[TOOL] RPi ES Kids Mode Toggler

[KimDb]

Hi all, I created a tool that lets you easily manage child friendly settings on your Raspberry Pi running Retropie EmulationStation. I basically wanted an easy way to toggle between child friendly settings, so I decided to write a PowerShell GUI script that does exactly this, turn it into an executable and share it with all of you.

Please check it out and let me know what you think about it.
I sincerely hope you like it.

• Github Project Page & Read Me
• Download

[ Current version: 1.2.3 (Stable) ]

At a glance

RPi ES Kids Mode Toggler is

• an easy to use
• Windows GUI PowerShell script
  • turned into a single light-weight Windows executable file
• able to toggle child friendly settings
  • Show/Hide Retropie Options at system select screen
  • Enable/Disable Launch Menu at game start
  • Enable/Disable RetroArch Menu when in~game
  • Toggle between UI Modes (Full, Kiosk, Kids)
• in Retropie EmulationStation
  • for Raspberry Pi models
• with simple button clicks.

[mitu]

Looks nice, though I'd preferred a RetroPie script (i.e. not needing a Windows system to run it).
One idea: if you disable the RA menu, you may also disable the Reset button, I've seen toddlers mashing the buttons on a controller and accidentally resetting the game - much to the chagrin of their older sibling playing along and doing all the work in a 2P game :).

[KimDb]

@mitu said in [TOOL] RPi ES Kids Mode Toggler:

Looks nice, though I'd preferred a RetroPie script (i.e. not needing a Windows system to run it).
One idea: if you disable the RA menu, you may also disable the Reset button, I've seen toddlers mashing the buttons on a controller and accidentally resetting the game - much to the chagrin of their older sibling playing along and doing all the work in a 2P game :).

Hi @mitu, glad you like it!

• About the Windows requirement: I understand. At first, I quickly tried creating a Retropie script, although I almost instantly gave up on testing the regular expressions part. The regex format I used worked in PowerShell, though as far as I could tell didn't work in bash script and thus I abandoned that for the time being. Although I know there are better ways to load the config files, regular expressions are just a quicker way to get "things" done ;).
  Also, another caveat I had when trying to create an .sh script, is providing a user friendly way to switch back settings when certain settings are disabled. I thought about launching the script using the Konami code way of switching back to Full UI mode, although I'm not sure how to implement such. Therefore, I thought a PowerShell script was a good idea, at least... if you're a Windows user. (Sorry, Mac & Linux users, although you probably know how to tinker :p.)
• About the Reset button: Lol, the way you described it :D. Anyway, I thought about doing that right after I read https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/15442/1disabling-access-to-retroarch-in-game-menus-build-made-for-kids/4 where you mentioned that. For the moment, I did not choose to implement it. Not because being too lazy to script it, more because I thought: well, when I was young and had a Game Boy, I also could accidentally reset my game... so those toddlers better learn how NOT to reset :p. Anyway, you have a good point. I'll probably include it in an update.

[KimDb]

[UPDATE] Version 1.1.1 released.

This is a hotfix release. Flagging by antivirus software should be fixed in this release.
If you want to read more about the informing and fixing process, follow this link.

[ Download ]

[KimDb]

Bugs found & present in release 1.1.1:

• #1. The assets folder is not created next to the executable.
  • Meaning for the user:
    • The local backup of the config files on the RPi and KidsMode configuration file are only temporary (at runtime).
      • The local backup of the config files on the RPi and KidsMode configuration file get deleted when the KidsMode tool is closed.
      • Any toggled KidsMode settings are correctly stored on the RPi, so running the KidsMode tool again will detect those.
        • However, since it has no backup of any sort, the KidsMode tool can not change/restore the Show RetroArch hotkey. In the ReadMe is stated how to do that manually for the time being. So: use that 3rd button with caution for the time being.
      • This version of KidsMode tool will always perform a "first run backup".
• #2. Using a Samba share different than the default \\RETROPIE doesn't work.
  • Meaning for the user:
    • This is only noteworthy for more experienced users. You could edit the location of all config files in KidsMode.ini to any other samba share than \\RETROPIE. However, this is not working in this release due to
      • the KidsMode.ini file only being created in the assets folder next to the executable at runtime and
      • an hardcoded entry of \\RETROPIE.

In short:
- I'm working on it.
- Once I get it to run as it's meant to, an updated release will be posted. (It currently has some nice changes though if I may add.)
- Hang on.

[KimDb]

[UPDATE] Version 1.2.2 released.

• This version should have fixed all issues (running stable at least on my pc).
  • It also includes new features.

[ Download & Read More ]

Please inform me if it works

• and if it does, please let me know whether you like it or not.

[KimDb]

[UPDATE] Version 1.2.3 (Stable) released.

• This version should have fixed all issues (running stable at least on the pc's I've tested on).
  • It also includes new features.

[ Download & Read More ]

Please inform me if it works

• and if it does, please let me know whether you like it or not.

@mitu, I've also provided a special build (the Mitu Build) with the feature you requested.
It can be downloaded separately (on the same download location provided above).

[mitu]

@KimDb said in [TOOL] RPi ES Kids Mode Toggler:

@mitu, I've also provided a special build (the Mitu Build) with the feature you requested.

Thank you, but you shouldn't have - it was merely a suggestion. It's less likely I'd use it, since I don't have a windows machine at home - where my Pi is sitting. Thanks anyway !

[KimDb]

@mitu said in [TOOL] RPi ES Kids Mode Toggler:

@KimDb said in [TOOL] RPi ES Kids Mode Toggler:

@mitu, I've also provided a special build (the Mitu Build) with the feature you requested.

Thank you, but you shouldn't have - it was merely a suggestion. It's less likely I'd use it, since I don't have a windows machine at home - where my Pi is sitting. Thanks anyway !

No problem. May be good though for anyone who reads this(, has Windows) and likes the idea as well.