Hacking YSMenu - What/Where/How:

CannonFoddr · Mar 22, 2009

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>First Off - Credit where Credit is Due

Most of this is already in the forums somewhere done by other people, but I thought I'll gather it all together in one place for us 'newbies'

So Many Thanks to the following (hope they don't mind me altering 1 or 2 things slightly):-
Bri, Ozzymud, Apocalypticvisionary, Swip, 8BitWalugi, Bidoofguy (& me <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blush.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="

" border="0" alt="blush.gif" /> )

Hope it helps</div>
What Is YSMenu ?
YSMenu is a homebrew version of the ttmenu that loads faster than the original menu and looks similar to an unskinned r4 menu.

Advantages of YSMenu over TTMenu:
+It sorts the roms alphabetically (TTMenu sorts by order of installation)
+It shows folders allowing you to organize your roms into separate 'Groups' (TTMenu shows all 'NDS' file in one long list [even 'plugins' from programs like moonshell2])
+It attempts to patch the browser and GBA games without having to use a separate loader program
+It runs emulated programs directly in the emulator in one step.

Disadvantages of YSMenu:
-Very Basic 'Skins' Customising
-It doesn't support Multiple 'Skins/Themes' (It's possible using 3rd party Homebrew - see later)
-Uses Official DSTT loaders - so any problems with DSTT, then this will not fix them
-Default Language/Help is Japanese, so some editing required to get English

Where do I get it?
YSMenu is created by Yasu who doesn’t want anyone to link to any pages other than his home page.
Yasu’s home page is <a href="http://home.usay.jp/" target="_blank">http://home.usay.jp/</a>. It's mostly in Japanese, but to get YSMenu, follow these directions:

> Click the "ETC" button in the main menu near the top beneath the title.
> Select "Nintendo DS" (second item) from the table.
> Search for "DS(T_T)DS" (CTRL-F) or just scroll about 2/3 of the way down until you see the heading in blue.
> There is a scrollable text area beneath that heading. Select the first item in the scollable list (currently "2009/03/21") to download the latest version.

How do I install YSMenu?
To install TTMenu and YSMenu for DSTT, I recommend that you make a backup of your microSD card, reformat it using the <a href="http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/sd/download/sd_formatter.html" target="_blank">Panasonic formatter</a>, then follow these directions carefully:

Make sure you have the newest version of YSMenu (see above for directions on how to obtain it), the official TTMENU folder, and the fake-killer-disabled TTMENU.DAT from this archive: <a href="http://gbatemp.net/index.php?download=4086" target="_blank">http://gbatemp.net/index.php?download=4086</a>

> Unzip the official TTMenu archive. Place ONLY the "TTMENU" folder onto your microSD card.
___Do NOT copy TTMENU.DAT from the official menu as it contains fake-killer code.This will destroy your DSTT card if it's a 'fake'
> Unzip the YSMenu archive.
> Create a folder named "YSMenu" on your microSD card.
> Place a copy of the fake-killer-disabled "TTMENU.DAT" into the same folder as the "ttextract.exe" program on your PC.
> Run "ttextract.exe" on your PC.
> Place the two resulting files ("ttdldi.dat" and "ttpatch.dat") into the "YSMenu" folder on your microSD card.

> (a) If you want "YSMenu" to be your default menu, rename the fake-killer-disabled "TTMENU.DAT" to "TTMenu.nds" and place it onto the root (top level) of your microSD card.
____Then place a copy of "YSMenu.nds" onto the root of your microSD card.
____Then make a copy of "YSMenu.nds" & rename that to "TTMENU.DAT" & place it also on the root of your microSD card.
> (b) If you want "TTMenu" to be the default menu, place a copy of the fake-killer-disabled TTMENU.DAT onto the root (top level) of your microSD card.
____Then place a copy of "YSMenu.nds" onto the root of your microSD card.
____Then make a copy of "TTMENU.DAT" & rename it to "TTMenu.nds" on the root of your card.

You should now have "TTMenu.nds", "YSMenu.nds", and "TTMENU.DAT" (a copy of "TTMENU.DAT" or "YSMenu.nds" depending on your choice) on the root of your microSD card.

> Edit "YSMenu.ini". Place a semi-colon in front of the line that says "LITERALS=LITERALS_JPN" & Remove the semi-colon from the line that says "LITERALS=LITERALS_ENG".
> Save your changes to "YSMenu.ini" and place it into the "YSMenu" folder on your microSD card.
> Make a new folder named "Games" and put a few .nds files in it.
> Use the "safely remove hardware" utility before removing your microSD card from your PC
> Place the DSTT into the NDS, place the microSD card into the DSTT, and turn on the NDS.

That should be it.
If you are using TTMenu as your default, simply run "YSMenu.nds" to get to YSMenu. Otherwise, it should launch directly into YSMenu and you can run "TTMenu.nds" to get back to TTMenu.

When you're done, you should have the following files and folders on your microSD card:

__YSMenu.nds (YSMenu)
__TTMenu.nds (fake-killer-disabled version of TTMenu)
__TTMENU.DAT (a copy of whichever of the above two you want as your default menu)
__YSMENU (YSMenu firmware folder)
___|_ YSMenu.ini (YSMenu init file)
___|_ ttdldi.dat (extracted from the fake-killer-disabled loader using ttextract.exe)
___|_ ttpatch.dat (extracted from the fake-killer-disabled loader using ttextract.exe)
___|_ YSMenu1.bmp (optional skin: See later)
___|_ YSMenu2.bmp (optional skin:See later)
__TTMENU (official firmware folder)
___|_ all the files from the official TTMENU folder are here
__Games (games folder)
___|_ your .nds files go here

How do you use it ?
> Use 'D-pad' to move (Up/Down - Move by 1 file, Left/Right - Move a Page at a time)
> Highlight a file and press [A] to Launch
___If file is NDS: Press [Y] to select cheat codes
___If file is GBA: Press [Y] to just load GBA to PSRAM in slot 2 (What is PSRAM? - <a href="http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=101442" target="_blank">See This</a>)
___If file is SAV: Press [A] to create a backup ('BAK')
___If file is BAK: Press [A] to restore & overwrite existing SAV
> Press [ B ] to Exit or go back
> Highlight any file and press [X] to Delete
> Press [Start] to be able to select either 'Passme' function / 'Boot to GBA' or return to normal 'DS Menu' (the one that contains Pictochat & Settings)
> Press [Select] to change file listing to show: Only 'nds' / Only 'Sav'/ All files (even hidden)
> Tap the top left of the touch screen to alter screen brightness
> Tap on 'Yasu Software - YS menu' will reveal the Version you have (In black ink, so you may not be able to read it if you have a dark background)

Does it support Theme/Skins/Customisation like an M3/R4/Acekard ?
Unfortunately not really. YSMenu does not allow Themes/Skins or Icon customising as seen in other Flash Cards
although it does allow you to have a different background showing on both screens.

To do this all that's needed is 2 pictures of size 256 x 192 labelled 'YSMenu1.bmp' (for the top screen) and 'YSMenu2.bmp' (for the bottom screen).
These need to be placed in the 'YSMenu' folder on your MicroSD card

You can also alter the colours of the text used for Directory Path/File names etc by editing the 'YSMenu.ini' file also found in the YSMenu folder
The section required is
[FILELIST]
; COLOR = BIT15 | BGR(5bit x3)
COLOR_PATH=0xFFFF (Ink colour of the Directory Path shown @ top of top screen)
COLOR_FILE=0xFFFF (Ink colour of Filename (nds/txt/gba etc) on top screen)
COLOR_FOLDER=0x80FF (Ink colour of Folders on top screen)
COLOR_SELECT=0xFC00 (Background colour of Filename when highlighted)
COLOR_SELTEXT=0x801F (Ink colour of filename when highlighted)

[FILEINFO]
COLOR_TEXT=0x80F0 (Ink colour of Text shown in bottom screen)
DRAW_FRAME=true (Set to 'false' with NOT display a background box on bottom screen behind Game title text)

To determine the Hex code for the colour you can pop along to <a href="http://www.conradshome.com/html2bgr15/" target="_blank">http://www.conradshome.com/html2bgr15/</a> to make things easier (thanks to ozzymud for this)

UPDATE: There is a homebrew software called 'SkinselecterYS' <a href="http://www7.atpages.jp/torasoft/" target="_blank">Here</a> that can be used to swap the background Pictures/Colour scheme.
Once again the readme file is in Japanese but thanks to Bidoofguy who figured it out you can see how to use it in <a href="http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=142136&st=15" target="_blank">This Thread</a>

What else can I alter in 'YSMenu.ini'?
[YSMENU]
You can change the language by place a ';' in front of any of the 'LITERALS=' to disable it & remove the ';' to enable it (As mentioned before in 'Setting up')
Further down the file you will find sections labelled [LITERALS_???] (where ??? is a language e.g JAP).
By altering the text to the right of the '=' You can get YSMenu to display whatever you like (e.g. if you change 'LOADING=Please Wait...' then YSMenu will show 'Please Wait...' instead of 'Loading...')

In theory you could create additional languages by copying/Pasting an existing [LITERALS_???] section (Changing the section header to something else like '[LITERALS_GER]' for German) & changing the text in the section, then by adding a LITERALS=LITERALS_GER under [YSMENU]

SORT_BY_TIME=
Changing this to 'True' will cause the files to be shown depending upon the time they were last used instead of the normal 'alphabetically sorted'.
In other words the games you play more often will appear near the top, while the lesser played ones are at the bottom. (this is determined by the game SAV time stamp)

VERSION=
Whatever is put here will replace the 'Yasu Software - YS menu' text @ the bottom of the touch screen.
When touched - the version text will still be shown in Black ink though

NO_DEL=
Changing this to 'true' will prevent you from using the [X] button to delete files.
Handy if you want to prevent any little ones from deleting your current SAV by mistake

DEFAULT_DMA=
DEFAULT_RESET=
Change from 'false' to 'true' (or 'true' to 'false') will cause all programs to have the appropriate option box ticked/unticked by default

EXT_APP1_FILE=
EXT_APP1_NAME=
This will cause an extra button to appear when you press [Start] for the 'Passme' / 'Boot GBA' option screen
Clicking on the extra button will start the program mentioned in 'EXT_APP1_FILE'
You can in fact have more than just the one extra button - Just by adding 'EXT_APP2_FILE=' and 'EXT_APP2_NAME=' (up to 'EXT_APP9_FILE'/'EXT_APP9_NAME')

[FILETYPE]
Adding a file format will allow that particular file to show up in YSMenu file browser (e.g. TXT/BMP/MP3 etc).
Note that I haven't figured out how to launch an appropiate program for any additional formats or even if it's possible

Some files have already been set up for GBA/NES/NeoGeo/Sega Master System and WonderSwan [?!?] emulation
- these require additional programs installed into the YSMenu folder, along with a Slot 2 Flash card like the EZ3-in-1, to work

Advi · Mar 22, 2009

http://tinyurl.com/c393jo

for references, kupo. good show, though.

CannonFoddr · Mar 22, 2009

Ha ha very funny - but did you notice there was over 30,000 results,
enough to drive you crazy

& I noticed many of those were not for 'Tutorials/Help' or even in English

At least this way it's all in one place

Hitcher · Mar 23, 2009

Great guide - needs to be stickied.

Bri · Mar 25, 2009

There is an automated script for setting up YSMenu (I don't recall the name at the moment). You should add more information to the FAQ.

-Bri

Hitcher · Mar 25, 2009

Bri said:
There is an automated script for setting up YSMenu (I don't recall the name at the moment). You should add more information to the FAQ.

-Bri

It's called TTYSauto but it misses out the YSMenu.ini file and doesn't rename the 'YSMenu' folder to 'TTMenu'.

Bri · Mar 25, 2009

You can PM the author if that's a bug. I know he's a member of this forum.

It didn't work for me the one time I tried it, but that was a very early version of the script. Why would the YSMenu be renamed to TTMenu? And what does "it misses out the YSMenu.ini file" mean?

-Bri

CannonFoddr · Mar 25, 2009

OK gents, you may (or may not) of noticed I've got rid of the Poll up top
A lot of people have been reading this thread (last time I Look - 322) but not voting - so ...... Away it goes

Anyway I may of jumped the gun a bit but since I'm @ work with not a lot to do

I've made a start on a WIKI here @ http://wiki.gbatemp.net/wiki/index.php/YSMenu

It's nothing more than a copy of this thread (with a few alterations) & since it's my first WIKI (Still learning the right 'Tags' to use) - the formatting a little bit rough.

I'm planning to add a few graphics (YSMenu/TTMenu screenshots) when I get time to take photos, as well as possibly links to things like 'how to set up on R4' / 'YSSkin Downloads', or even split it up into multiple WIKI pages (I see what I feel like doing), but if anyone likes to add any further info to it (like this 'TTYSAuto' thingy) - you're welcome to do so

shaaynn · Mar 25, 2009

How come when I load the YSmenu, there is a black screen at the top and gray at the bottom?
It still loads. I'm just wondering if this is a glitch or something.
The TTMENU loads alot more smoothly. S:

shaaynn · Mar 25, 2009

How come when I load the YSmenu, there is a black screen at the top and gray at the bottom?
It still loads. I'm just wondering if this is a glitch or something.
The TTMENU loads alot more smoothly. S:

EDIT; Sorry, accidentally double-posted.

Maikel Steneker · Mar 25, 2009

Hitcher said:
Bri said:

There is an automated script for setting up YSMenu (I don't recall the name at the moment). You should add more information to the FAQ.

-Bri

Click to expand...

It's called TTYSauto but it misses out the YSMenu.ini file and doesn't rename the 'YSMenu' folder to 'TTMenu'.

But it will in the future

I still need to update it. I don't know when I will though.

CannonFoddr · Mar 25, 2009

shaaynn said:
How come when I load the YSmenu, there is a black screen at the top and gray at the bottom?
It still loads. I'm just wondering if this is a glitch or something.
The TTMENU loads alot more smoothly. S:

To be honest I'm not sure.
I've just tried mine & I admit I've never really noticed the 'Black on top/Grey on bottom' before the normal file selector came up.

I'm guessing that this is actually 'normal' bootup procedure (I guess it MIGHT be quicker booting up if I had a Class 6 MicroSD). It only takes a couple of seconds - so what's the problem ??

Until DSTT sorts out the 'Alphabet sort'/'Folder View' problems on it's firmware - I'll stick with YSMenu (But I hope Yasu allows us to use Icons instead of text for DMA/Cheat/Reset on the bottom screen eventually

)

shaaynn · Mar 25, 2009

kermitfrog said:
shaaynn said:

How come when I load the YSmenu, there is a black screen at the top and gray at the bottom?
It still loads. I'm just wondering if this is a glitch or something.
The TTMENU loads alot more smoothly. S:

Click to expand...

To be honest I'm not sure.
I've just tried mine & I admit I've never really noticed the 'Black on top/Grey on bottom' before the normal file selector came up.

I'm guessing that this is actually 'normal' bootup procedure (I guess it MIGHT be quicker booting up if I had a Class 6 MicroSD). It only takes a couple of seconds - so what's the problem ??

Until DSTT sorts out the 'Alphabet sort'/'Folder View' problems on it's firmware - I'll stick with YSMenu (But I hope Yasu allows us to use Icons instead of text for DMA/Cheat/Reset on the bottom screen eventually

)

Well, its just really 'rough' and doesnt load smoothly. There is some flashes and then it loads. Is that normal?

Bobwich III · Mar 29, 2009

Deleted

The_JetSetBeat · Mar 29, 2009

I'm curious, here. Oh, and great guide, Kermit. It really should be stickied.

Ok, back to curious. I wouldn't mind having the ability to run both YSMenu and TTMenu and followed the guide to set up YSMenu as default. However, how do I get TTMenu to start? The only thing that shows up by default is the Games folder and an option to select YSMenu (even though that's already running).

I can press the Select button to see hidden files and can see the fake killer disabled TTMenu file that was renamed to TTMenu.nds from TTMenu.dat, however its full name is "TTMenu.nds.dat", meaning it can't be used to start up the TTMenu firmware since it's not actually a .nds file.

Checking the file tree in your tutorial, I do have all of the files listed on the root of my memory card (though, again, that renamed file is still a .dat file, not an .nds file).

Eh?

Diablo1123 · Mar 29, 2009

Didn't know about the backup stuff thanks!

Nice tutorial

Nothing about NOR though

CannonFoddr · Mar 29, 2009

Diablo1123 said:
Didn't know about the backup stuff thanks!

Nice tutorial

Nothing about NOR though

If you pop along to the WIKI @ http://wiki.gbatemp.net/wiki/index.php/YSMenu you find I've added a link in the 'How do I use this' section (What is PSRAM ? ) that goes to http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=101442 that explains NOR/PSRAM/SRAM (It's also in this thread) - I didn't call the link 'what is PSRAM/NOR/SRAM' because I hadn't mentioned the others

Still 'working' on the WIKI now & Again - the only problem is that I cannot seem to upload any Photos to it (Keep getting a fault about 'The upload directory (public) is not writable by the webserver.' - which I believe has something to do with the Server side of things & not the client side) so I'm having to link photos to my Flickr account

To The_JetSetBeat:-

The only thing I can think of is that when you were using your PC (I'm guessing you are using Windows XP) to rename the file - Did you have 'Hide Extensions for known file type' Deselected ??
Open a Explorer Window > Tools > Folder Options > 'Veiw' Tab > DESELECT 'Hide Extensions for known file type'

It could be that in the Window you saw 'TTMENU' & renamed that as 'TTMENU.NDS' but in fact the file is 'TTMENU.DAT' & you accidentally renamed it as 'TTMENU.NDS.DAT'

The_JetSetBeat · Mar 29, 2009

*laughs*

That's exactly what it was, kermit. I'm using Vista, in fact. I didn't realize that Windows automatically prevents you from reassigning the file extension if you don't have file extensions showing. Ah, I long for the good old days when Windows wasn't so much about trying to keep idiots from screwing up their computers. *sighs*

phoenixtaku · Apr 1, 2009

Everything on my YSMenu is grey as well as the new skin that I put in, how do I fix this?

tj_cool · Apr 1, 2009

phoenixtaku said:
Everything on my YSMenu is grey as well as the new skin that I put in, how do I fix this?

Throw it against a calendar
maybe that will give you an idea

Hacking YSMenu - What/Where/How:

Regular GBATemp Lurker

Well-Known Member

Regular GBATemp Lurker

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Regular GBATemp Lurker

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

M3 Fanboy

Regular GBATemp Lurker

Well-Known Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Newcomer

Regular GBATemp Lurker

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Site dev

Similar threads

Popular threads in this forum