Invalid zip code when running weather widgets

RedneckDude

Join Date 04/2009

+2221

After reading reply #107 it seems to me that we are being told that in order to use the service, we must put adware in our widgets. We cannot sell these widgets as Master skins, or as a part thereof.

With this in mind, my future themes may not have a weather app included. Updated themes may not either.

Edit: Weather is easy enough to get at a website, the Wincustomize Toolbar also has weather.

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ZubaZ

Join Date 11/2001

+917

or in other words,put adware in every DX theme that has a weather widget.

in order to use the service, we must put adware in our widgets. We cannot sell these widgets as Master skins, or as a part thereof.

With this in mind, my future themes may not have a weather app included. Updated themes may not either.

This attitude saddens me. If someone (company, person, site) wants to give you something for free in exchange for attribution . . you should be willing to show them some love.

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Lantec

Join Date 07/2003

+346

I think the future of weather widgets is better off depending on another service other than weather.com

They did the same thing about a year ago and will likely do it again a year from now.

For me....(I use Samurize configs) I'm moving to a pagescraper to pull the info from Wunderground Weather I've already got my radar/5 day forecast & current conditions done.

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Here's a quick and dirty how-to:

First, subscribe to the Weather.com feed -- LINK

When you get your confirmation email save the Partner ID code and License Key.

Next:

- Load DesktopX Builder

- Before importing your widget, disconnect from/turn off the internet (unplug cable, etc.)

- R-click on the DX Builder icon in your system tray and Import your widget

- R-click on the DX Builder icon and choose List Objects

- Find the "weather_image" object. R-click and choose Edit Script

(If you don't see this object, you are likely using a different version)

- In the script editor, find the line that looks similar to this:

http.Open "GET", "http://xoap.weather.com/weather/local/" & location & "?cc=*&dayf=5" & str_UNITS & str_RANDOM_URL, False

- Replace that line with the line Vad_M posted:

http.Open "GET", "http://xoap.weather.com/weather/local/ZIPCODE?cc=*&dayf=5&unit="&str_UNITS&"&link=xoap∏=xoap&par=ID&key=KEY" , False

- Change ZIPCODE to your zipcode, ID to your PartnerID, and KEY to your LicenseKey

- In the script editor, click File and then Save and Close. Click Ok on the properties window to apply the new script

- This hardcodes your location into the widget, meaning if you want to change the location, you have to open the script to do so.

- Restore your internet connection and test the widget (Use the change location button; it will call your location no matter what you enter.)

- If all goes okay, you can now export the widget again.

Well if you no need harcode your location :

Replace that line to:

http.Open "GET", "http://xoap.weather.com/weather/local/" & Object.PersistStorage("zipcode") & "?cc=*&dayf=5&link=xoap&prod=xoap&par=YOURID&key=YOURKEY" & str_UNITS & str_RANDOM_URL, False

next steps, like sViz suggested

In this way you change your location on popup window, like before.

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neophil78

Join Date 06/2003

+67

Here's a quick and dirty how-to:

First, subscribe to the Weather.com feed -- LINK

When you get your confirmation email save the Partner ID code and License Key.

Next:

- Load DesktopX Builder

- Before importing your widget, disconnect from/turn off the internet (unplug cable, etc.)

- R-click on the DX Builder icon in your system tray and Import your widget

- R-click on the DX Builder icon and choose List Objects

- Find the "weather_image" object. R-click and choose Edit Script

(If you don't see this object, you are likely using a different version)

- In the script editor, find the line that looks similar to this:

http.Open "GET", "http://xoap.weather.com/weather/local/" & location & "?cc=*&dayf=5" & str_UNITS & str_RANDOM_URL, False

- Replace that line with the line Vad_M posted:

http.Open "GET", "http://xoap.weather.com/weather/local/ZIPCODE?cc=*&dayf=5&unit="&str_UNITS&"&link=xoap∏=xoap&par=ID&key=KEY" , False

- Change ZIPCODE to your zipcode, ID to your PartnerID, and KEY to your LicenseKey

- In the script editor, click File and then Save and Close. Click Ok on the properties window to apply the new script

- This hardcodes your location into the widget, meaning if you want to change the location, you have to open the script to do so.

- Restore your internet connection and test the widget (Use the change location button; it will call your location no matter what you enter.)

- If all goes okay, you can now export the widget again.

Works fine but something's might be missing somewhere else to get the units correctly in Celcius or Fahrenheit, because for me it's 63°C now

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RedneckDude

Join Date 04/2009

+2221

or in other words,put adware in every DX theme that has a weather widget.

in order to use the service, we must put adware in our widgets. We cannot sell these widgets as Master skins, or as a part thereof.

With this in mind, my future themes may not have a weather app included. Updated themes may not either.

This attitude saddens me. If someone (company, person, site) wants to give you something for free in exchange for attribution . . you should be willing to show them some love.

So you think it's ok to force me to either put adware and logos in my work? I have the choice not to do that, but it means no weather apps in my themes. Because it's free, I should allow adware into my work. I disagree.

I know I'm not the only one facing this problem, but as we all know too well, I recently had to reupload my entire gallery. We are talking having to do that, all over again, only this time a few at a time. Meanwhile, all my users have themes they can't use. And if I do update them all, and Weather.com pulls this again next year, then what?

And you can call it what you will, adware is adware. The blue Weather.com logo isn't gonna match all my themes. I don't want it in my work. I guess I have a bad attitude. Bummer when I can't say what goes into my work and what don't.

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little patience jim..

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sViz

Join Date 04/2006

+508

Works fine but something's might be missing somewhere else to get the units correctly in Celcius or Fahrenheit, because for me it's 63°C now

This might be a case of a different weather script. Which widget are you using?

+1

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sViz

Join Date 04/2006

+508

Well if you no need harcode your location

It's different for different widgets, though. Yours uses Object.PersistStorage("zipcode"). Others, like ~Fairyy's, use the variable "location", and still others (Tiggz's) use the varaible "zipcode".

We should get these fixes organized into a new post.

So you think it's ok to force me to either put adware and logos in my work? I have the choice not to do that, but it means no weather apps in my themes. Because it's free, I should allow adware into my work. I disagree.

I know I'm not the only one facing this problem, but as we all know too well, I recently had to reupload my entire gallery. We are talking having to do that, all over again, only this time a few at a time. Meanwhile, all my users have themes they can't use. And if I do update them all, and Weather.com pulls this again next year, then what?

And you can call it what you will, adware is adware. The blue Weather.com logo isn't gonna match all my themes. I don't want it in my work. I guess I have a bad attitude. Bummer when I can't say what goes into my work and what don't.

I am a little irked, too. I'm going through the documentation, and they are very stringent on where/how the logo must be placed. The logo won't look good integrated with a theme (as most of your themes are), but on a separate widget, the 31 pixel logo is not so bad.

Once we have a more up-to-date, flexible, weather template, which includes the TWC requirements we should be back on track as far as new widgets are concerned.

Judging by the number of posts on this issue, it appears weather widgets are a major reason why people even use DX.

+1

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If someone (company, person, site) wants to give you something for free in exchange for attribution . . you should be willing to show them some love.

Following this logic,we should be ok with free software that contains a mandatory toolbar or other app as long as we didn't have to pay for it. Whatever happened to free choice?

I watch TWC daily on TV,and have a Vista sidebar gadget that uses the service(w/no adware on it)and will continue to use both. I can't say the same for DX now that NONE of my themes work,and "fixing" them requires putting things onto my computer that I do not want.I may be wrong for thinking this way,but obviously others do as well or there would be no need for pop-up blockers,adware blockers,etc.

Btw,the sidebar gadget and Yahoo Messenger were free but I paid for DX,which from my end-users viewpoint is now useless. Let Stardock show them the love.

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RedneckDude

Join Date 04/2009

+2221

Works fine but something's might be missing somewhere else to get the units correctly in Celcius or Fahrenheit, because for me it's 63°C now

Yeah, I clicked the 85C to change to 85F and I get an error.

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RedneckDude

Join Date 04/2009

+2221

It's different for different widgets, though. Yours uses Object.PersistStorage("zipcode"). Others, like ~Fairyy's, use the variable "location", and still others (Tiggz's) use the varaible "zipcode".

I got my feed and numbers, I still can't change locations. Using Tiggz Kweather weather. My location only.

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RedneckDude

Join Date 04/2009

+2221

little patience jim..

Bilbo, please send me some, I think I have proven in the past that I am a tad short on it...lol.

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RedneckDude

Join Date 04/2009

+2221

http.Open "GET", "http://xoap.weather.com/weather/local/" & Object.PersistStorage("zipcode") & "?cc=*&dayf=5&link=xoap&prod=xoap&par=YOURID&key=YOURKEY" & str_UNITS & str_RANDOM_URL, False

and it appears that I have to put this in 2 different lines with the script I'm using?

Not working here.

I will wait for a fix for everyone, I don't need a weather app that only works for my location. I mainly use it for my themes.

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Quoting RedneckDude,

reply 13

little patience jim..

Bilbo, please send me some, I think I have proven in the past that I am a tad short on it...lol.

I can vouch for that.

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neophil78

Join Date 06/2003

+67

Well if you no need harcode your location :

Replace that line to:

http.Open "GET", "http://xoap.weather.com/weather/local/" & Object.PersistStorage("zipcode") & "?cc=*&dayf=5&link=xoap&prod=xoap&par=YOURID&key=YOURKEY" & str_UNITS & str_RANDOM_URL, False

next steps, like sViz suggested

In case there's opportunity to enter two locations in the widget, what you are suggesting works fine in case you don't replace "zipcode" by the real ZipCode ( FRXX0040 in my case ) and of course if you replace YOURID and YOURKEY by the PartnerID and License Key received by mail

Though the first zip code asked for first location is effectivly hardcoded, but you can modify as you want the second one at any time (and °C or °F are correctly displayed )

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ZubaZ

Join Date 11/2001

+917

So you think it's ok to force me to either put adware and logos in my work?

Yes, if that is the agreement that you have to make to use *thier* work. Pay to play.

Because it's free, I should allow adware into my work.

It's not free . . it's an exchange. It always has been, they just have not enforced it.

I am a little irked, too.

Me too. But being irked is my issue, not weather.com's or Stardock's.

Following this logic,we should be ok with free software that contains a mandatory toolbar or other app as long as we didn't have to pay for it. Whatever happened to free choice?

You are free not to use the feed if you disagree with the requests of the feed owner. That is your choice.

Btw,the sidebar gadget and Yahoo Messenger were free but I paid for DX,which from my end-users viewpoint is now useless. Let Stardock show them the love.

DX is working exactly as designed. User code and feeds are not part of DX.

Look . . I'm not happy about this either. But the fact is that weather.com is in the right. And they have rights.

What if you created an object and in the script you said that it could be reused but only if the new object was atributed to you. And then someone took credit. Would you be pissed? I would. What's the difference?

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sViz

Join Date 04/2006

+508

Quoting RedneckDude,

reply 14

http.Open "GET", "http://xoap.weather.com/weather/local/" & Object.PersistStorage("zipcode") & "?cc=*&dayf=5&link=xoap&prod=xoap&par=YOURID&key=YOURKEY" & str_UNITS & str_RANDOM_URL, False

and it appears that I have to put this in 2 different lines with the script I'm using?

Not working here.

I will wait for a fix for everyone, I don't need a weather app that only works for my location. I mainly use it for my themes.

Yes, for Tiggz's it's two places in one script. AND for your newer themes you need to modify this in the "kweatherimage" object as well as the "kweatherimage2" object.

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sViz

Join Date 04/2006

+508

To allow the ability to change the location, depending on which script you're working with (I'm going by author here), use one of the following lines:

Bilbo's widgets:

http.Open "GET", "http://xoap.weather.com/weather/local" & Object.PersistStorage("zipcode") & "?cc=*&dayf=5&unit="&str_UNITS&"&link=xoap∏=xoap&par=ID&key=KEY" , False

Tiggz's widgets:

http.Open "GET", "http://xoap.weather.com/weather/local" & zipcode & "?cc=*&dayf=5&unit="&str_UNITS&"&link=xoap∏=xoap&par=ID&key=KEY" , False

~Fairyy's widgets:

http.Open "GET", "http://xoap.weather.com/weather/local" & location & "?cc=*&dayf=5&unit="&str_UNITS&"&link=xoap∏=xoap&par=ID&key=KEY" , False

Generally you need to pay attention to the variable that comes after the first part of the url-- the bolded parts. Modify the line of code accordingly.

EDIT: Got my codes mixed up. The str_UNITS part cannot be on the end of the url

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RedneckDude

Join Date 04/2009

+2221

Well if you no need harcode your location :

Replace that line to:

http.Open "GET", "http://xoap.weather.com/weather/local/" & Object.PersistStorage("zipcode") & "?cc=*&dayf=5&link=xoap&prod=xoap&par=YOURID&key=YOURKEY" & str_UNITS & str_RANDOM_URL, False

next steps, like sViz suggested

In case there's opportunity to enter two locations in the widget, what you are suggesting works fine in case you don't replace "zipcode" by the real ZipCode ( FRXX0040 in my case ) and of course if you replace YOURID and YOURKEY by the PartnerID and License Key received by mail

Though the first zip code asked for first location is effectivly hardcoded, but you can modify as you want the second one at any time (and °C or °F are correctly displayed )

This did not work here, I will retry.

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RedneckDude

Join Date 04/2009

+2221

What if you created an object and in the script you said that it could be reused but only if the new object was atributed to you. And then someone took credit. Would you be pissed? I would. What's the difference?

I suppose you may be right there, but for me, the difference is redoing all my themes. Therefore, if this is the only choice, my will probably be that my future themes will not include a weather app. I am tired of updating and reuploading. I have a lot of themes and all of them but 1 or 2 have weather applets. We are talking about a lot of work on my part, the part of the moderators, and all the users will need to redownload. And, as was said before, they could very well do something else next year, and then I have to start all over again.

So I agree you may have a legit point, and as you said, it's my choice whether or not to use their feed. But either way I choose, I have a lot of work to redo for a third time.

Edit: And I'm not actually blaming anyone. I suppose it's their right to ask this to use the feed. I'm just irked at all the rework that lies ahead. And I can see this being a problem for WC because there are a hell of a lot of weather widgets out there that will be reworked and reupped. This is going to create a lot of work for WC/Stardock and for mods, and a flooding of the galleries, and we all know how well that goes over...

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To me the solution should be rather simple rather than all of you great skinners bantering back and forth as to how get around the promblem STARDOCK should be taking the lead action to fix this problem as Desktop X is purchased from them and includes Weather Widget .Yet I have not seen a reply post from them. They should be promptly addressing correcting this problem in a fairly quick time frame or perhaps a refund of some amount is in order

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RedneckDude

Join Date 04/2009

+2221

To allow the ability to change the location, depending on which script you're working with (I'm going by author here), use one of the following lines:

Bilbo's widgets:

http.Open "GET", "http://xoap.weather.com/weather/local/" & Object.PersistStorage("zipcode") & "?cc=*&dayf=5&link=xoap&prod=xoap&par=YOURID&key=YOURKEY" & str_UNITS & str_RANDOM_URL, False

Tiggz's widgets:

http.Open "GET", "http://xoap.weather.com/weather/local/" & zipcode & "?cc=*&dayf=5&link=xoap&prod=xoap&par=YOURID&key=YOURKEY" & str_UNITS & str_RANDOM_URL, False

~Fairyy's widgets:

http.Open "GET", "http://xoap.weather.com/weather/local/" & location & "?cc=*&dayf=5&link=xoap&prod=xoap&par=YOURID&key=YOURKEY" & str_UNITS & str_RANDOM_URL, False

Generally you need to pay attention to the variable that comes after the first part of the url-- the bolded parts. Modify the line of code accordingly.

OK, this seems to be working, so will it work when in a theme/widget and sent to someone else? Or will they need to put their own numbers into it? ID and Passkey?

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RedneckDude

Join Date 04/2009

+2221

Yet I have not seen a reply post from them.

Actually you have, Zubaz works for and speaks for(I think), Stardock.

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ZubaZ

Join Date 11/2001

+917

It is going to be a lot of work. This is why a better method may need to be looked at going forward before we all go nuts implementing something.

For example, if weather widgits called an external file for the scripts, if something like this ever happened again, a DX coder could upload a new widgit that had that one file modified with instructions on how to replace it . . all would be well. Right?

Or what if our weather widgets worked similarly to the Mac widgets adn flipped over with any logos htat were requiered?

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