How can I run Emby Theater on my projector and not my main desktop?

[gleep52 15]

Multi-monitor question here - I don't see any settings to choose which display ET gets displayed on by default.  I can drag the app to the projector monitor, and full screen it, but then it leaves the windows taskbar at the bottom.  In a perfect world, I'd like to launch the app and have it always default to the second monitor full screen so I can make a script to do the launching via remote control somehow.  How do I launch ET on my second screen by default?  Or at least full screen it without the taskbar at the bottom?

[stettler 27]

Usually windows open apps on the desktop they are launched (except remote desktop for whatever reason). So put the ET icon on the desktop that is displayed on your beamer.

 

The taskbar shouldn't be related to the desktop on which you launch the application. That's buggy behavior. Try auto hide setting for the taskbar.

 

Is that really a good idea to run 2 desktop at the same time, performance wise? Do you really want to "do other things" while watching a video? If that's not the case, wouldn't it be easier to just connect your projector and monitor to a hdmi switch and have a single desktop?

[gleep52 15]

HDMI switch for 4K HDR are pricey... This is actually our VR computer, so we have it hooked to the projector so the audience can see what the VR person is doing.  I'm adapting it to Emby as well.  I see no performance issues having two monitors though... 

 

I did try the icon trick you mentioned but that did not work either - it still launches on my "main desktop" display.  

[stettler 27]

2-4 ports 4K hdmi switch costs less than $100...

 

The performance is because Windows is pretty bad at handling multi-monitors in the first place and because of how full screen mode work (or rather, how a window that looks like it is taking the full screen isn't the real full screen mode)

 

Try to launch ET, drag the window on your projector desktop and then close ET window while it is not in full screen. It should then always open on that desktop. But it's more a hack than a real fix.

[gleep52 15]

Tried this too - still opens on main monitor

 

I'll need both monitors for when we do VR, so I'd rather skip the switchbox since there isn't any discernible performance loss from my eyes.  

[stettler 27]

Else, I think that software like DisplayFusion will let you choose exactly where and how an app should open.

[stettler 27]

Oh, and first make your tests with another software than ET. Only try with ET once you get it working with something else because ET may, or may not, contains code that makes explicit reference to the primary monitor.

 

Edit: For example, the lua script used to set the refresh rate is explicitly refering to the first monitor. (I don't think there is currently a way to pass that information, as a parameter, from ET but you could edit the script to change the hardcoded value)

Edited October 3, 2018 by stettler

[gleep52 15]

well that sucks

 

My new plan - get a power toggle for the main monitor.  Then it'll drop off, projector will become main monitor, single monitor, start ET - enjoy.  Then just power on the primary monitor when I want to do anything else... I wonder if it'll keep HDR enabled when I do this, or if I'll have to dink with settings.  I wonder if there's a script available to disable the monitor via powershell instead... that'd be a lot nicer.  

[stettler 27]

Just change whichever monitor is your primary one... Put the projector as primary monitor so ET will always open on it. Most other apps should open correctly on the 2nd monitor after you moved them to it and opened them on it once (except remote desktop)

 

If you really want to change which monitor is the primary one, you can do it with nircmd:

nircmd setprimarydisplay 1

Or, if you want to use the name, nircmd setprimarydisplay \\.\DISPLAYNAME

 

Alternatively, from the same editor, you can use MultiMonitorTool to move a window to another display. I think the command is something like:

 

MultiMonitorTool.exe /MoveWindow 1 Title "Emby"

(1 is the index number of the monitor. "Emby" is the title of the window you want to move)

Edited October 3, 2018 by stettler