[amducious]

sorry it was 4am when I posted that so I guess I didnt phrase my question correctly. what I was trying to ask was. I already have launchers set up for snes and nes and they work perfect. I also have them link to the home page. what I now want to do is launch windows games (ex. skyrim, batman Arkam City, assassin's creen)

right now they are showing up like this

- Assassin's Creed
- Batman Arkam City
- NES
---Super Mario brothers
- Skyrim
-SNES
---Super Mario world

what I would like to do is to have them like this

- NES
--- Super Mario Brothers
- SNES
--- Super Mario World
- Windows games
--- Assassin's Creed
--- Batman Arkam City
--- Skyrim

how do I set up the launcher to group the windows games togeather. Im guessing I would have to create some kinde of "file launcher" but I dont know what I would put for the launching program (the place the emulators go)

im verry sorry if this still sounds a bit odd im going to 27 hours awake and just working on my media center to try to stay awake

[Angelscry]

how do I set up the launcher to group the windows games togeather. Im guessing I would have to create some kinde of "file launcher" but I dont know what I would put for the launching program (the place the emulators go)

im verry sorry if this still sounds a bit odd im going to 27 hours awake and just working on my media center to try to stay awake

With Advanced Launcher under Windows you can use .lnk shortcuts and manage them as files (like for emulators) : http://www.gwenael.org/xbmc/index.php?ti..._shortcuts

[Angelscry]

Version 1.7.3 : This new version of Advanced launcher add a new option for launchers and items edition. The new "Import Infos, Thumbnail & Fanart " option allows to automatically re-scrap the datas and images of a launcher or an item. So users will not be forced anymore to manually modify infos, then thumbs, then fanart to enterly modify a launcher or an item. Manual modification options still present.



This new menu option addition has conducted to a small reorganization of the launcher and item menus. Menus have been renamed, some entries have been renamed and others (like ) have been relocalized into the Advanced Option sub-menu.



A new entries have also been added into item's Advanced Option submenu. This new option allows the change the file of an item. Also the "Extra fanarts" path have been renamed as "Custom" path. Because this path is not specifically dedicated for extra-fanart but can also be used by skinners for video files (trailers), or others.



Finally this version add the finnish translation to Advanced Launcher. Thank you very much to Viljo for this translation. If other users are interested to contribute to Advanced Launcher by adding other languages (deutsh, spanish, etc...) do no hesitate to contact me.



ChangeLog :

• Add full import option for items.
  
• Add full import option for launchers.
  
• Add item filename modification option.
  
• Reorganization of launchers context menu
  
• Reorganization of items context menu
  
• Replacement of "Extra fanarts" path by "Custom" paths.
  
• Add Finnish translation (thanks to Viljo).
  

[crisdecuba]

Hi everyone,

One thing that broke when I upgraded to Eden was my duplicate instances of Advanced Launcher.

So I deleted the plugin folder for the duplicate instances, which seemed to be from an older version, I copied the original into a new folder, renamed the directory in addon.xml, renamed the directory in a couple of instances within the launcher_plugin.py file within /resources/lib/

When I start up XBMC I see the second instance, but when I hit enter, XBMC says there is an error within addon.py

Any suggestions? I got it to work before, but I can't seem to get it to work again... :-(

[Angelscry]

Hi everyone,

One thing that broke when I upgraded to Eden was my duplicate instances of Advanced Launcher.

So I deleted the plugin folder for the duplicate instances, which seemed to be from an older version, I copied the original into a new folder, renamed the directory in addon.xml, renamed the directory in a couple of instances within the launcher_plugin.py file within /resources/lib/

When I start up XBMC I see the second instance, but when I hit enter, XBMC says there is an error within addon.py

Any suggestions? I got it to work before, but I can't seem to get it to work again... :-(

Could you post the content of the XBMC.log file when the addon.py error occurs. It could indicate to us what is exactly the problem.

In a more general case: If you want to reinstall a more recent version of Advanced Launcher as a duplicate launcher (duplicate versions cannot be updated automatically) :

1. make a backup of the /xbmc/userdata/addon_data/plugin.program.advanced.launcher.old.duplicate/launchers.xml file (it's the more important file)
   
2. delete the /xbmc/userdata/addon_data/plugin.program.advanced.launcher.old.duplicate directory (to avoid any version conflict)
   
3. delete the /xbmc/addons/plugin.program.advanced.launcher.old.duplicate directory (to remove the old duplicate version)
   
4. duplicate the /xbmc/addons/plugin.program.advanced.launcher as /xbmc/addons/plugin.program.advanced.launcher.new.duplicate as described into this tutorial : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gMFJcxdcEg
   
5. start XBMC and start new Advanced Launcher duplicate. It will ask you to create a new launcher. Create quickly a fake one. This will create /xbmc/userdata/addon_data/plugin.program.advanced.launcher.new.duplicate directory structure and content (settings.xml and launchers.xml files).
   
6. finally replace the /xbmc/userdata/addon_data/plugin.program.advanced.launcher.new.duplicate/launchers.xml file by the one you have backed up in the first step.
   

[Energy2k8]

sorry it was 4am when I posted that so I guess I didnt phrase my question correctly. what I was trying to ask was. I already have launchers set up for snes and nes and they work perfect. I also have them link to the home page. what I now want to do is launch windows games (ex. skyrim, batman Arkam City, assassin's creen)

right now they are showing up like this

- Assassin's Creed
- Batman Arkam City
- NES
---Super Mario brothers
- Skyrim
-SNES
---Super Mario world

what I would like to do is to have them like this

- NES
--- Super Mario Brothers
- SNES
--- Super Mario World
- Windows games
--- Assassin's Creed
--- Batman Arkam City
--- Skyrim

how do I set up the launcher to group the windows games togeather. Im guessing I would have to create some kinde of "file launcher" but I dont know what I would put for the launching program (the place the emulators go)

im verry sorry if this still sounds a bit odd im going to 27 hours awake and just working on my media center to try to stay awake

Here is a post from JohnnyD2 who explains how to do it.

Create a file with "%*" (without the quotes) in it. Call it 'launchgame.bat' and save it on the C:\ drive.

In Advanced Launcher, at the folder level that holds the links, call up the context menu with 'c' and choose 'Edit Launcher'.
- Change the launching application, and point it to C:\launchgame.bat.
- Make sure 'Modify arguments' reads "%rom%".
- Make sure 'Modify Items extension' reads 'lnk' (LNK)

Then give it a whirl. You'll still have XBMC open so there may be issues with that, but this should get you up and running. You can improve the batch file later.

[JohnnyD2]

Version 1.7.3 : This new version of Advanced launcher add a new option for launchers and items edition. The new "Import Infos, Thumbnail & Fanart " option allows to automatically re-scrap the datas and images of a launcher or an item. So users will not be forced anymore to manually modify infos, then thumbs, then fanart to enterly modify a launcher or an item. Manual modification options still present.

Wow! Thanks Angelscry! I'll update tonight and give it a go.

I really appreciate all your hard work.

Thanks again,

JD

[tria]

It is the _run_rom function starting form line 1140 (def _run_rom(self, launcherID, romName):) of the launcher_plugin.py file : http://code.google.com/p/xbmc-advanced-l..._plugin.py

Advanced Launcher is a program add-ons and it display is managed by skins. So, normally it is into the MyPrograms.xml file of the skin.

Thanks man. Yes I got the picture, and made some modifications to the XML and the way to add launchers. The only problem is that you updated your addon, and I lost all my modifications haha

I should have worked on a separate copy, or at least backup the python file.

Edit:
Oh, thanks for the update. Now the arrangement is much better.

[Angelscry]

Here is a post from JohnnyD2 who explains how to do it.

Create a file with "%*" (without the quotes) in it. Call it 'launchgame.bat' and save it on the C:\ drive.

In Advanced Launcher, at the folder level that holds the links, call up the context menu with 'c' and choose 'Edit Launcher'.
- Change the launching application, and point it to C:\launchgame.bat.
- Make sure 'Modify arguments' reads "%rom%".
- Make sure 'Modify Items extension' reads 'lnk' (LNK)

Then give it a whirl. You'll still have XBMC open so there may be issues with that, but this should get you up and running. You can improve the batch file later.

No, no and no. You do not need to use a .bat launcher file to use .lnk shortcuts file with Advanced Launcher. Windows shortcuts are internally supported by Advanced Launcher. Yes it works, but only because you have selected .LNK files as extension. JohnnyD2's launcher.bat file is not even launched. JohnnyD2's method will works only if you decide to desactivate the ".lnk support" into the launcher advanced options. To use .lnk shortcuts with Advanced Launcher :

• Here is the youtube tutorial : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyfRa7gygEc
  
• Here is the configuration wiki page : http://www.gwenael.org/xbmc/index.php?ti..._shortcuts
  

If this is not working on your system, that's mean you have something wrong (wrong launcher configuration). Please avoid posting incorrect explanation that will confuse other users.

[Angelscry]

Thanks man. Yes I got the picture, and made some modifications to the XML and the way to add launchers. The only problem is that you updated your addon, and I lost all my modifications haha

I should have worked on a separate copy, or at least backup the python file.

Edit:
Oh, thanks for the update. Now the arrangement is much better.

It is always better to work on a duplicate version.

[orewagundam79]

Is there a way to use relative paths inside launchers.xml?
For example, I'd like to use:
<thumbpath>\userdata\addon_data\plugin.program.advanced.launcher\thumb\ps2\</thumbpath>

instead of

<thumbpath>C:\Users\myUser\AppData\Roaming\XBMC\userdata\addon_data\plugin.program.advanced.launcher\thumb\ps2\</thumbpath>

to make the whole xbmc configuration portable, but it doesn't seem to work.. (the python script fails when download thumbs)

[Angelscry]

Is there a way to use relative paths inside launchers.xml?
For example, I'd like to use:
<thumbpath>\userdata\addon_data\plugin.program.advanced.launcher\thumb\ps2\</thumbpath>

instead of

<thumbpath>C:\Users\myUser\AppData\Roaming\XBMC\userdata\addon_data\plugin.program.advanced.launcher\thumb\ps2\</thumbpath>

to make the whole xbmc configuration portable, but it doesn't seem to work.. (the python script fails when download thumbs)

Unfortunately, no. There is no way to use relative paths. Advanced launcher use actually absolute paths. A possible solution to solve this will be for me to add an absolute to relative path conversion when the launchers.xml file is saved and to add a relative to absolute path conversion when the launchers.xml file is loaded. I think it may works. I will try to see if it is possible. If so, the functionnality will be availiable in the next release.

[ghostelement]

Thanks for the updated version! I'm having some trouble getting it to auto pull thumbnails/fanart for the games automatically though. It seems to get the nfo for the games just fine when added, but I have to manually get the art.

[JohnnyD2]

No, no and no. You do not need to use a .bat launcher file to use .lnk shortcuts file with Advanced Launcher. Windows shortcuts are internally supported by Advanced Launcher. Yes it works, but only because you have selected .LNK files as extension. JohnnyD2's launcher.bat file is not even launched. JohnnyD2's method will works only if you decide to desactivate the ".lnk support" into the launcher advanced options. To use .lnk shortcuts with Advanced Launcher :

• Here is the youtube tutorial : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyfRa7gygEc
  
• Here is the configuration wiki page : http://www.gwenael.org/xbmc/index.php?ti..._shortcuts
  

If this is not working on your system, that's mean you have something wrong (wrong launcher configuration). Please avoid posting incorrect explanation that will confuse other users.

Angelscry is right - my method requires turning OFF .lnk file support and is not the preferred method for .lnk's. I forgot that step\disclaimer in the original instructions.

However I was confused with how to get Advanced Launcher to work with .lnk's and found the method I outlined worked well (Angelscry - is there a way of popping up a dialog to tell the user that they need to change the launching application to Explorer.exe if they're on Windows? I'm quite technical but I still didn't find it obvious.)

I'd suggest starting with Advanced Launcher's in-built functionality - not least since Angelscry put significant time and effort into coding it - and only using the method I suggested as a fall-back to avoid frustration.

Having said that, after I did understand the in-built method, I stuck with the .bat file because it also allows editing of the .bat file to add functionality such as killing XBMC, starting the game, then auto-restarting XBMC after the game has closed (Steam's another issue, but there are posts to get that working too).

I should also give proper credit at this point to Malte, the author of Rom Collection Browser who initially wrote the .bat file for his plugin.

Cheers,

JD

[orewagundam79]

Unfortunately, no. There is no way to use relative paths. Advanced launcher use actually absolute paths. A possible solution to solve this will be for me to add an absolute to relative path conversion when the launchers.xml file is saved and to add a relative to absolute path conversion when the launchers.xml file is loaded. I think it may works. I will try to see if it is possible. If so, the functionnality will be availiable in the next release.

Thanks, looking forward to the next version!