Video Preview in EmulationStation

[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.

[jdrassa]

@Nismo only the <video> element has to be wrapped in the feature tag to maintain backwards compatibility. If you want to support non-video ES users, then you would need to use the <feature> anywhere you are using <video>.

[mattrixk]

@jdrassa Does <feature> work on the <carousel> tag?

[Nismo]

@jdrassa I supose that... I need to edit all my xml files.... :(

@mattrixk Yes it works.

[mattrixk]

Thanks @Nismo. Turns out I was using an older build* that didn't include the carousel stuff.

* It was 6 days old. Positively ancient!

[herb_fargus]

@jdrassa are you sure it just doesn't have to be wrapped on only the main XML? Eg your changes to carbon worked with just the feature flag on the main XML:

https://github.com/RetroPie/es-theme-carbon/pull/20/files

[SuperSirLink]

@fieldofcows , I have a question I am hoping you can help with... Building a theme that uses the video features to take advantage of the md_marquee tags to display a screenshot. I want to be able to draw another image on top of it as a overlay mask. In detailed view the order items are draw on screen is determined by their placement within the XML... But despite having my extra image below md_marquee, it gets placed below the marquee image.

Does the video view not follow the same draw rules as the other views?

[pjft]

@SuperSirLink I think that @jdrassa would be best able to answer that. I think he did a lot of work on image order and such.

[**Scannigan**]

@SuperSirLink How strange I just had the same question the answer courtesy of @mattrixk was:

The built-in elements like gamelist, image, system logo, etc all have a preset z-index, but any extra images you add basically follow the order that you have them in the xml file.

[SuperSirLink]

@__Scannigan__ yeah it appears to be hard set to be in top. I have seen in several theme examples that have the marquee tag below the video and in those themes the marquee overlays the video.

I tried using an image in place of a video in the video path, but it is expecting a video file and gives an error.

Would love to be able to draw an extra image to draw above the marquee.