Video Preview in EmulationStation

**Scannigan**

@Nismo hey bud, still loving your old room theme, just one thing I've encountered with overlays not working with OMXplayer, is that backgrounds like Sega CD I believe have the game box over the TV screen which which is where the art work populates, meaning it's cut off from the video, you wouldn't happen to have amended the images to move the box art on the base image would you, I hope that makes sense

Nismo

I'ts known that overlays doesn't work with OMX player for any theme, that's because I said in my theme thread that my theme needs VLC, but seems nobody read the first post...

About the other question, I don't understand what do you mean exactly, place 3dbox inside tv screen?... I don't like that, and anyway if yoy use the command for use image if no video, the 3dbox image is stretched and looks very ugly so it's not an option.

I think you must ask for my theme in it's own thread anyway.

Regards.

**Scannigan**

@Nismo Thanks for the reply bud, I downloaded your theme ages ago and love it and I knew it had to be VLC, OMX just seems to be a little smoother even if I do lose the CRT overlays, etc. Never mind ignore me, I worked out that the downloaded box art goes over the box art location in the background image in your theme, so the issue I have isn't with your background images but the media I need to use, my apologies, I should've looked deeper in to it

filiphdan

Nismo i realy love this theme, i think its one of the best out there, any chance off finishing more platforms on it?

Nismo

@filiphdan I'm working on it.

HurricaneFan

@fieldofcows Could you share your theme you used in the video at the top of this post? I'd love to have my mame roms show up like that.

mattrixk

This question is mainly aimed at @fieldofcows, as the video previews are his baby, but anyone who knows the answer can answer it:

Would it be possible to show a video on the System View? Imagine what we could do if we could set a specific (or random) video to display on the system view, the same way we set a logo! Especially with @Zigurana's awesome new carousel mod.

Now, I realise that we don't want to be adding videos directly to the themes, but I'd imagine there's a way to point the video <path> to the folder where the videos are kept

Just a thought.

**Scannigan**

@mattrixk How's the carousel mod implemented?

mattrixk

@__Scannigan__

<feature supported="carousel">
  <carousel name="systemcarousel">
    <type>vertical</type>
    <pos>0.010 0.020</pos>
    <size>0.300 0.890</size>
    <color>FFFFFF00</color>
    <logoScale>1.8</logoScale>
    <logoSize>0.125 0.160</logoSize>
    <maxLogoCount>5</maxLogoCount>
  </carousel>

  <text name="systemInfo">
    <pos>0.010 0.930</pos>
    <size>0.980 0.050</size>
    <backgroundColor>FFFFFF00</backgroundColor>
    <color>FFFFFF</color>
    <fontPath>./_inc/font/Roboto-Light.ttf</fontPath>
    <fontSize>0.025</fontSize>
  </text>
</feature>

That's how you do the systemCarousel and systemInfo. I'm unsure about the <feature> tag though, as I haven't tested it.

jdrassa

@mattrixk @Scannigan

When using the <feature> tag, you still need to have a <view>. See revised example below.

<feature supported="carousel">
  <view name="system">
    <carousel name="systemcarousel">
      <type>vertical</type>
      <pos>0.010 0.020</pos>
      <size>0.300 0.890</size>
      <color>FFFFFF00</color>
      <logoScale>1.8</logoScale>
      <logoSize>0.125 0.160</logoSize>
      <maxLogoCount>5</maxLogoCount>
    </carousel>

    <text name="systemInfo">
      <pos>0.010 0.930</pos>
      <size>0.980 0.050</size>
      <backgroundColor>FFFFFF00</backgroundColor>
      <color>FFFFFF</color>
      <fontPath>./_inc/font/Roboto-Light.ttf</fontPath>
      <fontSize>0.025</fontSize>
    </text>
  </view>
</feature>

That's how you do the systemCarousel and systemInfo. I'm unsure about the <feature> tag though, as I haven't tested it.

mattrixk

@jdrassa Ahh, I missed that part. Cheers. I'll be doing some testing of it today to make sure my theme does it correctly.

Nismo

@jdrassa For some reason, feature tag breaks my theme, all metadata stuff, gamelist parameters and sounds inside video view, are ignored, any tips?

FlyingTomahawk

@jdrassa

Thanks for the sample code.
I guess similar needs to be done with the video code right?

Oh and btw. the maxSize tag for video worked like a charm. Now vertical shooter videos are having the right aspect ratio.

jdrassa

@Nismo
Are you using the latest build? The feature tag is a newer addition that allows for backward compatibility for themes. If the version of EmulationStation you are running doesn't support it, then it will be ignored.

jdrassa

@FlyingTomahawk it is not required, just recommended. Without it, your theme may break for users who haven't updated.

Nismo

@jdrassa Yes it's the old fieldofcows windows build, I didn't update yet. Thanks for the advice.

Nismo

@jdrassa I have another question for backwards compatibility.

I have video views in main.xml file but also in each theme.xml for each system, so I suppose that I need to use the feature tag on both?

FlyingTomahawk

I don't know how many ES forks are out there, Windows and RetroPie versions, but would it be possible that @jdrassa , @Nismo , @Zigurana put a link to your current up to date version inside your signature? Then people might find it quicker and you guys could just point to your sig if anyone asks.
I have the latest version for Windows, I think, 2.1.5 RP that supports all the new stuff like carousel and video maxSize but I cannot remember where I downloaded it.

Nismo

@FlyingTomahawk I have downloaded the latest windows version, but I didn't update yet just because my build it's in my native language, and if I update I'll loose all my translation.

I'm waiting for @jdrassa to post a little guide to how to configure the automated builds. Then I can update and translate my ES more easily.

FlyingTomahawk

Found it! Added the link into my sig so that I and others can find it.