This is reposted - as I put this in the wrong forum the first time round.

Hi,

I'm new to this, I'm interested in using other people's apps for Vista Media Center and building my own and using them.

I've had a look at some of the documentation for developing apps, and I understand that I need to create xml files for a dll app to register it with media center. However, when I go to use the app it complains that it cannot find the dll. I've just been using the sample code which came with the media center sdk - I've not even started to develop my own apps yet. I wanted to get a full understanding of how to build, install and run the samples before I built my own ones.

The instructions I'm using are located here:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms815407.aspx

Can anyone tell me where I should locate my media center app dll? C:\Program Files\?

Many thanks for any links, feedback or pdfs with 'dummys' guide info.

Thanks

J

Have you tried C:\Windows\eHome - that's where Media Center lives.

Have you seen the media center sandbox site:

http://discuss.mediacentersandbox.com/forums/default.aspx

Many thanks I'll try "C:\Windows\eHome\" and see how I get on. I did try the Microsoft site, but could not easily find the information. I tried to register to use the forums, but my account has not been activated yet.  Thanks again for your feedback. I'll let you know how I get on.

holidayboy:

Have you tried C:\Windows\eHome - that's where Media Center lives.

Have you seen the media center sandbox site:

http://discuss.mediacentersandbox.com/forums/default.aspx

 

No joy :-(

I tried locating the dll in the C:\Windows\eHome directory.

I placed the dll and xml file in the above directory and registered the app using the instructions as described here:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb189728.aspx

I'm using the standard examples shipped with the Windows Media Center API, I've just complied the example code then followed the above instructions. The application is visible in media center but fails to launch. Any hints/help?

Placing the DLL in the C:\Windows\eHome\ folder is not the correct approach. The topic 'Using the Registration API or Utility with XML' at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb189728.aspx isn't the right resource for you to deploy a full application for developer or end user purposes. Without additional details I can only guess the assembly (DLL) is not in the Global Assembly Cache. It could also be you don't have the correct or full strong name of the assembly in the registration XML.

If you are developing for Windows Vista and Windows 7 you will want to use the 5.3 version of the SDK available here...

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=a43ea0b7-b85f-4612-aa08-3bf128c5873e

If you are developing for Windows 7 you will want to use the 6.0 version of the SDK available here...

http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/C/6/6C6B665D-6240-4958-A028-A944B8BD6860/WindowsMediaCenterSDK6.msi

Contained in each of those packages is a document called Windows Media Center Application Step By Step (find it in the Windows Start Menu) which will aid you in getting this right. Also, the primary Visual Studio templates in each of the SDKs match 1:1 with this white paper if you don't want to hand code the solution and prefer just to dive right in.

 Many thanks for your help. I will check my SDK version and look for the step by step guide.

Thanks again.