Blue Devil Skin RELEASED - Page 59

JohnWPB · 12-17-2006, 01:57 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by jmciver

Today I tried using the OSK to enter a website address when in IE but it did not work. All it did was type the first letter. But when I use the OSK in a text field in a website, the text shows up as expected. Is there some setting I am missing?

Oh and BTW, go take a look ate the finished projects section. I just posted something you may recognize

The OSK with a web browser has been a well documented problem for quite some time. Guino is aware of it, as well as many of the other programmers adding to the RR source code. From what I have read, it seems to be a problem with the URL text entry bar (In IE as well as Firefox as they handle this text in much the same manner) and is a know issue with no direct solution. Many users have written their own OSK's and other solutions to try to get around the problem. This is not specific to the Blue Devil skin in any way, and is the same with all the skins, as it is a RR communication to the browser problem, and unfortunately will continue to be a problem with my next skin as well till it is resolved. .

OK, I just tried to find the post you are referring to, and can not find it. I ran across some pretty nice hardware installs, but nothing I "recognized". Link by chance?

EDIT: I did a little more searching, and still am not sure what you are referring to..... I have to admit though, I have had a few to drink tonight, and probably should not be posting anything in the forums in the first place till tomorrow when I sober up a bit. (It's Saturday at 2:00 am BTW, and my Best Friends birthday is today... well technically it was yesterday now, so hopefully that gives me somewhat of a legitimate excuse

)

SEE! All of this skin editing has driven me to drink! LOL! Just kidding... if that really were the case I would be a full blown alcoholic by now LOL!

jmciver · 12-17-2006, 09:56 AM

I didn't know the OSK was an issue. That is because the other skin that I have been playing with, iDrive by Enforcer, works just fine. In his skin, he has a specific button, "Enter URL", in his web browser skin that is specifically designed to enter text in the URL bar of the browser in addition to an OSK button. I guess I now know why he did that. You may want to take a look at his skin to see how he did it. With your experience with BD, I doubt it would be that difficult for you to integrate and it is a definite nice touch.

As far as the link, here it is. It is the Show Off Your Projects section. You can see now why I am eagerly awaiting the Digital Copper skin

. Oh and this is another official plug for the Software One integration. I think the reason you may have not noticed it in the iDrive skin is that you have to turn it on. Enforcer made a configuration menu for his iDrive skin (under the Settings button from the main menu). In it you can turn on/off some functionality in the skin (including the associated buttons). The V1 interface, which uses the Software One software, can also be turned on/off from that menu and is off by default when you first install the skin. Another "final touch" feature to consider for future releases.

JohnWPB · 12-17-2006, 12:28 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by jmciver

I didn't know the OSK was an issue. That is because the other skin that I have been playing with, iDrive by Enforcer, works just fine. In his skin, he has a specific button, "Enter URL", in his web browser skin that is specifically designed to enter text in the URL bar of the browser in addition to an OSK button. I guess I now know why he did that. You may want to take a look at his skin to see how he did it. With your experience with BD, I doubt it would be that difficult for you to integrate and it is a definite nice touch.

As far as the link, here it is. It is the Show Off Your Projects section. You can see now why I am eagerly awaiting the Digital Copper skin

. Oh and this is another official plug for the Software One integration. I think the reason you may have not noticed it in the iDrive skin is that you have to turn it on. Enforcer made a configuration menu for his iDrive skin (under the Settings button from the main menu). In it you can turn on/off some functionality in the skin (including the associated buttons). The V1 interface, which uses the Software One software, can also be turned on/off from that menu and is off by default when you first install the skin. Another "final touch" feature to consider for future releases.

Wow! Sweet Ride! I love the stealth install, I wish I had room somewhere like that in the back of my car, but the access panels and inside fender flares have only a couple inches between them and the body panels.

I will look into the V1 and see what I can come up with. It will be a little bit before I get to it, as I want to get the skin finished first.

JohnWPB · 12-17-2006, 10:17 PM

Ok, the problem was I had the version of the skin from RRDownloads.net. The V1 settings skin is not in that version

So I found the i-Drive thread, followed the link to download, then had to register on Enforcers forums to download, then receive the email and click the link to activate, then had to make a post in the forum before I was able to "unlock" the download. After all is said and done, when I load the iDrive skin, and enable the V1 under settings, go to the page to control it, there is nothing there. I assume there is some sort of program that is supposed to embed in the skin at that point.

As for the web browser issue, somewhere along the lines someone added another command other than the OSK command, to specifically call up a URL. I have added this to the SOON to be released new skin.

I am not too keen on the Chameleon name for the skin now that I have thought about it... How does something like "Digital-FX" sound? Or possible even just plain "Digital". I think "Digital" would work well, as the colors are released it would be easy to just name them "Digital Copper", "Digital Blue" ect.....Any other suggestions?

jmciver · 12-17-2006, 11:42 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by JohnWPB

Ok, the problem was I had the version of the skin from RRDownloads.net. The V1 settings skin is not in that version

So I found the i-Drive thread, followed the link to download, then had to register on Enforcers forums to download, then receive the email and click the link to activate, then had to make a post in the forum before I was able to "unlock" the download. After all is said and done, when I load the iDrive skin, and enable the V1 under settings, go to the page to control it, there is nothing there. I assume there is some sort of program that is supposed to embed in the skin at that point.

You need to also download and install the V1 interface software, Software One from here. The software is skinable.

I have another question for you. I just did the clock delete IAW the guiance you sent me. It worked and freed up a considerable amount of resources allowing the skin to be more stable for me to run. However, now the compass is too close to the BMW logo. How can I move up the BMW logo so that it is more centered and not too close to the compass?

JohnWPB · 12-18-2006, 11:48 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by jmciver

You need to also download and install the V1 interface software, Software One from here. The software is skinable.

Ok, I have done a preliminary skin, just a rough draft so far. After looking at Enforcer's skin, And downloading the software, I was able to get it working, and then some

The buttons take you directly to the function, instead of just opening the respective drop down menu's like the i-Drive skin does. I also pushed the application off the top of the screen just a bit, so the title bar is still present, and just not visible. When the title bar is hidden through the Valentine options, none of the buttons work to access the menu, so this was a work around.

As for the software being skinnable, I do not see how. There are no images in the application directory, and when opening it in ResHacker, the only thing I am able to chage, is simply the icon for the program.

Here is what the skin looks like:

Quote: Originally Posted by jmciver

I have another question for you. I just did the clock delete IAW the guiance you sent me. It worked and freed up a considerable amount of resources allowing the skin to be more stable for me to run. However, now the compass is too close to the BMW logo. How can I move up the BMW logo so that it is more centered and not too close to the compass?

I centered the logo, as you were not wanting to use flash, so I assumed the compass would also not be used. If you remove the compass, it should look all centered for you.

jmciver · 12-18-2006, 02:27 PM

Wow! The V1 integration looks great. I think I was confusing when I said the program was skinnable (considering I have no skinning experience

). I know that the program window can be resized to just about any size, which I miss took for being skinnable.

Anyway, what I had envisioned was having the V1 software embedded in the main menu screens and some of the other more popular application screens (like the navigation skin screen for example). It could be placed in the upper right or left corner (or any location that looks right depening on the skin screen) so that the V1 display could be visible at the same time as othe items like the main menu, navigation, music screen, etc. The way I have the V1 software set up now is that when I get an alert, it will pop up on the screen. After the alert goes away (after 1 second) the V1 screen will automatically minimize. This works well except for those times when I don't want the screen to be covered by the V1 software (like when using iGuidance for example).

As far as centering the car logo is concerned, I really like the compass indicator so I kept it. The clock was the real CPU hog in my system and not the compass. Is there some way in the menu.skin file that I can re-center the logo?

And one last thing, you have a donation coming your way. I think the skin is one of the most complete out there and I appreciate the extra attention to some of my "suggestions".

nasa · 12-18-2006, 10:13 PM

Question from us slow people...

How do you add *favorites* to IGuidance (like my home and/or work), from the frontend?

Thanks

Nasa

JohnWPB · 12-18-2006, 10:43 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by nasa

Question from us slow people...

How do you add *favorites* to IGuidance (like my home and/or work), from the frontend?

Thanks

Nasa

"Home" is actually a setting in iGuidance that you set up. To add a favorite, there are a couple ways to do it. One is to click and HOLD a place on the map (ONLY in 2-D mode) and a context menu will pop up, just select "Save this location". The other is to go to the menu, choose destination, and put the city, address ect in. When that is done, it will then as you to Map it, Nav to it, or save it. Simply choose save, and optionally edit to put in the name you want for that location.

Now to go to a saved favorite, press the "Right arrow thingy" on the iGuidance skin in the top right, click Favorites (The Star Icon) and choose a favorite from the list.

JohnWPB · 12-18-2006, 11:14 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by jmciver

Wow! The V1 integration looks great. I think I was confusing when I said the program was skinnable (considering I have no skinning experience

). I know that the program window can be resized to just about any size, which I miss took for being skinnable.

Anyway, what I had envisioned was having the V1 software embedded in the main menu screens and some of the other more popular application screens (like the navigation skin screen for example). It could be placed in the upper right or left corner (or any location that looks right depening on the skin screen) so that the V1 display could be visible at the same time as othe items like the main menu, navigation, music screen, etc. The way I have the V1 software set up now is that when I get an alert, it will pop up on the screen. After the alert goes away (after 1 second) the V1 screen will automatically minimize. This works well except for those times when I don't want the screen to be covered by the V1 software (like when using iGuidance for example).

As far as centering the car logo is concerned, I really like the compass indicator so I kept it. The clock was the real CPU hog in my system and not the compass. Is there some way in the menu.skin file that I can re-center the logo?

And one last thing, you have a donation coming your way. I think the skin is one of the most complete out there and I appreciate the extra attention to some of my "suggestions".

Ok, I updated the image 3 posts back, I put the current speed on the screen, as there was some extra space, and it seems appropriate to be on that screen. The "MPH" will change to KPH if you have it set in your RR.ini to use Kilometers -vs- Miles Per Hour.

Unfortuatenly, I just do not see a way to incorporate that screen on different places in the skin. I think at this point it would make the skin look cluttered, and if it was scaled down small enough to fit in a small corner, it would not be usable at that size. Also, there does not seem to be a high demand for this, as very few people, at least that I know of, are using this device. With the program set to pop to the front when a signal is detected, honestly seems to be the best way. Even if you are, as you mentioned on the iGuidance screen, I would welcome the pop-up, if it would aid in saving me a speeding fine no matter what screen I was on

Do you have Photoshop? If you do, I can send you the logo, and the background that I used to make that custom image I emailed you. This way you can place the logo image anywhere you want to center it to suit your needs.

Oh, Thanks for the donation by the way! It is MUCH appreciated!

On a side note: I was not doing 120 MPH when I created that skin

. I just used a static value to make sure that when and if a 3 digit speed occurred, that the text was not cropped or cut off.

.

nasa · 12-19-2006, 12:17 AM

Thanks JohnWPB,

I knew I was slow....

Nasa

JohnWPB · 12-19-2006, 12:53 AM

Well it doesn't take a Rocket Scientist

SORRY I just COULDN'T help myself!!!! (Considering your screen name and all!)

Glad I could help....

jmciver · 12-19-2006, 01:12 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by JohnWPB

Do you have Photoshop? If you do, I can send you the logo, and the background that I used to make that custom image I emailed you. This way you can place the logo image anywhere you want to center it to suit your needs.

Yeah, I have photoshop. I actually am a recentley converted "Mac" user (for my desktop anyway) and I have been looking for a reason to use some of the Mac photo processing software

. Oh and as far as the V1 stuff is concerned, no biggie. Although there are quite a few people out there with V1's (especially in the online BMW community) there seem to be few that have both V1s and CarPCs. I actually like the pop-up feature of the V1 software (I set it up that way before I even installed it in the car). It wasn't until I was driving with navigation running that I realized that there are times when I don't want it to pop up

. Once you put your next release out I plan on modifying a few main menu buttons to get rid of functions I don't have. That is when I would use your V1 skin (if you don't have plans to put it some place else in the skin).

Also, since you are changing the foundation of the skin to make it easy to change the background colors, how easy would it be to change the color of the font? After driving around with the skin, and looking at the pictures I posted, I decided that I wanted to go with the black version w/white letters for a day skin, and the black w/amber letters for the night skin. This will better match my interior.

BTW, for the V1 skin you created above, when you go to that screen, does it open up a new window for the V1 software or the one that is already open? I say that because normally, the V1 software is always open (but) minimized. If this screen opens (and subsequently closes) another occurance of the software, it will not connect to the V1. Ideally, the skin would maximize the V1 software and then minimize it when you are no longer using that skin.

JohnWPB · 12-19-2006, 01:36 AM

ALL of the text in the skin will be white by default when I release it here soon. Thats simply due to the fact that white will work on all background colors. I could have made it a nice amber color or something, but then changing the background to green for instance, looks like Halloween and Christmas collided

The text colors are very easy to change. In Photoshop, you can select all of the text labels, and change the color for all of the text on that skin at once. As for the icons, you can either do a color overlay, or simply "Paint" the icon a new color, as all of the forward, back, volume, arrows ect are simply white by default in the skin, and can be changed easily with the pain bucket tool.

The outer borders can also be easily changed, on all the buttons in batch. So on your night skin, you could have amber borders around the buttons and bars ect by simply changing the layers properties.

I did my very best, and had one though in mind when revamping and creating the new skin, to make it as easy as possible to totally customize the skin to suit individual tastes.

I will include a tutorial with instructions on how to change each item in the skin using Photoshop. For the most part, say you want to change the buttons, right click on it's layer, and choose "Blending Options". (Sorry I don't know the Mac command) From there you can change the bevel, drop shadow, color overlays, border color & size, transparency, ect ect. When you get the button the exact way you want it to look, you then right click and choose "Copy layer style". Then you can highlight all of the button layers, and choose "Paste layer style". It is then applied to all buttons. Now load a new skin, select the button group, and again paste layer style, makes it pretty quick and easy.

As for the text, highlight all the text layers, and click the text tool, choose a color and poof! ALL text is changed to the color you chose.

I will release a few basic colors, but again, I am in the hopes that others will customize it as well, and share their work

There is no way I could possibly be able to make the skin is every color of the rainbow by myself!

drewbad · 12-19-2006, 10:17 AM

I am running Blue Devil with iGuidance. When I click on GPs, it opens a new window, instead of "skinning". Can someone please help me? I am attaching a picture of the issue.

Thank you!

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