HydrogenAudio

Hosted Forums => foobar2000 => General - (fb2k) => Topic started by: tenzip on 2009-08-14 21:44:24

Title: Pause on screensaver
Post by: tenzip on 2009-08-14 21:44:24
Is it possible or feasible to pause playback when the screen saver is active?

I did a search, but did not find anything on point.  Perhaps I could have searched harder, but searching "pause screensaver" didn't return anything obvious.

I am using foobar2000 v0.9.6.8 at work under XP, and would like playback to pause when I am not working at my PC.

Having it auto-un-pause on SS deactivation would be cool, too, but not as cool as having it pause on SS activation.

Thanks
Title: Pause on screensaver
Post by: shakey_snake on 2009-08-14 21:51:27
I think you could use pause on lock (http://www.foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_lock) assuming your PC locks when it goes to screensaver.
Title: Pause on screensaver
Post by: tenzip on 2009-08-14 22:00:10
I think you could use pause on lock (http://www.foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_lock) assuming your PC locks when it goes to screensaver.


Thank you for that, sir  (sir?)  I will give that a try, it looks like exactly what I want, as it does lock when the SS activates.
Title: Pause on screensaver
Post by: tenzip on 2009-08-14 22:25:01
Well, that sort of works.  It does pause on locking the PC, but doesn't do it until the screensaver is de-activated.  IOW, it continues playing merrily while the screensaver is active, and when the PC actually locks (when the mouse is moved), then it pauses.  And un-pauses when the PC is unlocked.

I guess I'll just have to get in the habit of locking manually.  It would have been nice to have it do it automatically, though.

Thanks again.
Title: Pause on screensaver
Post by: smkk on 2009-08-14 22:38:29
Windows key+L and the pc is locked in less than a second. =)
Title: Pause on screensaver
Post by: odyssey on 2009-08-14 23:55:43
Although pause on lock would probably work pretty well in this situation, I actually think it would be a nice addition to foo_scheduler, to perform some event after xx HID idle time.
Title: Pause on screensaver
Post by: tenzip on 2009-08-15 01:45:33
Windows key+L and the pc is locked in less than a second. =)

I've used the 3-finger salute and enter for so many years I'm not sure I'm retrainable, but thanks.

Although pause on lock would probably work pretty well in this situation, I actually think it would be a nice addition to foo_scheduler, to perform some event after xx HID idle time.


I was going to look at the scheduler component, but hadn't gotten to it yet.  I assume from your post that it doesn't already have this function?  That's exactly what I'm looking for, if I haven't touched mouse or KB for, say, a minute and a half, pause the music, because I'm either on the phone, or have left the office.
Title: Pause on screensaver
Post by: odyssey on 2009-08-15 01:54:43
No it's not supported, and it's not even sure that further development of foo_scheduler will happen at all, but still it's a great component that can do various tasks for you

That said, I've been thinking that this must be possible by a workaround... If you are willing to give up screensaver, I think you could create an exe from something like autoit3 code (compiler included - script is somewhat alá vbscript). With such code you should be able to send advanced commands to foobar2000 or simply calling the cmdline. You might even have luck launching a screensaver after such command

Note, screensavers are simply exe-files renamed to .scr and put in Windows-directory. I might give it a try this weekend to see if it's possible.
Title: Pause on screensaver
Post by: tenzip on 2009-08-15 02:32:28
I might give it a try this weekend to see if it's possible.

If you make it work, I will send you an intarweb cookie.  Chocolate chip and walnut OK?   

As far as all the cool things scheduler can do, I'm sure it does, but I just need background music to cover up folks talking on the phone down the hall, so I can concentrate on what I'm working on.

Now if you can make a component that will auto-increase the volume when the blower fan for the A/C comes on, I might send you a batch of real cookies. 
Title: Pause on screensaver
Post by: odyssey on 2009-08-15 12:18:46
Now if you can make a component that will auto-increase the volume when the blower fan for the A/C comes on, I might send you a batch of real cookies. 

Hmm.... If you are able to get a reading on the fan speed somehow, you could probably attach it to a fan-pin on the mainboard and use Speedfan to perform an action  Btw, foo_scheduler does exactly this!
Title: Pause on screensaver
Post by: tenzip on 2009-08-15 22:52:49
Running a cable from the furnace room across and down the hall just to adjust volume falls into the working too hard for laziness category, I believe.   

I can probably just reach behind me and twist the knob, if needed.
Title: Pause on screensaver
Post by: odyssey on 2009-08-16 00:04:52
Thinking further of it, it would actually be cool if you had a program that could adjust output volume according the average noise from a microphone. Some car-stereos has the same feature which are quite useful to adjust volume automatically depending on how fast you drive. Could be a nice addition to a CarPC as well.
Title: Pause on screensaver
Post by: GeSomeone on 2009-08-16 10:18:29
Is it possible or feasible to pause playback when the screen saver is active?

As foo_lock doesn't pause when (only) the screensaver hits, I like to mention that the component foo_AdvancedControls (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=51089&hl=foo_advancedcontrols) has an option to do it.
Title: Pause on screensaver
Post by: tenzip on 2009-08-16 20:57:43
As foo_lock doesn't pause when (only) the screensaver hits, I like to mention that the component foo_AdvancedControls (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=51089&hl=foo_advancedcontrols) has an option to do it.

Sweet!  That seems to work fine at home, so I have no doubt it will at work also.  I'm not thrilled about the addition to my already too-cluttered tray, but I think the functionality will offset that.

Thank you!
Title: Pause on screensaver
Post by: tenzip on 2009-08-16 21:40:55
Thinking further of it, it would actually be cool if you had a program that could adjust output volume according the average noise from a microphone. Some car-stereos has the same feature which are quite useful to adjust volume automatically depending on how fast you drive. Could be a nice addition to a CarPC as well.

While that would work in theory, I can picture this scenario:  My boss walks into my office and starts talking, raising the average noise level, so the volume cranks up to compensate, which causes him to talk louder, etc., and I get fired for playing my music too loud.   

Sounds great for a car, but I'm not sure it would work well in an office.