Invalid zip code when running weather widgets

Tuesday, July 7, 2009 by jag4710 | Discussion: DesktopX

My computer was shutdown incorrectly when the breaker in my apartment went off. Now, when I run a weather widget, I get an invalid zip code error. I uninstalled and reinstalled DesktopX, but it didn't help. I cleared the widget cache, but I still get the same error. Does anyone have any suggestions? I never had any problems running anything in DesktopX before this.
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DeadlyDose
Reply #61 Tuesday, July 7, 2009 5:28 PM

Thanks for the answers guys. Ill keep checking back to see updates. Good work!

Buckwiener
Reply #62 Tuesday, July 7, 2009 5:32 PM

(what I'm saying is that, I don't mind getting a key, but it seems kinda unnecessary to me to force EVERYONE who uses the application to get a separate liscense and key for it...)



I mean not only is that inconvenient for the users, but it's gotta be draining on weather.com's servers..

does that make sense?

 

Aye makes perfect sense.  I'm just not legal minded enough to see if using one free license for multiple people violates the weather.com TOS.

RedBuzzard
Reply #63 Tuesday, July 7, 2009 5:36 PM

Okay, How do we edit the script so it will work again??

DaveRI
Reply #64 Tuesday, July 7, 2009 5:36 PM

I mean not only is that inconvenient for the users, but it's gotta be draining on weather.com's servers..

does that make sense?

Makes perfect sense to me too.  I'd imagine that traffic is what prompted them to go the signup/key route in the first place, trying to cut down on massive pings.

Thanks to everyone who's looked into this, I was just now wondering what was going on with my widgets, and there it is, right here on the good ol' support forum.

karmat
Reply #65 Tuesday, July 7, 2009 5:39 PM

I use Rainmeter and it's not working either. I get my location code from Asp.Net Resources which gets it from Weather.com

OldMsgt
Reply #66 Tuesday, July 7, 2009 5:45 PM

Ahh Al Gore the Father of the Internet can blame it on global warming

DeadlyDose
Reply #67 Tuesday, July 7, 2009 5:46 PM

Well my problem is solved, just took the damn widget out for now.... And still can use my theme. Thanks alot for the help!

Kendawg78
Reply #68 Tuesday, July 7, 2009 6:00 PM

Don't know anything about scripting,codes or the like.  None of them work except the ones for the Stardock themes.  Now why any free weather information service would give a hoot about a product they give out for free is beyond me.  Solution would be to give credit to the information service from which the widget is getting the feed.  Stardock does.

homer1324
Reply #69 Tuesday, July 7, 2009 6:05 PM

Kendawg78
Don't know anything about scripting,codes or the like.  None of them work except the ones for the Stardock themes.  Now why any free weather information service would give a hoot about a product they give out for free is beyond me.  Solution would be to give credit to the information service from which the widget is getting the feed.  Stardock does.

 

Simple, Server hosting is expensive and weather.com is providing a free service to users. This is obviously a way to reduce the endless amount of pings their servers are taking and to better organize them to see where all their servers are used up.

ZubaZ
Reply #70 Tuesday, July 7, 2009 6:27 PM

Don't know anything about scripting,codes or the like. None of them work except the ones for the Stardock themes. Now why any free weather information service would give a hoot about a product they give out for free is beyond me.
It's not free.  It's supported by adverts on the site and such forth.  What's more, they compile the data and serve it out . . it's theirs todo with as they think best.

Stardock pays for the accuweather feed . .  it's not free either.

DaveRI
Reply #71 Tuesday, July 7, 2009 6:29 PM

I then replaced the random with

str_RANDOM_URL = "&link=xoap&prod=xoap&par=XXXXXXXXXX&key=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX"

Buckweiner could you be a little more specific on this - What was the line you replaced?  I'm having a go at hacking around here (that's the gassy sound you hear leaking into the atmosphere).

RedBuzzard
Reply #72 Tuesday, July 7, 2009 6:32 PM

Okay, I signed up to use the weather.com xml feed. However, I don't know what I have to do to the existing script in order to use it. Anyone??

Kendawg78
Reply #73 Tuesday, July 7, 2009 6:44 PM

And Stardock recoups the expense as they sell their products.  I would much rather pay for a weather widget that works than a great looking widget that screws up my computer.   I'm also a Wincustomize subscriber.  I'm a customer as well.  So it's important that the widgets work as advertised.   Some people want to be bothered with trouble shooting this problem.  My point was...NOT ME.

homer1324
Reply #74 Tuesday, July 7, 2009 6:47 PM

look for this in the script

        Randomize
        str_RANDOM_URL = "&rnd=" & rnd()
        msgbox str_RANDOM_URL

 

and where it says = ""&rnd=" & rnd()" replace with

&link=xoap&prod=xoap&par=XXXXXXXXXX&key=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

where XXXX's are the numbers you receive from them

Hylander59
Reply #75 Tuesday, July 7, 2009 6:48 PM

AAAAAAAhhhhh,it is true missery,or with drawl does love company.Time for a cold brew,or 24,hehehe,I'm going to wait it out being a begginer the last time I tried changing scripts I had to start all over.hahaha

homer1324
Reply #76 Tuesday, July 7, 2009 6:51 PM

Ok guys, Im speaking with weather.com's customer service to try and see if I can get a valid license key that we all can use without violating their terms of service there. please bear with me and until then, if you're having troubles,

disconnect your internet,

right click on the weather object, and deselect script enabled

Alternatively you can delete the object altogether

 

you can reconnect your internet once its gone or disabled and hang tight until someone finds a solution here

DaveRI
Reply #77 Tuesday, July 7, 2009 7:04 PM

You know, as I read the license agreement for the xml on Weather.com, I get the impression we're the type of people they're trying to shake off.  Looks like they're just wanting it to be used as an advertising tool.  Did anybody read the license agreement part 3 (Fees and Advertising) section (A)?

RedBuzzard
Reply #78 Tuesday, July 7, 2009 7:10 PM

homer1324
look for this in the script

        Randomize
        str_RANDOM_URL = "&rnd=" & rnd()
        msgbox str_RANDOM_URL

 

and where it says = ""&rnd=" & rnd()" replace with

&link=xoap&prod=xoap&par=XXXXXXXXXX&key=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

where XXXX's are the numbers you receive from them

Mine looks like this

     Randomize
     str_RANDOM_URL="&link=xoap&prod=xoap&par=XXXXXXXXXX&key=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX"
     http.Open "GET", "http://xoap.weather.com/search/search?where=" & x, False
     http.send ""
     ' Store data in a string
     weatherdata = http.responseText

Is this right, cuz it's not working

ZubaZ
Reply #79 Tuesday, July 7, 2009 7:13 PM

Looks like they're just wanting it to be used as an advertising tool.
Which makes good sense for them, yes?

DaveRI
Reply #80 Tuesday, July 7, 2009 7:20 PM

Zubaz

Looks like they're just wanting it to be used as an advertising tool.Which makes good sense for them, yes?

Absolutely.  I wasn't slamming them, I was thinking that creating an account and pointing my little widgets to it might be precisely the wrong thing to do.

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