Graphics

Hi,

I'm new to Ross XPression and still learning what can be done.

I'm posting some of my sample/test scripts on GitHub: https://github.com/erikusaj/Ross_XPression_scripting

Mostly experiments using following COM objects: FSO, MSXML2, ADODB.

Hope they can be of some use.

[I]XPression_StaticMap.vbs[/I]

script to generate a Map of your location from Google static maps API edit

[I]XPression_QRcode.vbs[/I]

script to generate a QR code by using Google chart API

[I]XPression_GoogleChartMap.vbs[/I]

script to generate a Geo-political map texture by using GoogleChart API

[I]XPression_TVshow_Banner.vbs[/I]

script to retrieve a banner for a TV-show from www.thetvdb.com

thank you Erik!

#XPression

Hope you they are useful at least as learning examples.

I was hoping the TV-station I was working for would adopt some solution, for Example you can use a Twitter intent URL (https://dev.twitter.com/docs/intents) to follow someone by scanning a code on TV, or retweet something doing the same.

If you use a url-shortener this can be also used to to measure conversions via TV.

As for the TV show banner sample the idea would be to set up a in-house server with show assets. Textures for Bugs / credit squeeze, etc. can be then generated by calling the server API. Again mostly a proof-of-concept. If there is no-API it can still be used to load textures based on some naming conventions.

Another thing I was experimenting was controlling a 3rd-party CG (some opensource CG) via the XPression rundown. A simple scene with a script that sends a command with parameters can do the trick. In such way all can be served by MOS automation edited and previewed in the newsroom tool, controlled in XPression Remote Sequencer ...

#XPression

These scripts are great! One question: the first Static_Map in the rundown seems to always default to the previous map that was loaded. The next Static_Map in the sequence loads correctly. Any ideas?

Also, Noob Questions: COM objects. FSO, MSXML2, ADODB. What are these, and how do I know I have them "installed"?

#XPression

Regarding the loading question I'm not sure. would need to debug and update it a bit. Looking at the code it might be better if I deleted the file and texture. In such way it would be always loaded.

As per COM object libraries:

In general they are all available on Windows. If some COM object is not available the CreateObject would return an error. Looking at the code I did not add appropriate error handling on object creation:

On Error Resume Next

obj = CreateObject(" ... ")

If Err.Number 0 Then

' code to output error message: Err.Number Err.Description

End If

FSO = FileSystemObject, contains functions enabling working with files, folders and drives from scripts. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/d6dw7aeh(v=vs.84).aspx

Used to delete files, or to create folders.

MSXML = Microsoft XML Core Services (MSXML) provides a comprehensive set of W3C compliant XML APIs. This is needed if you wish to use some XML-related functions.

Used for parsing some XML node.

ADODB - ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) contains objects with functions to access data sources.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms681025(v=vs.85).aspx

I used the ADODB.Stream object to save the response body as stream to a file.

But other ADO objects can be used for example to connect to a database and retrieve data - ADODB.connection and ADODB.Recordset objects.

#XPression

It seems to be working now but I wasn't sure where to enter that code at :/

I added:

1. Text2 field which the user can specify the zoom level between 1 and 24.

2. A red label that centers on map with the letter "L" for "Location".

Dim Text1 As xpTextObject

Self.GetObjectByName("Text1", Text1)

Dim Text2 As xpTextObject

Self.GetObjectByName("Text2", Text2)

Dim url="http://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/staticmap?center=" & Text1.Text & "&zoom=" & Text2.Text & "&size=400x400&markers=color:red%7Clabel:L%7C" & Text1.Text & "&maptype=roadmap&sensor=false"

#XPression

Just note, when using any Web API, pay attention to any use limits:

https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/staticmaps/#Limits

as well as any other terms & conditions.

#XPression

Thanks for linking that. I did read the terms before considering using google for maps.

Thanks again Erik!

#XPression