Thread: Fusion Frustration

Did you try the ninja kitty wizard?

Yes, but I could not do anything with the image. It would change to a color indicating something but I don't understand the icons. I tried to create a jpg and import it but it refused the file type.

Joe

I was able to create a screen that could display the data that I wanted in Power point and import it after using Ninja Kitty but I could not get the windows to work with the default skin being in place. There needs to be a better tutorial or i missed the one that could help.

Joe

Save your images as png files. And I make sure to save the files, using the directory structure in the content folder. I use an old version of Macromedia Fireworks and Photoshop. I started by cannibalizing the Sample Skin in the Configurator folder. First, just replacing static images, then creating new images and placing them. Configurator seems awkward at first, but it's actually pretty good for compositing graphic intensive skins.

GadgetBandit

Thanks Bandit,

What does a properly installed folder "tree" look like? I have fusionbrain folder on my C drive. Inside that folder is a content folder and several fusionConfiguration.xml files. Inside of the content folder are fonts, functions and images folders. Inside fonts is veranda, inside functions is temperature sensor (celcius), inside images is static images folder. Am I missing anything? Thanks for any help

Joe

C:\Program Files\Fusion Control Centre Uber MDX Edition\Configurator\Sample Skin. In there is a FusionConfiguration.xml - the "Sample". It's a skin for dashboard instruments. if you bought a temperature sensor, you could hook it to Port 1 and one gauge(inside temperature) should actually work.

In there also, you'll find a content\images folder with more subfolders, one for each image type used by MDX. These are all of the images used with the "Sample Skin".

Backup the FusionConfiguration.xml and content folder in Program Files and then copy down the sample xml and content folder.

Open Configurator and the xml file. hopefully, instruments. In the text window(which you can't edit), after the header, the first section is "Function Instances". A couple of pages down, "Background images" and "Static Images". The first listing under Static Images is for the insidetemperature. File path and data.

Okay, in the window above(icon list manager), double click the Static Images icon and open Static Image #1. The data from the file.

On Graphic Pages window open the "Edit Graphic Properties" window. Right click on the very upper portion of inside temp image. careful! if you right click again, the image attachs to the cursor and you can move it around, but if you left click, same screen as icon list manager. The blue icon allows you to choose the file. Unfortunitely, the current file is never identified(2K!!). But from the file yous saw that it was insidetemperature.png. When you select the inside temp image, there should be reddish boxes on top. The larger is a multi-image sweep file, which hides when selected(2K!!) and the smaller one is a Text Label for the variable associated with the port 1. The Z-Order layers/orders the imges. 01 forward - .9 backward.

Dissect the change page buttons and you'll see how to show button states.

Have fun.
GadgetBandit

Thanks Gadget Badit,

I was able to build a "page" using the guages in the sample program and move them around the screen. I would like to add a window to each guage and display the actual value in it. Is this done in layers? How do I get areas onthe screen to be the analog input? Can the text on the sample guages be changed? Do I need a Brain to do this stuff or can I evoke the virtual brain like in Ninja Kitty? Thanks for any help. At least I am making progress.

Joe

Sorry things have been hectic, I didnt see this thread.

If you want to display text on the screen then you make a label. If you want to display the raw value, then you tie the label to an analogue input. If you want to display a processed value like temperature/distance/light, then you display the variable that does the processing.

Things can be layered, that is what the Z field is for.

You do not need a brain for the software to work. You can bring up a virtual brain in any configuration file by using the debug options in the configurator and opening up your file in MDX.

Text does not display in the Configurator because it is not true text. It is displayed in MDX. Text in the configurator shows as a rectangle for the maximum size the label can be.

2K1 couldn't say so, but buy a Brain, a couple sensor, and a pack of relays(relay are not essential, but the clicking is enpowering).

The text for gauge names are a part of the static image (.png). Use a png editor that uses layer - not powerpoint. Locate different gauge names on different layers and save as. Button states are the same way.

"How do I get areas onthe screen to be the analog input?" ?? Are you asking about displaying values from an analog input - text labels or
using areas on the screens for digital input - Buttons? Unless, you have a touch-sensitive touch screen.

GadgetBandit