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[Tuto] - Making Ini Files


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#1 BAFelton

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Posted 03 September 2011 - 09:32 AM

Hi !

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to modify the [i].ini[/i] files of you Caanoo so that you can launch any application / emul / homebrew.
Then we'll see how to change the icons and title bars.

[i].ini[/i] files allow the Caanoo to identify launchable apps so that they can appear in the menu. It's like the shortcuts in Windows for example.

The paths are all case-sensitive, so the lower-case ([i]example[/i]) and the upper-case ([i]EXAMPLE[/i]) [u]MUST[/u] be respected.
Many [i].ini[/i] don't work only because of this trick ;)



[u]
Step 1 : Modifying / Creating .ini files[/u]

- first you'll need a text editor that can convert your files in UNIX format, we'll use Notepad++ for this. Link [url="http://notepad-plus-...lus.org/"]here.[/url]


- once N++ installed, launch it and go to : [i]File / New[/i]


- in this example, we'll create a new .ini for the Pocketsnes 7.2.0 emulator ([url="http://dl.openhandhe...,0,71,682"]link[/url]), because there is no .ini in the archive.

Here's the tree of the archive :

Posted Imagecaanoo_release
Posted ImagePosted Imagepocketsnes_caanoo_compatible.gpe
Posted ImagePosted Imagepocketsnes_caanoo_fast.gpe
Posted ImagePosted Imagereadme.txt
Posted ImagePosted Imagesnesadvance.dat
Posted ImagePosted Imagewarm_2.6.24.ko
Posted ImagePosted ImagePosted Imageoptions
Posted ImagePosted ImagePosted Imagethemes



- type these lines :

[info]
name="SNES 7.2"

The [i][info][/i] line defines the .ini, DO NOT forget it.
The [i]name[/i] line defines the name of the app in the Caanoo menu. You can type anything you want.


- type these lines :

path="/caanoo_release/pocketsnes_caanoo_compatible.gpe"

The [i]path[/i] line is very important, it's the shortcut to the app.
In general, the path points to a .gpe file (like a DOS .exe) that will launch your app.
In this example the path points to "pocketsnes_caanoo_compatible.gpe", but you can put "pocketsnes_caanoo_fast.gpe" if you want.
You can put only ONE path line in your .ini.


- now your .ini is like this :

[info]
name="SNES 7.2"   
path="/caanoo_release/pocketsnes_caanoo_compatible.gpe"


- you need to save the file on your Caanoo. Here N++ is very important, because you must convert the file in [i]UNIX mode[/i] so that the Caanoo can "read" it.

Go to EDIT / EOL Conversion and click on "Convert to UNIX format"

Posted Image


- now save your file in the GAME directory of your SD and name it LIKE the rep of the application. Here : [i]caanoo_release.ini[/i] .

The tree of your SD :

Posted ImageGAME
Posted ImagePosted Imagecaanoo_release.ini
Posted ImagePosted Imagecaanoo_release
Posted ImagePosted ImagePosted Imagepocketsnes_caanoo_compatible.gpe
Posted ImagePosted ImagePosted Imagepocketsnes_caanoo_fast.gpe
Posted ImagePosted ImagePosted Imagereadme.txt
Posted ImagePosted ImagePosted Imagesnesadvance.dat
Posted ImagePosted ImagePosted Imagewarm_2.6.24.ko
Posted ImagePosted ImagePosted ImagePosted Imageoptions
Posted ImagePosted ImagePosted ImagePosted Imagethemes


- and the result :

Posted Image




Easy, isn't it ? :D
But....It's really awful, I WANT AN ICON AND A TITLE BAR !!! Ok, just relax, and go to Step 2 !



[u]
Step 2 : Defining icons and title bars.[/u]


You'll need an image for your icon and one for your title bar.

[i]Example[/i] :

Posted Image

Must be a 26*26 .png file.

Posted Image

Must be a 305*57 .png file.

These files will be copied in the application repertory, but you can copy it anywhere you want (your path must be valid though).

Let's rename the icon to : [i]snes_i.png[/i] and the title bar : [i]snes_t.png[/i]. (again you can rename to anything you want, but the path must be valid)


And add two new lines to the [i].ini[/i] :

[info]
name="SNES 7.2"     
path="/caanoo_release/pocketsnes_caanoo_compatible.gpe" 
icon="/caanoo_release/snes_i.png"
title="/caanoo_release/snes_t.png"


Save your file and now you have :

Posted Image

http://img4.hostingp...008P1000655.jpg


Too easy :D


But DO NOT forget :

- files must be converted to UNIX mode

- the paths must be exactly the same, they are case sensitive.



French tuto here : http://caanoo.foruma...-lancement#7166

Edited by BAFelton, 03 September 2011 - 09:33 AM.


#2 kayuz

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Posted 03 September 2011 - 01:25 PM

great, well done Baf ;)

Edited by kayuz, 03 September 2011 - 01:25 PM.


#3 Wayne253

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Posted 04 September 2011 - 06:46 PM

Very cool indeed :)

Now how about apps that need to launch via Ginge.

I'm trying to create one for Cave Story so I don't have to keep going through Ginge to launch it.

#4 BAFelton

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Posted 04 September 2011 - 07:00 PM

Coming... ;)

#5 zsonance

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Posted 17 September 2011 - 04:18 AM

Maybe someone can help me.. I'm having trouble getting the larger title pics to show up when selected

( 305x 57 ) ones...

only the smaller icons appear and it doesn't change.. do i need a newer version of the firmware or something?

#6 BAFelton

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Posted 17 September 2011 - 09:08 AM

No, the firmware won't change this.


This line is on your .ini ?

title="/caanoo_release/snes_t.png"



Two possible ways :

- your .png isn't at the good size
- the path on your ini isn't good (watch for lower/upper case)


Could you copy/paste it here ? or make an archive of one of your non-working application and post it here ?

#7 zsonance

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Posted 18 September 2011 - 11:27 PM

No, the firmware won't change this.


This line is on your .ini ?

title="/caanoo_release/snes_t.png"



Two possible ways :

- your .png isn't at the good size
- the path on your ini isn't good (watch for lower/upper case)


Could you copy/paste it here ? or make an archive of one of your non-working application and post it here ?



[info]
name="CPS2 Emulation"
path="/cps2emu/capex.gpe"
icon="/cps2emu/icon.png"
title="/cps2emu/cpstitle.png"
group="GAME"


Here's what my .ini file says. I even tried renaming it to "cpstitle.png" instead of "title.png" which it was. still no change. The title is the correct dimensions too..it was actually the .png that came with the download for the CPS2 emulator.

Any other ideas why the larger title images aren't showing up? :(


Also, I have all my emulators and games on my SD card.. how can I get the icons to launch the emulators show up in the "Games" folder in the main menu on the Caanoo? is this where the "group="GAME" comes into play?

because the group doesn't seem to be putting it anywhere really

Edited by zsonance, 18 September 2011 - 11:28 PM.


#8 zsonance

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Posted 10 November 2011 - 12:51 AM


No, the firmware won't change this.


This line is on your .ini ?

title="/caanoo_release/snes_t.png"



Two possible ways :

- your .png isn't at the good size
- the path on your ini isn't good (watch for lower/upper case)


Could you copy/paste it here ? or make an archive of one of your non-working application and post it here ?



[info]
name="CPS2 Emulation"
path="/cps2emu/capex.gpe"
icon="/cps2emu/icon.png"
title="/cps2emu/cpstitle.png"
group="GAME"


Here's what my .ini file says. I even tried renaming it to "cpstitle.png" instead of "title.png" which it was. still no change. The title is the correct dimensions too..it was actually the .png that came with the download for the CPS2 emulator.

Any other ideas why the larger title images aren't showing up? :(


Also, I have all my emulators and games on my SD card.. how can I get the icons to launch the emulators show up in the "Games" folder in the main menu on the Caanoo? is this where the "group="GAME" comes into play?

because the group doesn't seem to be putting it anywhere really


still haven't gotten a reply :(

#9 FruitSaladSunday

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Posted 25 February 2012 - 09:50 AM

Great tutorial. Thanks for sharing, BAFelton. :)



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