Brushed Metal for CF - Page 9

Meta · 02-14-2005, 05:19 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by jheissjr

I am having a problem getting CF to use your skin. When I change the skin to be your new skin under CF’s settings window, I get an error window and CF has to be closed. When I try to open CF back up another error window pops up and CF will not open after I close the error window. The only way to fix the problem of CF not opening after I set it to use the new skin is to reinstall CF. Does this have something to do with the .xml file? I tried downloading the new 848 x 480 skin.xml but the link is broke. Any ideas?

You are right. The link was screwed up. Should work now. Try this: 848x480 skin.xml. You might want to try the "Right-click, Save As" instead of following the link directly.

I'm not 100% sure, but I have seen error messages pop up when I've screwed up something in the XML file and CF can't find the info it's looking for, or if there is an image file missing that CF expects to be there. It's likely one of the 2.

After trying the above XML file, if you still get the error message, can you post what it says?

Also, you don't need to reinstall CF necessarily. You can copy/paste the default /skins/848x480 directory over the "bad" one, overwriting everything, and CF should start up just fine, allowing you to change back to the 'real' default skin, then deleting the bad directory in the /skins folder.

Hope this helps.
-Meta

Meta · 02-14-2005, 05:43 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by execute

Meta, any plans on making a PhoneControl brushed metal skin to match CF's?

Yeah, that's the next step. I started working on some ideas for "BrushedAluminum" as a "day skin", as, after finally seeing BrushedMetal in the car, the dark screens have a pretty heavy glare/reflection on my Xenarc. But then I figured I had better finish BrushedMetal before starting on something else. I should be able to finish the PHONE pages this week and call it done.

As for BrushedAluminum, here's a quick peek, again using Feb's images and styles.

Anyone care for such a beast?

execute · 02-14-2005, 09:17 PM

Meta, sweet

so after you finish the phone pages, you'll enable the phone button on the lower right?

asci01 · 02-14-2005, 09:48 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Meta

Yeah, that's the next step. I started working on some ideas for "BrushedAluminum" as a "day skin", as, after finally seeing BrushedMetal in the car, the dark screens have a pretty heavy glare/reflection on my Xenarc. But then I figured I had better finish BrushedMetal before starting on something else. I should be able to finish the PHONE pages this week and call it done.

As for BrushedAluminum, here's a quick peek, again using Feb's images and styles.

Anyone care for such a beast?

Me like it. Where/when can we have it?

Meta · 02-14-2005, 10:10 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by execute

Meta, sweet

so after you finish the phone pages, you'll enable the phone button on the lower right?

I thought I read previously that the PHONE would only be accessible in future versions from the Main menu. I was reserving that empty button the right for a global Power button. I guess it depends on what David makes available in the next rev.

Meta · 02-14-2005, 10:18 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by asci01

Me like it. Where/when can we have it?

I'm going to shoot for the end of February.

The brains of my carputer (a new M10000 in a Morex 3688 case) will hopefully arrive Wednesday. My plan is to finish the BrushedMetal, release BrushedAluminum, then complete my own install in time for Spring. After that,I think I'll retire... at least until next winter. hehe.

Ya gotta drive the thing, right?

jheissjr · 02-14-2005, 11:58 PM

Thanks Meta! I put in the new xml and it works great. Do you have plans for putting in buttons for external applications? I want to make a scrolling LED sign for displaying out the back window (yes I know its technically illegal) and have a small program to control its text, maybe even have it voice controlled (say a phrase and it will be displayed on the sign). I also want to put in an HVAC control program, and I also had the idea for a PA system. I looked for a place that already has the option to set up launching external applications like MediaCar does, but I don’t see anything like that on CF.

tj!2k4 · 02-15-2005, 06:23 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by jheissjr

I want to make a scrolling LED sign for displaying out the back window (yes I know its technically illegal) and have a small program to control its text, maybe even have it voice controlled (say a phrase and it will be displayed on the sign).

You bastage!!

I wanted to do the same thing but haven't found a reasonably priced display. Let me know if you find something. http://www.mobileled.com/ ?

jheissjr · 02-15-2005, 11:37 AM

Hey 2j!2k4 I have a Mustang too, its just a 96 coupe though

Do you have any pictures of your install. I would love to see them.

I was going to make my own sign. I did a Google Search and it turned up some helpful information. One good site is http://www.nutsvolts.com/PDF_Files/LEDsign.pdf which is from a magazine I subscribe to.

I am thinking about controlling the sign with a PIC so I could simply send it the text to be displayed through the RS-232 port and leave it up to the PIC to do all the scanning. This would produce less over head on the computer and as is a more 'professional' design approach in my opinion.

asci01 · 02-15-2005, 06:45 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Meta

I'm going to shoot for the end of February.

The brains of my carputer (a new M10000 in a Morex 3688 case) will hopefully arrive Wednesday. My plan is to finish the BrushedMetal, release BrushedAluminum, then complete my own install in time for Spring. After that,I think I'll retire... at least until next winter. hehe.

Ya gotta drive the thing, right?

Absolutely. Sounds good to me.

tj!2k4 · 02-15-2005, 08:27 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by jheissjr

Hey 2j!2k4 I have a Mustang too, its just a 96 coupe though

Do you have any pictures of your install. I would love to see them.

I was going to make my own sign. I did a Google Search and it turned up some helpful information. One good site is http://www.nutsvolts.com/PDF_Files/LEDsign.pdf which is from a magazine I subscribe to.

I am thinking about controlling the sign with a PIC so I could simply send it the text to be displayed through the RS-232 port and leave it up to the PIC to do all the scanning. This would produce less over head on the computer and as is a more 'professional' design approach in my opinion.

Hey.. I really like your DIY LED sign idea. I looked at the PDF in the link, but I'm not too good with the electricity and cirtuitry and whatnot, so I'm not sure I'd be able to build one on my own. I'd love to see what/how it works out if you build one.

My project/install was interrupted because some shmuck sideswiped my car. It's not complete, but I do have some pictures of my progress so far. If you like you can check them out at http://www.trippingcow.com/carputer_project

Dave

Meta · 02-15-2005, 08:40 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by execute

Meta, any plans on making a PhoneControl brushed metal skin to match CF's?

The phone_*.jpg screens are finished for the "B&W", "Red", "Blue" and "Orange" versions of both "848x480" and "Stretched_800x600".

The "B&W" files are included in the "main package" downloads now, but I've also made them available as separate downloads with just the 5 new "phone" screens.

The Red, Blue and Orange "phone_down_*.jpg" files are included in the color package files. You'll have to download the whole "down files" package again for the color you want.

You can find all the files on the Brushed Metal Download Page.

Now for the bad news ... as I don't have phone support (yet), I can't make/test the phone sections in the skin.xml file. Can someone else take this part on and send me the required changes to distribute? Please?

Thanks!
-Meta

execute · 02-20-2005, 12:08 AM

Meta, the phone screens are a little messed up, thought you might want to know

and when is the brushed aluminum getting released? i can't wait!

Meta · 02-20-2005, 06:45 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by execute

Meta, the phone screens are a little messed up, thought you might want to know

and when is the brushed aluminum getting released? i can't wait!

By "messed up", do you mean there's something wrong with the basic graphics on the screens, or do you mean the numbers, text and controls don't line up with the buttons? If the latter, it's because the skin.xml needs fixed for the phone screens.

I've spent this week preparing my hardware for installation into the car today. If all goes well, I should be able to get back to the skins late this afternoon, doing what I can with the phone screens for BM and starting on the Aluminum one. The brushed aluminum shouldn't really take that long, as there's no skin.xml work to do (the xml will be the same as BM, except the font colors). It's just a matter of changing the background and pasting the right layer styles on all the page elements.

It'll be done by the end of the month at the absolute latest, but I think I'll have at least the non-colored versions ready previewing in a few days.

execute · 02-22-2005, 09:11 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Meta

By "messed up", do you mean there's something wrong with the basic graphics on the screens, or do you mean the numbers, text and controls don't line up with the buttons? If the latter, it's because the skin.xml needs fixed for the phone screens.

I meant the numbers, text and controls don't line up with the buttons

Have you heard of the new PhoneControl version 1.4? I think the now old 1.3 skins will not work with the new version anymore, veetid is working on it with Zorro now. I suggest you get in on the news about it.

But i think you should have a 1.3 PhoCo skin still, the new 1.4 will be a paid version so not all will want to jump in right away.