[wxqc] WeatherLink's intrusive screen during uploading - a fix

Thu Mar 16 16:32:44 EST 2006

I'd recommend posting questions on "how to" with this DLL on the WeatherLink forum where the author might see them, I don't know that we have any experts on it on this list BUT try this first - if I remember right, the expansion module directory must be named Expansion_Modules.  

It most definitely works perfectly for me with WeatherLink 5.6a.

When you say "nothing happened" do you mean that the GUI fixer wasn't available to select under "manage modules" or that it was available, you selected it, and then nothing happened?  And "nothing happened" could be an accurate description of this functioning properly, as you'll no longer be plagued by the progresss window forcing its way to the forefront during uploads.

Other tips from the thread at the WeatherLink forum where the download link is located include:

"Hi, sorry it's been a while (work, y'know.) Anyway, here are things I'd try:

0. Make sure you've put the DLL in the correct Expansion_Modules directory. If you have several old versions of WeatherLink laying around, you might not have it where you expect. If you're not sure, right click on the start button, and pick Explore or Explore all users. Navigate to find the shortcut you use to launch WeatherLink. Right click on the WeatherLink shortcut, then pick "properties". In the shortcut tab, you should see a "Target" field containing something like "c:\program files\weatherlink 55\weatherlink551.exe" (I think that's the default if you didn't change folders during installation), and in the "Start in" field, it should have something matching, like "c:\program files\weatherlink 55". The DLL should be a subfolder of the "Start in" folder called "Expansion_Modules". So, the whole filename to the DLL from the above example would be "c:\program files\weatherlink 55\expansion_modules\WxLinkGUIfixer.DLL" 

1. Verify that your ModuleList.dat file is read/write, and not "read only". It's in the same Expansion_Modules folder described above. You can right click on ModuleList.dat, then pick "Properties". Near the bottom of the general tab is an attribute check box marked "Read-only": make sure it's clear (not checked.) This could possibly be why it could be temporarily working, but fails to restart.

2. Verify you have the latest version of WeatherLink; mine is 5.5.1, dated 11/12/2004. I coded the expansion module to not complain if WeatherLink is at 5.5.0, but I didn't test it with that version.

3. If you have any other expansion modules installed, try disabling them temporarily. My DLL might not work and play well with others -- I've only tested it in conjunction with the WeatherUnderground module.

4. Give up.  Seriously, this really was a hack; I debugged my way through the tip of the weatherunderground expansion module. There is absolutely no documentation, and the only clues I have are four function entry points, helpfully named WLinkExpModuleCaps, WLinkExpModuleCommands, WLinkExpModuleInit, and WLinkExpModuleStrs. I intercepted these calls, and made some educated assumptions about the data I saw flowing through the code. It wasn't too long before I got lost with all the various calls being made at seemingly random times. I tried to emulate its behavior, or at least enough of it to accomplish this task. I certainly may not have covered enough bases.

If you do figure out a way to make it work, please post your results here. If it's a technical issue, I might be able to fix it in the code if I can duplicate the bug. If it's a procedural problem, other people might benefit from your experience. And if you give up, well, I certainly learn from bad things too.

Thanks for trying it!"

gary.oldham(at)adelphia.net

---- Paul Grace <paulgrace at lookoutranch.com> wrote: 

=============
I created the directory (no expansion directory existed), copied the DLL in,
selected Manage Modules from the file menu, and nothing happens-  I have
WL5.6a, but it does not appear to work. Any simple thing I'm missing?

-----Original Message-----
From: wxqc-bounces at lists.gladstonefamily.net
[mailto:wxqc-bounces at lists.gladstonefamily.net] On Behalf Of
gary.oldham at adelphia.net
Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2006 11:07
To: wxqc at lists.gladstonefamily.net
Subject: [wxqc] WeatherLink's intrusive screen during uploading - a fix

I've recently read messages from a number of people who are bothered (as was
I) by the dialog box that forces its way to the top when WeatherLink is
doing uploads to web pages or CWOP.

A member of the WeatherLink forum has come up with a DLL (that's handled as
an Expansion Module by WeatherLink) that essentially cures this problem.  As
he describes it, "Because of the way Davis wrote WeatherLink, I can't just
"remove" the dialog. I'm simply hiding it. That means, it still pops up and
becomes active while it's working, you just don't see it because I made it
very tiny. When it's uploading, the WeatherLink window will be "inactive",
beeping if you click on it. This is normal, and is exactly like it used to
be with the dialog in place. Don't worry, it will eventually come back to
you."  

What this means in practice is that you can minimize the WeatherLink window
and "get on with your life" doing other things, and when WeatherLink is
doing uploads, it won't take control of your computer.  Or, if you just want
to be watching WeatherLink display your weather conditions, the screen won't
be overtaken by the upload dialog box.  I've been using this DLL for some
while when I'm using WeatherLink and it works very well.

More information and a download link can be found at
http://n6skk.proboards20.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1
114328207, and the main page for the WeatherLink forum is at
http://n6skk.proboards20.com/.  This is not an official Davis forum (there
isn't one), and Davis has yet to make an appearance (though rumor has it
they occasionally lurk), but WeatherLink users might find some helpful tips
(and people) there.  I do moderate this forum (as well as one for WxSolution
at http://wxsolution.proboards3.com/ which is sanctioned by WxSolution's
developer and serves as their "unofficial" forum, and last and not least,
www.weatherforum.net.

Gary
CW0146

gary.oldham(at)adelphia.net
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