iMenu step-by-step set-up tutorial

Terminator02 · Jan 11, 2011

CannonFoddr said:
@terminator02: Have you got a different version of iMenu than I have (I got mine from Spinal site called 'iMenu_b1') ??

The reason is that the icons supplied with 'b1' are 40x42 16-bit (although I admit I've not tried anything larger) and 'masks' are included with them - that's why I assumed that's the size you need to make them

[Perhaps you could alter the first post to include the additional info above]
no, this was a WIP(work in progress) screenshot spinal posted for the full release of iMenu on the supercard forum

EvangelionEX said:

Terminator02 said:

QUOTE(EvangelionEX @ Jan 10 2011, 08:52 AM) Oh. Alright I shall try it later XD

And can't I use v1.08(latest version of DSTWO) instead of v1.07? o-o

Click to expand...

the picture is old, if you look at the link you'll see it's v1.08, just click the top download link, and then later on i even give you a link to the latest patch

following the tutorial should give you v1.08

Click to expand...

So I can just delete the _dstwo and install the new one then replace the .nds file with the iMenu's one right?

yes

CannonFoddr · Jan 11, 2011

Terminator02 said:
no, this was a WIP(work in progress) screenshot spinal posted for the full release of iMenu on the supercard forum

Ah right - so technically the Icons DO need to be 40x42 16-bit for the current avaliable version (beta1), but this will/may change when Spinal releases the next version (whenever that will be) since I know the current version doesn't work with 64x64 32-bit graphics 'cos I've already tried it out

spinal_cord · Jan 11, 2011

OK, I'll try to answer a couple of these questions....

The next release will feature the following-
Any size icons. I have not done any serious tests with this, but I have not limited the dimensions of the images that are loaded. They are however aligned to a 64x58 grid and centred to each cell.
The images are all 32bit, so the alpha mask is part of the image. Gimp can save this format, probably many others can too.
Currently I have removed stylus controls, opting for only D-Pad control. I have found the D-Pad controls to be much easier to use.
Icons can now be moved around and placed wherever you want them. They can even be moved to and from the dock.
The dock image is no longer part of the background, so you can reuse different dock/background images.
The clock on the top screen can be either analogue or digital, probably any size images.
Currently 8,16,24 or 23bit bmps can be loaded, if an image lower than 32bit is loaded, then bright green (#00FF00) is transparent, mostly to keep compatibility with the original DStwo icons.
Arguments can be passed to .plg files, currently BassAceGold's build of SFC will use this option, so that a filename can be passed.
the folder layout is slightly different (not much though) the images folder will contain two sub folders for GUI and Icons.

Thats all I can remember right now

Terminator02 · Jan 11, 2011

doesn't completely removing stylus control kind of make the iMenu name misleading? i still think you should support it even if it doesn't work as well

Also, he posted this december 6

CannonFoddr · Jan 11, 2011

Well - all I can say is I'm glad there is at least D-pad support as I use that more of the time than the stylus

& those other extras like 'icon movement' is great, we'll be able to move icon to where WE want them - although I would've thought stylus control for that may be better for click-&-drag than the D-pad (but I guess it depends on how difficult it is to implement)

Still keep up the good work Spinal & thanks for taking the time to pop in & keep us updated

severed · Jan 12, 2011

Hey I have been looking at this thread the past few days, havent gotten my DSTwo yet but soon I hope. I have to say when i saw No D-Pad support on the original post I was like WHY!?! but im glad to see it added now. Im kind of finicky about the DS touch screen as touch screens are new to me (had a DSLite for a little while back but gave it to my niece with CycloEvo) but now Im enjoying the awesome XL which I love for my bigger hands. I also like the option to have a clock on the main screen

Anyway, I cant wait to setup my DSTwo and I think I like your iMenu better then the default, havent looked into skins a whole lot

but... Is there anything I should know about changing the menu? I noticed people saying they were waiting for iMenu to be "official" or out of beta? Also is it an option to use both menus?? I read somebody post this on the last page but I didnt read it all, is that supported by default? Ill post more on what i think of the iMenu once I get my DSTwo (hopefully this week

fingers crossed)

Terminator02 · Jan 12, 2011

Added CannonFoddr and jurassicplayer's LEDS2 skin to the pack and as an individual download

severed said:
Hey I have been looking at this thread the past few days, havent gotten my DSTwo yet but soon I hope. I have to say when i saw No D-Pad support on the original post I was like WHY!?! but im glad to see it added now. Im kind of finicky about the DS touch screen as touch screens are new to me (had a DSLite for a little while back but gave it to my niece with CycloEvo) but now Im enjoying the awesome XL which I love for my bigger hands. I also like the option to have a clock on the main screen

Anyway, I cant wait to setup my DSTwo and I think I like your iMenu better then the default, havent looked into skins a whole lot

but... Is there anything I should know about changing the menu? I noticed people saying they were waiting for iMenu to be "official" or out of beta? Also is it an option to use both menus?? I read somebody post this on the last page but I didnt read it all, is that supported by default? Ill post more on what i think of the iMenu once I get my DSTwo (hopefully this week

fingers crossed)

the features haven't been added now, spinal_cord is still working on the final release, so what you see on the first page is what you get for now

yeah you can use both menus, just copy the DSTWO.nds file in the _dstwo folder to your homebrew folder before you overwrite it with iMenu, then create a .ini and picture for it (just read the guide), then you can launch the official plugin menu from iMenu

to get to iMenu from the official menu just copy DSTWO.nds from the iMenu download to your _dstwoplug folder and make a .ini and picture for it (guides in various places, i'd check the FAQ)

spinal_cord · Jan 12, 2011

Terminator02 said:
to get to iMenu from the official menu just copy DSTWO.nds from the iMenu download to your _dstwoplug folder and make a .ini and picture for it (guides in various places, i'd check the FAQ)

If you use this method though, you will not be able to load anything from iMenu, it requires my dstwo.nds to replace the original for loading to work.

CannonFoddr · Jan 12, 2011

^ Yep - that's exactly what I did & you can see how it looks/works here (@1m11s - but I didn't go back from 'plugin' to 'imenu' in the video but it does work)

Terminator02 · Jan 12, 2011

oh, that's weird, so it's only a 1-way trip, will it be that way for the next version of imenu too?

CannonFoddr · Jan 12, 2011

Terminator02 said:
oh, that's weird, so it's only a 1-way trip, will it be that way for the next version of imenu too?

1-way trip ?? not sure if I understand that.. as I can move between both 'iMenu' and the 'Plugin' menu in both directions.

Just to clear things up
I boot up into 'iMenu' from switch on & can select the 'plugin' menu - which boots just fine
While in the 'plugin' menu - I select 'iMenu' and it boots back into that just fine

IF I select 'DS_Game' from iMenu it goes straight into the DSgame menu, & if I press [ B ] a couple of times it boots back into 'iMenu' [the same goes when I exit 'iPlayer' or 'iReader' - it boots back to 'iMenu']

The only problems I have is that there's a couple of Homebrews that allows 'boot back to firmware' that lock up to a white screen (these are 'ds2skin installer' and 'savbackup' - both made by Stormwave) but that's his problem & nothing to do with iMenu AFAIK

EDIT: Think I've found a small workaround for those two stubbon homebrews I mentioned above, so for those that wish to still use those in iMenu here's how

1) Rename 'reset2desktop.nds' in the '/_dstwo/' folder to anything you like (e.g. 'original rest2desktop.nds')
2) Make a COPY of the iMenu 'DSTWO.nds', rename it to 'reset2desktop.nds' & copy it back into the '/_dstwo/' folder
3) In '/moonshel2/resetmse/ folder, rename the 'DSI2.nds' to whatever you like (e.g. 'original dsi2.nds')
4) Place a copy of iMenu's 'DSTWO.nds' into this same folder & rename it to 'DSI2.nds'

Now when you run these programs & you get asked if you want to reset back to menu (or whatever) - it'll now work

EvangelionEX · Jan 12, 2011

Terminator02 said:
doesn't completely removing stylus control kind of make the iMenu name misleading? i still think you should support it even if it doesn't work as well

Also, he posted this december 6

Yes. Exactly what I'm kinda looking for, the icons is awesome here. Is there any download link for this? If not it's fine I understand XD

And you don't really need use the skins there at the front page. Well, I only tried this with 7.Underground but just take the upper screen and lower screen of the skin you want(in this case for me it's 7.Underground) and rename it to top_bk and lower_bk respectively.

spinal_cord · Jan 12, 2011

Terminator02 said:
oh, that's weird, so it's only a 1-way trip, will it be that way for the next version of imenu too?

The dstwo.nds that comes with iMenu is needed to load nds and plg files. Therefore, if something other than this file is in its place, it will not work. The next release though, will have a work around in place to allow either iMenu, BAGplug or the official plugin menu to boot, while keeping the functionality that iMenu and BAGplug requires.

CannonFoddr · Jan 12, 2011

EvangelionEX said:
Yes. Exactly what I'm kinda looking for, the icons is awesome here. Is there any download link for this?Short answer - No !
Longer answer - this is a screenshot (or perhaps a mockup) of the next release of iMenu. When that appears is all down to when Spinal thinks it's ready to be released

QUOTEAnd you don't really need use the skins there at the front page. Well, I only tried this with 7.Underground but just take the upper screen and lower screen of the skin you want(in this case for me it's 7.Underground) and rename it to top_bk and lower_bk respectively.

True - that does work a majority of the time, however sometimes people like a few 'tweaks' to make things display clearer.
Take the LEDS2 skin - the original upper picture prevented the clock from being seen, while the lower picture didn't have a 'dock' shelf on it

Terminator02 · Jan 12, 2011

spinal_cord said:
Terminator02 said:

oh, that's weird, so it's only a 1-way trip, will it be that way for the next version of imenu too?

Click to expand...

The dstwo.nds that comes with iMenu is needed to load nds and plg files. Therefore, if something other than this file is in its place, it will not work. The next release though, will have a work around in place to allow either iMenu, BAGplug or the official plugin menu to boot, while keeping the functionality that iMenu and BAGplug requires.

sweet

cannon, i just meant the the functionality of iMenu was botched once you come back to it, not that you can't return to iMenu

EvangelionEX · Jan 13, 2011

I tried to change my Moonshell icon to the Borderless pack's one. So I copied the Moonshell Icon from the borderless pack of .bmp icons and replaced it with the iMenu's one and here is my .ini settings.

[plug setting]
icon=fat1:/_iMenu\_images\MoonShell2.bmp
mask=fat1:/_iMenu\Mask.bmp
name=MoonShell
file=/_dstwoplug/moonshell2.nds
dock=1

It just don't work. Now my Moonshell does not have an icon ._.

CannonFoddr · Jan 13, 2011

EvangelionEX said:
I tried to change my Moonshell icon to the Borderless pack's one. So I copied the Moonshell Icon from the borderless pack of .bmp icons and replaced it with the iMenu's one and here is my .ini settings.

[plug setting]
icon=fat1:/_iMenu\_images\MoonShell2.bmp
mask=fat1:/_iMenu\Mask.bmp
name=MoonShell
file=/_dstwoplug/moonshell2.nds
dock=1

It just don't work. Now my Moonshell does not have an icon ._.Most obvious thing I can see is that you have '\' instead of '/' in your paths, & IIRC you don't really need the fat1: bit either (but I could be wrong about that part)

Here's a copy of my Moonshell ini for iMenu
CODEicon=/_imenu/_images/MoonShell2.bmp
mask=/_imenu/mask.bmp
name=MoonShell
file=/_dstwoplug/moonshell2.nds

(ignore the fact I don't have the 'dock=1' that's because I have 'DS Game','GBA Emul', 'Snes Emul' and 'Lameboy' on the dock instead)

EvangelionEX · Jan 16, 2011

Is it normal for RTS to load abnormally sometimes? ._. I load from my Real Time Save and sometimes, the dialouge go out of the screen, black screen, background changing color(from the normal black and purple/white) and sometimes the whole games just froze randomly. Sometimes.

Terminator02 · Jan 16, 2011

what game is that? and that isn't related to iMenu

EvangelionEX · Jan 17, 2011

Yeah I pretty much guessed it anyway. I switched back to my original plugin menu and it still happens. Probably contact issues. Though I never had that when I first got it

It's Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of Starry Skies btw.

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