Hacking Configurable USB Loader

[Species8472]

While testing 35a3 I came across a few bugs. Fortunately all but one decided to go away eventually and that one is still in 35a4.

Bug in 35a4:
Default FLAT cover url is http://www.theotherzone.com/wii/pal/160/224/{ID6}.png should be http://wiicover.gateflorida.com/flat/{ID6}.png according to the readme-cfg.txt file.

 

[usptactical]

While testing 35a3 I came across a few bugs. Fortunately all but one decided to go away eventually and that one is still in 35a4.

Bug in 35a4:
Default FLAT cover url is http://www.theotherzone.com/wii/pal/160/224/{ID6}.png should be http://wiicover.gateflorida.com/flat/{ID6}.png according to the readme-cfg.txt file.

Out of curiousity, what were the bugs you found in a3?

thanks!

Also, there is no URL for theotherzone in the code. Please check to make sure you don't have an old config.txt overriding your settings.

 

[bnm81002]

will there ever be an update feature through a network connection for this loader? that would make it easier and better than having to install the new boot.dol file for any new version of the loader? thanks

I guess there will be one day... but the problem is that I don't find it interesting to code that, so each time I ask myself, should I add network update (boring) or the next cool feature (yay!) .. you know the outcome

But yeah, we'll find someday the time to add that too.

you know that you can always do both things, not just one or the other, don't get me wrong I do like this Loader but the USB Loader GX is better to me because it does have an update feature which makes it so much more easier than having to install a new boot.dol file, just an observation

 

[ThE MaSTeR 3]

Why exactly is GX so popular? GX loader GUI is very sloppy and unprofessional.

I've tried just about every loader and Config USB Loader is by far the best (stable,simple,efficient,feature packed)

My guesses why GX is more popular...

-the name GX sounds more exciting than config usb loader so its attracts the casual audience.
-Some early builds of config usb loader didnt auto mount the hard drive by default so people look at that as a negative when gx does.
-Maybe its the tacky spinning disc option in GX? (if going to try to replicate the wii menu it needs to be perfect or it looks like crap)

 

[Species8472]

The bugs that disappeared were:

1. Coverflow ignored the home button's setting and would do the default action.
I took a screen shot while console mode was active but when I went to coverflow it rebooted instead of taking a screenshot. All settings worked fine after this initial incident.

2. When there are no covers assigned to any games (all display the noimage.png cover), coverflow would not display the center (currently selected) box. Instead there would be 2 dark gray triangles stretching downward from the base of where the the center box would be. If there was at least 1 game with box art or if debug=1 was used then it would display properly.

edit: You're right I did find an old config messing up the cover download settings. I was not aware it would look for another configuration file after it already found one.

 

[Malc`]

I only just got around to trying this loader as I managed to partition my 4gig SDHC card correctly - awesome work! I love the fact it can use both partitions at once, USBLoader GX couldn't even detect my SD card so this is great stuff

 

[Dr. Clipper]

Why exactly is GX so popular? GX loader GUI is very sloppy and unprofessional.

You options sound OK, but I don't think that's really it. My theories are:

• It can't be ignored that the auto-update feature is a huge draw. People are lazy.
• The in-engine settings update is also another primary reason people have given me for preferring GX. Again, their laziness.
• It gets updated so much. People think it must be better but really it's because they have so many cooks working on the thing and the broth frequently gets spoiled and needs correcting (hence the unstability).
• It's the "Ultimate" team. Ultimate got an early head start and a lot of sheep started following. Configurable was way in front when they switched to GX, but the improvement of those switching from Ultimate to GX made them think the coders were now godly (when Confgurable and other loaders already had all the stuff they added in the transition).
• It's more flashy. People prefer something to look nice than for it to work. Thankfully, upstactical's coverflow support will go a long way to correcting that.
• A lot of tutorials out there use GX. People can't be bothered to work out what else is out there. Perhaps I should start making my own tutorial a little more well known, which does advocate Configurable.

In any case, GX isn't that bad. It's mostly looks vs. functionality, and that is up to personal preference.

 

[PartyMon]

cfg v35a3 (alpha3)

http://sharebee.com/781fbacf

Changes since v35a2:

* Integrated Coverflow Gui mode
ÂÂ - NOTE: This mode renders the game covers in true 3D so 2D (flat) cover images are needed.
ÂÂÂÂ If "fake" 3D/disk cover images are currently being used (in console or Grid mode), moving to Coverflow 
ÂÂÂÂ will automatically switch to 2D covers and then switch back when leaving.
ÂÂ - To access Coverflow mode (from console mode) press B and then down several times.
ÂÂÂÂ Each subsequent Down button press will iterate through each coverflow style.
ÂÂ - Currently only 2D flat front covers are supported.ÂÂFull cover image (front, spine,
ÂÂÂÂ back) support will be added in a future release.

* Favorites in console mode are now marked with a '*'

* Games with saved options are now marked with a '#' in the last column of the console.

For the Coverflow GUI, is there a default way to boot into them, like we can currently with Grid,Flow, and Flow-Z, and if so can you maybe add the little text that shows you what coverflow mode you are in, seems like there are about 5 modes. So being able to boot into a specific one would be nice!

For example Coverflow-flat, Coverflow-Diagonal, or whatever =)
Otherwise super sexy updates

 

[usptactical]

For the Coverflow GUI, is there a default way to boot into them, like we can currently with Grid,Flow, and Flow-Z, and if so can you maybe add the little text that shows you what coverflow mode you are in, seems like there are about 5 modes. So being able to boot into a specific one would be nice!

For example Coverflow-flat, Coverflow-Diagonal, or whatever =)
Otherwise super sexy updates

Thanks for the comments. Currently there isn't a way to load directly into a coverflow setting, but that will be added in a near future release.

 

[TeenTin]

For the Coverflow GUI, is there a default way to boot into them, like we can currently with Grid,Flow, and Flow-Z, and if so can you maybe add the little text that shows you what coverflow mode you are in, seems like there are about 5 modes. So being able to boot into a specific one would be nice!

For example Coverflow-flat, Coverflow-Diagonal, or whatever =)
Otherwise super sexy updates

Thanks for the comments. Currently there isn't a way to load directly into a coverflow setting, but that will be added in a near future release.

I suggest that every gui mode can be enabled/disabled individually. Thanks !

 

[onionpalac]

Is this problem just with me? I haven't been able to find he solution anywhere.

After installing cIOS38rev13 I tried to access my HD through the latest version of this loader. Instead of finding the HD I got the countdown to 30 secs and an error forcing me to restart the Wii.
This loader worked fine with rev10.
Any ideas anyone? Please.

Thanks so much . . .

 

[Dr. Clipper]

Is this problem just with me? I haven't been able to find he solution anywhere.

After installing cIOS38rev13 I tried to access my HD through the latest version of this loader. Instead of finding the HD I got the countdown to 30 secs and an error forcing me to restart the Wii.
This loader worked fine with rev10.
Any ideas anyone? Please.

Thanks so much . . .

Did you read the instructions, specifically that the drive must be plugged into the port closer to the outside of the Wii?

 

[onionpalac]

I thought I read everything available but didn't see anything about changing usb ports.
You're right though - it works now, thanks so much!
Even though I don't dig the idea of having to restart my Wii after every game.
Might check out the Hermes stuff now . . .

Also, add my vote to adding the feature of upgrading within the Config USB Loader. I almost didn't go for this loader because that feature was missing. Glad I did anyway.

 

[Wii Warrior]

Is it possible to get 3d covers with this loader?

I cant see any options to enable it, other than that it works a treat.

Do you recommend going higher than cios36 rev10?

 

[royvedas]

Has anyone else problems with these cover servers? I get "File not found" on each of these:
I am using the last official "Channel" version and have only entered one of each (without the +). The entries are entered as the last of the config file. I've tried these mentioned earlier in this thread:
[...]
-------

Use the last alpha2... it fixes the =+ with url options
btw, the error you get is harmless, it tries to download '+'

which fails and then tries on the next url proper...

or, if you can't use alpha2 since you're using the channel, write the urls in one long line, separated by space like this:

cover_url = http://site1/path http://site2/path http://site3/path

Upgrading solved my problem. And thank you for the upgraded channel. I prefer "real" channels.

 

[Dr. Clipper]

Is it possible to get 3d covers with this loader?

I cant see any options to enable it, other than that it works a treat.

Do you recommend going higher than cios36 rev10?

Add cover_style = 3d to your config.txt file, or use one of the themes that uses 3d covers.

And you'll find README-CFG.txt, included with the zip file for the loader, to be a good read to find out all the other things cfg UL can do.

If your drive is working OK, you don't plan to use other USB devices (like a LAN adapter, Wii Speak or microphones), and you don't mind turning on the 002 option for virtually all new games, you can stick with rev 10. If you can put up with two more seconds in your boot sequence and want all that other stuff, go with 13 (and make sure you use the right USB port).

 

[Wii Warrior]

Is it possible to get 3d covers with this loader?

I cant see any options to enable it, other than that it works a treat.

Do you recommend going higher than cios36 rev10?

Add cover_style = 3d to your config.txt file, or use one of the themes that uses 3d covers.

And you'll find README-CFG.txt, included with the zip file for the loader, to be a good read to find out all the other things cfg UL can do.

If your drive is working OK, you don't plan to use other USB devices (like a LAN adapter, Wii Speak or microphones), and you don't mind turning on the 002 option for virtually all new games, you can stick with rev 10. If you can put up with two more seconds in your boot sequence and want all that other stuff, go with 13 (and make sure you use the right USB port).

Thanks for that

I have realised that I downloaded the file from the "ultimate usb loader" page and I only got the dol file not any of the theme files or cfg files.

I have now downloaded from here so all should be fine.

 

[oggzee]

oggzee, quick question. Do you have a plan to solve the 3D cover sizing problem with many of the new sites? This is the status of the new servers as far as I can tell:

http://wiicover.gateflorida.com/ : 176x248 only
http://boxart.rowdyruff.net/ : 176x248 only
http://awiibit.com/ : 176x248 only
http://wiitdb.com/ : 160x225 only (I think, not really sure)
http://www.muntrue.nl/ : 160x225 native, but resizing to 176x248 is possible

Seeing as wiitdb doesn't seem to have a full set of covers yet and they are a different size to the other sites, I don't use them. I've also added changes to my config.txt to support the new cover sizes and coordinates at their native resolution.

Now this isn't too bad and it does work, but it has highlighted a few problems and possible improvements:

1: README-CFG.txt states that you don't need to set wcovers_size when setting covers_size, but I have found that you do, or the image doesn't appear correctly (each horizontal line is slightly shifted horizontally from the line above it, probably a rounding error).

2: My tweaks only support large3 as I can't be bothered to find the original coordinates of the other layouts. Is it possible to add a 'covers_coords_offset' global variable that is always added to whichever value of 'covers_coords' is set by the theme to make it work for them all (e.g., shifting every 3D boxart by 8 pixels left and 12 up for the new sizes)?

3: I found you cant really use the {WIDTH} and {HEIGHT} tags in the URLs any more because of the download all option. Could these tags and the covers_size and covers_coords options please be split into 3 (or 4 given imminent full covers) options, one for each style as you did with the URLs?

4: If you do the stuff in 3, it could be possible to show two or more different covers per game on the menu, like the boxart and disc below it (or even on top of each other to fake the disc partially sticking out of the box). The cover_style option would need to change to support multiple choices (with the first being used for the gui, maybe), but that should be doable, right?

As stated earlier, none of these are really that important (except for 1 which seems like a bug), but it would be pretty nice to have them seem pretty easy fixes to make.

Thanks again for all the awesome work you've done so far. Oh, and I guess that wasn't so quick after all

.

Edit: Hmm, seems I may have been wrong about the native size for muntrue (I could swear they had 176x248 as native last night). This now makes me consider going back to the smaller size and removing the 176x248-only sites from my list. Makes points 1&2 pretty useless (except for those that prefer the larger size), but 3 and 4 could still be handy, if possible.

Oh, you're right {WIDTH} and {HEIGHT} tags and download_all_styles don't work well together.
Well the work-around for now is to either disable download_all_styles, or use proper numbers instead of width/height tags.
For other things, I'll think about what could be done, but no automatic solution seem to be clean. I think if you want to have a specific size then you have to edit your theme, and also make sure you download the correct sizes, hence yes, removing sites that have different sizes. I think the default setup to automatically resize the covers and also include all the urls is the most convenient one.

 

[Dr. Clipper]

Oh, you're right {WIDTH} and {HEIGHT} tags and download_all_styles don't work well together.
Well the work-around for now is to either disable download_all_styles, or use proper numbers instead of width/height tags.
For other things, I'll think about what could be done, but no automatic solution seem to be clean. I think if you want to have a specific size then you have to edit your theme, and also make sure you download the correct sizes, hence yes, removing sites that have different sizes. I think the default setup to automatically resize the covers and also include all the urls is the most convenient one.
Yeah, that all works. Anyway, as per the edit, I'm pretty convinced I'm going to revert back to just using 160x225 covers as this appears to have been the default from the start, with the larger size only being created for GX and resized from the smaller ones anyway. I definitely don't want intermingling of image resolutions, so I'll just predominantly set muntrue with wiitdb as a backup.

For those interested, that means:
CODEcover_url = http://www.muntrue.nl/covers/ALL/160/225/boxart/{ID6}.png
cover_url =+ http://wiitdb.com/wiitdb/artwork/cover/EN/{ID}.png
cover_url =+ http://wiitdb.com/wiitdb/artwork/cover/US/{ID}.png
cover_url_3d = http://www.muntrue.nl/covers/ALL/160/225/3D/{ID6}.png
cover_url_3d =+ http://wiitdb.com/wiitdb/artwork/cover3D/EN/{ID}.png
cover_url_3d =+ http://wiitdb.com/wiitdb/artwork/cover3D/US/{ID}.png
cover_url_disc = http://www.muntrue.nl/covers/ALL/160/160/disc/{ID6}.png
cover_url_disc =+ http://wiitdb.com/wiitdb/artwork/disc/EN/{ID}.png
cover_url_disc =+ http://wiitdb.com/wiitdb/artwork/disc/US/{ID}.png

 

[slingshot27]

Hi,

I am new to this USB loader stuff. I see there are different usb loaders.
Why should I use this on and not for example USBLoader GX?