Transformer Framework - Transform everything with TC!

[Summr]

Transformer Framework v1.0 filesystem plugin for Total Commander.

With the plugins coded for this framework you can do almost everything that needs file modification. From compression/encryption to different converters or collecting information about files, it's simple and easy. Only your creativity sets the limit.

You can test, and code plugins for this version. If you have any comment or suggestion for further development you can post it here or send an e-mail to info[at]transformerfw[dot]com. The official website of the framework is under construction, you can find every important information in the framework help and plugin sdk help.

For further information about the usage see the 3rd post or the help file (TransformerFWHelp.chm) of Transformer Framework in TransformerFW.zip

Transformer Framework filesystem plugin:
http://www.transformerfw.com/downloads/v1/TransformerFW.zip

Transformer Framework filesystem plugin with preinstalled sample plugins:
http://www.transformerfw.com/downloads/v1/TransformerFWwithSamples.zip

Transformer Framework plugin SDK:
http://www.transformerfw.com/downloads/v1/TransformerFWSDK.zip

Sample Data Replacer plugin with delphi source code for Transformer Framework:
http://www.transformerfw.com/downloads/v1/DataReplacerSample.zip

Sample Image to JPG converter plugin with delphi source code for Transformer Framework:
http://www.transformerfw.com/downloads/v1/ImageToJPGSample.zip

[Postkutscher]

An interesting idea, thanks. But could you please provide some examples of use? It is a bit difficult for me to understand what can I do with this plugin and how. Help file describes more the interface part, than the process.

[Summr]

You can open the Transformer help manually in TransformerFW.zip (TransformerFWHelp.chm) there you can see how it works, or you can display it by pressing F1 button in the settings or the processor window of the framework.

[Summr]

I've coded another sample plugin for Transformer Framework.
This plugin converts BMP, JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF files to JPG format. You can set the
compression factor and you can also resize the pictures. You can also use this
plugin to set a unified quality for multiple pictures or produce image sets (stamps,etc)
in a given size.

Postkutscher didn't understand how this all works so i describe it through this
plugin:

First of all you have to install Transformer Framework as a filesystem plugin for
Total Commander. Then you have to select Network places in the drivelist and go
inside the Transformer Framework item. You can display the settings window with the
"Press enter here tp display settings" item. There you can add the Image converter
plugin (ImageToJPG.dll) to the framework by clicking the Install button on the Plugins tab. You can
also set a global settings here for the plugin by clicking the Settings button when
the plugin is selected. After this, close the window with the Save&Close button.
Then in the listed drives (inside the Transformer Framework item) go inside a
directory where the files are located that you are going to convert. Press F5 button
on the selected file(s) or on the selected folder(s) that contain(s) the picture(s).
Then the Processor window of Transformer Framework should appear. Select the
"Image to JPG converter" item in the combobox of the Transform Pipe. Add it to the
Transform Pipe by clicking the Add button. If you select the added plugin then you
can edit the default settings of it. If you want to keep the settings for further use,
you have to save it to a profile with the "Save to profiles" button. Naturally you
can add multiple plugins to the Transform Pipe, in that case every plugin performs its
own transformation on the given input in that order how the plugins are listed in the
Transform Pipe. You can start the transformation process on the selected item(s) by
pressing the Start button. Then the JPG conversion with the given settings is performed
on every file which extension is one of the mentioned ones above (BMP,JPG,JPEG,PNG,GIF).
After the process has finished you can find the converted pictures on the other panel.

Transformer Framework can only be useful if there are numerous plugins for it that provides
a lot of different conversion. If there were such plugins the mentioned conversion processes
would be performed easily. (eg. avi -> 3gp, doc -> pdf,etc).

If you still don't understand anything, ask and i'll try to answer. Furthermore if you
think this framework is useful, code as many cool plugins as you can!

[ND]

Is it possible to make the plugin portable? (save settings in plugin directory)
I don't want to re-apply the settings on each new computer...

[Summr]

To ND:

Yes, this is a good idea. Do you think an import/export function in Transformer Framework for all settings would be good?

[ND]

I'm talking about really keeping the settings in a .ini/.cfg/.reg/etc. file inside the TransformerFW directory, not in the registry as it is now, then I can use the plugin anywhere from my USB stick.

I don't know how an import/export function would help. Import/export still sounds to me like manually re-applying the settings...

[Summr]

Yes, the import/export function isn't a lucky choice in some cases so i have the following idea:

I'll store the settings of the framework, the pofiles, the settings of the plugins that are in profiles and the installed plugins in TransformerFW.ini. The global settings of a plugin will be stored in a pluginfilename.ini file where the plugin is located. So with this method you are able to move a single plugin with its global settings. If it isn't possible to save it in a directory for some reason, then it will be stored in the registry.

The plugins that are located in the same directory where the framework is, will be stored with a relative path to avoid reinstalling them for the framework on every computer (the drive letter for the usb stick can be different on each computer). So the plugins will be installed automatically on the other computer too from TransformerFW.ini. Those plugins that aren't installed in the directory mentioned above need to be reinstalled on the other computer.

What's your opinion about this?

[ND]

Sounds good!

[Peter]

hello Summ(e)r

I read the help-file without real-testing and have a question.

There are many applications which offer a "conversion" (ghostscript: ps to pdf; nconvert: image to image; lame: wav to mp3; arj, ...) with "classical command line parameters":

Code: Select all

myconvert.exe source target /a /x /123 -c ...

Is it possible to use your plugin simple with these (configured, stored) configurations without coding a special plugin?

Regards

Peter

[Alextp]

Also think support for .exe convs is useful.

[Peter]

A perfect feature would be a "monitoring function": The software watches a directory (e.g. all 5 minutes), and if there are new files, the conversion starts automatically ....

What to you think about it?

Peter

[Alextp]

summr
Pls put all plugins to DL archive. so i don't have to dl them.. Also pls add inst-n from zip.

[Summr]

Peter
Monitoring thing is impossible at the moment. The main problem is with the command line stuff is that the plugins "see" the files as special streams so they don't know their exact paths. I'll think on this but for now i'd like to release the final (non beta) version of the plugin.

Alex
What is DL archive and inst-n?

[fenix_productions]

2Summr
Translation for you

summr
Please put all plugins to download archive. so i don't have to download them (separately*).. Also please add installation from zip**.

*) translator's note.
**) via pluginst.inf file.