SCREENTEXT - an onscreen display frontend for TivoWebPlus 2.1+
v2.0.01 (5/10) © David J. Lauria 2008-10

downloads:	http://davidlauria.com/software
support:	http://djlcomputertips.blogspot.com/2008/03/support-thread-for-screentext.html
contact:	djl at DDB, djl25 at TCF, or email djlauria@aol.com

This script sends text messages to your TV, using either the built-in text2osd program, out2osd (which comes with the ncid caller-id utility), or the older newtext2osd.  This program is free software and is bundled with TivoWebPlus 2.1.  If you find it useful, In lieu of a donation please go to http://RejoiceTonight.com and consider downloading a song or two by the author's musical group!

Features -- Installation -- FAQ -- History

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Features

• Drop-down lists for delay, size, color, font (if installed)
• Will center, left and right justify text for standard-size fonts
• Format command removes extra whitespace and newlines, to better fit screen
• Export messages as bookmarks, in order to replay them later
• It blinks!
• GUI only shows available options for each program
• Saves defaults

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Installation

Copy it to your TivoWebPlus modules directory and do a quick reload.  It should work with all Tivos using the installed text2osd program, but for better output you're better off installing out2osd or text2osd.

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FAQ

• I thought out2osd supported truetype fonts.  Where are they?
  Out2osd does support truetype fonts - screentext expects them to be located in /var/hack/share/fonts.  If they are in a different directory you need to set FONT_PATH, like so: export FONT_PATH=/hacks/out2osd/fonts
• Why does 'Justify' disappear when I turn on truetype fonts?
  Screentext doesn't support this feature with variable-width fonts.
• Why is there no 'transparent' color for text2osd?
  Again, it's not supported by the program itself.  As an aside, the best transparent I've seen is actually created with the newtext2osd program.  It's worth grabbing a copy and installing it on your path somewhere, even if just for comparisons.
• Why is the text being shown on a big black box?
  The Series 1 version of text2osd is fairly wretched - It tries to cover the whole screen no matter how much text is sent to it.  Newer versions of screentext remove the option for a background color in order to get around this limitation.  Versions 1.0.03 and above fix this behavior.  However, if you're using a Series 1 I really urge you to install out2osd, as otherwise you're missing out on a bunch of cool options.
• Seriously, why does it blink?
  So I could flash "Emergency" at my kids in big red letters.  I'm not proud.
• Is this free?
  You bet.  if you find it useful, In lieu of a donation please go to http://itunes.com/st.lukeschurchcontemporarychoir and consider downloading a song or two by the author's musical group!

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History

2.1.01
- fixed small bug where wrong default osd program was chosen if text2osd was the only option

2.1.00
- rewrote blink function. It now backgrounds, so you don’t have to tie up your browser
- added a “Clear Screen” button, which should only appear if something is already being displayed

2.0.00
- GUI completely redesigned.  Now uses Javascript to enable/disable features that are specific to certain osd programs
 - newtext2osd support added
 - Screen layout changed so there's less chance of accidentally saving defaults when you meant to 'Send to TV'
 - added left and right justify
 - added blink

1.00.04 (7/08)
 - Checkboxes, again. Should now allow values to be changed for the current session without having to save defaults first.

1.00.03 (7/08)
 - Some simplifications were made to the code.  The module no longer auto-switches between programs if the defaults chosen by the user aren't available (ie, scaling the "Standard" font in out2osd).
 - Fixed more checkbox persistence
 - Removed background color option for series 1/text2osd in order to do away with the ugly screen-covering box
 - Cleaned up code to let out2osd run from its default location, even if it hasn't been added to the path explicitly
 - bug fixed where returns in text would multiply when "Save these defaults" was used on some browsers

1.00.02 (5/08)
 - Now sets FONT_PATH automatically for out2osd, even if not set in environment
 - There is no "clear" color for text2osd.  This is now indicated.
 - out2osd now backgrounds
 - bookmark text in page title
 - "Save these defaults" now auto-loads page
 - Multiple bug fixes:

• format didn't work correctly
• checkboxes did not persist
• bookmark threw an error if text contained a \n character

1.00.01 (5/08)
 - Rearranged layout to make keyboard entry easier
 - Added checks for negative x/y values
 - Removed "use text2osd" registration and replaced with a checkbox for out2osd
 - Now sets focus to text area automatically

1.00.00 (4/08)
- Initial release