iMenu step-by-step set-up tutorial

Development has stopped for iMenu and spinal_code's site will not be coming back up, but he has released the source code for iMenu here: http://filetrip.net/nds-downloads/flashcart-files/download-imenu-source-10-f32186.html
There you go. Anyone who wants to continue this project may do so, but understand this, 1. My code isn't usually very tidy, so might not be very readable. 2. It's been a long time since I even looked at this, I doubt I could offer any help regarding it. 3. I'm not 100% sure that this is the latest version, but it was the latest one I could find on my hard drive.
Be sure to check out "How to Update EOS" in the Misc. section.



First, some information about iMenu
iMenu%20replaces%20b3.3.jpg

spinal_cord said:
Having used the new Superkard DSTwo for a little while now, I decided to make a new menu for it. The official one, although functional, isn’t really to my liking, so I started work on a new one.

I based this design on the iPod touch/iPhone ’springboard’ so basically it shows up to twelve icons on the screen, four can be docked to the bottom, the other eight can be scrolled sideways.
Earlier version of beta v3
v1


Features of iMenu
  • Uses all icons directly from the official menu
  • Shows up to 12 icons per screen
  • Loads both homebrew .nds and .plg files, and now commercial ROMs too (see Miscellaneous)
  • Anti aliased icon text
  • Can be used as a direct replacement for the official menu
  • Better homebrew compatibility than the official menu
  • D-Pad control with partial stylus/finger control
  • Any size clock (digital or analog)
  • Move/edit/delete/create icons in iMenu itself, no need to mess with .ini files!
  • Shoulder Buttons 'flip' pages
  • Multibooting (see Miscellaneous)
  • Arg support to launch directly into files on supported homebrew (see Miscellaneous)


How to set up iMenu (this is updated as of EOS version 1.11 (6-30-11) and iMenu beta v3.3)



0. If you don't already have an archive extractor (winrar, 7zip, winzip, etc.), download this and install it with the default settings. (it will bug you to pay but won't force you)

1. If you already have stuff on your MicroSD card, back it all up to your computer, then format your card using this formatter. (download is at the bottom of the page)

2. Download the latest official DSTwo firmware package from filetrip.

3. Extract the official firmware package into the root of your MicroSD card. (see what is the root?))
3.5. Optional: Updating your DSTwo to work on a 3DS
If you only have access to a 3DS, it is important that you update your firmware to 1.15 before you update the firmware on your 3DS. If you have access to a DS phat/lite/i/XL then you can update on any of those devices without worry as long as you have the latest EOS on the DSTWO.

Firmware 1.09 - works on 3DS's prior to v2.0.0-2
Firmware 1.12 - works on 3DS's on v2.2.0-4 and prior
Firmware 1.13 - works on 3DS's on v3.0.0-6 and prior
Firmware 1.15 - works on 3DS's on v4.0.0-7 and prior

1. Download firmware 1.15.

2. Extract "dstwoupdate.dat" to the root of your microsd card.

3. Put your microsd card into your DSTwo and insert it into a DS phat/lite/i/XL or your 3DS.

4. Turn on the DS and start the DSTwo, once you get to the plugin menu it should show a popup saying "Update system *your current firmware here* - 1.15", press A here to start updating. Make sure that you do NOT turn off or close the DS until it is finished upgrading.

5. If you did not see the popup, trying renaming "dstwoupdate.dat" to "ds2update.dat", then try it again.

You should now be on firmware 1.15, and dstwoupdate.dat (or ds2update.dat) should no longer be on your MicroSD card if it updated correctly.

-----------

If you started the update but it didn't finish, and now the DSTwo isn't recognized, you just get "Update error, enter than wait 3 minutes"
still in the process of trying to figure out a fix, read this thread for more info
possible fix is to download this and extract system1.dat into your _dstwo folder, then try the firmware update again
4. Download the latest version of iMenu from spinal_cord's site temporarily offline, use the mirror. (Filetrip Mirror)
download%20this%20(imenu)_3.3.JPG
5. Extract imenu.rar to the root of your MicroSD card, let it replace _dstwo/dstwo.nds

6. Extract this to the root of your MicroSD card and let it replace everything it has to.

7. Replace all of your ROMs and save files etc. from the backup if you created one in step 1 (you can just put all of the folders of the back-up on the root of your card) DO NOT OVERWRITE ANYTHING!!!!!!

8. Optional: If you want your DSTwo's microsd card to show up as the card itself on your PC, just extract this to the root of your sd card. (it will take affect the next time you plug in your microsd card)
DS2%20icon%20drive.JPG
9. Optional: If you want cheats, just download this and extract usrcheat.dat into the _dstwo folder. All of the cheats will automagically appear for each supported game. (if you ever want to update your cheats just click on that link again for the newest version and overwrite the old usrcheat.dat with the new one)

10. If the first time you turn on your ds and load iMenu it adds in a catsfc and iMenu icon (as well as any other homebrew you have in your /_dstwoplug/ folder), just press select on them and delete them, as catsfc is the same exact thing as the SNES icon, except uglier, and the iMenu icon is useless.

The basic set-up of iMenu is complete, enjoy .


If you ever want to experiment with skins, you can find them here.
You may also find them here, although they are installed using different methods.


How to add new icons

If there is a folder in the download extract it to the root of your card, extract the .nds file to the _dstwoplug folder.

if you can't get it to work see if there was a readme included in the download and follow the instructions


After you've downloaded all of the homebrew you want and put everything in the proper place on your microsd card, follow the mini guide below and skip step 2.

If the homebrew you're looking for isn't listed, then you will need to get an icon from somewhere else (step 2 on the mini guide below)

-------------

First, you need to understand how the icons work:
for every single icon, there is a corresponding .ini file in /_iMenu/_ini
the title of the .ini does not matter, but you should name it the same as the application that it's loading for organization's sake

This is what DSGame.ini looks like
<!--c1--><div class="codetop">CODE</div><div class="codemain"><!--ec1-->[plug setting]
icon=/_imenu/_images/icons/dsgame.bmp
name=DSGame
file=/_dstwo/dsgame.nds
number=0
dock=1
note=Official DSTwo game loader.
arg=<!--c2--></div><!--ec2-->
The icon= line is for the picture, which should be in /_imenu/_images/icons

the name= line is what the icon will be named within iMenu when you load it up

the file= line links to the file that you are loading, in this case dsgame.nds

the number= line is where your icon will be placed in iMenu, this is no big deal because you can move it while inside iMenu

the dock= line is either 0 to not have that icon on the dock or 1 to have it on the dock, there can be no more than 4 on the dock

the note= line is just a note that some skins display it doesn't matter what you put there (if the icon is for a commercial game you must put "dsgame" here without the quote)

the arg= line is used to load something in homebrew automatically (example being to put the path to a SNES game with the homebrew being CATSFC to automatically load that game when the icon is pressed)
Did you read all that? Good, because you will need to understand it to know how to make your own icons.

1. Copy one of the .ini files in /_iMenu/_ini and rename it to the homebrew you will be loading with it.

2. If the icon you want isn't already in your microsd card in /_iMenu/_images/icons, you will need to either get an image from one of the icon packs or create the image yourself.
a. Check one of the various icon packs.
Icon pack by Cannonfoddr (in /Icons/iMenu (b3) 50x50 icons/)
Icon pack by VatoLoco (in /iMenu Icons/)
Icon pack by jurassicplayer
NDS game cover pack by Cannonfoddr (for commercial games)
b. These don't look as good because they have a border, but if you can't find it in the above packs, look for a .bmp icon in this wiki.
c. Make it yourself.
  • Start up GIMP
  • 'Open' up spinal_cord's beta3 GIMP icon template
  • 'Open' (as a new picture) a picture you'd like to use... Crop it,Modify it, 'Merge down' any layers then 'Resize' it etc (I find best resized to 44x44 pixels)
  • 'Select' > 'All'
  • 'Edit' > 'Copy'
Now the 'tricky' bit....
  • Select the icon template window & you should see in the 'Layers' window - there are 3 of them
    (from top to bottom they should be 'AppIconOverlay.png'/'Background'/'AppIconShadow.png' - the 'background' one has 2 icons together - a film reel & a black border)

  • Click on the LEFT ICON of 'Background' (the picture of a film reel)
  • 'Edit' > 'Paste'
Now 'File' > 'Save as' > 'whatever you want to call it.bmp' > Merge visible layer/Export > Save
d. If you don't see the icon you want and do not wish to make it yourself, request your icon(s) in this thread, then use default.bmp file which can be found in /_imenu/_images/icons/ until your request is filled.
e. Put the image you created or obtained in /_iMenu/_images/icons.​

3. Put the homebrew that you want to assign the icon to in the /_dstwoplug folder (it isn't required to be in here, but for organization's sake just put it here)

4. Go back to /_iMenu/_ini. Edit the .ini file you created in step one to correspond to all of the correct files.

You should now see the new icon with the name you assigned it when you boot into iMenu.


How to theme iMenu

Spinal added a page for themes on his website. temporarily offline, check out Cannonfoddr's post and Hoodz post for a few themes

Just click on the name below the picture to download a .rar package and extract the _iMenu folder to the root of your microsd card.
I recommend downloading "sedstwo" to match with the rest of the skin in the "How to skin the rest of your DSTwo" section.



If you are interested in making your own theme you may want to know what you can edit, Cannonfoddr has made a nice bit about what each thing does in the settings:
You need to use either Windows 'Notepad' (or similar) or DSOrganise/Moonshell2 'TextEdit' feature to change these

Settings.ini
<!--c1--><div class="codetop">CODE</div><div class="codemain"><!--ec1-->[main]
toptext=ffffff
topshaddow=000000
bottomtext=ffffff
bottomshaddow=000000

showinfoicon=0
infoix=0
infoiy=60

showinfoname=0
infonx=4
infony=110
nametext=EF73B5
nametextshaddow=ffffff

showinfonote=0
infonox=4
infonoy=122
notetext=EF73B5
notetextshaddow=ffffff

showday=1
dayx=4
dayy=0
daytext=ffffff
dayshaddow=000000

showdate=1
datex=90
datey=0
datetext=ffffff
dateshaddow=000000

quietboot=1
hideicontext=0<!--c2--></div><!--ec2-->
  • toptext=,topshaddow=
    Not used - Left over from beta3(.0)

    bottomtext=,bottomshaddow=
    Defines the colours used to display the text underneath the Icons on bottom screen

    showinfoicon=0/1
    0= Do not show icon on top screen, 1=Show icon on top screen
    infoix=, infoiy=
    Position to show 'Icon' on top screen

    showinfoname=0/1
    0= Don't show Icons name on top screen, 1= Show icon name on top screen
    infonx=, infony=
    Postion on top screen to show Icon's name
    nametext=, nametextshadow=
    Defines the colour of the icon names text, & it's 'shadow'

    showinfonote=0/1
    0= Do not show the text stored in the INI 'note=' line, 1= Show the text in 'name='
    infonox=, infonoy=
    Position on top screen to display the 'note=' text
    notetext=, notetextshadow=
    Defines the colour(s) used to display the text stored in 'note='

    showday=0/1
    0=Do not show today's day (Monday-Sunday) on top screen, 1=Show today's day on top screen
    dayx=, dayy=
    Position on top screen to show the date
    daytext=, dayshadow=
    Defines the colour(s) used to display the Day name

    showdate=0/1
    0= Do not show the date (dd/month) on top screen, 1= Display the date
    datex=, datey=
    Position on top screen to display the date
    datetext=, dateshaddow=
    Defines the colour(s) used to display the date

    quietboot=0/1
    0=When booting up display text on what iMenu is doing, 1=only show a (virtually) blank bootup screen with 'iMenu' title on it
    hideicontext=0/1
    0=All Icons on bottom screen will show the name underneath, 1=Only Icon graphics are displayed

Skins for iMenu b1 (these are very old and do not work on the newer version of iMenu)

--------------------

How to skin the rest of your DSTwo

This is my recommended skin just to start you off, you can later change anything to how you want it.

1. Download the DSTwo Skin Installer by Stormwave.

2. Extract "7z.dll", "DSTwo Skin Installer.exe", and "SkinInstaller.ico" anywhere you want on your computer (with all of the files in the same folder).

3. Double click "DSTwo Skin Installer.exe" and press "Associate ds2skin".

4. If you haven't yet, make sure you have your MicroSD card plugged into your computer.

5. Download the Limited Edition DSTwo skin (orange version).

6. Extract "LEDS2-Orange.ds2skin" to wherever you want on your computer, then double click it.

7. You will see a window with all of the skins that it is going to install, uncheck the "Loading Screen" box.
8. Then press the Start button and wait for the skin to finish installing.

Your skin is now successfully installed.


If you ever want to experiment with skins, you can find them here.
You may also find them here, although they are installed using different methods.


Miscellaneous

How multibooting works:
- New boot menu -
Holding L+R during booting will load a file selector, press 'A' to load a different menu one time, Press 'Start' to change the default menu.
This is 100% compatible with BAGPlug and other homebrew, you can even set moonshell or the original plugin menu as default and change them whenever you like. Have a look in _dstwo/boot.ini to figure out how it is set up!​
How to Update EOS
1) Delete "plgargs.dat" off of the root of your MicroSD card
2) Download the latest EOS from here
3) When you open up the latest EOS in your archiver, rename dstwo.nds to _dstwo.nds (in the /_dstwo/ folder)
4) Extract all of the files to the root of your MicroSD Card like normal and let everything overwrite.​
How to Update iMenu (of same versions e.g. Beta3.2 to beta 3.3) by Cannonfoddr:
1) Backup the '/_imenu/' folder from your Memory card
2) Download & install the latest version of iMenu from Spinal's website
3) Copy back the '/_imenu/'_ini/' folder, overwriting any existing INI (If you don't you may find some Icons have 'moved' places)

IF you have done any theme/skin/clock alterations:-
> Copy over from your backup the '/_imenu/_images/gui/' folder, 'clock.ini' and 'settings.ini' files

IF you have added any new Icons to iMenu:-
> Copy over the [added] icons from your '/_imenu/_images/icons/' backup into the same folder on your Memory card​
How to load commercial ROMs from iMenu:
Just put dsgame in the note line in your .ini file, see the example below.
[plug setting]
icon=/_imenu/_images/icons/*Whatever Icon Graphic You Want*.bmp
name=*Name of Commercial ROM*
file=/DSgames/*Commercial ROM*.nds
number=0
dock=0
note=dsgame
arg=
You can get game icons from Cannonfoddr's NDS game cover pack
How to get DSDoom to work:
How to get jEnesisDS to work:
Put dsgame in the note line of the .ini file, such as with commercial ROMs, if it still doesn't work try an older version of jEnesisDS​
How arg works:
Arg is a method to automatically launch up a specified file when you start up the homebrew (such as a game in an emulator) using a custom icon with an arg line in the .ini file (see "How the icons in iMenu work" under the "How to add new icons (homebrew)" section). Currently the main homebrew that support it are CATSFC and IkuReader.

To create arg icons set the .ini file up just like the homebrew's .ini file, except have the arg= line point towards the file you want to load.
[plug setting]
icon=/_imenu/_images/icons/*Whatever Icon Graphic You Want*.bmp
name=*Name of SNES Game*
file=/_dstwoplug/CATSFC.plg
number=0
dock=0
note=
arg=/CATSFC/gamepak/*SNES Game*.smc


Shameless plug

Would you like to know how to get game guides or pictures that you can access from the real-time menu while playing DS2 games? Would you like to know how to create high quality videos for viewing in Moonshell 2?

Just click here
 

RoMee

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I know but this makes it easier for noob to understand
that way they can set up all their homebrew/plugins the same way

it's just a suggestion..
 

Terminator02

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RoMee said:
I know but this makes it easier for noob to understand
that way they can set up all their homebrew/plugins the same way

it's just a suggestion..
the only difference between what you and I have is putting the .nds file in /homebrew folder vs. the /_imenu/_plg folder

I'd like to think the way I do it is easier, having all of their homebrew in one folder, in the root

I never even ask them to touch the /_imenu/_plg folder during the whole set-up process
 

Terminator02

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Rockstar said:
Um...... are there any icon packs for this?

QUOTE(Terminator02 @ Oct 19 2010, 08:36 PM) 2. You need to either create an icon or get an icon. Steps 2a-2c are for if you want to get an icon.
a. Check this pack of icons and use the borderless .bmp files.
b. These don't look as good because they have a border, but if you can't find it in the above back, look for a .bmp icon in this thread.
c. If you don't see the icon you want and do not wish to make it yourself, request your icon(s) in the thread mentioned in 2b, then use the unknown.bmp file which can be found in /_dstwo/plug/

Edit: just reread your questions, if you're talking about packs that are premade for iMenu, then no, probably won't happen until the full iMenu is released
 

9th_Sage

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This is probably a good place to ask...DSLinux doesn't seem to work when I try to boot it from iMenu. I want to know if this is just me or if it happens to everyone else too.
 

Terminator02

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Dead Ghost said:
Very nice tutorial for this great menu plug-in.

How does the NDGames menu looks like?
it looks normal, like whatever it looks like before you set up iMenu, it's the same

QUOTE(9th_Sage @ Oct 22 2010, 09:28 PM) This is probably a good place to ask...DSLinux doesn't seem to work when I try to boot it from iMenu. I want to know if this is just me or if it happens to everyone else too.
I can't say, I've never bothered with it. Try running it from NDSGame.
 

CannonFoddr

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Nice tutorial -

Just one thing - There's been a lot of questions about iMenu 'skins' in my thread, so is there any chance of someone perhaps starting a post for iMenu Skins/Background & Icons/ini packs ??? - or would it be best to wait until a full working version of iMenu is out first ???

I don't really want to start adding iMenu 'skins' to the DSTwo skin thread as they are really 2 different 'products' from 2 different sources (also the DSTwo skin thread will most probably get even longer once the Video plugin comes out
laugh.gif
)
 

Terminator02

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CannonFoddr said:
Nice tutorial -

Just one thing - There's been a lot of questions about iMenu 'skins' in my thread, so is there any chance of someone perhaps starting a post for iMenu Skins/Background & Icons/ini packs ??? - or would it be best to wait until a full working version of iMenu is out first ???

I don't really want to start adding iMenu 'skins' to the DSTwo skin thread as they are really 2 different 'products' from 2 different sources (also the DSTwo skin thread will most probably get even longer once the Video plugin comes out
laugh.gif
)
That would be a lot to manage, but I guess i could. Probably just iMenu skins/backgrounds tho, at least for now.

I assume once the full release comes out there will be sections in the two stickies or a new sticky focused on iMenu skins/icons
 

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Terminator02 said:
That would be a lot to manage It is.....QUOTEbut I guess i could. Probably just iMenu skins/backgrounds tho, at least for now.
If you do - or if someone else does (hint hint) then there's already been some iMenu 'skins' posted in other threads

DSTwo skins thread: Post #393 / Post #397
iMenu Thread: Post #20 (I'm not sure but I think this one isn't 'valid' as it has a Clock on the top screen) / Post #33
 

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Alright, fixed a misplacement of the FrodoDS.nds file in my package and updated iReader to today's latest update

Edit: currently working on getting a skins sections (and cropping all of RoMee's skins -.-)
 

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I would have uploaded them for you, if you asked
but less work for me I guess

I'm in the middle of making matching dstwo skin..for my imenu skin
after that I'll make a few more for imenu..it's for a few friends, but I'll post/share it here too

EDIT:
okay, I uploaded them anyways
FF7 Cloud
Pokemon
Mario
CarbonMetal

I might make some changes to them later

I don't use imenu, so if there's an issue, plz let me know and I'll fix it
 

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