Hacking DSTWO Skins

[Terminator02]

I originally called them themes, but spinal called them themes on his page so I changed it

i think he calls them themes because you can change the type of clock and positions of different things as well as the images themselves

 

[jurassicplayer]

I generally use the two interchangeably, but for the most part, I hold the distinction that skins are those that replace stuff (R4, CycloDS, TTDS, etc.) and themes are those where you can actually do some rearranging as well (iMenu, AK2i, DSTWO, EZVi, etc.)

 

[Stormwave]

Hi again guys o/

Just thought I'd mention a couple of things, first of all it seems the ds2skin wiki is a bit messed up

Secondly I'm going to add new features to DSTwo Skin Installer if anyone wants them. I'm not sure what new skinning options are available.

 

[Terminator02]

it's not just that page, the whole gbatemp wiki is messed up, admins said they're working on it

Due to a recent server move, some pages may appear broken. We are aware of the problem and will fix it as soon as possible!

and are you asking for requests?? my main one would be to recognize whether the person is using NDSSFC, BAGSFC, or CATSFC, and put the skin in the correct folder

also skins for iMenu/BAGPlug

 

[2-bias]

and are you asking for requests?? my main one would be to recognize whether the person is using NDSSFC, BAGSFC, or CATSFC, and put the skin in the correct folder

also skins for iMenu/BAGPlug

+1 for that
and for Skin installer itself

 

[CannonFoddr]

Secondly I'm going to add new features to DSTwo Skin Installer if anyone wants them. I'm not sure what new skinning options are available.

and are you asking for requests?? my main one would be to recognize whether the person is using NDSSFC, BAGSFC, or CATSFC, and put the skin in the correct folder, also skins for iMenu/BAGPlug
QUOTE

+1 for that and for Skin installer itself

Well if you're [stormwave] is considering updating the ds2skin program.... I agree with the above 'determine if using Bag/Cat/SFC & placing into correct folder', the Imenu/Bagplug seems also like a good idea (but FYI I'm NOT gonna add those skins to the DSskin thread - people might get a bit confused if I do)

One thing I'd like added as well...
You may or may not know, but some skins makers DON'T/WON'T allow their skins to be 'included into packs', meaning we can't include them into ds2skin files

- so could an option/routine be made that allows people to place 'normal' skin files into a special folder (e.g. '/_skins/') & that the ds2skin installer will

• Look inside the '_skins' folder
• Find ANY file (ZIP/RAR or whatever since that's what most of the files here are stored as)
• Reads the contents of file, searching for particular file names
• IF it finds one of these files names it'll know that the graphics in that folder belongs to a particular 'skin' (this might cause problems with BAG/CAT/SFC though)
• Extract & copy over those graphics into the appropriate folder (making new folder if need be)

It's basically the same as what it does currently (I think) - but without having to 'make' a ds2skin file first & doesn't need that xml file inside

 

[Stormwave]

Hmm. I will add iMenu support, and figure out which SNES version you're using and update it (I presume you can have multiple ones and have them all update, do they all use the same skin format? I've been away too long). I'm not sure what bagplug is, but I'll look into it.

As for installing skins that aren't in ds2skin format, it is a feature I'd like but it'd be really difficult to implement. Picking up on the the main skinning things would be easy enough, looking for specific files in folders to identify the type of skin is straightforward. The problem would be things like the loading screen, that could have any filename, or multiple identical skins like the emulators. Of course a way around that would be to place the single loading screen somewhere, but give it a specific name that the skin installer can identify. It would be minimal effort required to get it working, but arguably not much easier than building a ds2skin file :/.

Another option would be creating a more sophisticated windows program that will analyse a zip/rar/7z file and convert whatever it finds into a ds2skin. Effectively automating the process of making a ds2skin from any packaged skin, which would mean minimal work changing the ds plugin. That way it wouldn't matter how it was packaged, you could just turn it into a ds2skin yourself without the need to extract each section and everything.

You could even then add a section on the wiki or the first post or whatever to say which skins work well in the conversion, as something like "100% ds2skin convertible". I'll look through all the ways people have packaged skins and try and find some patterns.

Edit

Okay, I've written an auto converter for the ds2skin windows program. It seems to work better than I expected, it works on all the skins I've tried so far. It detects a loading screen if it is named "Loading Screen.bmp", "LoadingScreen.bmp", "loading.bmp" or "dsgame.bmp". If it finds a DSGAME.NDS file, it will extract the loading screen from it. It then throws it all together into a ds2skin with no effort at all. I might attempt to write the same algorithm into the NDS program, but it will be much harder to do in that.

Adding BAGplug and iMenu support now. I'll also add the multiple SNES emualtors things (now I've researched it a bit I see what I have to do). Any more ideas before I release this?

 

[CannonFoddr]

The PC program seems like a better idea actually, allowing it to automatically determine & make a ds2skin pack. That should keep the skin developers happy as it's not being 'distributed in a pack' & make it easier for the people who downloaded it to have their own 'ds2skin' pack

One thing I would suggest though - since there COULD be skins with duplicate names - is perhaps 'adding' to the ds2skin name a 'tag'

For example - some1 downloads a 'Mario.ZIP', then run it through the PC program
The program determines it only has one skin inside & it figures it out it's a 'eos' skin so it makes a 'Mario_eos.ds2skin'

IF however they download a 'Mario.zip' that has MORE than one skin in it - & the pc program determines this fact - it's called 'Mario_multi.ds2skin' instead.

This way when viewed on the DS the owner will see they have 2 different packs - 'Mario_eos' and a 'Mario_multi'

 

[DSdonkey77]

Does anybody have a new download line for Default DStwo skin (in blue)? I really need it!!!

 

[CannonFoddr]

Does anybody have a new download line for Default DStwo skin (in blue)? I really need it!!!

Hmm - could be the original skin maker has updated it & that's what caused the link to get broken....
Have you popped over to the supercard forums to see if you can find it there ??
(Unfortunately I can't check while in work ATM - the company I work for 'has blocked http://forum.supercard.sc/ because the web category "Hacking" is not allowed. ')

EDIT: FYI there is a 'Default Blue' ds2skin pack on the Wiki page (direct filetrip link).
Don't think it's the same one but you can try it out
> Download it - Unpack the zip file & you end up with a 'default blue.ds2skin' file
> Rename the file from 'Default blue.ds2skin' to 'Default Blue.zip' & you can open it up to grab the graphics & copy them over (just remember to back up your original files first)

EDIT #2: Back home & Yep!! - It seems he DID update his 'Default skin in blue', so the link HAD changed - now updated on first post

 

[DSdonkey77]

Does anybody have a new download line for Default DStwo skin (in blue)? I really need it!!!

Hmm - could be the original skin maker has updated it & that's what caused the link to get broken....
Have you popped over to the supercard forums to see if you can find it there ??
(Unfortunately I can't check while in work ATM - the company I work for 'has blocked http://forum.supercard.sc/ because the web category "Hacking" is not allowed. ')

EDIT: FYI there is a 'Default Blue' ds2skin pack on the Wiki page (direct filetrip link).
Don't think it's the same one but you can try it out
> Download it - Unpack the zip file & you end up with a 'default blue.ds2skin' file
> Rename the file from 'Default blue.ds2skin' to 'Default Blue.zip' & you can open it up to grab the graphics & copy them over (just remember to back up your original files first)

EDIT #2: Back home & Yep!! - It seems he DID update his 'Default skin in blue', so the link HAD changed - now updated on first post

Thanks you so much!

 

[boktor666]

OMG wtf LED scdstwo skin, its looking daium hawt mates. I have this installed on my dstwo LED with a black dslite, so it looks really smoooth. Thanks

 

[leeday100196]

OMG wtf LED scdstwo skin, its looking daium hawt mates. I have this installed on my dstwo LED with a black dslite, so it looks really smoooth. Thanks

U mean the Limited Edition skin? Very flash indeed my friend. Fits any theme perfectly.

 

[loismustdie555]

Could anyone make a pipboy3k2 skin for the real time menu cuz i suck at editing just about anything

 

[pmk010]

> Start up 'DS Skin Maker'
> Select 'DSTwo' from the list of flashcard/Homebrew
> Click on 'Select' from the menu bar up top
> Select 'Modify Loading Screen' option
> Use the program & browse to a 'DSGame.nds' file
(Once loaded you should see a standard 'Loading' screen)
> Click on [Load] & browse to a suitable replacement 'loading' picture
(Once loaded the screen should now show the new picture)
> Click on [Apply] & answer the question if you wish to make a backup or not
(The backup will be called DSGame.nds.bak)
> IF you changed a 'DSGame.nds' stored on your PC - transfer the newly modified version to your DSTwo

Change point three to Click on 'Tools' from the menu bar up top

 

[CannonFoddr]

Change point three to Click on 'Tools' from the menu bar up top

Thanks for pointing that out - Why the HELL did I put 'select' in the first place I don't know....it's NEVER been that on any version (v1-3 use to be 'preview')... must've had a bit of a 'senior' moment when I originally wrote that guide

 

[Korbra]

Okay so I downloaded one of the skin folders that has the images and the icon folder with more images. I know for that type you are supposed to put it in the _dstwo ui folder. Well I did that and I couldn't get anything to work. Downloaded the skin installer plugin and a different skin in the .ds2skin file format and it works great. So my question is, how do I turn the original skin I downloaded (the folder with images and the icon folder) into a .ds2skin file? Is that possible? I tried using the PC component of the skin installer but I must have done something wrong.

 

[Terminator02]

you can do it from the PC program, but if you've got it set up incorrectly (as evident by it not working when u put it on your DSTwo), then it won't install correctly as a .ds2skin file either (in fact it might give u an error when trying to create it)

 

[CannonFoddr]

Okay so I downloaded one of the skin folders that has the images and the icon folder with more images. I know for that type you are supposed to put it in the _dstwo ui folder. Well I did that and I couldn't get anything to work. Downloaded the skin installer plugin and a different skin in the .ds2skin file format and it works great. So my question is, how do I turn the original skin I downloaded (the folder with images and the icon folder) into a .ds2skin file? Is that possible? I tried using the PC component of the skin installer but I must have done something wrong.What skin was it you tried ??

Did you put the files into their OWN separate folder under '_dstwo/ui/' such as

_DSTwo (folder)
!
!---- UI (folder)
!ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ!
!ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ!- silver (folder)
!ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ!ÂÂÂÂÂÂ !- icon (folder)
!ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ!ÂÂÂÂÂÂ !- active.bmp
!ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ!ÂÂÂÂÂÂ !- {all other .Bmp files}
!ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ!
!ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ!- NameOfSkin (folder)
!ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ!- icon (folder)
!ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ!- all *. bmp files

(where NameOfSkin is the skin you wanted to use )

or did you accidentally do it like
CODE_DSTwo (folder)
!
!---- UI (folder)
!ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ!
!ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ!- silver (folder)
!ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ!ÂÂÂÂÂÂ !- icon (folder)
!ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ!ÂÂÂÂÂÂ !- active.bmp
!ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ!ÂÂÂÂÂÂ !- {all other .Bmp files}
!ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ!
!ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ!- icon (folder)

 

[Korbra]

Yeah, the folders are in the right spot, I just don't understand how you would select them on the DS once they're in there. For example, there are the Pink and Silver folders in there originally. They don't show up on my skin installer plugin either. The only ones that show up on my skin installer are the ones with the .ds2skin files in the skins folder, like the default blue and default.

Edit: I messed around with everything some more and figured out the right way to make the ds2skin file with the computer program. It's good stuff. I'm staring to see that you really just have to play around with this stuff until you get it working like you want it to.