Hacking Configurable USB Loader

[milcoi]

* Background overlay support
additional images can be supplied that will be overlaid over the background:
- bg_overlay.png or bg_overlay_w.png for console background
- bg_gui_over.png or bg_gui_over_w.png for gui background
New options:
background_base
wbackground_base
background_gui
wbackground_gui
Used to specify the background base over which the overlays are applied.
-----------------------

so you just put the overlay png files within the theme dir?
no need to assign them in the theme.txt?

background_base = bg_base.png
wbackground_base = bg_base.png
background_gui = bg_gui_base.png
wbackground_gui = bg_gui_base.png

 

[oggzee]

so you just put the overlay png files within the theme dir?
no need to assign them in the theme.txt?

Yes, just put the overlay files in the theme dir.
There is no option at the moment to change the overlay file names.
(and I'm thinking that is not even needed)

 

[oggzee]

cfg v41b (beta)

http://sharebee.com/59725b28

Changes since alpha:

* Streamlined steps in game install screen
* Fixed green screen before starting game (from cloader)

Changes since 40 release:

* Improved theming (background overlay and resize)

The install screen has been changed similar to the suggestion by gizmomelb:
http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=147...t&p=2148772
(except no size reported and no cover install)

 

[duy64]

Is it possible to add auto scrolling for long titles ?
Something like this "Hagane no Renkinjutsushi: Fullmetal Alchemist - Akatsuki no Ouji" can't be seen by the loader in flow mode and list mode.

 

[Caliban]

I know this will be a stupid question, but for upgrading versions I assume I can just download the new version and overwrite the files on my SD card thus keeping all my stuff intact. I downloaded v39 last week and have a bunch of games so far and everything is going awesome, I just don't feel like making a n00b mistake!

Thanks!

 

[Dr. Clipper]

I know this will be a stupid question, but for upgrading versions I assume I can just download the new version and overwrite the files on my SD card thus keeping all my stuff intact. I downloaded v39 last week and have a bunch of games so far and everything is going awesome, I just don't feel like making a n00b mistake!

Thanks!

Yes, just overwrite the boot.dol in the apps/usbloader directory. You can also use the online update within the Loader itself if your Wii is connected to the Internet.

 

[Caliban]

Yes, just overwrite the boot.dol in the apps/usbloader directory. You can also use the online update within the Loader itself if you're Wii is connected to the Internet.

I thought there was an online update on there somewhere, but I must be blind. I was looking for the options menu or whatever I could only find the options for the individual games themselves. I'll find it then!

EDIT: Ahhhhhhh, I need to push the 1 button TWICE to get the global options.

 

[phillyrider807]

Did this add the new gecko 1,9.2 source yet?

 

[TeenTin]

Did this add the new gecko 1,9.2 source yet?

No.

 

[oggzee]

I have a question for theme makers:

Would you find the ability to change the overlay file name useful?

As at the moment the file names are hard-coded (bg_overlay.png, bg_overlay_w.png, bg_gui_over.png, bg_gui_over_w.png). And I'm leaning towards not making that configurable so that the filenames are standardized and can be easily swapped between themes without the need to edit theme.txt. Also note: if there are no wide variants supplied then the normal 4:3 overlay is used, so it is possible to use the same file for both 4:3 and wide mode. I'm mostly looking for opinion from: DonTlaloc, Blue-K, Milkoi and Narolez. But if anyone has any thoughts about that let me know.

 

[milcoi]

I have a question for theme makers:

Would you find the ability to change the overlay file name useful?

As at the moment the file names are hard-coded (bg_overlay.png, bg_overlay_w.png, bg_gui_over.png, bg_gui_over_w.png). And I'm leaning towards not making that configurable so that the filenames are standardized and can be easily swapped between themes without the need to edit theme.txt. Also note: if there are no wide variants supplied then the normal 4:3 overlay is used, so it is possible to use the same file for both 4:3 and wide mode. I'm mostly looking for opinion from: DonTlaloc, Blue-K, Milkoi and Narolez. But if anyone has any thoughts about that let me know.

I also recommend to keep them hardcoded and also the existing. The filenames will then be standardized and can be easily swapped between themes without the need to edit theme.txt
But, Maybe just a small change in filenaming:

bg_overlay.png (4:3 console background overlay)
bg_overlay_w.png (16:9 console background overlay)
bg_gui_overlay.png (4:3 gui background overlay)
bg_gui_overlay_w.png (16:9 gui background overlay)

This will be more correcsponding to the other names:

background = bg.png (4:3 console background)
wbackground = bg_wide.png (16:9 console background)
background_base = bg_base.png (4:3 console background)
wbackground_base = bg_base_w.png (16:9 console background)
background_gui = bg_gui.png (4:3 gui background)
wbackground_gui = bg_gui_w.png (16:9 gui background)

 

[Dr. Clipper]

Would you find the ability to change the overlay file name useful?

I know you already have my opinion given our PM discussions, but I'd like to voice the reasons I've stated to allow for it, in case it helps the others make up their minds.

Reasons why allowing renaming won't hurt anything:
1: It can be done without adding new options, just by augmenting the new ones so they can optionally take a second argument.
2: Themes that use the default filenames don't need to include the option in the theme.txt and can copy files between themes just as easily as if the filenames were fixed.

Reasons that actually make having the options better:
3: If there's one or two overlays that everyone uses, they can be stored in the base directory and don't have to be included with themes, saving space on the SD card.
4: It allows the user to optionally choose no overlay in one theme, and an overlay in another with the same background image (which could be stored in the root)

Reasons made to maintain consistency:
5: Not being able to change those files makes them the only background related files which have fixed names.
6: Not only that, but they are also different to other fixed filename options as they don't get looked for in the base directory if they aren't found in the theme directory. That gives us three types of files: Those with options, those without and are only looked for in one directory and those that are looked for in multiple places. It's just more confusing.

Just to make it clear, my proposal is that the new options each have 2 possible values.:

Value 1: A single filename. Means to use a background, but not to use an overlay.
Value 2: Two filenames separated by a comma. First is background, second is overlay.

The default will be something like "background_base=bg_base.png,bg_overlay.png". That way, you can still copy files that use those default names between theme directories and it will work, unless the theme creator wanted to specify their own, which they have the power to do.

 

[milcoi]

Some new anime themes has been uploaded.
Theme's for Configurable USB Loader
("old" theme options)

 

[laurozza]

cfg v41b (beta)

* Fixed green screen before starting game (from cloader)

Wow, just what i asked few days ago. Thanks!

 

[Blue-K]

I have a question for theme makers:

Would you find the ability to change the overlay file name useful?

As at the moment the file names are hard-coded (bg_overlay.png, bg_overlay_w.png, bg_gui_over.png, bg_gui_over_w.png). And I'm leaning towards not making that configurable so that the filenames are standardized and can be easily swapped between themes without the need to edit theme.txt. Also note: if there are no wide variants supplied then the normal 4:3 overlay is used, so it is possible to use the same file for both 4:3 and wide mode. I'm mostly looking for opinion from: DonTlaloc, Blue-K, Milkoi and Narolez. But if anyone has any thoughts about that let me know.
Meh, in my opinion Dr. Clipper said my main point, that made it a tie for me:
QUOTE...That gives us three types of files: Those with options, those without and are only looked for in one directory and those that are looked for in multiple places. It's just more confusing...

I don't need it, but I'm also not mad if you change it. Honestly, I don't care (harsh said). It's 50/50, so a tie for me. So I don't have a clear answer. I'll work with what I'll get, and it doesn't matter for me. You have to discuss that out with the other people here, sorry

.

Btw: Many thanks for the Green-Screen fix

.

 

[milcoi]

quick question:

Do I need to make the buttons for the wide overlay smaller then for the normal overlay?

 

[Bronzodiriace]

great work ogg

I have a little question about cios 222/223 rev 3.
Any differences about rev 2 and rev 3? I have rev 2.

 

[Dochog]

Which gives faster performance.

Having your files & covers stored on the USB drive or on a SD Card?

Is one way better over the other?

 

[oggzee]

quick question:
Do I need to make the buttons for the wide overlay smaller then for the normal overlay?
Same as before - you create a 800x480 image, and then you can either shrink it to 640x480 or leave it in original resolution and let the loader scale it down to 640x480. Try it out and you'll get the idea...

great work ogg

I have a little question about cios 222/223 rev 3.
Any differences about rev 2 and rev 3? I have rev 2.
The difference is in the USB driver (ehcmodule) for rev2 the version from uloader 2.5 is used while for rev3 the version from uloader 2.8D is used. I don't know the details, I think the changes are mostly about usb hdd compatibility, you can check the uloader changelogs if you can find more details...

QUOTE(Dochog @ Aug 18 2009, 04:13 PM)

Which gives faster performance.
Having your files & covers stored on the USB drive or on a SD Card?
Is one way better over the other?

USB HDD are generally faster than the SD cards.

 

[charroux]

Would you find the ability to change the overlay file name useful?

I know you already have my opinion given our PM discussions, but I'd like to voice the reasons I've stated to allow for it, in case it helps the others make up their minds.

Reasons why allowing renaming won't hurt anything:
1: It can be done without adding new options, just by augmenting the new ones so they can optionally take a second argument.
2: Themes that use the default filenames don't need to include the option in the theme.txt and can copy files between themes just as easily as if the filenames were fixed.

Reasons that actually make having the options better:
3: If there's one or two overlays that everyone uses, they can be stored in the base directory and don't have to be included with themes, saving space on the SD card.
4: It allows the user to optionally choose no overlay in one theme, and an overlay in another with the same background image (which could be stored in the root)

Reasons made to maintain consistency:
5: Not being able to change those files makes them the only background related files which have fixed names.
6: Not only that, but they are also different to other fixed filename options as they don't get looked for in the base directory if they aren't found in the theme directory. That gives us three types of files: Those with options, those without and are only looked for in one directory and those that are looked for in multiple places. It's just more confusing.

Just to make it clear, my proposal is that the new options each have 2 possible values.:

Value 1: A single filename. Means to use a background, but not to use an overlay.
Value 2: Two filenames separated by a comma. First is background, second is overlay.

The default will be something like "background_base=bg_base.png,bg_overlay.png". That way, you can still copy files that use those default names between theme directories and it will work, unless the theme creator wanted to specify their own, which they have the power to do.

I find that the hard-coded filenames works well, but agree that customization wouldn't hurt. Also, adding "lay" as was suggested would be helpful. Comma seperated options are confusing (how would you handle a filename with a comma in it?). I prefer the "whichever setting comes last" in the config file method, using different variable names.

I have many themes I was planning on posting, since I finished adding 16:9 versions to most of them, but now I'm converting them all to use overlays for easier customization. I really like the overlay concept, since that's how my themes were being made already, using layer templates in PaintShop Pro as overlays.