Hacking Want to learn how to edit iMenu for skinning

[Osmosis]

Using a DSTwo (not +) on 1.25 FW
Have iMenu up and running. Even loads back into Supercard menu and back.
Using CATSFC and even updated DS_Game.
Already downloaded the iMenu Source Code. (but have no idea what to do with it)

So everything is working. I've found the old DSTwo skin editor, but that just edits the .INI files.

I actually want to edit the iMenu itself. Specifically the load screen (it's ugly) and even the icon layout.

I just can't find a way to edit the .nds/.plg file or even know what code language I'm supposed to be using.

Basically I'm not only re-skinning the iMenu, but I want to edit the actual layout of the bottom screen. Top screen I figured out. However, there are some issues like trying to get text from icon info to appear on bottom screen. It keeps blinking. I'd also like to reduce the rows of icons and move them down so I can design a more 3DS-like skin and put a DSTwo Menu link in upper left.

I know how to do transparent .BMPs, but I'm also wondering how I might be able to make an animated .BMP logo. I know I can make animated .BMP files, but will they work? If not, maybe use a clock-like plugin to perform the animation?

Is there a way for me to remap the screen .BMP's size to x2? From 256-512? Would love to get better resolution and fix the stretching/shrinking problem of the background images.

So basically, what files do I want to work on, what tools do I need to do so, and yes, I'm sort of reviving the iMenu, or at least would like to. Might even be able to help get it work on DSTwo+ if I had one...

Any help would be appreciated. And feel free to PM me, post away, etc.. Just don't spam a lot of "we want this now" because I already agree with you.

I am also re-skinning my GW Blue Card. And yes, I found the editor for it as well. Much easier than DSTwo. But again, Still would like to know how to make animated buttons, logos, cursors, etc.. And these clock plugins are hideous. Any way to run a simple clock without .BMPs?

Oh, and one more thing, editing the fonts. Yes. The fonts. On both the DSTwo and the GWBC.

Yes, I know the GWBC is just an R4i dupe. Which is why I was able to find the skin editor.

Again, any help would be appreciated.

 

[sieroi]

...Do you know C and MIPS assembly?

Those are almost certainly the languages it's written in. Don't expect to make much progress unless you have at least a working grasp of the former.

 

[Osmosis]

...Do you know C and MIPS assembly?

Nope. That's what C & MIPS editors are for. (along with the interwebtubetutorialthingies)

Those are almost certainly the languages it's written in. Don't expect to make much progress unless you have at least a working grasp of the former.

I don't. But at least I know where to start! *bows to sieri*

My bigger concern is exactly what files iMenu is altering to work? Then I could decompress it, export the iMenu code and then basically reverse-engineer it. Heck, maybe even figure out how to get it to work on the DSTwo+ as it would only require adding it back into the new EOS firmware, right?

 

[spinal_cord]

Usually I have no issues giving out the source code for a project I have done, It's usually very badly coded anyway. However, this project directly used source code given to me by the supercard team themselves, so it's not going to happen.
You really would be better off coming up with a new menu from scratch, it might take a little longer, but you'd have more control over it. The basics of C are not hard to learn and you really don't need much more than the basics for something like this.

I wish you luck, but that's all.

 

[Osmosis]

Omg... I've been blessed by the SPINAL_CORD himself!!!!

*faints*

Wait.... what...?? Wow, they GAVE YOU source code!!!??? Awww-sum!!!

Maybe I should head over to Superkard and see if they pull out the super stupid stick on me?

As for source code, already on it. Already have C editor and MIPS editor and took a look at few tutorials. My bigger concern is at one point I was decompressing the .NDS file and saw Chinese ASCII everywhere and my heart sank.

You have no idea how much your response means to me. I'm truly honored. Normally everyone around here just chases me with a baseball bat. I'll take your encouragement to heart.

Thank you.