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[CLOSED] Advanced Launcher - Applications Launcher Addon for XBMC - Printable Version

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- nekoarashi - 2010-12-28

Needs an option to scrape PC game data from gamefaqs, none that I can find under system listing- also to add to that, alternative place to scrape info? SUch as for dojin fighters or such, perhaps Wikipedia?

- KiSUAN - 2010-12-28

Htpc guy asked if I could add to support to display a Fanart/Background image according to the "Console" of the launcher for my MOD views. I had no idea so I started to do some research and just try things, I don't use EMUs for a long time now, so I don't remember squat and I'm just learning to skin, so I think I`ll better ask.

From my research I found out that text properties are accessible for skinning purposes in RCB http://code.google.com/p/romcollectionbrowser/wiki/SkinningRCB.

So I just tried to see if I get lucky with AL, used the 2 "options" I think could work, gamesys (not even listed in RCB) and console (listed). I created a folder (extras/consolefanart) in my MOD, placed a jpg named after Arcade (ergo Arcade.jpg), as the games I added are all tagged after that and added this line:

Code:
<texture fallback="backdrops/curtains.jpg">$INFO[ListItem.Property(console),special://skin/extras/consolefanart/,.jpg]</texture>

Also tried with "gamesys" instead of "console" and nothing, so all tells me this "feature" isn't available/present in AL, I knew it was a long shoot, but I think I could be really nice to be able to do it. Maybe I'm asking too much, in that case just forget this post.

Maybe I'm just over thinking and the solution is just through the folder path and fanart.jpg, but I don't even remember the folder structure of any EMU.

- Angelscry - 2010-12-28

nekoarashi Wrote:Okay, so I need to make changes to the xml file for advanced launcher? I tried to scrape from google a fanart for pcsx2 and got this

14:38:20 T:5324 M:1914073088 NOTICE: 6
14:38:20 T:5324 M:1914068992 NOTICE: 1
14:38:20 T:5264 M:1914077184 ERROR: CLocalizeStrings::ClearBlock: Trying to clear non existent block C:\Users\NekoAlly\AppData\Roaming\XBMC\userdata\
14:38:20 T:5324 M:1914077184 ERROR: Error Type: exceptions.KeyError
14:38:20 T:5324 M:1914077184 ERROR: Error Contents: filename
14:38:20 T:5324 M:1913987072 ERROR: Traceback (most recent call last):
File "C:\Users\NekoAlly\AppData\Roaming\XBMC\addons\plugin.program.advanced.launcher\addon.py", line 20, in ?
plugin.Main()
File "C:\Users\NekoAlly\AppData\Roaming\XBMC\addons\plugin.program.advanced.launcher\resources\lib\launcher_plugin.py", line 131, in __init__
self._edit_launcher(launcher)
File "C:\Users\NekoAlly\AppData\Roaming\XBMC\addons\plugin.program.advanced.launcher\resources\lib\launcher_plugin.py", line 568, in _edit_launcher
self._scrap_fanart_launcher(launcherName)
File "C:\Users\NekoAlly\AppData\Roaming\XBMC\addons\plugin.program.advanced.launcher\resources\lib\launcher_plugin.py", line 402, in _scrap_fanart_launcher
filename = self.launchers[launcherName]["filename"]
KeyError: filename

This was using version 9.0 of your creation.
Thank you for your feedback. This new error will be fixed in the next version.

Concerning your launchers.xml file, you wrote here that you have lost some part of your launcher after using the last version of the Advanced Launcher. The only reason to lost launchers or roms is that your launchers.xml file has been corrupted or damaged. In this case, you will have to delete it and recreate the launcher.

Because the Advanced Launcher still under beta developpement (version number < 1.0 ) I suggested you to make some regular backups of your launchers.xml file (just zip or rar it an keep the archive file in the same directory than launchers.xml). So if you have problems, like for the next version, you could quicky restore your launchers.xml file.

- Angelscry - 2010-12-28

nekoarashi Wrote:Hello again, this time it scraped half our collection but it stopped without warning and ultimately scraped nothing Sad


15:01:47 T:4624 M:1799131136 NOTICE: Launcher: found 1 launchers
15:02:22 T:4624 M:1798324224 ERROR: Error Type: exceptions.TypeError
15:02:22 T:4624 M:1798324224 ERROR: Error Contents: unsubscriptable object
15:02:22 T:4624 M:1798230016 ERROR: Traceback (most recent call last):
File "C:\Users\NekoAlly\AppData\Roaming\XBMC\addons\plugin.program.advanced.launcher\addon.py", line 20, in ?
plugin.Main()
File "C:\Users\NekoAlly\AppData\Roaming\XBMC\addons\plugin.program.advanced.launcher\resources\lib\launcher_plugin.py", line 135, in __init__
self._add_roms(launcher)
File "C:\Users\NekoAlly\AppData\Roaming\XBMC\addons\plugin.program.advanced.launcher\resources\lib\launcher_plugin.py", line 456, in _add_roms
self._import_roms(launcher)
File "C:\Users\NekoAlly\AppData\Roaming\XBMC\addons\plugin.program.advanced.launcher\resources\lib\launcher_plugin.py", line 1167, in _import_roms
covers = self._get_fanarts_list(romdata["gamesys"],romdata["name"],self.settings[ "fanart_image_size" ])
File "C:\Users\NekoAlly\AppData\Roaming\XBMC\addons\plugin.program.advanced.launcher\resources\scrapers\fanarts\Google\fanarts_scraper.py", line 22, in _get_fanarts_list
results += json['responseData']['results']
TypeError: unsubscriptable object


No idea what that means


EDIT: Hmmm it seems that all the issues are directly related to using the google scraper; far less issue using gamefaqs only..
This error may be related to a timeout response of the Google website. The Advanced Launcher where not able to get Google images search results generating an error. It will be fixed in the next version.

I did not recommend at all to use Google scrapers during scan, because the first returned Google image is not always corresponding to our expected search. Also, Google stores images from websites into a cache. Sometime the images were removed from the websites but still into the Google cache. When you make a search, Google list the cached images, but if the image is not anymore on the website, Google and the Advanced Launcher add-on will return you an empty image.

Google scrapers are only useful to found rare images that are not into the databases, and complete your game library.

- Angelscry - 2010-12-28

Evin Wrote:Sorry, I'm completely lost. Can anybody point me in the right direction? :/

I...

• installed zsnes via sudo install apt-get zsnes
• added Advanced-Launcher-Add-On

When I start the Advaned Launcher, I have to choose the "launcher type". After choosing "file launcher" I have to specify a folder. The only folders available are my two folders "Filme" and "Serien" (/media/).

I guess, I should point to zsnes, but how...?

I'm running Ubuntu 10.04.1 LTS - XBMCLive Dharma and have not the slightest idea...
Normally you have the possibility to go up to the root directory by selecting the double point line (..) then go to the /usr/bin/zsnes directory.

- Angelscry - 2010-12-28

fr500 Wrote:After the newest update It always asks for a fanart directory/ thumbnail directory even if it's not a file launcher. This behavior is unnecesary for PC games because you're not really scraping many files at a time, Having a global folder to start searching for fanart/thumbs on PC games would be better Big Grin
If you want to scrap the thumb and the fanart image for the launchers (stand alone and emulators) the Advanced Launcher need first to know where you want to save them. That's why it always ask you fanart and thumbnails directory when you create the launcher.

I did not have added yet the option the select a commons thumbs and fanarts directories for all the launchers (stand alone and emulators). BTW, the Advanced launcher will always needs that you indicate directories where to save the launchers thumbs and fanarts images. Confused

- htpc guy - 2010-12-28



- Angelscry - 2010-12-28

nekoarashi Wrote:Needs an option to scrape PC game data from gamefaqs, none that I can find under system listing- also to add to that, alternative place to scrape info? SUch as for dojin fighters or such, perhaps Wikipedia?
With Advanced Launcher the game system for PC games is labeled "IBM PC Compatible". Dojin fighters is not really a common game so you will have difficulties to scrap it correctly and entirely. I do not think you will found it referenced into the Allgame, GameFAQs or MobyGames database, even into wikipedia. In this case you have 2 possibilities :
  • manually enter the game information using the Edit Rom and Modifiy Datas/Infos menus
  • manually edit your launchers.xml file with the infos. This step will be necessary if you want to add game plot informations.
For the cover and fanarts I recommend you to use the google images scrapers.

- Angelscry - 2010-12-28

KiSUAN Wrote:Also tried with "gamesys" instead of "console" and nothing, so all tells me this "feature" isn't available/present in AL, I knew it was a long shoot, but I think I could be really nice to be able to do it. Maybe I'm asking too much, in that case just forget this post.

Maybe I'm just over thinking and the solution is just through the folder path and fanart.jpg, but I don't even remember the folder structure of any EMU.
You can already assign a thumbs and a fanarts images to a launcher using the common Advanced Launcher functionalities. So if your launcher is corresponding to a console, if you have assigned a console images as fanarts, and if the skin is able the display fanarts as backgrounds, it will be ok.

The only thing the skin needs to do is to display fanart as background

Cant load roms now - cancerboyuofa - 2010-12-28

Since the update to .90, I can't load any roms. I put the arguments in there, but it appears to be cutting off part of the name. ie: for NES, 10-yard fight.nes just tries to load fight.nes.

Any ideas? I will try to delete the launcher and rescan, but didn't want to have to since I have over 700 in there.

- Angelscry - 2010-12-28

htpc guy Wrote:Emulator: Mednafan
Rom Folder: /htpc/home/documents/Nintendo Roms
|________Contra.nes
|________Contra_fanart.jpg
|________Contra_thumb.jpg

Why not make the launchers corresponding fanart and thumb default to this directory as well and call it launcher_thumb.jpg and launcher_fanart.jpg.
This is actually how it works when you scrap an image for a launcher emulator. The corresponding thumb and fanart images are saved into the thumbs and images directories using the name of the launcher as template name. The difficulties is more for the stand-alone launchers. You cannot save the thumbs and the images into the game directory (you can but it is not clean) so you need when you create the stand alone launcher where you whant to save those images.

You have the solution to save all your stand alone launchers thumbs and fanarts images into a same directories. As I have already wrote I can add options into the add-on setting to select the thumbs and fanarts directories for the stand alone launchers. But what happen if some users want to save those images into differents directories? I have to take into account any cases... and this is not the easy part. Wink

htpc guy Wrote:He is currently using fanart from the game as a background and in a panel much like Purity's, however it looks a bit odd having the fanart displayed twice.
Fanart images as background is great when you have high quality images. Unfortunately this is not the case of most of the games.

- Angelscry - 2010-12-28

cancerboyuofa Wrote:Since the update to .90, I can't load any roms. I put the arguments in there, but it appears to be cutting off part of the name. ie: for NES, 10-yard fight.nes just tries to load fight.nes.

Any ideas? I will try to delete the launcher and rescan, but didn't want to have to since I have over 700 in there.
Since version 0.9.0 the manner to enter the argument line has changed. Add "%rom%" at the end of your argument line (with the quotes) and it may works. You will found more details here.

tried that - cancerboyuofa - 2010-12-28

Thats what I did. I added the argument. Without this, the emulator (in this case fce ultra) doesnt try to launch anything. When I do this, it tries, but like I said, it doesn't launch the whole file name. ie: 10-yard fight.nes turns into fight.nes for some reason.

- Angelscry - 2010-12-28

cancerboyuofa Wrote:Thats what I did. I added the argument. Without this, the emulator (in this case fce ultra) doesnt try to launch anything. When I do this, it tries, but like I said, it doesn't launch the whole file name. ie: 10-yard fight.nes turns into fight.nes for some reason.
Do you put the " around %rom% because it seems to cut the white spaces of your file? The " are here to avoid that.

- fr500 - 2010-12-28

Angelscry Wrote:If you want to scrap the thumb and the fanart image for the launchers (stand alone and emulators) the Advanced Launcher need first to know where you want to save them. That's why it always ask you fanart and thumbnails directory when you create the launcher.

I did not have added yet the option the select a commons thumbs and fanarts directories for all the launchers (stand alone and emulators). BTW, the Advanced launcher will always needs that you indicate directories where to save the launchers thumbs and fanarts images. Confused

Yes but as a suggestion wouldn't it be possible to have a default on the general settings? that way it would be quicker when adding games, especially the first time.

My guess is the most common use cases are:

1. artwork on the same place as the game executable
2. all the artwork consolidated on an external folder

For both this options it should be possible to help users get to their art folder quickly.

If art is on the same folder as the executable defaults would do fine. But if the user has the artwork on an external folder setting the folder once instead of "per launcher" basis would do fine.

Anyway, just a suggestion Big Grin