CPMaker - Upcoming Features

[Buddabing]

The new version of CPMaker is not far away.

New features:

1) Besides just plain rectangular label backgrounds, CPMaker now supports circles, ellipses, round rectangles, and images.

2) Labels can be rotated. You might want to rotate your labels 45 degrees for Q-Bert, for example.

3) New viewer application both standalone and integrated into the CPMaker application. You can display an arbitrary .jpg or .png image. CPMaker can now display its generated image upon completion.

4) Dual monitor support. CPMaker, my standalone viewer, and BuddaMAME will be able to display controls on a separate monitor. This means that you will be able to pause MAME and have the controls show up on the second screen, if desired. Or you can launch your front end of choice launch CPMaker on the second screen when MAME is launched.

5) Auto Hot Key support for users who want to use a generic build of MAME.

6) The biggest one - a graphical user interface for CPMaker. I've implemented such features as:

• dragging groups of controls
• shift-clicking
• control-clicking
• right-click to bring up a control or label-specific menu
• individually selectable/deleteable labels
• a grid to help in alignment
• easy multi-panel configuration
• the ability to import and export Johnny 5 and CPViewer label layouts

In the past, the biggest obstacle to using CPMaker was the difficulty of arranging labels and controls onto the background image. I intend to shatter that obstacle and make CPMaker usable and understandable by all.

Regards,
Buddabing

[Popcorrin]

Very awesome!!   I have been using CPmaker from early on and I must admit that getting the labels in the right place took alot of trial and error.   The new interface sounds like it will take all the work out of it.

Just curious, did you figure out the focus issue with the viewer?

[Buddabing]

Just curious, did you figure out the focus issue with the viewer?

Not yet.

MAME v0.103 has come out and I believe the problem is still there. So it looks like I've got to fix it.

I think I've got an excuse to buy myself an LCD screen now.

I'm glad at least two people are using CPMaker.

[markrvp]

I'll be number three as soon as it's idiot proof.

[Popcorrin]

Buddabing, I was wondering how tough it would be to add the capability for your viewer to launch avi or mng files?

[Buddabing]

Buddabing, I was wondering how tough it would be to add the capability for your viewer to launch avi or mng files?

I don't know. I'll take a look.

Would this be in a loop or terminating at the end?

What's the purpose of something like this that a generic media player can't do?

[Popcorrin]

Preferrably a person could set it up either way, play once or continuous loop.   The reason I asked about incorporating it into your viewer app was the possibility of showing it on the 2nd display.   If there are media player's out there that already do that then I guess there is really no point of adding it to your app.   

I thought it would be neat to play Buddamame attract mode videos on the 2nd display.

[sc1103]

With the forthcoming GUI, I'll definately be using CPMaker  .

[Buddabing]

Preferrably a person could set it up either way, play once or continuous loop.

[edge]

Budda,
This is great!  I recently picked up a PSone LCD for this very purpose.  If you would like me to test it out for you, let me know.  I'd be happy to help.

Edge