THE MP3 VCR

CREATING / EDITING SKINS

Overview

The MP3VCR has some limited ability to change the graphics of the playback screen. The following documents how to create, modify, and edit the graphics that the MP3VCR uses.

All skins are stored in the "Skins" folder of the program (for example, c:\program files\MP3VCR\Skins\). The skins are composed of two elements:

• An INI file that describes the graphical settings.
• A folder within the skins directory that stores all of the graphics.

Graphics can either be in .bmp, .jpg, or .gif format. The graphics are used for the background and button images on the skin.

The INI file is where you will make adjustments to all of the graphical elements. Here is where the bulk of the configuration will be done. See the section below for information on each element of the INI file.

To create a skin, perform the following:

• 1) Copy an INI file from one of the default skins provided into the skins directory to a new file.
• 2) Create a folder within the skins directory.
• 3) Make adjustments as appropriate to the INI file.

That's pretty much it. :) To load the skin, try and play a station and select it. If there are any errors on the skin, the MP3 VCR will let you know which element is a problem so you can correct it.

You can preview a skin design from the recording setup screen, by hitting the Shift-F11 key. This will show a disabled version of the recording display, and let you know of any errors to boot.

Skin INI file reference -- version 0.2.1

• All colors are listed in RGB format (#RRGGBB, where RR is a 2 digit hex code for the amount of red; GG is a 2 digit hex code for the amount of green; and BB is a 2 digit hex code for the amount of blue.)
• All height and width values are listed in pixels.
• All position values are listed as X,Y pixel coordinates, defined by the upper left hand corner of the box.
• All elements must be present, as exactly defined in the sample INI files!

  ELEMENT: SKINDIRECTORY

  This stores items related to directory locations and names.

  • SkinTitle -- title that is displayed on the MP3VCR recording configuration screen
  • SkinDirectory -- the directory within the Skins directory where the graphics are stored. Example: if the main skins directory was c:\program files\MP3VCR\Skins\, and SkinDirectory was "Default", all graphics will be stored in c:\program files\MP3VCR\Skins\Default\.
  • SkinVersion -- 0.2.1. For compatability purposes later.

  ELEMENT: BACKGROUND

  The background of the recording screen. (Note: transparency is currently not supported, sorry. Forms must be boring and square.)

  • Frametype -- 1 = a fixed frame, recommended for most skins with backgrounds. 2 = resizeable
  • Backcolor -- color of the background.
  • BGPicture -- picture file used for the background.
  • Height -- height of the form in pixels.
  • Width -- width of the form in pixels.

  ELEMENT: TIMEDISPLAY

  Controls the seven-segment display

  • Visible -- 1 = visible, 0 = invisible
  • BGColor -- color of the background of the time display. Usually this will match Background / BGColor.
  • NumberActiveColor -- color when a segment is "lit"
  • NumberInactiveColor -- color when a segment is "unlit"
  • Position -- X,Y coordinates of the time display
  • Height -- height of the seven segment display in pixels.
  • Width -- width of the seven segment display in pixels.

  ELEMENT: VOLUME

  Controls the volume slider. A visible volume slider is a requirement!

  • Type -- Horizontal or Vertical.
  • Position -- X,Y coordinates of the slider.
  • Height -- height of the slider in pixels.
  • Width -- width of the slider in pixels.

  (The below elements apply to the label that appears below a volume slider, possibly letting the user know what it is. The two default skins for instance use "VOL")

  • LabelVisible -- 1 = visible, 0 = invisible
  • Label -- Text displayed in the label.
  • LabelPosition -- X,Y coordinates of the label.
  • LabelFont -- Text font of the label
  • LabelFontSize -- Font size of the label
  • LabelHeight -- Height of the label
  • LabelWidth -- Width of the label
  • LabelColor -- Color of the label.

  ELEMENT: INDICATORS

  Controls various indicators that can appear on the MP3VCR screen. Each indicator will potentially have a label that is used to indicate what the heck is lighting up.

  The following indicators will have the following prefixes for all of the elements:

  • RecTime -- Shows whether the seven segment display is showing the recording time, or the time left that you can show during timed recordings.
  • Preview -- Shows whether the user is currently listening or is recording silently.
  • TimeOut -- Flashes on when timeouts or errors occur.
  • BitRate -- Shows the current bitrate of the recording.

  By attaching the below suffixes to the above, you can set whatever is needed. For example: to set the RecTime indicator's Visible setting, change the RecTimeVisible element.

  • Visible -- 1 = visible, 0 = invisible
  • Label -- The text of the label that is next to the indicator.
  • DotPosition -- X,Y coordinates of the indicator itself.
  • Color -- Color of the indicator for fixed-color indicators
  • OnColor -- Color of on/off indicators when on
  • OffColor -- Color of on/off indicators when off

  (The below elements apply to the label that appears beside an indicator, letting the user know what it is.)

  • LabelNormal -- RecTime element only. Label shown when the seven segment display is showing the amount of time recorded so far.
  • LabelInverse -- RecTime element only. Label shown when the seven segment display is showing the amount of time left.
  • LabelPosition or Position -- X,Y coordinates of the label.
  • LabelFont or Font -- Text font of the label
  • LabelFontSize or FontSize -- Font size of the label
  • LabelHeight or Height -- Height of the label
  • LabelWidth or Width -- Width of the label

  ELEMENT: TITLEPOPUP

  Controls the background color and font of the mouse-hover popup with additional title information

  • TitlePopUp -- 1 = active, 0 = inactive
  • TitlePopupFont -- Text font of the title popup screen
  • TitlePopupFontSize -- Font size of the title popup screen
  • TitlePopupBGColor -- Background color of the title popup screen
  • TitlePopupColor -- Foreground color when a segment is "unlit"

  ELEMENT: SCROLLING TITLE

  Controls the colors and font of the title display

  • ScrollingTitleVisible -- 1 = visible, 0 = invisible
  • ScrollingTitlePosition -- X,Y coordinates of the title.
  • ScrollingTitleHeight -- Height of the scrolling title box
  • ScrollingTitleWidth -- Width of the scrolling title box
  • ScrollingTitleBGColor -- Background color of the scrolling title box
  • ScrollingTitleFGColor -- Foreground color of the scrolling title box
  • ScrollingTitleFont -- Text font of the scrolling title
  • ScrollingTitleFontSize -- Font size of the scrolling title

  ELEMENT: BUTTONS

  Controls all of the command buttons that are on the MP3VCR screen. (Sorry, all buttons must be square and are required.)

  The following buttons will have the following prefixes for all of the elements:

  • Record -- Record button
  • Pause -- Pause button
  • Stop -- Stop button
  • Listen -- Toggle listening on/off button
  • TimeMode -- Time mode button (for timed recording)
  • Setup -- Setup recording button
  • Exit -- Quit button
  • StationWindow -- Station window management

  By attaching the below suffixes to the above, you can set whatever is needed. For example: to set the Record button's Position setting, change the RecordPosition element.

  • Position -- X,Y coordinates of the button.
  • Height -- Height of the button
  • Width -- Width of the button
  • Color -- Background color of the button
  • FlashColor -- [Pause button only] Color that the button flashes when paused.
  • Pic -- Picture that is displayed for the button.
  • PicStart -- [Record button only] Picture that is displayed when you have stopped recording.
  • PicRecording -- [Record button only] Picture that is displayed when you are actually recording.
  • Caption -- Caption of the button
  • ListenPic -- Picture that displays when you are not listening. This tells the user to listen.
  • ListeningPic -- Picture that displays when you are listening. This tells the user to stop listening.

  (The below elements apply to the label that appears beside an indicator, letting the user know what it is.)

  • LabelNormal -- RecTime element only. Label shown when the seven segment display is showing the amount of time recorded so far.
  • LabelInverse -- RecTime element only. Label shown when the seven segment display is showing the amount of time left.
  • LabelPosition or Position -- X,Y coordinates of the label.
  • LabelFont or Font -- Text font of the label
  • LabelFontSize or FontSize -- Font size of the label
  • LabelHeight or Height -- Height of the label
  • LabelWidth or Width -- Width of the label

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