[wyrm]

phil65,

I for one would love to see something like this and yes to add some additional python accessible functions as MassIV suggested. One I would like would be 'FileExists'. I know the need for this has lessened to some degree as a number of former custom image types have made their way into mainline Kodi, but the need to have a blank fallback image for an image control that you check to see if your image loaded is a PITA.

PHP Code:

                <control type="group">
                    <visible>VideoPlayer.Content(Movies) | VideoPlayer.Content(episodes)</visible><!-- Movies or Tv Episodes -->
                    <animation effect="fade" time="200">VisibleChange</animation>
                    <control type="image" id="890"><!-- Use Clearart if available -->
                        <left>8</left>
                        <top>496</top>
                        <width>275</width>
                        <height>145</height>
                        <texture>$VAR[PlayerVideoClearart]</texture>
                        <aligny>bottom</aligny>
                        <aspectratio>keep</aspectratio>
                    </control>
                    <control type="group">
                        <visible>StringCompare(Control.GetLabel(890),blank.png)</visible>
                        <control type="image" id="891"><!-- Use Logo if available -->
                            <left>8</left>
                            <top>565</top>
                            <width>276</width>
                            <height>75</height>
                            <texture>$VAR[PlayerVideoLogo]</texture>
                            <aspectratio align="left" aligny="bottom">keep</aspectratio>
                        </control>
                        <control type="image"><!-- Fallback to video cover image if no clearart or logo -->
                            <left>56</left>
                            <top>460</top>
                            <width>180</width>
                            <height>180</height>
                            <aligny>bottom</aligny>
                            <texture diffuse="mask-rect.png">$VAR[PlayerVideoCover]</texture>
                            <aspectratio scalediffuse="false">keep</aspectratio>
                            <visible>StringCompare(Control.GetLabel(891),blank.png)</visible>
                        </control>
                    </control>
                </control> 


In the above example each one of the $VAR's has a default value of 'blank.png' which is used in the check in the next image block. Would be really nice to be able to give a script a list of images to check and have it return the first one found. To display one image block with one visible condition has got to be faster and easier to read for the skin coder.

I'm sure if we thought about it, there would be a number of situations like this one that could be handled better than they currently are.

Just my 2c worth
Wyrm