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MSN 7 Countdown


Question

Well, I was bored this afternoon, so I threw together this stupid little program after a request from one of my friends. Basically, it just counts down the time until a specific event, updating your personal message at the specified interval. You can include a message before the counter, or just use the counter by itself. It also allows you to choose from 3 different icon types (Games, Office, Music).

The Format field uses variables, which are replaced by their respective values. See the program's Help dialog for information on the specific variables. You can also insert variables by right-clicking in the Format field, and selecting any of the values in the menu. The Frequency determines how often the counter will be updated, in milliseconds. This value seems to be limited by MSN to about 6 seconds (6000ms).

msn.jpg

interface.jpg

Get it here: http://sack.ath.cx:8080/drop/MSNCount.zip (right-click, save target as)

Disclaimer: This program is provided as-is, and I cannot be held responsible if it decides to ruin your computer, light your house on fire and/or run away with your spouse.

NOTE: This program requires the .NET Framework Version 1.1. If it tells you it failed to initialize, that's probably why. It also requires that the "What I'm Listening To" feature be enabled in MSN. Credit for the Personal Message code goes to doggie from the mess.be forums - thanks for your work :)

Edited by parad0x
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https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/317451-msn-7-countdown/
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edit: nvm, what's frequency

585886475[/snapback]

The frequency determines how often the program will update your personal message. The value is in milliseconds, so a frequency of 6000 will update the counter every 6 seconds.

Thanks for all the comments everyone! BTW, if anybody is interested in the VB.NET source code, just send me a PM... it's poorly commented (not commented at all :p) but you're welcome to have it if you want.

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kick ass man!  except you should probably of added an apperance part.  what if i just wanted to display the amount of days?  or the amount of hours and days.  something like that..

(dd:hh)

585886650[/snapback]

That's an easy feature to implement, so here it is! :D

newinterface.jpg

In the format box, you can use these preset variables to insert the various parts of the counter:

%d %h %m %s - These will be replaced by the plain number values. So if there are 3 days left, %d will simply have a value of 3.

%D %H %M %S - These are replaced by the number values and a text description. So if there are 15 hours left, %H will have a value of "15 hours".

Here's a link to the new version: http://sack.ath.cx:8080/drop/msncount2.exe

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The app failed to install for me for "security reasons" and then all this popped up:

System.Security.SecurityException: Request for the permission of type System.Security.Permissions.UIPermission, mscorlib, Version=1.0.5000.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089 failed.

at System.Security.CodeAccessSecurityEngine.CheckHelper(PermissionSet grantedSet, PermissionSet deniedSet, CodeAccessPermission demand, PermissionToken permToken)

at System.Security.CodeAccessSecurityEngine.Check(PermissionToken permToken, CodeAccessPermission demand, StackCrawlMark& stackMark, Int32 checkFrames, Int32 unrestrictedOverride)

at System.Security.CodeAccessSecurityEngine.Check(CodeAccessPermission cap, StackCrawlMark& stackMark)

at System.Security.CodeAccessPermission.Demand()

at System.Windows.Forms.NotifyIcon.UpdateIcon(Boolean showIconInTray)

at System.Windows.Forms.NotifyIcon..ctor()

at MSNCountdown.Form1.Form1_Load(Object sender, EventArgs e)

at System.Windows.Forms.Form.OnLoad(EventArgs e)

at System.Windows.Forms.Form.OnCreateControl()

at System.Windows.Forms.Control.CreateControl(Boolean fIgnoreVisible)

at System.Windows.Forms.Control.CreateControl()

at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmShowWindow(Message& m)

at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)

at System.Windows.Forms.ScrollableControl.WndProc(Message& m)

at System.Windows.Forms.ContainerControl.WndProc(Message& m)

at System.Windows.Forms.Form.WmShowWindow(Message& m)

at System.Windows.Forms.Form.WndProc(Message& m)

at System.Windows.Forms.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m)

at System.Windows.Forms.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)

at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)

************** Loaded Assemblies **************

mscorlib

Assembly Version: 1.0.5000.0

Win32 Version: 1.1.4322.2032

CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/microsoft.net/framework/v1.1.4322/mscorlib.dll

----------------------------------------

System.Drawing

Assembly Version: 1.0.5000.0

Win32 Version: 1.1.4322.2032

CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/system.drawing/1.0.5000.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/system.drawing.dll

----------------------------------------

System

Assembly Version: 1.0.5000.0

Win32 Version: 1.1.4322.2032

CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/system/1.0.5000.0__b77a5c561934e089/system.dll

----------------------------------------

RegexAssembly4_0

Assembly Version: 0.0.0.0

Win32 Version: n/a

CodeBase:

----------------------------------------

IEExecRemote

Assembly Version: 1.0.5000.0

Win32 Version: 1.1.4322.2032

CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/ieexecremote/1.0.5000.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/ieexecremote.dll

----------------------------------------

MSN Countdown

Assembly Version: 1.0.1953.21287

Win32 Version: n/a

CodeBase: http://sack.ath.cx:8080/drop/msncount2.exe

----------------------------------------

System.Windows.Forms

Assembly Version: 1.0.5000.0

Win32 Version: 1.1.4322.2032

CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/system.windows.forms/1.0.5000.0__b77a5c561934e089/system.windows.forms.dll

Any idea why?

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can you plz make the app remember the previous settings?

585889060[/snapback]

that would be a good idea. i put up my birthday count down.. and i think remembering that would be cool :) cause i'd have to load the program daily.

i also have a few more features for you.. i think this will turn out to be a project instead:

- can you disable icons? or does it always need to have something there?

- remember previous settings

- add a quick panel, or a check box, to display times.. like the %D, %H options.. incase people get confused

great work so far :) im really liking this, and gonna keep using this

BTW: can anyone get these icons for download? i'd like to use them in conversations

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