VSO Software Forum

by **ckhouston** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:20 pm

OK try the mod in the next post, it is a rough cut.

by **ckhouston** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:48 pm

Edit Note: Coral's Plasma Lobes template in a post below is an excellent alternative to this Thrillerless template. His template prompted me to provide some better selector graphics for this Thrillerless template that are included in the Thrillerless mod1 file attached below.

New Thrillerless Template, a Blend of Black Mirror and Thriller Templates

The theme is black mirror without mirror reflections, menu items are same as in the thriller template, background video capability is included.

Instructions

1. Download the attached ZIP file and unzip it.

2. Extract the Thrillerless folder to the templates folder on your hard drive where CX2D version 3 is installed.

There will be two new templates available to use the next time you start CX2D. One generates title, root, settings, and chapter menus, the other designated as modNRM generates only a title menu for cases where you don't need anything else.

A smaller title selector icon is used than the one supplied with the thriller template in CX2D (it covers too much of the video thumbnails). If you want to use the original, rename the chip_chapter.gif file and then rename the included chip_chapter original.gif file to chip_chapter.gif

Instructions for Thrillerless mod1

Extract the files in the Thrillerless mod1.zip archive to the Thrillerless folder created from the above instructions. The new Thrillerless mod1 template will be available to choose the next time you start Cx2D.

It replaces those target type menu item selectors with some more attractive ones.

You can delete the Thrillerless.INI and Thrillereless modNRM.INI files in the folder if you no longer want those templates.

Disclaimer

Same as the one in the first post above.

by **toaddub** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 7:57 pm

ckhouston wrote:As I said, the transitions are the 4 avi files in the thriller template folder that are about 5 seconds long. One is supposed to play when Chapters is chosen in the root menu before the chapter menu page is shown. Another is supposed to play when returning from chapter to root menu. The other 2 are transitions between root and settings pages and from settings back to root. Note that all menu pages in the thriller template use static background images, no motion except for animation of menu items.

They used to play right but a recent post ( http://forums.vso-software.fr/thriller- ... t7985.html ) prompted me to check. They do not work right for me using 3.3.4.106 on a Vista machine or using 3.2.1.155 on an XP machine. I played output with both software and on a TV.

So I don't understand why you can't duplicate the problem. They are encoded in the titleset menu VOBs but don't play, I presume because of IFO file problems.

You're right, ck. I didn't look over carefully enough. Yes, they are encoded but are not completely referenced. There are some missing info in the IFO. The intro2chap, intro2config and config2intro are played only 0.15sec and and chap2intro is not played at all.

Another related bug is the navigation in the Settings menu. The Play button currently plays a portion of config2intro for 0.15sec, and the Menu button plays the outro with Play text being the last visible. What's needed is for the Play button to play the outro with Play text being the last visible, and the Menu button to play the config2intro. Basically, a switch of button command between Play and Menu buttons will solve the problem.

Since nobody has reported this bug in the BTS yet, I'll do it later on.

by **terrypin999** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 9:50 am

Many thanks for the time and effort you put into these.

Although I've had the program a long time it's been ages since I last used it in earnest. So I'm re-learning it right now. In this post
http://forums.vso-software.fr/how-to-mo ... html#p41448
I raised what I now regard as a very basic flaw, namely the lack of any title and thumbnail positioning.

What hansK didn't mention in his reply was that this can apparently be done, using your additional templates, unless I've misunderstood? So I was very pleased to discover these today. I've just installed and will experiment with them soon.

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

by **ckhouston** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 11:50 am

hansK probably didn't mention that menu elements can be moved because it must currently be done by modifiying the menu template INI file. Modifying them is not something an average user should attempt because you can't simply change co-ordinates of an element. You also have to change co-ordinates at several times in order to make animations smooth.

VSO may provide a graphical editor some day that will allow dragging the elements to new locations.

PS: The templates define a box that text is confined to, and you can move the text around inside that box. You may be able to move your title text enough to prevent TV overscan cutoff.

For example, to move the menu title text, expand the Title Menu parameters under DVD Options in the tree view, click on the title text line, click it again to go to edit mode, click the icon on the right to bring up the editor, choose another of the 9 positions available in the Text Align area of the editor, click OK and then click the green check icon when you get back to the tree view.

by **terrypin999** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 12:08 pm

Thanks, understood.

I'm trying one of your templates right now and have a query about text sizes. But I'll raise it as a separate post.

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

by **hansK** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 12:10 pm

Hi,

Thank you ckhouston, i try to respond for the majority of users what are average knowledge users.
If you have a more that average knowledge about computers, you can try, but its with run and fall.
(i speak out of experience and ckhouston will aim this)

That's why i do not refer in replies to this to confuse the average user..
There is nothing wrong with the content of these topics.

Its all a matter of READING, topics, stickys and how to and more.

Regards,
hansK

by **ckhouston** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 12:27 pm

terrypin999,

I added a PS to my reply above. You can also change text formatting in that editor.

by **Coral** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 7:55 am

@ckhouston
Thanks for the "Thrillerless" menu templates. Would it be possible for me to move the root menu text (Play, Settings, Chapters) further to the left ?
Cheers

by **ckhouston** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 1:08 pm

It is possible. You will have to relocate the text and selectors for it, and then you will need to modify positions of text during animation oof both intro and outro sections.

by **Coral** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 9:18 am

Thanks for the tip. I presume that the settings are in the *.ini file.

by **ckhouston** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 2:25 pm

Yes the settings are in the INI file.

To move a text item left, reduce its left=xx value (xx is in pixels).

Do the same for the selector for that item so they will line up. Those are in the buttons section (search for it)

Then change the left=xx values for the animation points for each item. You can use a position ratio similar to using time ratios to keep animation smooth. Animation is done by specifying time (timestamps) where an item is to be located at enough points to provide smooth animation. You should already be familiar with those animation sections.

You may have to spend some time learning the INI structure before you are successful, but I can't take time to write a comprehensive guide.

by **Coral** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 3:41 pm

Thaks again for the trouble. So far I have managed to change the default fonts and size. I'll strugle a little more. The problem is finding the variables.

by **Coral** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 10:15 am

A modified version of ckhouston's Thrillerless" menu template.
I have changed some graphics. Added a motion background and auto install/uninstall.
Credits to ckhouston's idea.

Plasma Lobes Template:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=PY9W8RMW

Extra Animated Background Themes for above:
Bars
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=VR4DK9BV
Flower Power
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=XUOATVX6
Green Spiral
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=42L15WQD
Movie Show
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=ZQDW9KHM
Rings
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=LNQ3GNB6
Spark Field
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=8836VNDJ
Triangles
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=7BEM1CBS

by **ckhouston** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 1:34 pm

Very good, I like your graphics better. And, if someone prefers a different background than your default, it can be changed in the Cx2D tree view.

by **Coral** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 1:52 pm

Glad you like it, m8. Thanks again for your work.

by **ckhouston** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 4:04 am

Your template shamed me into adding an alternative template in the post above for Thrillerless. Those holdover target type selectors from the thriller template do look out of place, so I added a mod1 with better looking ones.

Should give users two good choices with different themes IMO.

by **Coral** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 1:21 pm

I'll soon upload some motion background themes with new selectors at the bottom left corner of the thumbnail.

by **Coral** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 3:14 pm

I have added some themes to the above post. Each theme will extact into the default installation template folder (Plsma Lobes) and will overwrite the substituted files.

Enjoy

by **Coral** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 5:15 pm

Selector frames for the Plasma Lobes Template.
Extract the contents of the archive into the template folder.
Remember that each extraction will overwrite the old files !!

Plese note that the splash frame is inverted inwords.

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