so here's an update! Details are mentioned above.
But there’s no sense crying over every mistake,
You just keep on trying till you run out of cake.
Doesn't seem to work here - Win7 x64 ult.
Whenever I launch it, it runs for the duration of the splash screen, then disappears. I just installed the 2.1 DT1, never had it installed before.
Rainstaller just gives an error about Rainmeter having to run, and as I can't get it running long enough to start Rainstaller, it makes no difference.
I don't have access to a 64-bit machine, but would you be able to try replacing Rainmeter.exe and Rainmeter.dll in the App directory with these ones? If that works, then I'll set it up so it does the whole 64-bit detect thing like the 7-Zip launcher.
But there’s no sense crying over every mistake,
You just keep on trying till you run out of cake.
- that seems to work much better. However, I do get a bunch of errors and warnings - log included below.
App path IS l:\PortableApps\RainmeterPortable\App\Rainmeter\ (with subfolder Plugins etc), so unless they have to be 64-bit too, I don't get it...
NOTICE: (00:04:05.717) Refreshing skin "ABP\GetWeatherCode.ini"
ERROR: (00:04:05.733) Plugin: "L:\PortableApps\RainmeterPortable\App\Rainmeter\Plugins\..\Plugins\WebParser.dll" not found
ERROR: (00:04:05.779) Plugin: "L:\PortableApps\RainmeterPortable\App\Rainmeter\Plugins\..\Plugins\WebParser.dll" not found
NOTICE: (00:04:05.795) Refreshing skin "illustro\Clock\Clock.ini"
NOTICE: (00:04:05.811) Refreshing skin "illustro\Disk\2 Disks.ini"
NOTICE: (00:04:05.842) Refreshing skin "illustro\Feeds\Feeds.ini"
ERROR: (00:04:05.873) Plugin: "L:\PortableApps\RainmeterPortable\App\Rainmeter\Plugins\WebParser.dll" not found
- - (long list of these) - -
ERROR: (00:04:05.967) Plugin: "L:\PortableApps\RainmeterPortable\App\Rainmeter\Plugins\WebParser.dll" not found
ERROR: (00:04:05.967) The meter [meterTitle] cannot be bound with [measureFeed]!
ERROR: (00:04:05.982) The meter [meterItem1] cannot be bound with [measureItem1]!
ERROR: (00:04:05.982) The meter [meterItem2] cannot be bound with [measureItem2]!
ERROR: (00:04:05.982) The meter [meterItem3] cannot be bound with [measureItem3]!
ERROR: (00:04:05.998) The meter [meterItem4] cannot be bound with [measureItem4]!
ERROR: (00:04:05.998) The meter [meterItem5] cannot be bound with [measureItem5]!
ERROR: (00:04:05.998) The meter [meterItem6] cannot be bound with [measureItem6]!
ERROR: (00:04:05.998) The meter [meterItem7] cannot be bound with [measureItem7]!
ERROR: (00:04:06.013) The meter [meterItem8] cannot be bound with [measureItem8]!
NOTICE: (00:04:06.029) Refreshing skin "illustro\Google\Google.ini"
ERROR: (00:04:06.045) Plugin: "L:\PortableApps\RainmeterPortable\App\Rainmeter\Plugins\InputText.dll" not found
NOTICE: (00:04:06.060) Refreshing skin "illustro\Network\Network.ini"
ERROR: (00:04:06.076) Plugin: "L:\PortableApps\RainmeterPortable\App\Rainmeter\Plugins\WebParser.dll" not found
ERROR: (00:04:06.091) The meter [meterIPValue] cannot be bound with [measureIP]!
NOTICE: (00:04:06.091) Refreshing skin "illustro\Recycle Bin\Recycle Bin.ini"
ERROR: (00:04:06.107) Plugin: "L:\PortableApps\RainmeterPortable\App\Rainmeter\Plugins\RecycleManager.dll" not found
ERROR: (00:04:06.123) Plugin: "L:\PortableApps\RainmeterPortable\App\Rainmeter\Plugins\RecycleManager.dll" not found
ERROR: (00:04:06.123) The meter [meterBinItems] cannot be bound with [measureBinItems]!
ERROR: (00:04:06.138) The meter [meterBinSize] cannot be bound with [measureBinSize]!
NOTICE: (00:04:06.138) Refreshing skin "illustro\System\System.ini"
NOTICE: (00:04:06.185) Refreshing skin "illustro\Welcome\Welcome.ini"
WARNING: (00:06:01.470) !PluginBang: [measureInput] not found
WARNING: (00:06:02.437) !PluginBang: [measureInput] not found
WARNING: (00:06:03.233) !PluginBang: [measureInput] not found
WARNING: (00:06:03.420) !PluginBang: [measureInput] not found
WARNING: (00:06:07.055) !PluginBang: [measureInput] not found
Ah cool, thanks for that! All the plugins it's trying to load are still 32-bit, so 64-bit Rainmeter's having some trouble loading them. I'll do in some code to load either 64-bit or 32-bit Rainmeter depending on the system and then all those problems shall be solved.
But there’s no sense crying over every mistake,
You just keep on trying till you run out of cake.
Looking forward to that - this Rainmeter thing, which I've been considering for some time, actually is so cool I'm currently replacing my Sidebar apps with it on my own system. But would be darn fancy being able to turn it on when I'm away from home too; this has its uses both diagnostically and esthetically.
You could use custom code to have a 32bit and 64bit plugin directory and switch back and forth between them. You'll need to ensure the locations stay properly when closed as I think you need to preserve both on upgrade when people add bits.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
I managed to recreate the problem: Rainmeter needs the VC2010 runtime, and when the 32-bit version runs on a 64-bit OS it can't find the right runtime (So AlleyKat has the 64-bit runtime, but not the 32-bit runtime which is why the 64-bit version worked). However, the 32-bit version works fine on 64-bit and there was negligible difference between the two versions, so I just put the 32-bit version with the right runtime in together and it works a treat.
But there’s no sense crying over every mistake,
You just keep on trying till you run out of cake.
Have been playing around with this over the weekend. This works pretty good for me. Just a few issues that may be down to the way I have been using it. I'm on Win 7 64bit and downloaded the latest package on Saturday.
Firstly I can't get rainstaller to run - basically nothing happens (even if I have rainmeter running as per the warning message). Nothing in task manager either.
So have installed some additional skins manually to data\settings\skins. These new skins generally work fine, the only problem I have is that the rainmeter.ini file now has a skinpath=path line which doesn't seem to be adjusted on change of drive letter. See here for a discussion of this on the rainmeter forums some months ago. Has this issue been resolved? Thanks for the great work on this so far.
In the discussion you linked to they suggest to remove the skinpath=path line to make it work. That didn't work for you?
The launcher sets the SkinPath to Data\settings\Skins relative to the launcher each time it's run, so I don't think that that was your problem.
Aah, Rainstaller has been rewritten! It used to be written in NSIS so it was all neat and didn't need anything else, but it looks like they've rewritten it in C++ so it needs the new runtime. Could you please copy msvcp100.dll and msvcr100.dll from App\Rainmeter to App\Rainmeter\Addons\Rainstaller and then see if it works?
But there’s no sense crying over every mistake,
You just keep on trying till you run out of cake.
Copying msvcp100.dll and msvcr100.dll from App\Rainmeter to App\Rainmeter\Addons\Rainstaller seems to have fixed the rainstaller issue (well I got to the skins file select box). Not actually installed another skin.
The problem with the SkinPath drive letter is probably down to the way I am using rainmeter as I have some skins that also have hardcoded path letters which need to be edited each time. (such as JSMorley's MeterIII). I assume that any skin .ini files with paths in them would need to be edited manually? i.e. the launcher only checks rainmeter.ini rather than a blanket .ini file check in \Data\settings\Skins\ ???
Thanks
englishman
How is the development going? I would love to see this go official with the coming influx of new apps.
I've been using the beta version of this for a while now and noticed that on my win7 64 bits desktop it sometimes stops working after a while. I haven't been able to pinpoint the reason yet, but it seems to happen only after the pc has been blocked for a while and then unlocked.
Installed the Arcs skin(http://kaelri.deviantart.com/art/Arcs-112670528) and got some errors. I'll put them below. Doesn't break it, but some features don't work. Something to do with "NowPlaying.dll"
Unable to load plugin: H:\PortableApps\RainmeterPortable\App\Rainmeter\Plugins\NowPlaying.dll (126)
and
Plugin: "H:\PortableApps\RainmeterPortable\App\Rainmeter\Plugins\NowPlaying.dll" not found
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--Matthew Tam
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--Mark Twain
Been wanting to try this for awhile, and will, now that I've seen the portable version 8)
Does anyone know if this project is still alive? I've been trying to get into contact with Taffin but to no avail.
VirtualVirgo