Mala layout help needed

[Extreme8]

I've started trying to create a new layout in Mala and while I've been able to figure most of it out, I have a few questions I'm hoping one of you Mala gurus can help me with.

1 - When creating a Mala layout, how do I define the color I want to be transparent?

2 - How do I change the size of a graphic when adding it as a "custom" object?

3 - I know I've seen this before, but I can't find it now when I need it. My graphics aren't displaying. I know the FAQ or post I saw in the past started by saying "there are 2 ways to store a layout...", well evidently I'm using number 3, the one that doesn't work.

Any help is appreciated.

[loadman]

I've started trying to create a new layout in Mala and while I've been able to figure most of it out, I have a few questions I'm hoping one of you Mala gurus can help me with.

1 - When creating a Mala layout, how do I define the color I want to be transparent?

2 - How do I change the size of a graphic when adding it as a "custom" object?

3 - I know I've seen this before, but I can't find it now when I need it. My graphics aren't displaying. I know the FAQ or post I saw in the past started by saying "there are 2 ways to store a layout...", well evidently I'm using number 3, the one that doesn't work.

Any help is appreciated.

Start here:
http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Mala_Layout

and check your file paths when saving your layouts

[swindus]

1 - When creating a Mala layout, how do I define the color I want to be transparent?

The color of the bottom left pixel of the image is used as transparency color.

2 - How do I change the size of a graphic when adding it as a "custom" object?

The custom object is using the size of the loaded image. If you want to change the size, change the size of the image.

[Extreme8]

Finally got things figured out late last night - more like early this morning I guess.

I've got my animations working, snaps & videos, a nice text list, transparencies, exactly what I wanted.

Regarding my questions.

There seems to be a maximum size allowed for the custom object. I tried inserting a graphic larger than the default box that appears and it didn't work.
When I tried with smaller images it behaved exactly as expected.

I've also found that a single pixel isn't enough to reliably set the transparency. A small group of pixels works well though.

If nobody has tackled it yet I think I'll work up a little tutorial on the layout editor, at least enough to explain what I've learned about each of the options and behavior of the objects.

Thanks for the help and the link to the wiki. I knew I saw that info somewhere.

[steveh]

I am having an odd issue.  I actually found some mamewah layouts that i liked and wanted to use as a basis for my mala layout.  I used the conversion tool, and every thing seamed to work well.  the problem i am having is if i go into mala and browse to where the layout should be it works.  except i have no background.   I looked at the layout in malalayout.exe it gave me some wacky error about paths and i saved it, but it made no difference.  the background looks fine in the layout editor. 

[loadman]

I am having an odd issue.  I actually found some mamewah layouts that i liked and wanted to use as a basis for my mala layout.  I used the conversion tool, and every thing seamed to work well.  the problem i am having is if i go into mala and browse to where the layout should be it works.  except i have no background.   I looked at the layout in malalayout.exe it gave me some wacky error about paths and i saved it, but it made no difference.  the background looks fine in the layout editor. 

The layout convertor does NOT move the graphics for you.. It just converts the format. If you make a folder in mala with the same name as the graphics and put the graphics in there it will work

Refer here:
http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Mala_Layout

[steveh]

the wiki says that you can just dump every thing in the root mala folder and it should work.. messy but work.  That it did not.  Putting it into that folder fixed the problem.  I have now moved all my layouts to the layout folder and now it is working well.

so now i am working on sizing it .  640X 480 is good for a tv right?

so that is what i am working whit.  the problem is i cannot shrink down the font of the list now.  its too big and takes up too much room on the list?  is there a trick to fixing this?  I have adjusted it in the layout editor.  i even tried drastic changes to no avail.

[steveh]

Figured it out.

[loadman]

the wiki says that you can just dump every thing in the root mala folder and it should work.. messy but work.  That it did not.  Putting it into that folder fixed the problem. 

It said you can operate two ways:
1) All Graphics in mala folder
2) All graphics in subfolders with the same name as the layout (Default)

You need to change a checkbox in mala depending on which way you want to work

Glad you figured it out anyway