Chicuelo Theme

[EctoOne]

@chicuelo said in Chicuelo Theme:

I have a fewer questios!
Actually I have a long xml in the main folder, and a vert short one in every system.
The xml you provide is very extensive, and it includes the main directory one.
How does it affect the behavior of the theme? are there any conflicts between <tags> ?

Instead of 2 same logos, could you use the same one in the main menu and in the game section?

I think I will remain the dots and the whole background in one image, because you need in every theme the same clean background instead using one for all. That makes more images to load having to place over the game bg, character and controller.

Thank you again!

Tags are handled line by line from top to bottom, and since every system/theme.xml includes the main xml at the top, the tags in the system/theme.xml are processed last.
That's why you can put everything in the main xml that should be globaly set. Like positions, sizes, font type etc.
In my version I use that to position and format the short and long description of the systems and the only thing that is defined by the system/theme.xml is the actual text. With that method it is very easy to change layouts without editing multiple files.

And you sure can use the same logo/image for different views without the need for multiple versions of the file.
My version uses only a white 2 by 2 pixel image to create the background color, the black box where you had the system art, the white box where the text/logo is, the white box with your screenshot/text on it, and the dark blue box with the gamelist.
The pixel is white because the color tag only works with that.

[Keigan]

@chicuelo said in Chicuelo Theme:

I have a fewer questios!
Actually I have a long xml in the main folder, and a vert short one in every system.
The xml you provide is very extensive, and it includes the main directory one.
How does it affect the behavior of the theme? are there any conflicts between <tags> ?

Instead of 2 same logos, could you use the same one in the main menu and in the game section?

I think I will remain the dots and the whole background in one image, because you need in every theme the same clean background instead using one for all. That makes more images to load having to place over the game bg, character and controller.

Thank you again!

Most seem to have been answered in the post by Ecto, but I'll give my reasoning.

My main folder XML is long as well.

It sets the constant position for the background on both the system select and the game select screens, the # of games, the carousel for the logo, the games list position, as well as set to hide the other unwanted stuff, though I would have to read up and see if there is a new/better way to hide the unwanted info. I'm just doing it the way I've always done it and have not looked into newer ways.

You could use the same file, the reason I didn't in my case is because I wanted to set a global position for both logos, and right now I am cheating to get them placed so there is lots of blank space around them.

By making each page it's own image, it certainly makes it easier, since you can do this for everything:

<pos>0 0</pos>
<size>1 1</size>

The reason I split everything is if I want to change a few things, I can do it via text/typing rather than editing it in Photoshop and re saving every time.

It all comes down to preference/comfort really.

I, myself, need to read up on using variables and other possible new tricks since I haven't really brushed up my XML knowledge on theming in a long time.

[chicuelo]

@ectoone said in Chicuelo Theme:

@chicuelo said in Chicuelo Theme:

I have a fewer questios!
Actually I have a long xml in the main folder, and a vert short one in every system.
The xml you provide is very extensive, and it includes the main directory one.
How does it affect the behavior of the theme? are there any conflicts between <tags> ?

Instead of 2 same logos, could you use the same one in the main menu and in the game section?

I think I will remain the dots and the whole background in one image, because you need in every theme the same clean background instead using one for all. That makes more images to load having to place over the game bg, character and controller.

Thank you again!

Tags are handled line by line from top to bottom, and since every system/theme.xml includes the main xml at the top, the tags in the system/theme.xml are processed last.
That's why you can put everything in the main xml that should be globaly set. Like positions, sizes, font type etc.
In my version I use that to position and format the short and long description of the systems and the only thing that is defined by the system/theme.xml is the actual text. With that method it is very easy to change layouts without editing multiple files.

And you sure can use the same logo/image for different views without the need for multiple versions of the file.
My version uses only a white 2 by 2 pixel image to create the background color, the black box where you had the system art, the white box where the text/logo is, the white box with your screenshot/text on it, and the dark blue box with the gamelist.
The pixel is white because the color tag only works with that.

Thank you @EctoOne Im a bit confused but I think I will succeed with this

[chicuelo]

@keigan said in Chicuelo Theme:

@chicuelo said in Chicuelo Theme:

I have a fewer questios!
Actually I have a long xml in the main folder, and a vert short one in every system.
The xml you provide is very extensive, and it includes the main directory one.
How does it affect the behavior of the theme? are there any conflicts between <tags> ?

Instead of 2 same logos, could you use the same one in the main menu and in the game section?

I think I will remain the dots and the whole background in one image, because you need in every theme the same clean background instead using one for all. That makes more images to load having to place over the game bg, character and controller.

Thank you again!

Most seem to have been answered in the post by Ecto, but I'll give my reasoning.

My main folder XML is long as well.

It sets the constant position for the background on both the system select and the game select screens, the # of games, the carousel for the logo, the games list position, as well as set to hide the other unwanted stuff, though I would have to read up and see if there is a new/better way to hide the unwanted info. I'm just doing it the way I've always done it and have not looked into newer ways.

You could use the same file, the reason I didn't in my case is because I wanted to set a global position for both logos, and right now I am cheating to get them placed so there is lots of blank space around them.

By making each page it's own image, it certainly makes it easier, since you can do this for everything:

<pos>0 0</pos>
<size>1 1</size>

The reason I split everything is if I want to change a few things, I can do it via text/typing rather than editing it in Photoshop and re saving every time.

It all comes down to preference/comfort really.

I, myself, need to read up on using variables and other possible new tricks since I haven't really brushed up my XML knowledge on theming in a long time.

Great @Keigan! , Im still figuring what method is the best to use, Really don't know. Both are good and they have they advantages.
I have to try and test because I am working without real knowledge and pasting and changing tags until one goes right :D
Also reading all in English makes a bit more difficult the task

[EctoOne]

@chicuelo said in Chicuelo Theme:

I have to try and test because I am working without real knowledge and pasting and changing tags until one goes right :D

That's how I learned it as well.

Also I want to mention that you always can make a new repository on github if you have troubles or when you think you're finished and everyone can help and/or optimize it. Then they can send you a pull request and you can choose if you want to accept the changes.

[chicuelo]

@ectoone said in Chicuelo Theme:

hat's how I learned it as well.
Also I want to mention that you always can make a new repository on github if you have troubles or when you think you're finished and everyone can help and/or optimize it. Then they can send you a pull request and you can choose if you want to accept the changes.

That sounds pretty good, I like co-working. If you are interested I can prepare all the files, svg logos, artwork and other images and allow you to make the coding part. As long as people can enjoy a great theme I have no problems on letting anyone to help and improve the theme

[EctoOne]

@chicuelo I won't mind doing the coding part, at least that's something I can do because I'm bad at doing graphics.

[anderocha]

@chicuelo
how do I change "GAMES AVAILABLE" to "JOGOS DISPONÍVEIS"?

[jonnykesh]

@anderocha You can't. The language is hard-coded into Emulation Station. It is not governed by the theme.
Well, technically, you can. You need to download the ES source code, alter it and then re-compile it.

[mahcneto]

This is one of the best themes around, congrats! can you add Atari800 screens? thanks in advance!

[chicuelo]

@ectoone said in Chicuelo Theme:

@chicuelo I won't mind doing the coding part, at least that's something I can do because I'm bad at doing graphics.

You are the man! if you want I can contact you by mail or facebook and we can finish the theme, add more systems and upload to retropie. Of course you have half of the credits :)

[chicuelo]

@mahcneto said in Chicuelo Theme:

This is one of the best themes around, congrats! can you add Atari800 screens? thanks in advance!

Thank you! actually I am working on make the theme more easy for retropie to display so It doesn't lag and its rendered in HQ, when Im done with that I will add all the systems

[jonnykesh]

@chicuelo I installed your theme to try it. It's a bit "sparse" for me to be honest and I do like simple GUIs.
But can I ask why it is up/down to navigate between systems? Seems counter-intuitive when every other ES theme is left/right. Is it just to be different?

[Keigan]

@jonnykesh said in Chicuelo Theme:

@chicuelo I installed your theme to try it. It's a bit "sparse" for me to be honest and I do like simple GUIs.
But can I ask why it is up/down to navigate between systems? Seems counter-intuitive when every other ES theme is left/right. Is it just to be different?

Certainly not every other, there are a bunch of vertical scrolling themes out. ES was originally only horizontal scrolling, so that would be why there are many more of that type.

[jonnykesh]

@keigan Which other ones scroll vertically?

[Keigan]

@jonnykesh said in Chicuelo Theme:

@keigan Which other ones scroll vertically?

Well off the top of my head I can't list any because I've only ever used themes I created, ones which scroll vertically. But a look at the ES Themes page and judging by the screen shots it seems as though the following all use vertical scroll:

metro
tv
flat
fundamental
steampunk
showcase
SpaceOddity
Royal_Primicia
playstation
superdisplay
boxalloyred
boxalloyblue
greenilicious
license2game
comiccrazy
tributeGoT
tributeSTrek
tributeSWars
scv720

these are just ones uploaded there, I'm sure there are many others

[jonnykesh]

@keigan So themes for Aloshi's og ES then? I won't try to track them all down... if they still work in the current RetroPie fork of ES (I doubt it). Anyway, thanks for the effort. Just seems counter-Intuitive to me, as I said. The much-loved and used Themes in this version of ES scroll horizontally for systems.

[Keigan]

@jonnykesh said in Chicuelo Theme:

@keigan So themes for Aloshi's og ES then? I won't try to track them all down... if they still work in the current RetroPie fork of ES (I doubt it). Anyway, thanks for the effort. Just seems counter-Intuitive to me, as I said. The much-loved and used Themes in this version of ES scroll horizontally for systems.

Aloshi's original version of ES was horizontal only and there is no reason they wouldn't still work. The much "loved an used" themes were created when horizontal scrolling was the only option (With the exception of the NES/SNES mini themes, which are following an original Nintendo layout which was horizontal). They were worked on for a long time by the creators. Aloshi's ES also forced a faded white bar across the middle of the screen, which limited the amount of tweaking at the time.

As ES evolved, that was removed an the option to move the bars elsewhere were implemented, then eventually the vertical scrolling. I believe a grid system is in the works as well, which would alter the designs even more. Nothing wrong with options, if you're not a fan of the vertical scrolling, there are many themes that don't use it. I'm pretty sure you could turn it on and off as well if you'd like and you could scroll left or right.

[jonnykesh]

@keigan To be honest, I don't really care. I was simply offering some feedback.
You obviously don't appreciate it. And you are coming across as arrogant because someone dared to offer any opinion other than "This is great".
It's not to my taste and I hope it is wiped off the face of this earth! -Joke.

[Keigan]

@jonnykesh said in Chicuelo Theme:

@keigan To be honest, I don't really care. I was simply offering some feedback.
You obviously don't appreciate it. And you are coming across as arrogant because someone dared to offer any opinion other than "This is great".
It's not to my taste and I hope it is wiped off the face of this earth! -Joke.

If you want to elaborate on your feedback, maybe detail why you feel it's "sparse" then.

I only replied to your claim that "every other" theme scrolls left to right. I was simply pointing out that that isn't true and more and more themes are using vertical. I explained why horizontal was more common. I said that there is nothing wrong with options and it's possible to turn on or off.

Take it how you please, I wouldn't care if you said it's the worst theme you'd ever seen. I didn't create the theme, I enjoy it, and simply tweaked it to suit my personal taste.