Hey all,

Doing a bit of swapping computers myself, I've written a plugin that uploads my settings (encrypted) to a server after every session on MSN, and downloads them again whenever I run MSN at any new location. It works quite well, so I was wondering if anyone wants to help me test it.

http://www.josolyne.demon.co.uk/PlusSettings.exe



EDIT:
New Version 0.4: Multi-threaded to stop GUI being unresponsive when doing stuff
Added verbose option
Added backup/restore options to plus conversation menu
Settings now encrypted into registry
Fixed bug where uploading and downloading at the same time caused an error
General fixing/tidying (I might release the source soon... I don't know if I'll get around to making it back up winks/emoticons etc, but we'll see)

Version 0.3: Backs up MSN Messenger and Messenger Plus! settings now
Fixed crash on reload

Version 0.23: Backing up on close actually works now

Version 0.22: Several Changes (See page 2 of this thread)
Should work on WinME & Earlier now

Version 0.21: Choose a folder to upload to. Multi-user support better.
Slight GUI rejig. DLL size smaller

Version 0.2. Now uploads to a FTP server of your choice (still using Zip Encryption/Compression). Majorly more stable than last version (most code re-written). Major GUI changes too.



Thx, XgD

Sounds like a great idea, I thought about making a similar plugin once, but never got around to it. 

Is there an option to specfiy a server to use?  As most people would want to use their own.

Sounds cool, I wouldnt mind beta testing
PM me if I can or check my profile for my email

I'm down for this idea i have 2 computers here so i can play around with it and tell you my experiences...

Well its a CGI/Perl script at the server end... server address is hard-coded at the moment. I'd rather keep it on my own server at the moment while any major bugs are sorted. (settings files are zipped with a password of the users choice... so no problem with security)

I'm packaging it up into a setup file now, so I'll send you the link when I'm done

XgD

can we see these files?

Add me to your MSN if you want to test please (use g-mail address above)

XgD

maybe you could make it so it ftp's that encrypted zip to a FTP Server

This sounds like a really good idea.. ... As Dempsey said.. I thought about this too, it sounds really great.. ..
It only sends the registry part right?...
Maybe in a later version, when it's stable and all, then also add option to zip and send Emotions/DP's etc...? ...

quote:

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Originally posted by Ezra
maybe you could make it so it ftp's that encrypted zip to a FTP Server

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The FTP seems to be working, but maybe you can add a way to choose a folder on the ftp server (some people can't put stuff in the root)

And I set a password in the config, and when I wanted to back up my settings it asked for a password again twice.

quote:

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Originally posted by Ezra
The FTP seems to be working, but maybe you can add a way to choose a folder on the ftp server (some people can't put stuff in the root)

And I set a password in the config, and when I wanted to back up my settings it asked for a password again twice.

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Could you make it also save your MSN settings?

and maybe like cyberdude said, be abled to save your dp's and stuff

and maybe a checkbox what settings you would like to save.

Something I like to see changed from the setup:

1. Show the log screen, don't skip on it (aka: don't automatically jump to the final "finish" page). Some people might like to know which files are installed where (like me), especially if you install 3rd party libraries in the user's system directory!

1. Don't use external DLL's if you can avoid them. UNZDLL.DLL and ZIPDLL.DLL (a total of 240kb!) can be avoided if you include your own zip code in your delphi project. On the net you can find sources for this. Or you can even provide you own compression scheme.
   
2. Make the log window of your plugin not word-wrapped; it's hard to read.
   
3. Make the log window at least resizeable.
   
4. Fix spelling mistakes and be consequent in the way a line is shown:
   

   quote:

   ---

   Exporting Settings...
   Compressing File to C:\me@blah.com.zip...
   duplicate filename removed Orig name: C:\me@blah.com.reg ,New name : me@blah.com.reg
   duplicate filename removed Orig name: C:\me@blah.com.reg ,New name : me@blah.com.reg
   duplicate filename removed Orig name: C:\me@blah.com.reg ,New name : me@blah.com.reg
     adding: me@blah.com.reg
   Preparing FTP...
   Resolving hostname .
   Connecting to 192.168.1.103.
   Disconnecting from 192.168.1.103.
   Not connected.
   Error. Upload unsucessful

   ---

   make that something like (notice the added or removed spaces, moved comma's, added lines and other stuff):

   quote:

   ---

   Exporting Settings...
   
   Compressing file to "C:\me@blah.com.zip"...
   Duplicate filename removed (Orig name: "C:\me@blah.com.reg", New name: "me@blah.com.reg")
   Duplicate filename removed (Orig name: "C:\me@blah.com.reg", New name: "me@blah.com.reg")
   Duplicate filename removed (Orig name: "C:\me@blah.com.reg", New name: "me@blah.com.reg")
     Adding: "me@blah.com.reg"
     Tracing: "C:\temp0082.zip"
     Updating: "me@blah.com.reg"
   
   Preparing FTP...
     Resolving hostname
     Connecting to 192.168.1.103
     Disconnecting from 192.168.1.103
     Not connected
   
   Error: Upload unsuccessfull

   ---

   And a few remarks/questions about this logging:
   • What does the "Duplicate filename removed" exactly mean?
     
   • Why three times that same message?
     
   • Why is the new name the same as the old name?
     
   • Where are there spaced before "Adding me@blah.com.reg" and not before other sub-messages?
     
   • Why comes the message "Compressing file" before the "Duplicate" and "Adding" messages? This doesn't make sense, unless "Compressing file" actually means "Creating file" and the "Adding" actually means "Compressing".
     
   • What is the "trace: Temp Filename" used for?
   
   
5. Temporary files are not removed! (the reg and zip files)
   
6. Do not store the reg files as version 5.00 files, but as version 4 files! This because your tool with otherwise not work on other OS's than XP/NT...
   Version 5.0 registry files start with the header: "Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00", and are not downwards compatible!
   Version 4.0 registry files have the header: "REGEDIT4", and are upwards compatible!
   
7. If you show a message box or input box, show them in front (aka on top) of the windows. Currently they appear behind all the windows.
   
8. Make it possible to provide no password. Currently when the password input box appears and you leave it blank, the log outputs "Missing or empty zip file".
   
9. If there was an error in creating or updating the zip, do not attempt to open the FTP connection. It doesn't make sense to upload when there is nothing to upload. The backup process should be stopped after the zip error.
   
10. If previously a password was entered but not remembered and a zipfile was created using that password, the next time you backup without entering a password the zipfile is either not successfully updated but no error is given or the previously entered password is used (didn't tested which was the case). Iether way this is bad/buggy behaviour.

I believe he uses cmd to make the reg file, so it's windows fault.
The rest are valid things

You've been REALLY debugging cookie

Wow, OK:

quote:

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Originally posted by CookieRevised
Something I like to see changed from the setup:

1. Show the log screen, don't skip on it (aka: don't automatically jump to the final "finish" page). Some people might like to know which files are installed where (like me), especially if you install 3rd party libraries in the user's system directory!

---

quote:

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Some tips/pointers/requests:[*]Don't use external DLL's if you can avoid them. UNZDLL.DLL and ZIPDLL.DLL (a total of 240kb!) can be avoided if you include your own zip code in your delphi project. On the net you can find sources for this. Or you can even provide you own compression scheme.

---

quote:

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[*]Make the log window of your plugin not word-wrapped; it's hard to read.
[*]Make the log window at least resizeable.

---

quote:

---

[*]Fix spelling mistakes and be consequent in the way a line is shown

---

quote:

---

And a few remarks/questions about this logging:

• What does the "Duplicate filename removed" exactly mean?
  

  ---

quote:

---

Why three times that same message?

Why is the new name the same as the old name?

---

quote:

---

Where are there spaced before "Adding me@blah.com.reg" and not before other sub-messages?

---

quote:

---

Why comes the message "Compressing file" before the "Duplicate" and "Adding" messages? This doesn't make sense, unless "Compressing file" actually means "Creating file" and the "Adding" actually means "Compressing".

What is the "trace: Temp Filename" used for?

---

quote:

---

[*]Temporary files are not removed! (the reg and zip files)

---

quote:

---

[*]Do not store the reg files as version 5.00 files, but as version 4 files! This because your tool with otherwise not work on other OS's than XP/NT...

---

quote:

---

[*]If you show a message box or input box, show them in front (aka on top) of the windows. Currently they appear behind all the windows.

---

quote:

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[*]Make it possible to provide no password. Currently when the password input box appears and you leave it blank, the log outputs "Missing or empty zip file".
[*]If there was an error in creating or updating the zip, do not attempt to open the FTP connection. It doesn't make sense to upload when there is nothing to upload. The backup process should be stopped after the zip error.

---

quote:

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[*]If previously a password was entered but not remembered and a zipfile was created using that password, the next time you backup without entering a password the zipfile is either not successfully updated but no error is given or the previously entered password is used (didn't tested which was the case). Iether way this is bad/buggy behaviour.[/list=1]

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quote:

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Originally posted by XgD
The installer was a default script for NIS... I'll write my own soon. (Actually, I remember seeing a plugin installer on mess.be a while ago which I might look for soon)

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quote:

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Originally posted by XgD

quote:

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Don't use external DLL's if you can avoid them.

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This made things a lot easier. Is it so bad to have 240kb of DLL files? I would put them in the same folder as my DLL, but MsgPlus might have tried to read them as plugin DLLs, so I just put them in SYSTEM32. I'll change that in future though.

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quote:

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Originally posted by XgD
The inconsistencies are due to the debug code being outputed by different components. I tried to link them up as best as possible, and I'll try to see what I can do.

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quote:

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Originally posted by XgD
I can't see any spelling mistakes. Do you mean grammar?

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quote:

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Originally posted by XgD

quote:

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1) Why three times that same message?
2) Why is the new name the same as the old name?

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(1)It tries 3 times if the password is incorrect
(2)The filename is the same each time (email@address.reg/zip)

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quote:

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Originally posted by XgD

quote:

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Temporary files are not removed! (the reg and zip files)

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They are (or should be) if the backup is successful

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quote:

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Originally posted by XgD

quote:

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Do not store the reg files as version 5.00 files, but as version 4 files!

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I can change the first line to "REGEDIT4" if that would be better?

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quote:

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Originally posted by XgD

quote:

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if you show a message box or input box, show them in front (aka on top) of the windows. Currently they appear behind all the windows.

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I think thats a bug with Delphi's stay-on-top code, but I'll look into it

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This is a very good plugin i must say . I could not get it to work for me, I have provided a screenshot so you get an idea what it looks like for me

Suggestions:

First thing I noticed, the nsis installer is very professional and worked well, however I did not like how you skipped what files were views at the end. I also think you could skin the installer, I would help you if you wanted

Second you could make lanuage files for different languages
Thrid, give more of a gui, maybe a logo for a more professional look

Otherwise I loved the plugin it was great

I wish Messenger Plus! had something like this itself. Instead of the sounds server, have a settings server. The sounds were just pretty much a trend and now almost everyone on my contact list has Plus! and its not really used anymore. Setting up a settings server would:
1) Even reduce the load on the server further as much people wouldnt use this either unless they move around alot
2) It be a great Plus! included feature and a way to further promote Plus! to other people.

What settings are transfered BTW? Some id like to see
- Contacts on Desktop
- Emoticions
- DP
- Prefrences
- Font and its color/format

quote:

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Originally posted by riahc4
Setting up a settings server would:
1) Even reduce the load on the server further as much people wouldnt use this either unless they move around alot

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quote:

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Originally posted by riahc4
What settings are transfered BTW?

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OK, I've rewritten the backup code (restore code still needs more work) to address most of what you said before.

It still uses external DLLs but these are in subdirectories under the plugins folder. I've neatened it up a little.

If you're still having problems, please add me (e-mail is in 1st post)

http://www.josolyne.demon.co.uk/PlusSettings.exe

Thanks

XgD

Just got a great idea

How about also storing a hash of the zip or just the reg file, on the server so you first download the hash, calculate the hash of the local copy, and if they are the same you don't have to up/download.

For me personally it won't be a problem, but for people on dial-in, they would notice 1~2 MB's up/downloaded everytime they close and open MSN.



EDIT: Found out the zip on my server was only 150 Kb/s , but still I think it will be a good idea.

It's nonsense to download and upload a file everytime, even if it hasn't changed.

EDIT2: There also seems to be a problem when reloading plugins, your plugin causes MSN to crash.

quote:

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Originally posted by Ezra
Just got a great idea

How about also storing a hash of the zip or just the reg file, on the server so you first download the hash, calculate the hash of the local copy, and if they are the same you don't have to up/download.

For me personally it won't be a problem, but for people on dial-in, they would notice 1~2 MB's up/downloaded everytime they close and open MSN.



EDIT: Found out the zip on my server was only 150 Kb/s , but still I think it will be a good idea.

It's nonsense to download and upload a file everytime, even if it hasn't changed.

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quote:

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EDIT2: There also seems to be a problem when reloading plugins, your plugin causes MSN to crash.

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Another update... fixing a few bugs, few new things. See first post for info

XgD

is there any way to make this work with WLM 8.5???

quote:

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Originally posted by warmth
is there any way to make this work with WLM 8.5???

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• The preferences of Plus! Live are totally different than those of Plus! 3.
  
• The location where the preferences are stored was changed.
  
• The plug-in isn't written for Plus! Live, because it simply didn't exist yet!

Hmm, i thought I had replied to this already. Seems my post didnt post.

Anyway, it said something along the lines of the above post, that everything's changed and its not going towork without a rewrite in the new scripting language.

I'm not using multiple computers any more, so theres no incentive for me to re-create this, although if there is a demand for it, i might consider a re-write for MP Live.

XgD

quote:

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Originally posted by Mattike
Of course, someone could try and create a similar script which does this for Plus! Live, but it's somewhat impossible to port this plug-in straight to Plus! Live.

Please note before posting: the last reply was posted on 10 November 2005, that's 2 years ago! Please let these threads just die silently.

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quote:

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Originally posted by XgD
although if there is a demand for it, i might consider a re-write for MP Live.

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Well it will be some time until I am able to work on it (probably around christmas time), and there's no guarantee the scripting language will be able to do what I wanted to do (multithreads, hash generation etc), but i have some ideas about how to improve it.

Thinking about it, I'd have to implement a ZIP function and a FTP function into (Java?)Script, which seems a little excessive, so unless I can use the script as some sort of wrapper for my DLL/EXE, it seems a non-starter.

As I say, I've not looked at the scripting language for MP!Live, but I will release my old source code if will help anyone to create this.

XgD

Any updates on this?

Hi,

Sorry, I've not done any MP development for a year or so now. I do like the new scripting stuff, but I don't really have any time to work on it.

Sorry,

XgD