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Community Theme Creator 3.1.5

   (19 reviews)

1 Screenshot

About This File

Manuals / How to

Refer to my YouTube channel or visit Faeran's Theme Creator Workshop videos to better understand the new features.

Dave Paterson - YouTube

Development Live Streams - YouTube

COMMUNITY Theme Creator - Patreon

Edited by y2guru
Compatibility


What's New in Version 2.5   See changelog

Released

 

  • Feature Improved performance
  • Feature New look and feel
  • Feature Graphical Wheels are now displayed in all views    
  • Feature Application settings allow you to show/hide hidden games [default is show] (@Mr. Retrolust)
  • Feature New UI Element "Wrap" (WrapPanel)
  • Feature New Binding fields - SelectedItemIndex, MaxItems and AspectRatio field 
  • Feature Added 2 more Aspect Ratios:  21:9 and 16:18
  • Feature Ability to Allow Unsupported .XAML files to be included within a Theme Creator Project
  • Feature Ellipses and Rectangles can be used as Opacity Masks
  • Feature Capture is back! capture the content of an existing element and re-display the content somewhere else
  • Feature Condition a UI Element to use Layout properties from another UI Element
  • Feature Unique wheel items can be created using the Wheel Item Template Modifier

 

  • Added TextCompanioncConverter, this replaces 6 converters and simplifies the generated code as it generates less bindings
  • Added Publish Theme (XAML Only) menu option. Generate the XAML code only without deleting/recreating the target theme folder (@undertherainbow)
  • Added Modifier Alert to the Top Toolbar on the Main Window if Custom Image Rendering was interrupted
  • Added "ThumbnailGameView.xaml" is copied from the Default Theme when publishing a Theme (overridden if Theme already has a version stored in the views folder)
  • Added Playlist Specific View capability to Game Views
  • Added New Wheel assists

 

  • Changed Shadow Depth Maximum Value from 100 to 500
  • Changed Render Custom Images Window to be a fixed Size, the image being rendered resizes to fit the window (not the other way around)
  • Changed Build Fake Rom List to create xml content within the .txt files (@beemanDev)
  • Changed Application Startup - If no themes exist the Theme Manager button will indicate no Theme Selected, this replaces a blank screen and animated hand pointing to a menu
  • Changed Source Editor - Alt + Scroll Wheel increases/decreases font size and added "Beautify" button that indents the XAML code
  • Changed Wheel Search Index to not display when previewing a view in the Main Window
  • Changed Wheel Properties to allow AutoSize - Useful for TextLists (@chinagreenelvis)
  • Changed Code Generator (beautify) to eliminate any blank lines from being generated
  • Changed the Theme Selection DropDown (Main Window) and replaced with a Theme Manager button, once clicked the Themes are displayed as Thumbnails
  • Changed Grid and Canvas UI Elements to Allow Opacity Masks (Views, Custom Images and Wheel Item Templates)
  • Changed Save - a .bak file is now created when saving/replacing a view/wheel item template/custom image
  • Changed How data is a saved to a file - forced instantaneous save of data to spinning disk/ssd 
  • Changed Custom Image Renderer, uses .xml file to drive the rendering process
  • Changed Appearance of the minimized Side Bar in the Main Window
  • Changed Main Window (preview) to Generate XAML asynchronously allowing fast switching between Themes/Views and resizing of the window
  • Changed Code Generator, Improved performance (preview, thumbnail generation, Custom Image Render, Publishing)
  • Changed Launchbox Metadata lookups, now 7x faster!  (improves game list loading, selecting platforms, playlists, games, Render Custom Images and Preview and Editor performance)
  • Changed Editor Properties Panel, now displays a Message when the Selected UI Element has been disabled/made invisible
  • Changed Editor UIElements/Properties Panel - When clicking on the Padlock or Eyeball icons on a parent, the associated children are also affected.
  • Changed Publish - ThumbnailGameView.xaml is copied from the BigBox Default Theme if one was not included within the Theme Project
  • Changed Plugins - Consolidated to a single COMMUNITY Theme Creator Library 1.0 
  • Changed UI Element/Properties Panel - Window size can be scaled by pressing Ctrl and Scroll up/down on the mouse wheel
  • Changed Main Window Sidebar - Hiding/Showing is animated
  • Changed Rectangle UI Element - Defined as Resource, RadiusX, RadiusY properties added
  • Changed Ellipse UI Element - Defined as Resource property added
  • Changed Application performance by loading Platform & Game Collection data into memory when the Application first starts
  • Changed Editor Zoom level from 100%-500% to 10%-500%  increments of 10%
  • Changed Custom Image Canvas - Maximum Width and Height can be 9999 instead of being restricted to Desktop resolution (@Mr.Retrolust)
  • Changed Conditioning Panel, when adding a new condition to a large list, the newly added condition will now be visible (no longer need to scroll down) 
  • Changed Editor - New Editor Menu option allows the user to specify the location of the Workspace (Diedrich Guenther)

 

  • Fixed Element Properties Panel - Active Animations including Movement should prevent properties from being changed (broken in 2.3)
  • Fixed Editor - Clicking on an Element (with Movement Animation defined) would result in a warning message being displayed without the associated Element Type Icon
  • Fixed Element/Properties Panel - Prevent a group containing a Mandatory UI Element from being deleted.
  • Fixed Slider Control to prevent accidental mouse over causing the value to change
  • Fixed Angle Control to prevent accidental mouse over causing the value to change
  • Fixed TextList for Game Details to ensure Font Size, Alignment, Formatting etc.. matches the Game List
  • Fixed Windows such as ColorDialog to open in relation to where you clicked even if it was a secondary monitor
  • Fixed Color Dialog - Dialog Window Title now changes based on the Color being edited
  • Fixed Editor to NOT show "Animations have been disabled..." when editing custom images
  • Fixed Build Fake Rom List - Invalid Characters in the game name (like tab) would cause the build process to stop (@beemanDev)
  • Fixed User Defined Audio, if the editor or preview window is set to mute the element no longer plays a 1/2 second audio clip
  • Fixed Custom Image Canvas - Do not allow Flip Horizontal/Vertical properties
  • Fixed Intermittent crash when clicking Save or Discard 
  • Fixed Resizing UI Elements - occasionally the UI Element would snap to its pre-drag position if the mouse movement was too fast
  • Fixed Performance Issues with MainWindow - Resizing Window,reloading view etc..
  • Fixed MainWindow & Editor: View Animations, Videos, Audio and Animations now stop when Window is minimized.
  • Fixed TotalGameCount for all Platform Views, will use Selected or Active bindings (when corrected in BigBox) @retroNUC
  • Fixed Intermittent crash when selecting a Theme
  • Fixed Main Window - Top Toolbar would animate when restoring the Window to a non Maximized state 
  • Fixed Opacity Mask Code Generation to be more efficient and consistent
  • Fixed Stutter when displaying view on initial application startup
  • Fixed Copy/Paste Size/position issue when Aspect Ratio is something other than Stretch
  • Fixed Previews when displaying on an Ultrawide Monitor
  • Fixed Previews, now utilizes the maximum space available
  • Fixed Animation Editor when clicking Cancel after changes were made
  • Fixed Animation Editor - Color values were not being retained when color animation is used
  • Fixed Selected Item Audio Icon when in Editor, Icon was resizing when Aspect ratio was something other than Stretch
  • Fixed User Defined Audio Icon when in Editor, Icon was resizing when Aspect ratio was something other than Stretch
  • Fixed Enable Audio within the Editor, when manipulating UI Elements and screen is refreshed you would hear a quick audio clip
  • Fixed Sizing of Main Window, occasionally cause a lock up and you would have to switch active applications (alt tab) to release the lock up
  • Fixed Minimum/Maximum Width/Height for all UI Elements
  • Fixed Main Window - Game List, tweaked performance and large lists are faster to load and no longer slows down the overall App's UI Performance
  • Fixed Editor - Mouse Pointer would not show which direction a thumb could be moved when the element or parent was negatively rotated via an animation setting
  • Fixed Editor - Padding Property was not being converted when Editor starts up
  • Fixed Icons in the Main Window Menu - Inconsistent rendering
  • Fixed XAML Source Editor - Zooming in/out using Mouse Scroll Wheel had no zoom limits and would cause app to crash
  • Fixed Copy/Paste View - Pasting of a view is not successful unless you click the view and display the available configurations 1st
  • Fixed Main Window Drag issue under latest build of Windows 11 - When dragging the window into a preset position, performing a subsequent drag would lockup the window
  • Fixed Main Window - Mouse pointer would indicate the window could be resized when Window was Maximized
  • Fixed Editor - Selected UI Element, Adorner Layer (the border drawn around the Element) was drawn incorrectly, the Top and Left position was 1 point off
  • Fixed Publish when Platform Specific Views are defined - Published view name was based on the users naming convention which may not match Launchbox
  • Fixed Editor crash - No longer crashes when wheel is hidden from view (eyeball unchecked) and using the Game Pad to Navigate
  • Fixed UI Elements Selected Item Video and Selected Item Audio - Neither are allowed to be used in System View
  • Like 41
  • Thanks 23
  • Game On 4
  • Unusual Gem 15

User Feedback

You may only provide a review once you have downloaded the file.


WolfRamiO

   6 of 6 members found this review helpful 6 / 6 members

Hi there, thanks for your hard Work!

I get a lot of errors messages after complete the first screen:
 

Quote

at System.RuntimeTypeHandle.CreateInstance(RuntimeType type, Boolean publicOnly, Boolean noCheck, Boolean& canBeCached, RuntimeMethodHandleInternal& ctor, Boolean& bNeedSecurityCheck)
   at System.RuntimeType.CreateInstanceSlow(Boolean publicOnly, Boolean skipCheckThis, Boolean fillCache, StackCrawlMark& stackMark)
   at System.RuntimeType.CreateInstanceDefaultCtor(Boolean publicOnly, Boolean skipCheckThis, Boolean fillCache, StackCrawlMark& stackMark)
   at System.Activator.CreateInstance(Type type, Boolean nonPublic)
   at System.RuntimeType.CreateInstanceImpl(BindingFlags bindingAttr, Binder binder, Object[] args, CultureInfo culture, Object[] activationAttributes, StackCrawlMark& stackMark)
   at System.Activator.CreateInstance(Type type, BindingFlags bindingAttr, Binder binder, Object[] args, CultureInfo culture, Object[] activationAttributes)
   at System.Activator.CreateInstance(Type type, Object[] args)
   at System.Xaml.Schema.SafeReflectionInvoker.CreateInstanceCritical(Type type, Object[] arguments)
   at System.Xaml.Schema.SafeReflectionInvoker.CreateInstance(Type type, Object[] arguments)
   at System.Xaml.Schema.XamlTypeInvoker.CreateInstance(Object[] arguments)
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.Runtime.ClrObjectRuntime.CreateInstanceWithCtor(XamlType xamlType, Object[] args)
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.Runtime.ClrObjectRuntime.CreateInstance(XamlType xamlType, Object[] args)
   at MS.Internal.Xaml.Runtime.PartialTrustTolerantRuntime.CreateInstance(XamlType xamlType, Object[] args)
   at System.Xaml.XamlObjectWriter.Logic_CreateAndAssignToParentStart(ObjectWriterContext ctx)
   at System.Xaml.XamlObjectWriter.WriteStartMember(XamlMember property)
   at System.Xaml.XamlWriter.WriteNode(XamlReader reader)
   at System.Windows.Markup.WpfXamlLoader.TransformNodes(XamlReader xamlReader, XamlObjectWriter xamlWriter, Boolean onlyLoadOneNode, Boolean skipJournaledProperties, Boolean shouldPassLineNumberInfo, IXamlLineInfo xamlLineInfo, IXamlLineInfoConsumer xamlLineInfoConsumer, XamlContextStack`1 stack, IStyleConnector styleConnector)
   at System.Windows.Markup.WpfXamlLoader.Load(XamlReader xamlReader, IXamlObjectWriterFactory writerFactory, Boolean skipJournaledProperties, Object rootObject, XamlObjectWriterSettings settings, Uri baseUri)
   at System.Windows.Markup.WpfXamlLoader.LoadBaml(XamlReader xamlReader, Boolean skipJournaledProperties, Object rootObject, XamlAccessLevel accessLevel, Uri baseUri)
   at System.Windows.Markup.XamlReader.LoadBaml(Stream stream, ParserContext parserContext, Object parent, Boolean closeStream)
   at System.Windows.Application.LoadBamlStreamWithSyncInfo(Stream stream, ParserContext pc)
   at System.Windows.Application.LoadComponent(Uri resourceLocator, Boolean bSkipJournaledProperties)
   at System.Windows.Application.DoStartup()
   at System.Windows.Application.<.ctor>b__1_0(Object unused)
   at System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.InternalRealCall(Delegate callback, Object args, Int32 numArgs)
   at System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.TryCatchWhen(Object source, Delegate callback, Object args, Int32 numArgs, Delegate catchHandler)
   at System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherOperation.InvokeImpl()
   at System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherOperation.InvokeInSecurityContext(Object state)
   at MS.Internal.CulturePreservingExecutionContext.CallbackWrapper(Object obj)
   at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.RunInternal(ExecutionContext executionContext, ContextCallback callback, Object state, Boolean preserveSyncCtx)
   at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(ExecutionContext executionContext, ContextCallback callback, Object state, Boolean preserveSyncCtx)
   at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(ExecutionContext executionContext, ContextCallback callback, Object state)
   at MS.Internal.CulturePreservingExecutionContext.Run(CulturePreservingExecutionContext executionContext, ContextCallback callback, Object state)
   at System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherOperation.Invoke()
   at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.ProcessQueue()
   at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.WndProcHook(IntPtr hwnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wParam, IntPtr lParam, Boolean& handled)
   at MS.Win32.HwndWrapper.WndProc(IntPtr hwnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wParam, IntPtr lParam, Boolean& handled)
   at MS.Win32.HwndSubclass.DispatcherCallbackOperation(Object o)
   at System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.InternalRealCall(Delegate callback, Object args, Int32 numArgs)
   at System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.TryCatchWhen(Object source, Delegate callback, Object args, Int32 numArgs, Delegate catchHandler)
   at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.LegacyInvokeImpl(DispatcherPriority priority, TimeSpan timeout, Delegate method, Object args, Int32 numArgs)
   at MS.Win32.HwndSubclass.SubclassWndProc(IntPtr hwnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wParam, IntPtr lParam)
   at MS.Win32.UnsafeNativeMethods.DispatchMessage(MSG& msg)
   at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.PushFrameImpl(DispatcherFrame frame)
   at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.PushFrame(DispatcherFrame frame)
   at System.Windows.Application.RunDispatcher(Object ignore)
   at System.Windows.Application.RunInternal(Window window)
   at System.Windows.Application.Run(Window window)
   at COMMUNITY_Theme_Creator_for_BigBox.Application.Main()
Exception has been thrown by the target of an invocation.

OS: Windows 10 LTSC

Any help?

 

  • Like 2
Link to review
Dan Patrick

   4 of 4 members found this review helpful 4 / 4 members

This program is one of the most important developments that LaunchBox has ever had. This one program sets LaunchBox (even further) apart than any other front end. The ability to create themes simply with a GUI is just amazing. y2guru has worked tirelessly on this project for at least 4 years. I have followed his youtube videos and it's clear that he's cared about the little things. With 2.5 (releasing very soon) the wheels are visible when creating a theme and this makes a giant difference in the ease of creation. This project is a one of kind labor of love.

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jhayes0027

   3 of 3 members found this review helpful 3 / 3 members

Ive had the week off of work and this has been a lot of fun for me during my time off. I haven't begun to understand everything in it but it makes creating a theme possible for someone like me who has no experience with coding.

  • Thanks 1
Link to review
cemfundog

   2 of 2 members found this review helpful 2 / 2 members

This is such a great tool for this community. Thank you so much for making this. I am absolutely loving it. Once I got it figured out and working I was able to build an entire theme with in a few days. No way I could or would have without this tool. 

Please keep this going, I am looking forward to each update and the future of this project.

  • Thanks 1
Link to review
neil9000

   2 of 2 members found this review helpful 2 / 2 members

Holy moly, get in here people with theme inspirations. :) 

  • Like 2
  • Thanks 1
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ItchyRobot

   1 of 1 member found this review helpful 1 / 1 member

I finally got around to giving this a try. Wow!! What a wonderful piece of software. I am no coder, and I was able to stumble my way through it pretty well. I ended up starting with the Tilt theme as a base, and started tweaking it to my liking. After a day of messing around, I now have my own custom theme, that I (kind of) created. So cool. Thanks to the dev so much for creating this. I can now  make my own refinements of themes, instead of begging the original authors to do it for me. Win-Win for everyone 😃

  • Game On 1
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asmithau

   1 of 1 member found this review helpful 1 / 1 member

New update is awesome Dave. Thanks so much for your work on this and the effort you have made to provide this to the community!

 

  • Thanks 1
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BMovieBen

   1 of 1 member found this review helpful 1 / 1 member

Fantastic!  Makes theming accessible for everyone!

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ALIE

   1 of 1 member found this review helpful 1 / 1 member

Amazing Stuff

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thimolor

   1 of 1 member found this review helpful 1 / 1 member

Best a designer can get!

Response from the author:

Thank you so much ?  

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MasterGuevara10

   1 of 1 member found this review helpful 1 / 1 member

Thanks for the amazing work!!

Pd: now i can enjoy all my games with a proper and beauty banner (Y) 

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faeran

   9 of 10 members found this review helpful 9 / 10 members

Looking to create a theme for BigBox?

This is what you should be using, whether you know XAML or not.

This is just an amazing program.

  • Like 5
  • Thanks 2
Link to review
bundangdon

   7 of 8 members found this review helpful 7 / 8 members

Great stuff! As a beta tester for Community Theme Creator, I can honestly say it's a huge gift to the LaunchBox community and to the aspiring theme creators out there who don't want to mess around with programming code. It's fairly simple to use with a lot of useful features while creating themes that can be added to BigBox.

  • Like 2
  • Thanks 2
Link to review
Jason Carr

   5 of 6 members found this review helpful 5 / 6 members

Stellar! :)

  • Like 2
  • Thanks 1
  • Game On 1
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Rincewind

   4 of 5 members found this review helpful 4 / 5 members

Simply AMAZING

1038367099_CTCV2Logotransparent.thumb.png.d826fc55208ffe64fabee1c89ca69da5.png

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IxMasterxI

  

Great app, just need to include a pasue, star, etc mode to edit that, this can be incredible if you add it!!! thnx

Link to review
BeemanDev

  

Note: If you get a load of errors after inputting your name and hitting next, as reported by WolfRamiO You need to run BigBox at least once, which if you have no games added will entail running LaumchBox to add at least one game, then running LaunchBox. Easy to get caught out if running against a clean/new install of LaunchBox.

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