ControlXtra

 

Compatibilities:

This item has not yet been rated

This FREE xtra adds spell checking with suggestions to director as well as UDP / TCP and USB HID support. Other features include a FindAndReplace in a string and returning a list of size x of prime numbers. I continue to add new features everyday, check out the website for more info!

Price: $0
Mediamacros makes no guarantees that this price is correct

Get the Xtra

----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Control Xtra ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ABOUT ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Created by Kevin Richard Fink January 22nd 2007 This is a work in progress xtra, as such some features are not yet fully operational.  Here is the current status of each call: Complete features: (stable) SendUDPMessage(ip, port, msg) -- Sends a string over UDP SendTCPMessage(ip, port, msg) -- Sends a string over TCP HasNext() -- Returns true if their are any messages received from UDP, TCP or HID USB GetNext() -- Returns the next message in the queue received from UDP, TCP or HID USB DestroyAllThreads() -- Stops all UDP, TCP, and HID communications GetListOfPrimes(numPrimes) -- Returns a list of primes of specified size. GetListOfDevices() -- Returns a list of every device connected to the computer. Beta features: (unstable) WaitForUDP(port) -- Waits for a connection on TCP,  DO NOT RUN TWO THREADS ON THE SAME PORT EVER! WaitForTCP(port) -- Waits for a connection on TCP,  DO NOT RUN TWO THREADS ON THE SAME PORT EVER! GetListOfHIDDevices() -- Returns the VendorID, VersionNumber and ProductID of all HID devices connected to your computer. CheckWord(Word) -- Returns true if the word is spelled correctly GetSuggestions(word) -- Returns a list of words closely matching the specified word. FindAndReplace(word, lookFor, replaceWith) -- Replaces a part of a string in a string with another string.  Returns the result. SendFile(IP, port, Filename) -- Sends a file to a waiting client WaitForFile(port, Filename) -- Receives a file stores it as filename isDone() -- Returns true if their are no active file transfers Alpha features: (Untested) -- Avoid using these SendDataToHIDDevice(Message) -- sends a message up to 64kbytes to the first active USB device... avoid multiple USB connections on the same xtra object. Returns -1 if you did not create a USB connection. InitGetDataFromHIDDevice( vendorID, ProductID, VersionNumber) -- Creates a communication for the specified USB device Please report any bugs to: Kevin Fink kfink@nvisionstudio.com 519-868-3649 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- INSTALLATION ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Simply copy "ControlXtra.x32" to your xtras directory off of your Director Installation. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- HOW TO USE ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- There are six basic procedures you need to know about: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- WaitForUDP (Object me, Integer PortNumber) DESCRIPTION: This function creates a thread that looks for UDP messages on the requested port. USAGE: object = new(xtra "ControlXtra") object.WaitForUDP( 1627 ) NOTE: To retrieve messages you will have to use getNext() and hasNext(). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- WaitForTCP (Object me, Integer PortNumber) DESCRIPTION: This function creates a thread that looks for TCP messages on the requested port. USAGE: object = new(xtra "ControlXtra") object.WaitForUDP( 1627 ) NOTE: To retrieve messages you will have to use getNext() and hasNext(). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- SendUDPMessage (Object me, String IP, Integer PortNumber, String Message) DESCRIPTION: This function sends a UDP packet containing your message to the specified port USAGE: object = new(xtra "ControlXtra") object.sendUDPMessage("192.168.0.100", 1627, "MY MESSAGE") ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- SendTCPMessage (Object me, String IP, Integer PortNumber, String Message) DESCRIPTION: This function sends a TCP packet containing your message to the specified port USAGE: object = new(xtra "ControlXtra") object.sendTCPMessage("192.168.0.100", 1627, "MY MESSAGE") ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- HasNext (Object me) DESCRIPTION: This function returns true if their are messages that have not yet been processed. USAGE: on startMovie global object object = new(xtra "ControlXtra") object.waitForUDP(1627) object.sendUDPMessage("192.168.0.100", 1627, "HERE IS A SAMPLE MESSAGE") end on enterFrame me global object if object.hasNext() then alert "THERE IS A NEW MESSAGE!!" end if end ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- GetNext (Object me) DESCRIPTION: This function returns any messages that have not yet been sent to director, or -1 if their is no messages. USAGE: on startMovie global object object = new(xtra "ControlXtra") object.waitForUDP(1627) object.sendUDPMessage("192.168.0.100", 1627, "HERE IS A SAMPLE MESSAGE") end on enterFrame me global object if object.hasNext() then alert object.getNext() end if end ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- DestroyAllThreads (Object me) DESCRIPTION: Basically a closing parameter in this application, it ensures that the memory is cleaned of any remaining unread messages and closes all open ports that it was using. USAGE: on startMovie global object object = new(xtra "ControlXtra") object.waitForUDP(1627) object.sendUDPMessage("192.168.0.100", 1627, "HERE IS A SAMPLE MESSAGE") end on enterFrame me global object if object.hasNext() then alert object.getNext() end if end on StopMovie global object if object <> void then object.DestroyAllThreads() end if end ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- GetListOfPrimes (Object me) DESCRIPTION: Returns a list containing the number of prime numbers specified USAGE: object = new(xtra "ControlXtra") put object.getListOfPrimes(100) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- GetListOfDevices (Object me) DESCRIPTION: Returns a list containing all devices connected to the pc. USAGE: object = new(xtra "ControlXtra") put object.getListOfDevices() ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- GetListOfHIDDevices (Object me) DESCRIPTION: Returns a list containing all connected HID devices connected to the pc. Each entry of the list consists of a versionID, versionNumber and a productID USAGE: object = new(xtra "ControlXtra") put object.getListOfHIDDevices() ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- SendDataToHIDDevices (Object me, String Message) DESCRIPTION: Sends a message to a connected HID device.  Extremely unstable. USAGE: object = new(xtra "ControlXtra") put object.sendDataToHIDDevices("Message") ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- InitGetDataFromHIDDevice (Object me, Integer vendorID, Integer productID, Integer versionNumber) DESCRIPTION: Starts a thread to get all incoming data from the specified USB device... 0 for any value becomes a wildcard.  Be as specific as possible to connect to the right device. Extremely unstable. USAGE: object = new(xtra "ControlXtra") put object.InitGetDataFromHIDDevice(vendorID, productID, versionNumber) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- checkWord (Object me, String word) DESCRIPTION: Returns true if the word is spelled correctly, false if it is not. USAGE: object = new(xtra "ControlXtra") put object.checkWord("test") ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- getSuggestions (Object me, String word) DESCRIPTION: Returns a list of strings closely matching the word specified USAGE: object = new(xtra "ControlXtra") if object.checkWord("testz") then alert object.getSuggestions("testz") end if ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- findAndReplace (Object me, String word, String lookFor, String replaceWith) DESCRIPTION: Replaces a string within a string with the specified string. USAGE: object = new(xtra "ControlXtra") alert output.findAndReplace("Testing", "tin", "lg") outputs: "Teslgg" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- SendFile (Object me, String IP, Integer Port, String Filename) DESCRIPTION: Sends a file over TCP USAGE: object = new(xtra "ControlXtra") output.SendFile("192.168.0.1",1222,"C:input") ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- WaitForFile (Object me, Integer Port, String Filename) DESCRIPTION: Retrieves a file from TCP (initialize this before you send a file) USAGE: object = new(xtra "ControlXtra") output.SendFile(1222,"C:output") ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- IsDone (Object me) DESCRIPTION: Returns true if their are no active file connection. USAGE: object = new(xtra "ControlXtra") put object.isDone() ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOT-AS-OF-YET-FREQUENTLY-ASKED-QUESTIONS ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- WHAT DOES IT COST?: Its free, and will remain free. WILL THE SOURCE CODE BE PROVIDED?: No, but if you would like modifications, contact me and we can work something out. WHAT DOES MULTITHREADED MEAN IN TERMS OF THIS XTRA?: Well for one, if you have multiple cores or cpus this application will make work for them to do.  The threading comes in the server portion of it, each time you call WaitForUDP(port) you create a new thread that exclusively handles incoming messages on that port.  There is also a main thread that handles calles for messages and sending messages, all other procedures share one thread. WHY CREATE THIS XTRA? CAN'T YOU USE MULTIUSER XTRA INSTEAD? Macromedia/Adobe no longer supports the MULTIUSER XTRA.  In short, its a horribly unfinished and confusing mess of an xtra.  If you've had the displeasure of using that Xtra you will understand.  There are also many limitations on it, expecially with peer-2-peer connections.  Limitations include no UDP support for P2P, limit of 8 connections on P2P and finally an ugly discontinued server app that they charge for.  Self discovery is impossible using MULTIUSER server, it can take sever seconds to try to establish a connection with a single IP, and has absolutely no threading, essentially you have to go at it one IP at a time. IS IT SHOCKWAVE-SAFE ? No, but I could provide a copy that is.  Contact me if your interested! I'm essentially holding back for more testing to ensure it will not produce any exploits. WHAT IS SELF-DISCOVERY? Although not a specific function in this xtra, it makes it possible!  If your on a network and want to establish a connection with another client that you don't have the address for.  With this you can use director to write your own self-discovery algorithm but here is the general idea. Find out your networks subet mask: ex 255.255.255.0 Find out your IP ex 192.168.0.1 Using the subnet mask and your IP, you know that clients will be in the range.  (ex from above) 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.0.255 Simply create a message with your location and send it to all other clients in that range.  ex "192.168.0.1 REQUEST_CONNECTION" You also want to scan for messages with the "REQUEST_CONNECTION" add the IP from that REQUEST, then send your IP and all the other clients you have with the same message.  Very quickly you will find all the clients on the network.