Theme Editor for Dummies

[Toro1966]

Is there such a thing as a Theme Editor for Dummies? I am very computer literate though I am a Network guy, not a program/coding guy. Some bits I was able to figure out by myself. I know the background, including any panels or sectioning you want to do need to basically be a background graphic that you insert after you create a new theme. Then I know you can resize and drag the default blocks over your background to get the layout you want. That is about as far as I can figure out on my own. I lots of specific questions such as -

1. What is the editor/program using to populate the list? I am assuming that the block called "list" is mapped to the list of roms for the game...and so on for the other blocks such as title, time, etc.

2. Secondly, I see all of the objects in the Object browser, but are these automatically added to each theme or is there a way to add them and remove them as you like? I do see the buttons, etc on the screen by default, but what if I wanted a them without some of the buttons or the bar? I know how to remove them from the theme (click on them and delete), but what if I want to add them back? I have tried dragging the objects, etc, but I can't get them from the object browser onto the screen.

3. How do you add objects. For example, if I make a custom selection bar or something, how do I add it to the object browser so it shows up, then as in the question before, how do I add it to the screen.

4. For the different emulators, I have noticed themes with different characters/icons for the different emulators (Sega, Atari, etc.) Some use the Name and a picture of the console, while others use a character like Sonic. How is that done? Do I need to create a custom background that is different with each character for each emulator, or can add the object from the left to the current background and reuse it.

I hope my questions aren't confusing, and I am sure this program is probably very straightforward, I am just having a bit of difficulty understanding it. Thanks in advance for any help.

Cheers

[lingpanda]

Is there such a thing as a Theme Editor for Dummies? I am very computer literate though I am a Network guy, not a program/coding guy. Some bits I was able to figure out by myself. I know the background, including any panels or sectioning you want to do need to basically be a background graphic that you insert after you create a new theme. Then I know you can resize and drag the default blocks over your background to get the layout you want. That is about as far as I can figure out on my own. I lots of specific questions such as -

1. What is the editor/program using to populate the list? I am assuming that the block called "list" is mapped to the list of roms for the game...and so on for the other blocks such as title, time, etc.

2. Secondly, I see all of the objects in the Object browser, but are these automatically added to each theme or is there a way to add them and remove them as you like? I do see the buttons, etc on the screen by default, but what if I wanted a them without some of the buttons or the bar? I know how to remove them from the theme (click on them and delete), but what if I want to add them back? I have tried dragging the objects, etc, but I can't get them from the object browser onto the screen.

3. How do you add objects. For example, if I make a custom selection bar or something, how do I add it to the object browser so it shows up, then as in the question before, how do I add it to the screen.

4. For the different emulators, I have noticed themes with different characters/icons for the different emulators (Sega, Atari, etc.) Some use the Name and a picture of the console, while others use a character like Sonic. How is that done? Do I need to create a custom background that is different with each character for each emulator, or can add the object from the left to the current background and reuse it.

I hope my questions aren't confusing, and I am sure this program is probably very straightforward, I am just having a bit of difficulty understanding it. Thanks in advance for any help.

Cheers

Answer 1.

Yes thats exactly what its for. I'm not sure where this information is stored for mame games. I know for the different emu's this is taken from the rom directory.

Answer 2.

I'm not exactly sure what you mean. What objects are you speaking of? Do you mean the bar that shows up with the mouse over top?(This can be toggled always on or show when mouse over)

Answer 3.

You can edit the bar in the Theme editor. I will do a video tutorial showing how to do this.

Answer 4.

Yes you will need to create a seperate background for each emu you have. Photoshop works best.