[Pr.Sinister]

Yes. It's true. Banners in Aeon. SACRILEGE!!!

Funniest thing is that i used to love Banners until Aeon forced me to switch to
Posters. Now that i have them and i have over 300 shows, i prefer the Wall
view for TV Shows as i can find the show i want much quicker. So this mod was
just a personal challenge to me and trust me i have tried MANY different things
and this is the best i could do. I would have preferred having a completely
different view id (553) but when i tried to do that, i just completely hosed Aeon.
Don't forget i am still a rookie at this XBMC Skinning hobby...

So after many hours of scratching my head, i decided to use djh's brilliant idea
of the switch between old and new multiplex and this is the end result :

BannerPlex for TV Shows (No Focus)


BannerPlex for TV Shows (Focus)


BannerPlex for TV Show Seasons (Full)


BannerPlex for TV Show Seasons (Few)


BannerPlex for TV Episodes


Enabling BannerPlex View

[Pr.Sinister]

Pros and Cons of this mod.

Pros :

• Banners for TV Shows
  
• No Duplicate Items in Short Lists (ie. Seasons)
  
• Banners for TV Shows!!!
  

Cons :

• Only works with the new multiplex. Not the old one.
  
• Short Lists are Aligned to the left (ie. Seasons)
  
• You lose the scrollbar at the bottom (Only in BannerPlex Mode)
  
• You lose the ability to press down to remove all controls and menus (Only in BannerPlex Mode)
  
• Non Banner Thumbs are positioned a bit too high (main reason for calling this beta)
  

This is all i can think about but i may update this post with more cons. Again,
please remember i am a rookie at this!

My Suggestions :

I personally use the Wall View for TV Shows, Low List for Seasons, and
Multiplex for Episodes.

Currently, if you want BannerPlex for TV Shows and you also want Multiplex
for one of the other views, you have to deal with the cons.

But if you use BannerPlex for TV Shows and you WON'T use Multiplex for the
other 2 containers, then you are golden.

Things you may want to know :

MediaFlags work just fine. I was developing this on a laptop with dummy
TV Show files and data (because my real library uses Posters) so that's why
you don't see MediaFlags in the screenshots.

djh's Multiplex uses a wraplist and i use a panel. That is why the change in
the navigation (no pressing down for scrollbar, etc...). Once i have time, i will
try and see if i can add this back.

I am not happy with the focused Banners. Needs to pop-out more. But i will
wait and see how well received this mod is before i spend more of my precious
time off on it.

The reason why the thumbs are too high for seasons and episodes is because
they use the same coordinates at the banner view. So i had to come up with
a position that looked best for BOTH instead of one being perfect and the other
looking like total crap. Again, i will try to come up with conditional stuff to fix
that but for now, i pulled enough hair outta my head that i look like a black
Kojak

-Pr.

[Pr.Sinister]

This was modded from Hitcher's Aeon dated 2009-07-16 where he is starting the Dark theme.

Download the pre-modded files from here :

BannerPlex Beta

Just copy everything to your 720p folder and overwrite.

For those who want to mod the files themselves, it's very easy :

Step 1. Copy Viewtype_Bannerplex.xml to your 720p folder

Step 2. Modify Includes.xml to include the new .xml file

At the top of the file with all the viewtypes, add :

Code:

<include file="Viewtype_Bannerplex.xml" />

Step 3. Modify Customization.xml to add the TV Banners toggle

Find :

Code:

        <control type="radiobutton" id="408">
            <include>Objects_SettingsDefaultRadioButton</include>
            <label>USE TV POSTERS FOR MULTIPLEX</label>
            <onclick>Skin.ToggleSetting(tvposter)</onclick>
            <selected>Skin.HasSetting(tvposter)</selected>
        </control>

Replace with :

Code:

        <control type="radiobutton" id="408">
            <include>Objects_SettingsDefaultRadioButton</include>
            <label>USE TV POSTERS FOR MULTIPLEX</label>
            <onclick>Skin.ToggleSetting(tvposter)</onclick>
            <onclick>Skin.Reset(bannerplex)</onclick>
            <selected>Skin.HasSetting(tvposter)</selected>
        </control>
        
        <control type="radiobutton" id="409">
            <include>Objects_SettingsDefaultRadioButton</include>
            <label>USE TV BANNERS FOR MULTIPLEX</label>
            <onclick>Skin.ToggleSetting(bannerplex)</onclick>
            <onclick>Skin.Reset(tvposter)</onclick>
            <selected>Skin.HasSetting(bannerplex)</selected>
        </control>

Step 4. Modify MyVideoNav.xml to add conditions when to use BannerPlex

Find :

Code:

        <include>Viewtype_List</include>
        <include>Viewtype_List_Slim</include>
        <include>Viewtype_List_Low</include>
        <include>Viewtype_Showcase</include>
        <include condition="!Skin.HasSetting(oldmultiplex)">Viewtype_Multiplex</include>
        <include condition="Skin.HasSetting(oldmultiplex)">Viewtype_MultiplexOld</include>

Replace with :

Code:

        <include>Viewtype_List</include>
        <include>Viewtype_List_Slim</include>
        <include>Viewtype_List_Low</include>
        <include>Viewtype_Showcase</include>
        <include condition="!Skin.HasSetting(oldmultiplex) + !Skin.HasSetting(bannerplex)">Viewtype_Multiplex</include>
        <include condition="Skin.HasSetting(oldmultiplex) + !Skin.HasSetting(bannerplex)">Viewtype_MultiplexOld</include>
        <include condition="!Skin.HasSetting(oldmultiplex) + !Skin.HasSetting(tvposter) + Skin.HasSetting(bannerplex)">Viewtype_Bannerplex</include>

Start XBMC and go to Settings | Customize | Advanced | General | USE TV BANNERS FOR MULTIPLEX

I also STRONGLY suggest you disable the *ALL SEASONS if you use BannerPlex. To do so, create a file called
advancedsettings.xml and put this inside it :

Code:

<advancedsettings>
    <videolibrary>
        <hideallitems>true</hideallitems>
    </videolibrary>
</advancedsettings>

-Pr.

[blackadaberry]

How can i apply this to programs?

I think programs is really the only section that should have wide icons but it seems widely neglected by everybody.

Emulators and apps really only have wide icons.

[Pr.Sinister]

How can i apply this to programs?

I think programs is really the only section that should have wide icons but it seems widely neglected by everybody.

Emulators and apps really only have wide icons.

When reading all the complaints about Aeon not having wide icons, everyone
was referring to TV Wide Icons so that's what i was thinking of. Programs never
even crossed my mind.

Aeon is such an advanced skin that the majority of people using it are on an
HTPC and Programs is completely useless on Non-XBOX AFAIK.

Like i said before, i am no pro at this but i can try see if i can figure something
out for you. Problem is there is no way for me to test this as i have replaced
all 3 XBOXs with HTPCs.

Off the top of my head i would assume that you would need to include the
file in MyPrograms.xml in the same fashion as i did in MyVideoNav.xml

Then, you edit Viewtype_Bannerplex.xml and find the control of type panel
and check out all the conditions and add an OR condition that includes
Window.IsActive(1) wherever you see Window.IsActive(25) or !Container.Content(seasons)
or !Container.Content(episodes)

If you need more details, let me know and i will try and modify it myself for
you but like i said, i can't test it and see what it looks like unless someone
can tell me how to populate the Programs area on Windows XBMC.

-Pr.

[budo]

Hello... I'm really interested in having Banners in the "TV Show" views...
... finally I found this post...
... however I'm wondering why in the Home page for the Aeon project:
http://www.aeonproject.com/gallery.html
you can see an image like this:

But really I can't see such native support for wide-icons, or banners?!?
...
I have tried the latest Aeon build ("Auriga" downloaded from Git) but still my banners are stretched to fit in a poster portrait aspect ratio... nothing adjustable in the settings.
So... is that above image in the Aeon site a fake? The MOD cited in this post is really the only actual way to have tv-show banners?
Thanks...

[ppic]

that's the multiplex, it use TVshow thumbs, not naturally supported by xbmc

[Pr.Sinister]

Hello... I'm really interested in having Banners in the "TV Show" views...
... finally I found this post...
... however I'm wondering why in the Home page for the Aeon project:
http://www.aeonproject.com/gallery.html
you can see an image like this:

But really I can't see such native support for wide-icons, or banners?!?
...
I have tried the latest Aeon build ("Auriga" downloaded from Git) but still my banners are stretched to fit in a poster portrait aspect ratio... nothing adjustable in the settings.
So... is that above image in the Aeon site a fake? The MOD cited in this post is really the only actual way to have tv-show banners?
Thanks...

The screenshot from the Aeon gallery uses 16x9 Icons. It is the Multiplex view.

You can get these icons from this thread : http://www.xbmc.org/forum/showthread.php?t=49761

Or from http://www.xbmcstuff.com

If you already have wide banners for all your TV Shows but they aren't 16x9
but more like 9x1.75 (758x140 pixels) like the ones you get from TheTVDb.com,
then you can use this mod. This is the only mod that will allow you to use
the 758x140px banners in Aeon.

-Pr.

[budo]

The screenshot from the Aeon gallery uses 16x9 Icons. It is the Multiplex view.

You can get these icons from this thread : http://www.xbmc.org/forum/showthread.php?t=49761

Or from http://www.xbmcstuff.com

If you already have wide banners for all your TV Shows but they aren't 16x9
but more like 9x1.75 (758x140 pixels) like the ones you get from TheTVDb.com,
then you can use this mod. This is the only mod that will allow you to use
the 758x140px banners in Aeon.

-Pr.

OK! yes you're right, I installed it incorrectly. Now it shows me 16:9 thumbs on "TV Shows", which are not the original (TheTVDb) banners...
What a pitty.
So, thanks for your MOD!

[SHen350]

Nice, I have always liked the banner view. I will try this in the next week or so when I get a chance to update my stuff.

[budo]

I've tried to follow the given instructions but of the the code I have to find, isn't there as expected (ex. MyVideoNav has not the required code, it's different)... I found something similar, the "right place" from my understandings, but when running xbmc and choosing multiplex, it always switch to "wall".
Perhaps in the latest version of Aen some things changed and now the MOD doesn't work anymore...
... this is the typical problem with MODs, though...

[Pr.Sinister]

I've tried to follow the given instructions but of the the code I have to find, isn't there as expected (ex. MyVideoNav has not the required code, it's different)... I found something similar, the "right place" from my understandings, but when running xbmc and choosing multiplex, it always switch to "wall".
Perhaps in the latest version of Aen some things changed and now the MOD doesn't work anymore...
... this is the typical problem with MODs, though...

When you go to the Aeon Customize screen, do you see the "USE TV BANNERS FOR MULTIPLEX"? Is it turned on?

What is the code you found in MyVideoNav.xml? I can tell you what to change it to.

-Pr.

[budo]

When you go to the Aeon Customize screen, do you see the "USE TV BANNERS FOR MULTIPLEX"? Is it turned on?

What is the code you found in MyVideoNav.xml? I can tell you what to change it to.

-Pr.

Yes, the configuration screen is OK and I've experienced that switching from banners to posters doesn't change the behaviour (default to Wall).
The code closer to the one you ask to replace is this:

Code:

<include>Viewtype_Showcase</include>
<include>Viewtype_List</include>
<include condition="!Skin.HasSetting(oldmultiplex)">Viewtype_Multiplex</include>
<include condition="Skin.HasSetting(oldmultiplex)">Viewtype_MultiplexOld</include>

And I've changed it just expanding the condition and adding your control for the BannerPlex... I reverted the code to the original so I can't say exactly what I wrote, but was identical to your lines...
In my opinion the problem is not there but in the BannerPlex addon... I think they changed things around a bit...
Perhaps the best way is if you can download the latest version of the skin and try to accomodate your MOD... perhaps it's better to wait "Aeon Auriga" been released officially, so it's stable... I don't know...
However it's a very good job... I'm going to start studying "skin development" and try and see if I can give a hand...

[JustinAiken]

I love the way this looks... I really want to use Aeon, but I'm can't stand the lack of wide banners... I way way more TV than movies...

This is kind of working for me, but since installing, it always says that this library is empty, please populate it from the videos menu... even though the library (TV and movies) are full... it just superimposes that on top!

[Pr.Sinister]

Yes, the configuration screen is OK and I've experienced that switching from banners to posters doesn't change the behaviour (default to Wall).
The code closer to the one you ask to replace is this:

Code:

<include>Viewtype_Showcase</include>
<include>Viewtype_List</include>
<include condition="!Skin.HasSetting(oldmultiplex)">Viewtype_Multiplex</include>
<include condition="Skin.HasSetting(oldmultiplex)">Viewtype_MultiplexOld</include>

And I've changed it just expanding the condition and adding your control for the BannerPlex... I reverted the code to the original so I can't say exactly what I wrote, but was identical to your lines...
In my opinion the problem is not there but in the BannerPlex addon... I think they changed things around a bit...
Perhaps the best way is if you can download the latest version of the skin and try to accomodate your MOD... perhaps it's better to wait "Aeon Auriga" been released officially, so it's stable... I don't know...
However it's a very good job... I'm going to start studying "skin development" and try and see if I can give a hand...

The problem is that you are not using the Aeon Hitched as your base. It will
only work with that as the base since it modifies id 552 and there is no
552 in the basic Aeon Auriga.