A couple MaLa Layout questions

[Vigo]

Hey, I have a couple MaLa Questions,

First I was wondering what the MaLa Tree Snap exactly did, and how to exactly use it. I looked at the MaLa help page on its site, and I still couldn't to get it to work. Does it allow me to have an image represent each node? What I hope to do, is have an image of a NES or arcade show up on the screen when I am highlighting that node.

Also, I am experimenting with making a layout for myself, and I was wondering if I can animate the background using animated GIF images. I can load GIFs, but they don't seem to animate for me. Otherwise would it be possible to have a movie file play to animate in the background? (not fullscreen, but as part of background.)

Thanks,
Vigo

[loadman]

Does it allow me to have an image represent each node? What I hope to do, is have an image of a NES or arcade show up on the screen when I am highlighting that node.

Yes..

[swindus]

Also, I am experimenting with making a layout for myself, and I was wondering if I can animate the background using animated GIF images. I can load GIFs, but they don't seem to animate for me. Otherwise would it be possible to have a movie file play to animate in the background? (not fullscreen, but as part of background.)

No, you can not use a animated gif in MaLa and the video displays always in front of all other layout objects.

[swindus]

First I was wondering what the MaLa Tree Snap exactly did, and how to exactly use it. I looked at the MaLa help page on its site, and I still couldn't to get it to work. Does it allow me to have an image represent each node? What I hope to do, is have an image of a NES or arcade show up on the screen when I am highlighting that node.

Set a path to the node images on the layout tab in the options dialog (tree menu snaps)


and then use the naming convention from the bottom of that page: http://mala.arcadezentrum.com/layoutnaming.html

Hope that helps!

[loadman]

Swindus I notice in that last screenshot it has an option to 'disable layout animation'

What animation can you have?

[swindus]

These are animated layout objects, not animated gifs or videos. There are 4 objects in the layout called animation which holds an image that moves to one of four directions (top, bottom, right, left) over the screen.

You can try the new layout retroGUI to see what I mean. The MAME part of this layout is animated.

http://mala.arcadezentrum.com/layouts.html#retrogui

[loadman]

...ahh Sexy.  The invaders move in the background.

I will have to play with this one  day   

[Vigo]

OK, I have the tree snaps working for me now. I think I can make exactly what I had in mind with this for my frontend layout.


Thanks swindus and loadman!