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Front End Support => MaLa Frontend => Topic started by: Vigo on June 12, 2006, 01:02:08 am

Title: A couple MaLa Layout questions
Post by: Vigo on June 12, 2006, 01:02:08 am

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

Title: Re: A couple MaLa Layout questions
Post by: loadman on June 12, 2006, 01:30:41 am

Quote

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..

(http://mala.arcadezentrum.com/screenshots/menu01.jpg)

(http://mala.arcadezentrum.com/screenshots/menu02.jpg)
(http://mala.arcadezentrum.com/screenshots/malatree01.gif)

Title: Re: A couple MaLa Layout questions
Post by: swindus on June 12, 2006, 02:35:35 am

Quote from: Vigo on June 12, 2006, 01:02:08 am

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.

Title: Re: A couple MaLa Layout questions
Post by: swindus on June 12, 2006, 03:15:29 am

Quote from: Vigo on June 12, 2006, 01:02:08 am

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)
(http://mala.arcadezentrum.com/screenshots/layout1.gif)

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

Hope that helps!

Title: Re: A couple MaLa Layout questions
Post by: loadman on June 12, 2006, 03:33:32 am

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

What animation can you have?

Title: Re: A couple MaLa Layout questions
Post by: swindus on June 12, 2006, 03:57:02 am

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/retroGUI/mame_h.jpg)
http://mala.arcadezentrum.com/layouts.html#retrogui

Title: Re: A couple MaLa Layout questions
Post by: loadman on June 12, 2006, 06:21:41 am

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

I will have to play with this one  day   ;)

Title: Re: A couple MaLa Layout questions
Post by: Vigo on June 12, 2006, 12:45:14 pm

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!