DesktopX Weather Widget Fixes

Published on July 8, 2009 By sViz In DesktopX

The purpose of this thread is to compile and post fixes for the recent weather widget problem for anyone who has the patience to implement them. I'll try to edit this post to keep it up-to-date.

Edit 7/10: Important information for DX authors.

Edit 7/12: Added clarification to 2a for DX users - ZubaZ

Edit 7/13 : Removed fixes due to legal ambiguity

Contents

1. The Problem

2. The Fixes

e. Disable the Weather

3. For Authors

a. Using The Weather Channel Feeds

b. Using Another Source

c. Weather & DX Themes

1. The Problem

If your weather widget has suddenly stopped working properly, it is likely because the source, Weather.com, has changed their site to prohibit unlicensed usage. The majority of weather widgets on this site were built with the same code which is now outdated.

Symptoms of this particular problem are:

-You get a message saying the location is invalid
-When you try to clear this message it keeps popping up

2. The Fixes (as far as we know)

*** UPDATE 7/13/09 ***

I have tried to find more information and understand the legalities of the TWC XOAP data feed services and due to ambiguity I have removed these fixes so as not to put anyone else at risk of violating known or unknown weather.com license agreements.

A very good read on the situation with weather.com and their feeds can be found here: http://www.rainmeter.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=615

At the present time the only remaining option for end-users is to disable and/or discontinue using the weather widgets.

E. DISABLE THE WEATHER:

If you are using a combo widget or theme and would just like to disable the weather parts read below.

There are a few objects that need to be "turned off". To do this you will open the widget/theme in DX Builder (be sure to turn off internet connection first,) find the object, right-click and uncheck Script Enabled.

These objects may be several of the following. (You can ctrl + click to select more than one object in the object list, then r-click and uncheck Script Enabled.)

Version 1:

"weather_image"
"weather_temp"
"weather_location"

Version 2:

"kdockweatherimage" (and/or "kdockweatherimage2")
"Kdockweatherlocation" (and/or "kdockweatherlocation2")
"kdockweathertemp" (and/or "kdockweathertemp2")
"kdockforecastimage1" (through "kdockforecastimage5")

Version 3:

"Weather_Output"
"Weather_Script"
"WeatherFunction_ToggleUnits"
"CUI_SCripts"
"WeatherFunction_SetLocation"

3. For Authors

A Notice From the WC Staff:

Starting Monday, July 20th, we will start exiling weather widgets from the WinCustomize galleries that have not been updated and/or violate any ToS/ToU in regards to weather feeds.

See here for more details.

Q: Can't I fix and reupload my widgets?

It's fairly certain that our widgets are not in compliance with The Weather Channel's license agreements. Among other things, a widget using TWC's feed now needs to include their logo and 5 advertisement links (to see the full details get registered and download the SDK file included in your confirmation email.)

This is aside from the fact that most of these fixes hard code YOUR license ID and KEY, and you CAN NOT allow others to use these; uploading a fixed widget with your ID and KEY is in violation of the license agreement.

The short answer is no. We can't use these fixes and then reupload our widgets.

Q: What CAN I do?

Right now you need to archive your skins before they are deleted from the galleries.

Q: So that's it? No more weather widgets?

Not necessarily. We have two options: A. Re-build our widgets in compliance with TWC's license agreement or B. find another data source.

A. USING THE WEATHER CHANNEL FEEDS

If you are looking to rebuild your widget in compliance with TWC's agreement you'll need to do the following:

- Register, download and thoroughly read the SDK file included in your confirmation email
- Comply
- Add a function to allow the user to input their license key and partner ID.
- Add a link to the registration page so users know where to get the key and ID.
- Be mindful of the fact that TWC could change their site again and consider putting contingencies in place to prevent further headaches. (i.e., Use and external script that can be copied onto the user's computer, and have as little code in the actual objects.)

To be clear, anyone looking to make a weather widget using weather.com services MUST be in compliance with their terms of service and license agreements.

B. USING ANOTHER SOURCE suggestions by Zubaz

If you decide to part ways with TWC, here are some alternative weather feed sources to consider (You will need to abide by their Terms of Service as well):

- Wunderground.com -- LINK

- Yahoo! -- LINK

- rssweather.com -- LINK

Again, I strongly advise using an external script to save yourself (and by extension your end-users) from any headaches in future.

C. WEATHER & DX THEMES

If you are a DesktopX theme author, the best advice for now is to exclude the weather widget from your theme and consider uploading weather as a separate widget in future.

That's all for now...

Leave questions, comments, and your experience reports below.

Comments (Page 4)

Fairyy~

on Jul 11, 2009

I just want to thank all of you that spent time on this trying to find a fix...I appreciate the effort. I have no knowledge of coding so it will be easier for me to just delete my work but I wanted to thank you all.

Fairyy~

on Jul 11, 2009

Well, whilst I agree with this to a point I can't say I agree wholehearted. I probably created one of the (if not the) earliest weather scripts using weather.com. At that time it was clear from the content of the feed returned that there were potential licencing issues. I made this crystal clear to some very senior members of Stardock staff who made it clear that they didn't think it was much of an issue. As weather.com based objects proliferated, I repeated this concern and still no action was taken.

And _martin_ I want to thank you once again for allowing us all to use your script and for helping a lot of us that are not computer saavy to enjoy making a few things with DesktopX that we would not have been able to do without your generosity. I only kept purchasing DX for this purpose...so again, Thank you...

k10w3

on Jul 11, 2009

_Martin_

reply 20

At that time it was clear from the content of the feed returned that there were potential licencing issues. I made this crystal clear to some very senior members of Stardock staff who made it clear that they didn't think it was much of an issue. As weather.com based objects proliferated, I repeated this concern and still no action was taken.

Within the past year I raised strong concerns that skins were being sold that were based on my weather scripts. Whilst I had no issue about people making financial gain from them, I was very concerned about potential legal implications. Again, the response was not to act.

.........."Never underestimate the capacity of other people to let you down." And it rings true again! *shaking my head*

neophil78

on Jul 11, 2009

Let's think about this.

For now it seems weather.com have recently changed their conditions of use. Why wanting to delete widgets / themes which have been done BEFORE these new rules ? new rules are not retroactive aren't they ?

Though Stardock have not to delete anything done in past. They have just to leave them alone. Though members can continue to download them. OK they won't work in the forms they are, but it will be the problem of each downloader to do what's necessary to make them work using fixes which have been purposed (or fixes which will be)

Is this not enough simple as this ?

DaveRI

on Jul 11, 2009

Let's think about this.

Well I don't know, seems like new people would be downloading them and they wouldn't work, and they'd be posting in the forums and contacting support, and getting annoyed. Then they'd be saying "None of these work, why didn't somebody take them down, they shouldn't be here." From their perspective I can't say I'd blame them, it would be frustrating and disappointing, especially to someone who wasn't familiar with the story.

I'm inclined to agree with just dumping them and being done with it. Seems like leaving them out there would turn into a ball and chain.

(edit: reading this now it comes off a little colder than I intended for it to. I'm a little tired, but anyway that's the jist of how I see it. And then there's probably some issue with leaving them out there and having the "modifications" out here telling people how to use them, even though they don't have the logo and the advertising etc etc and on it goes...)

Vad_M

on Jul 11, 2009

As such, when developing DeskNotes I made the decision to enter into my own commercial relationship with WeatherBug. Whilst this significantly reduces the revenue I get from sales, it is legal.

Thank you! This is directly that I'll do next week. I'll send to weather.com the beta version of my new product and begin to talk with them about buying the legal license. I've spent so much time and efforts to make it that I must to keep it alive... Due your post I finally understood that I should solve my problems personally from now. And nobody help me with this on this page...

RedneckDude

on Jul 11, 2009

No. It is up to the author to fix it, not the downloader.

greatbodini

on Jul 11, 2009

Ok i spent 2 hours looking at the script, followed how to open it to the letter, tryed to disable the weather, but found no weather_temp, weather_image or location... am i missing something here? I right click the DX builder icon and i get a list but none of it shows anyhting like that, it says weather a million times for sure but its always "weather..." how the hell do i see whats beyond the "..." IM A NOOB help me! I have spent a load of money on all thins stuff and now i can use any of my favorite things! Dont care about the weather, at all. i have a .com shortcut for it(altho I loved the sleekness of the widgets, props to all you).

RedneckDude

on Jul 11, 2009

OK, so you have a DX theme and want to fix the weather, or lose the weather part?

If you'll give me more info, I'll help you.

sViz

on Jul 11, 2009

greatbodini

reply 3

Seems you're having the same trouble Wiz had. See below:

if all you are seeing is "weather..." it means the column isn't big enough. Go up to the top of the object list window, position your cursor just after the ObjectID header; the cursor should turn into the column resizer icon. Click and drag to widen the column.

RedneckDude

on Jul 11, 2009

Seems you're having the same trouble Wiz had. See below:

Ahh, so Wiz had that problem? Shame on him. He's been working with me long enough to know that. I'll have to tease him some...lol.

willistuder

on Jul 12, 2009

RedneckDude

reply 6

Ahh, so Wiz had that problem? Shame on him. He's been working with me long enough to know that. I'll have to tease him some...lol.

You fiend!

Doubird

on Jul 12, 2009

I've been reading the posts for the problem concerning the weather widgets and from what I read, there is a way for creators to fix their widgets so that they can re-submit them. I would not mind fixing all my widgets so that they can stay on wincustomize... so what I need is help from someone to show me how to do this or fix one of mine, then I could see how and do the same for my others. Thanks

sViz

on Jul 12, 2009

Doubird

reply 8

Hi Doubird, that solution is in essence a complete overhaul of coding and design layout to either comply with the TWC license agreement or use a different feed source. There are several of us in the community working on this and we will release the templates in due time for you and others to modify, visually and otherwise, in accordance with relative Terms of Services.

To everyone waiting for a solution: please be patient.

Wizard1956

on Jul 12, 2009

He's been working with me long enough to know that

Hey,the object navigator wasn't in my training,besides I get lost in that thing. I break things for a hobby,fixing them is your department.

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