Jump to content
LaunchBox Community Forums

eatkinola

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    801

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    13

 Content Type 

Posts posted by eatkinola

    Series of Unfortunate Events; Massive Data Loss Advice

    in Monkeys

    Posted

    Some really great ideas here about crashplan, etc.  I agree the data recovery tools are not perfect, but they got me out of a bind once when I almost lost a lot of family photos due to my network attached storage crapping out.  The NAS had dual synced drives, and they crapped out in sync.  After that scare, I went all in and built a proper home backup solution using FreeNAS as my main NAS along with a weekly automatic backup to another server used solely to keep this backup of a backup.  It sounds a little overkill and took a bit to setup, but it's since been running quietly in the background and makes me feel good.  It takes some funds and elbow grease to setup, but it was worth it to me.  I also keep a separate offline backup of family photos and important documents.  Of course, if my entire house was blown to oblivion I'd have bigger things to worry about anyway.

    If you have less time and/or money to tinker with a robust home backup solution (e.g., a single NAS should not be considered reliable as illustrated by my case), the cloud solutions mentioned above sound excellent.  Consider the time you spent collecting photos, documents, etc.  What's that time worth?  Probably a lot, and then some.

    • Like 1

    XAML Tips and Tricks

    in Big Box Custom Themes

    Posted

    On ‎3‎/‎8‎/‎2017 at 5:12 PM, Hexxxer said:

    Does anyone have any suggestions?

    I'm not familiar with the TargetNullValue approach but I've another idea -- using Panel.ZIndex.

    1. Display the default image using Panel.ZIndex = 5 (for example)

    2. Display the image you're afraid might not exist using Panel.ZIndex = 6 (something greater than the default image)

    If #2 does not exist, you should be able to see image #1 (default); otherwise image #2 will simply cover up #1 (you'd just see image #2)

    Give it a try to see if it works for your case.

    Theme Settings without "2 images"

    in Big Box Custom Themes

    Posted

    Also @andrea_ita, your screenshot does not look like MinimalHD, rather it looks like the default BigBox theme. Did you download the MinimalHD theme (it does not come with Bigbox)? Once you download it, you still need to copy it into the LaunchBox Themes directory and then apply it via Options menu in BigBox.

    To get video background, you will also need to download them from somewhere. You can download from within LaunchBox when you import games, for example, if you have an emumovies account.

    • Like 1

    Recomendations of Gamepads for Smartphones

    in Monkeys

    Posted

    On 2/23/2017 at 8:31 AM, StuDentBR said:

    Hey Guys take a look at this video: 

    That's what i am talking about, but it does not seems like i will find something like this to my smartphone...

    I'd worry about that dpad anyway, doesn't look like it'd work very well. The gamepad you already have is probably your best bet. I myself use a gamesir like @neil9000 and it works well.

    XAML Tips and Tricks

    in Big Box Custom Themes

    Posted

    17 minutes ago, igotdvds said:

    I figured it out

    Nice.  Here are a few other ways to do this, in case you run into a situation where you need it.  It uses StringFormat as suggested by Grila.  In both cases, I use a collapsed TextBlock to apply the StringFormat, then I bind the image source (URI) to this TextBlock's text property. 

    <!-- PLATFORM LOGO FOR SELECTED GAME -->
<TextBlock x:Name="FileName" Visibility="Collapsed">
    <TextBlock.Text> <!-- THE HACKY BIT TO GET LOGO -->
        <MultiBinding StringFormat="{}pack://siteoforigin:,,,/Images/Platforms/{0}/Clear Logo/{0}.png">
            <Binding Path="ActiveGame.Platform" />
        </MultiBinding>
    </TextBlock.Text>
</TextBlock>
<Viewbox Grid.Column="3" Grid.Row="1" HorizontalAlignment="Center">
    <Image Source="{Binding Text, ElementName=FileName}" RenderOptions.BitmapScalingMode="HighQuality" />
</Viewbox>

    and one more -- which I use to accomplish I think what you're trying to do: 

    <!-- BG ARTWORK FOR PLATFORM OF ACTIVE GAME -->
<TextBlock x:Name="UriBackgroundArt" Visibility="Collapsed"
           Text="{Binding Path=ActiveGame.Platform, StringFormat='pack://siteoforigin:,,,/Images/Platforms/{0}/Fanart/{0}.jpg'}" />
<Image Source="{Binding Text, ElementName=UriBackgroundArt}" Style="{DynamicResource {StaticResource AOBackgroundArt}}">
    <Image.OpacityMask>
        <ImageBrush ImageSource="{StaticResource AOUriWheel1Mask}" />
    </Image.OpacityMask>
</Image>

     

    • Like 3

    XAML Tips and Tricks

    in Big Box Custom Themes

    Posted

    On 1/19/2017 at 0:03 PM, Jegeroel said:

    The ones i'm looking for are (platform bindings):

    Total Games
    Games Completed
    Default Emulator
    Most Played

    These are listed under Options > Platform Details, but not in the Documentation.pdf. Does this mean they are not accessible as separate databindings, or just left out of the documentation?

    @Jason Carr: I know these platform bindings have come up before but just wanted to double check with you. I'd really like to use them in my theme too if available. Would there be any bindings to a Filter object?

    You've obviously been very busy implementing some sweet features for LB. I'm very impressed by your rapid development cycle. I realize this binding issue would be low priority. Would it be best to add a feature request for tracking? Anyway, minor issue. Thanks so much for putting together such a great piece of software!

    • Like 2

    RED 84

    in Big Box Custom Themes

    Posted

    @Jegeroel: Great looking clean design! Looks like your initial pictures are mockups, but were you able to find a binding for a platform's total number of games and completed games? I've looked but don't think such bindings are currently exposed by BigBox.

    MinimalX

    in Big Box Custom Themes

    Posted

    53 minutes ago, Belmont said:

    Anything I can fix on my end?

    Yes, you can fix it easily.  Look for the following line in "styles\AOStyle.xaml": 

       <System:String x:Key="AOImgMainBorderR">AOImgMainBorder_ON1</System:String>

    Either change this line to the following (from _ON1 to _OFF) in AOStyle, or add this line to "styles\Skins\!DEFAULT" (the applied skin): 

       <System:String x:Key="AOImgMainBorderR">AOImgMainBorder_OFF</System:String>

    The rounded border really only works well for rectangular images.  I'll probably leave it off by default in the future.  Sorry the update caused trouble.

    MinimalX

    in Big Box Custom Themes

    Posted

    Updated to v4.3. Thanks @Sithel for bringing that bug to my attention. Also, included in the update is an alternate version called Minimal-AOX accessible from the same download page. AOX is designed to be a little more compact; I would have just included these alternate views in the main theme, but I ran out of views.

    • Like 3

    MinimalX

    in Big Box Custom Themes

    Posted · Edited by eatkinola

    30 minutes ago, Sithel said:

    but the black area around the logo is still there. Instead of rounded it's just a rectangle

    Was able to replicate this bug -- thanks for pointing it out.  I'll correct it with the next update.  There's not an easy fix via AOStyles ... I'll need to fix the views also.  I should have an update out very soon -- anything else you found and want me to try and fix?

    • Like 1

    MinimalX

    in Big Box Custom Themes

    Posted

    8 minutes ago, Sithel said:

    The black area around the game name logo I have in the lower right corner, can that be removed possible?

    It can be removed.  That's a rounded corner and drop shadow effect intended to be used for rectangular images such as box art -- maybe I should have left it off by default.  To turn it off, go back to AOStyles or the !ACTIVE skin and look for : 

        <!-- EFFECTS: GAME IMAGE BORDER (REALLY INTENDED FOR BOX ART)    -->
    <!-- ...APPLIES ROUNDED CORNERS AND A DROP SHADOW TO THE IMAGE   -->
    <!-- ...AOGameImageBorder = (AOGameImageBorder, _OFF)            -->
    <System:String x:Key="AOGameImageBorder">AOGameImageBorder_ON</System:String>

    Set "AOGameImageBorder" to "AOGameImageBorder_OFF".

    MinimalX

    in Big Box Custom Themes

    Posted

    14 minutes ago, Sithel said:

    trying to do the same thing for PlatformWheel4FiltersView but I don't see the code

    This changed in more recent versions -- tried to make it easier to customize the vertical wheel.  Look for the following set of resource elements in "AOStyles.xaml".  You can either edit these directly in AOStyles (this file is very fragile/picky) or override these resource elements in your skin (which I recommend).  The active skin is "Styles/!ACTIVE.xaml".  Anyway, back to AOStyles ... look for this block: 

        <!-- EFFECTS: FADE/HAZE EFFECT FOR PLAT/GAME VERTICAL LOGO WHEEL -->
    <!-- ...CAN BE USED TO DE-EMPHASIZE THE PLATS/GAMES NOT SELECTED -->
    <!-- ...SPECIFY OPACITY FROM 0 (TRANSPARENT) TO 255 (OPAQUE)     -->
    <!-- ...CAN SPECIFY OPACITY SEPARATELY FOR ABOVE/BELOW SELECTION -->
    <!-- ...CAN TURN ON/OFF FOR EACH PLATFORM/GAMES WHEEL VIEWS 1-4  -->
    <!-- ...AOCtrlWheelVertHazeW1 = (AOCtrlWheelVertHazePlain_ON/OFF)-->
    <!-- ...AOCtrlWheelVertHazeW2 = (AOCtrlWheelVertHazeTitle_ON/OFF)-->
    <!-- ...AOCtrlWheelVertHazeW3 = (AOCtrlWheelVertHazeTitle_ON/OFF)-->
    <!-- ...AOCtrlWheelVertHazeW4 = (AOCtrlWheelVertHazeTitle_ON/OFF)-->
    <!-- ...AOCtrlWheelVertHazeColorTOP = (ALPHA VALUE 0-255)        -->
    <!-- ...AOCtrlWheelVertHazeColorBOT = (ALPHA VALUE 0-255)        -->
    <System:String x:Key="AOCtrlWheelVertHazeW1">AOCtrlWheelVertHazePlain_ON</System:String>
    <System:String x:Key="AOCtrlWheelVertHazeW2">AOCtrlWheelVertHazeTitle_ON</System:String>
    <System:String x:Key="AOCtrlWheelVertHazeW3">AOCtrlWheelVertHazeTitle_ON</System:String>
    <System:String x:Key="AOCtrlWheelVertHazeW4">AOCtrlWheelVertHazeTitle_ON</System:String>
    <Color x:Key="AOCtrlWheelVertHazeColorTOP" A="30" />
    <Color x:Key="AOCtrlWheelVertHazeColorBOT" A="30" />

    To get the effect you want, change the value for "AOCtrlWheelVertHazeW4" to "AOCtrlWheelVertHazePlain_ON" if you want to keep the haze/opacity effect.  If you don't want the haze effect but want the wheel to extend all the way to the top of the screen, use "AOCtrlWheelVertHazePlain_OFF".

    Hope this helps, let me know if you need anything else.  Glad you like the theme!

     

    • Like 1

    MinimalX

    in Big Box Custom Themes

    Posted

    BTW, I meant to also recognize @SNAK3ATER for providing the glitch overlay videos used in the 4.2 update (these are optional but you can turn them on using instructions in the PDF), and also for his other suggestions along the way.  @Grila also continues to provide me with inspiration, now through his Fundamental theme which has a very nice design; I really liked the way he dressed up the boxart so included that effect in my 4.2 update.  And Grila: your blue explosion startup video is phenomenal -- thanks for sharing with the community.

    • Like 3

    MinimalX

    in Big Box Custom Themes

    Posted

    4 hours ago, AeronNL said:

    Awesome theme, works great on my 4:3 bartop.

    Thanks!  Glad to hear it's working well at 4:3 -- been a few updates since I tested at that res.

    4 hours ago, AeronNL said:

    I installed the theme over a month ago or something, and it had the dark theme enabled (Don't know how to call it, a bit of a carbon look?)

    I just updated the theme, but now it has a brushed silver metal look, which i do not prefer.

    I have searched for a way to change this back, but i cannot manage to do it.

    Can you help me out perhaps?

    Sure, no problem.  You'll need to do a few things to setup the skin which includes the background you want.

    1. Apply the skin called "Kevlar".  Look in the "Styles\Skins" subfolder of the theme.  The "!ACTIVE.xaml" file contains the skin that will be applied.  Rename a copy of "Kevlar.xaml" to "!ACTIVE.xaml".

    2. The "Kevlar" skin relies on a background image named "Kevlar.png". You need to make sure this image file is in the "Images\Backgrounds\PNG" subfolder of the theme.  If it's not, you can get it by downloading the background image pack from the Minimal-AO downloads page -- it's the file called "Minimal-AO-v4.1-BGIMGS " (or something like that).

    3. Restart BigBox.

    Let me know if you have any problems.  Thanks again for the kudos!

    • Like 1

    MinimalX

    in Big Box Custom Themes

    Posted

    On ‎1‎/‎24‎/‎2017 at 0:28 AM, Nyny77 said:

    Just an idea, a background by system is possible ? A background Nes, Genesis ect...

     

    On ‎1‎/‎24‎/‎2017 at 9:32 AM, imdavid555 said:

    Adding support for Fanart background would be a great start for System specific backgrounds! I know I requested this on page 4 of this thread lol.

    implemented your suggestions -- please see the PDF for setup, it will use your own platform fanart

    • Like 1
×
×
  • Create New...