I can't hold it back any more. Read this!

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Build Your Own Arcade Controls message board ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by ArcadeFX on February 07, 2002 at 22:36:39:

In Reply to: The best front end. (notice no question mark) posted by RandyT on February 07, 2002 at 17:25:43:

I have been working on a much better solution than Howards. No offence Howard but I don't like the skinning tool in RD. It is a great start but for AFX I wanted something easier to use and more option. I was not going to say anything until it was really ready but I can't hold it back anymore after reading this post.

I have working right now in AFX what I consider to be the best skinning options. Here is how it works. I have a lock and release button in the admin options. If you want to more any of the images around on screen you simply click the Release button. It unlocks every graphic on screen. You can drag and drop them anywhere you want. In real time! No extra tools for to use.

When you are done dragging your images around you simply click the lock button. This locks everything down. Nothing is movable.

What impact does this really have? Well for one - unlimited resolution will be supported with AFX. On the fly resolition. Click a button and the resoltion will jump from 640 x 480 to 1024 x 768 or any other resolution. No need to exit AFX. You simple created a background to your desired reslution. Save it into the skins folder. Select that skin in AFX. Use the unlock button. Move your graphics around to your desired location and away you go. Very easy to use. All in real time!

This was surprising easy to develop and only took 10 minutes to figure out. The hard part in front of me is to do the following:

- to save the new locations of all the images out to an ini file so they are saved and loaded next time you load the app.

- dynamically move all the clickable areas to match their graphic location.

- and the hardest part is moving each text link at the bottom movable. This is going to require some redesign of my coding as it stands today.

I am confidnet that I can finish these last 3 items as soon as I finish my cabinet this weekend.

I will release one update before begining the final development on the skins update.

Cheers,

ArcadeFX - Mame Never Looked So Good!

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: I have been working on a much better solution than Howards. No offence Howard but I don't like the skinning tool in RD. It is a great start but for AFX I wanted something easier to use and more option. I was not going to say anything until it was really ready but I can't hold it back anymore after reading this post. : I have working right now in AFX what I consider to be the best skinning options. Here is how it works. I have a lock and release button in the admin options. If you want to more any of the images around on screen you simply click the Release button. It unlocks every graphic on screen. You can drag and drop them anywhere you want. In real time! No extra tools for to use. : When you are done dragging your images around you simply click the lock button. This locks everything down. Nothing is movable. : What impact does this really have? Well for one - unlimited resolution will be supported with AFX. On the fly resolition. Click a button and the resoltion will jump from 640 x 480 to 1024 x 768 or any other resolution. No need to exit AFX. You simple created a background to your desired reslution. Save it into the skins folder. Select that skin in AFX. Use the unlock button. Move your graphics around to your desired location and away you go. Very easy to use. All in real time! : This was surprising easy to develop and only took 10 minutes to figure out. The hard part in front of me is to do the following: : - to save the new locations of all the images out to an ini file so they are saved and loaded next time you load the app. : - dynamically move all the clickable areas to match their graphic location. : - and the hardest part is moving each text link at the bottom movable. This is going to require some redesign of my coding as it stands today. : I am confidnet that I can finish these last 3 items as soon as I finish my cabinet this weekend. : I will release one update before begining the final development on the skins update. : Cheers, : Ed

Optional Link address (start with http://):
Link Title:
Optional Image address (start with http://):

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Build Your Own Arcade Controls message board ] [ FAQ ]