Main Menu Changer

[maabus]

Good luck Ninja, in my All every system should have a date associated except for the arcades. I put a date on all the systems when the system was released.

 

 

 

Knewlife, does the genre tag have to be Arcades, Consoles, Handhelds etc... or can it be whatever you want.

What i was trying to do was have an arcade wheel that has mame, zinc, cave etc, and then have a classics sub wheel that contains all of the classic setups.

If i make the genre tag ArcadeClassics i get the error creating main menu. if i change the genera tag back to Arcades, but add a manufacturer tag = Classics it works. I believe it's not liking the custom genre tag.

[Sorn]

Hello all. I wanted to chime in here and let everyone know that I had a issue where when exiting HS there would be trouble creating the main menu.xml file. In my situation it ended up being MMCExit.exe. I had to run it manually first, and when windows popped up the unknown publisher security warning prompt I had to uncheck the "always ask before opening this file" box in the lower left hand corner. After that, it was able to write to the main menu.xml on exit 

 

Here's the thread where knewlife helped me through it -

http://www.hyperspin-fe.com/topic/15075-support-multi-sub-wheels-on-main-menu/page-4#entry231482

 

The only issue that I have left is that restoreExplorer64.exe is not actually restoring explorer. If i run it from cmd line after HS exits I can restart explorer, so there's no issues with permissions on that executable. Just seems that its not correctly calling the restoreExplorer64.exe.If anyone can help me figure that one out, I will appreciate it

 

Everything else is working great now, just wanted to share with you all the issue I had incase someone else runs into it. 

 

I am on windows 7 64bit

[spotUP]

Allright, i've got a face!

[maabus]

Ignore my question about the custom genre tag... i tried again, and this time it worked.

[knewlife]

Ignore my question about the custom genre tag... i tried again, and this time it worked.

Yep it may be whatever you want... just don't want to confuse people even more adding more options... then with the time you can discover things like this yourself.

 

As a Tip, is better to keep genres in one word or leave no empty spaces between them or else you will need to add a "_" instead of empty spaces IN HYPERHQ PARAMETERS (not in All.xml)... this is due to a limitation in HyperSpin runing apps from wheel... if parameters have spaces the app dont launch. "Misc. Systems" have this problem.

[Sorn]

knewlife,

 

Any idea's on how to troubleshoot why its not executing restoreExplorer64.exe ? Does mainmenuchanger.exe accept parameters? Is there a way that I can run mainmenuchanger.exe with a argument to run restoreExplorer64.exe to see if there are any issues?

 

EDIT - Fixed.

 

For some reason I had mainmenuchanger.exe as my exit program instead of mmcexit. Sorry 

[Sorn]

yes this is inevitable when no using the "back" entry as im only able to run mmc once hyperspin as exit. You can set the actual exit App of hyperspin in mmc ini so you can put your own compiled script here to restore explorer... But it must call MMCExit.exe so everything Works as it should whit mmc.

You can even set a background app that covers the desktop with a black window. Launch it at Hs boot. I can try that and send you the app if you wish to test it.

 

The current setup breaks joysticks. And other strange things happen that I cannot explain. Previously, enabling my joystick controls in HyperHQ worked, but despite me configuring the skip up/down buttons to be JS buttons, and not any up/down/left/right direction, I would always have this issue where pressing up/down would result in a skip up/down.

 

I used the hyperspin startup script.exe to fix this, and its been working great. However it does not seem to play nicely with your exe. If I enable the startup script.exe with the argument to run killexplorer.exe -

 

Program_To_Run_Target_1=H:\HyperSpin\MainMenuChanger\Explorer\killExplorer.exe

 

Now this is the strange part.....it will break after entering a new sub menu, OR, it will work, and then after a few sub menu changes it breaks. Its very random. Sometimes I can start on main menu, go to consoles, exit back to main menu, go to arcade, exit back to main menu, THEN it breaks, and sometimes it breaks when I select the first category, so that when HS relaunches to the new filtered category the joysticks no longer function.

But here is the strange part - The keyboard stops functioning too. Some part of the process of recalling hyperspin breaks the controls on everything, when I have startup script.exe as my startup program in combination with yours.

 

So im at a point right now where my joysticks are unusable in the menu. Since I have a full 4 player arcade setup, this is a deal breaker for me. I have to be able to navigate and use my joysticks in the HS menu's.

[knewlife]

knewlife,

 

Any idea's on how to troubleshoot why its not executing restoreExplorer64.exe ? Does mainmenuchanger.exe accept parameters? Is there a way that I can run mainmenuchanger.exe with a argument to run restoreExplorer64.exe to see if there are any issues?

 

Also, the current setup breaks joysticks. And other strange things happen that I cannot explain. Previously, enabling my joystick controls in HyperHQ worked, but despite me configuring the skip up/down buttons to be JS buttons, and not any up/down/left/right direction, I would always have this issue where pressing up/down would result in a skip up/down.

 

I used the hyperspin startup script.exe to fix this, and its been working great. However it does not seem to play nicely with your exe. If I enable the startup script.exe with the argument to run killexplorer.exe -

 

Program_To_Run_Target_1=H:\HyperSpin\MainMenuChanger\Explorer\killExplorer.exe

 

It does appear to kill explorer because after closing HS my explorer needs to be manually restarted since restoreExplorer64 is not running correctly, and everything appears to be working at first glance. Joysticks will function in menu, I can use the buttons as they are configured, etc. BUT, and this is the strange part.....it will break after entering a new sub menu, OR, it will work, and then after a few sub menu changes it breaks. Its very random. Sometimes I can start on main menu, go to consoles, exit back to main menu, go to arcade, exit back to main menu, THEN it breaks, and sometimes it breaks when I select the first category, so that when HS relaunches to the new filtered category the joysticks no longer function.

But here is the strange part - The keyboard stops functioning too. Some part of the process of recalling hyperspin breaks the controls on everything, when I have startup script.exe as my startup program in combination with yours.

 

So im at a point right now where my joysticks are unusable in the menu. Since I have a full 4 player arcade setup, this is a deal breaker for me. I have to be able to navigate and use my joysticks in the HS menu's.

 

Is this no longer a option? I dont see it in the mmc ini any longer.

 

It would be great if you could keep that option in there so we can point our own scripts/exe's after mmcexit completes its task.

 

Also, on top of not restoring explorer, it also does not restore my wallpaper. So the process definitely gets stopped before the restoring explorer, and anything after that is also not ran.

 

Ok... you will have to wait a little... I have some things to do today so im not in my computer.

 

MainMenuChanger.exe runs every time you select a category. It acepts the parameter that is the filter you use... nothing else.

 

MMCExit.exe runs only when you exit hyperspin. I will post a mmcexit.exe that logs whats is doing but not right now... and no, no parameters can be pased to mmcexit.exe ... it just read the ini info a do their thing... the sources for all this files is included in the packege if you want to take a look.

 

Really i can't tell you anything about the startup script... gonna check when i can but i dont use it... maybe it don't like that hyperspin is closed and open again... or hyperspin losses focus... have to take the time to install it on an alternate HS instalation.

 

 

Is this no longer a option? I dont see it in the mmc ini any longer.

 

 

It should be... meybe i make a mistake and delete that option, wait and I will check when I can. But do you need to change the EXIT APP? Why? It must be MMCExit.exe or many things will not work, except you know exactly what you are doing.

 

 

And finally... Wait a little before activate the wallpaper option... so many things don't work for you XD so let's go slow... first try to make it work whit the minimun options. Then activate the wallpaper restore.

 

 

 

 

 

 

EDIT: Can access remotely to my pc ... BACKUP mmcexit.exe and then use this one... run it from mmc folder and check the log.txt file that apears there. https://www.dropbox.com/s/f9ravs1vjp55atv/MMCExit.exe?dl=0

[Sorn]

I apologize for the extra work/support knewlife! I resolved that issue, was a silly mistake on my end, I edited my above post while you were replying!

 

The navigation issue is strange though. It only happens when calling hyperspin startup script.exe, and the issue is not perfectly replicable. It happens randomly, and it does happy every single time, just at varying times. Sometimes it will be broken so that it does not work at all at launch, where both the joysticks AND the keyboard does not navigate, and sometimes i can switch between categories and main menu 3-4 times and everything works perfect, and then on the 5th time I enter a sub-menu suddenly both joysticks and keyboard is frozen.

 

I can tell you that without using startup script and just the keyboard, that I can endlessly navigate without the program crashing.

 

And prior to messing with main menu changer, this issue had never cropped up before.

 

As a test, I just enabled my old main menu.xml and undid all the main menu changer stuff, so that I had my setup as before. I can navigate in and out of emulators, enter, exit, restart hyperspin as many times as I want, and the joysticks always work. It never freezes, both the keyboard and joysticks function 100% of the time.

 

When mainmenuchanger calls the new HS instance, will it re-launch the hyperspin startup script.exe every time? This is assuming that it is setup as my startup exe in HyperHQ

[knewlife]

I apologize for the extra work/support knewlife! I resolved that issue, was a silly mistake on my end, I edited my above post while you were replying!

The navigation issue is strange though. It only happens when calling hyperspin startup script.exe, and the issue is not perfectly replicable. It happens randomly, and it does happy every single time, just at varying times. Sometimes it will be broken so that it does not work at all at launch, where both the joysticks AND the keyboard does not navigate, and sometimes i can switch between categories and main menu 3-4 times and everything works perfect, and then on the 5th time I enter a sub-menu suddenly both joysticks and keyboard is frozen.

I can tell you that without using startup script and just the keyboard, that I can endlessly navigate without the program crashing.

And prior to messing with main menu changer, this issue had never cropped up before.

As a test, I just enabled my old main menu.xml and undid all the main menu changer stuff, so that I had my setup as before. I can navigate in and out of emulators, enter, exit, restart hyperspin as many times as I want, and the joysticks always work. It never freezes, both the keyboard and joysticks function 100% of the time.

When mainmenuchanger calls the new HS instance, will it re-launch the hyperspin startup script.exe every time? This is assuming that it is setup as my startup exe in HyperHQ

mmm yes if startup script Works that way... It will be a problem as many instances of the script may be running.. Killexplorer.exe is not a problem because it just kill explorer.... Have to think how to avoid this

[ninja2bceen]

Could you just have a copy of the start up script multiple times for each instance?

[Sorn]

mmm yes if startup script Works that way... It will be a problem as many instances of the script may be running.. Killexplorer.exe is not a problem because it just kill explorer.... Have to think how to avoid this

 From the HS Startup download page -

http://www.hyperspin-fe.com/files/file/7415-hyperspin-startup-script/

 

"If you want the source ahk code for the latest version just pm me for it. I will fix bugs, but I am not taking feature requests nor helping others set it up."

 

He was last active about 3 weeks ago. So its possible to reach him for the ahk source I think Or maybe you could decompile the .exe to see the calls? I do not know if there are any protections in it, I would imagine not.

 

http://www.hyperspin-fe.com/user/12821-ghutch92/

 

Regarding themes, does MMC support it? Does it support everything that hyperspin does? Do I just need to put the correct files/folders in the /MainMenuChanger/Media/ModeX/ folder? When I take another theme, say for NES, and I put it in the /Mode3/Themes/ folder as Consoles.zip it does not load the theme. Am I doing it wrong or does it not support zip/themes? I see a Default.zip theme but it does not seem to work? I dont see that theme ever when I launch HS.

 

Thanks, you ROCK!

[maabus]

yes it supports themes... Basically all this program is doing is closing and opening hyperspin, and "renaming" the individual xml files to main menu.xml. It is not changing the way hyperspin works at all. When you go into a subwheel, this closes hyperspin, and loads your subwheel, say consoles.xml as main menu. then it launches hyperspin again with your new main menu. All features of hyperspin are available.

 

 

I am creating a text instruction sheet on how to set this up in mode 3 (with no back button) and nested sub wheels.  I'll probably have it finished tomorrow.

[Sorn]

Also, knewlife, I think you need to sign your exe's so that it does not run into the unknown publisher issue that I had that was blocking MMC from creating the main menu.xml. Anyone having this issue, please be sure to run mmcexit and mainmenuchanger exe's manually so that you can uncheck these boxes, they will possibly not execute until you do this. I have a windows 7 64bit with UAC disabled and they still would not execute when called through HyperHQ/HS until I unchecked them manually.

 

See this article here for more details, but I think if you sign your files you wont need to add a additional step in your tutorial-

 

https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/askie/2009/06/19/how-to-bypass-the-security-warning-unknown-publisher-with-the-checkbox-always-ask-before-opening-this-file/

 

Here is a attached screenshot of what I was talking about. I was only able to screenshot the mainmenuchanger.exe, because I had already unchecked the mmcexit.exe and once you uncheck that warning will not pop up again.

[maabus]

Sorn... you might have an issue with your system. I'm on windows 10 64bit and have not had any of the issues you are experiencing.

[maabus]

sorn all your themes go in their normal place. media\system name for game thems, and media\main menu\ for system thems.

[Sorn]

yes it supports themes... Basically all this program is doing is closing and opening hyperspin, and "renaming" the individual xml files to main menu.xml. It is not changing the way hyperspin works at all. When you go into a subwheel, this closes hyperspin, and loads your subwheel, say consoles.xml as main menu. then it launches hyperspin again with your new main menu. All features of hyperspin are available.

 

 

I am creating a text instruction sheet on how to set this up in mode 3 (with no back button) and nested sub wheels.  I'll probably have it finished tomorrow.

 

Awesome! I know this is going to sound a bit silly, BUT, I thought that MMC had some crazy symlink hack that made HS call the media/themes from /MainMenuChanger/Media/ModeX/ instead of the usual HS media dir. So I was putting themes/images in the MMC dir thinking that it loaded from there, LOL!!!

 

Now that I've moved them into the correct /Media/Main Menu/Themes dir, everything works as it should. Now I can get to work Rookie work that is!

[knewlife]

Yep MMC just touches Menu XML and Settings.ini files... Nothing else.

And the media in mmc folder is for you to copy to your media folder... In fact in one of the tutorials I show that.

And if i have source code of startup script I can take a look... I never used it because before that was made I create a script that uses xinput dll to communicate with my controller and have used that since I left xpadder

Sent from my Nokia Lumia 520 using Tapatalk

[knewlife]

Also, knewlife, I think you need to sign your exe's so that it does not run into the unknown publisher issue that I had that was blocking MMC from creating the main menu.xml. Anyone having this issue, please be sure to run mmcexit and mainmenuchanger exe's manually so that you can uncheck these boxes, they will possibly not execute until you do this. I have a windows 7 64bit with UAC disabled and they still would not execute when called through HyperHQ/HS until I unchecked them manually.

 

See this article here for more details, but I think if you sign your files you wont need to add a additional step in your tutorial-

 

https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/askie/2009/06/19/how-to-bypass-the-security-warning-unknown-publisher-with-the-checkbox-always-ask-before-opening-this-file/

 

Here is a attached screenshot of what I was talking about. I was only able to screenshot the mainmenuchanger.exe, because I had already unchecked the mmcexit.exe and once you uncheck that warning will not pop up again.

 

I never check this but it may be posible with ahk2exe to add this data...

[Sorn]

Yep MMC just touches Menu XML and Settings.ini files... Nothing else.

And the media in mmc folder is for you to copy to your media folder... In fact in one of the tutorials I show that.

And if i have source code of startup script I can take a look... I never used it because before that was made I create a script that uses xinput dll to communicate with my controller and have used that since I left xpadder

Sent from my Nokia Lumia 520 using Tapatalk

 

I sent a PM to the HS Startup script dev, but im sure it wouldn't hurt if you messaged him too asking for the AHK source. Im not sure, but some dev's are hesitant to hand out source to people they dont know, and since your more established me might ignore me but respond to you!

 

thank you

 

Working on category themes now!!!

[knewlife]

I sent a PM to the HS Startup script dev, but im sure it wouldn't hurt if you messaged him too asking for the AHK source. Im not sure, but some dev's are hesitant to hand out source to people they dont know, and since your more established me might ignore me but respond to you!

 

thank you

 

Working on category themes now!!!

 

Ok for now I will publish a 0.0.1.2 BETA 2 ... that is exacly the same as 0.0.1.2 BETA but with the All.xml from maabus and Exe data added to all executables like Sorn suggested.

Gonna rest for this app for a couple of days and make some themes... my artistic part is calling me XD.

 

Time to annoy Styphelus so he share is Megathemes with me bye guys (I will be back before you even notice im sure )

 

Still want to see a video of your setup c'mon guys

[ninja2bceen]

Scorn check the first post to the ghutch start up script threads at the bottom of the first post I see an ahk, is that what you need?

[Sorn]

Scorn check the first post to the ghutch start up script threads at the bottom of the first post I see an ahk, is that what you need?

Joystick Detection.ahk ?

 

http://www.hyperspin-fe.com/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_id=21254

 

I dont think so? im pretty sure knewlife needs the source to it all to see whats going on, without putting too much work on him. But he would be best to check it out and see.

 

Im working on themes myself. I have video snaps ready for all consoles, sega, nintendo and handhelds so far. I'll start making the themes here in the next hour.

[maabus]

Here is a text based instructions on how to setup sub wheels in Mode 3 with no back button. I only went over one level of wheels and sub wheels, and one category. Just follow the steps again to add more. It looks like a lot of work, but it really isn't. It should only take about 5 minutes to setup at least on category. I tried to explain what everything does to my understanding so that also added to the length of the instructions. Try out the instructions and let me know if anything is not clear.

 

this example shows the following

Main menu -> Consoles -> Nintendo -> Nintendo Consoles

 

Hopefully I can get a video of my setup made, but I've never made videos before.

 

I would put it in a spoiler but i'm not sure if there are spoilers tags.

 

 

This is from a fresh copy of Hyperspin, and Main Menu Changer. Ignore the color coding. They are only colored because i'm using code tags

Copy MainMenuChanger to Hyperspin folder
Go to the MainmenuChanger folder
Run MMCHQ.exe

MMC First time wizard will launch. Click ok.
Change MMCMode to 3
Change HSClose to true
Change ReLaunchPath to your hyperspin folder path
Change MainMenuDatabasePath to your Hyperspin\Database\Main Menu path
Leave loading screen to 0 until everything is set up correctly. 
Change SearchReLaunchPath if you are using it
Change SearchSettingsPath to your Hyperspin\Settings path
Change HSExitApp to your Hyperspin\MainMenuChanger\MMCExit path
Change RestoreExplorer to True
Change WallpapterChange to True
Change HyperHQPath to your Hyperspin\HyperHQ.exe path
Change HyperLaunchHQPath to your Hyperspin\RocketLauncher\RocketLauncherUI\RocketLauncherUI.exe path
Change MinimizeAll to true
Leave all other settings alone for now. 
Click Save

MainMenuChanger will backup your Main Menu Database folder, and the Settings Folder. Click OK
MainMenuChanger will copy your Main Menu.xml file to All.xml click ok
All.xml, Categories.xml, and Main Menu.xml will be created in your Main Menu Database folder.
Click OK to notice about adding metadata to All.xml
You can add your own metadata to your All.xml file, or you can copy the All.xml file from your HyperSpin\MainMenuChanger\Example XML files\Mode 3\Databases\Main Menu folder. You will need to verify that all of your current systems are in the example All.xml file. Otherwise you will need to add them into the example file, and add the metadata yourself. Metadata consists of the following
   <genre>Consoles</genre>
   <year>1990</year>
   <manufacturer>Amstrad</manufacturer>
Close All.xml file.
You must create your own Categaories. You can not just copy the example categories file. Only use the example file for ideas on how to categorize.  


Adding Catagories
Main Menu Changer HQ will start. 
Click on Edit Catagories
Click on Main Menu Wizard
Click on Add new item to the main menu
Type in your category name (ie. Consoles) then click next
Click Yes for is this menu item an executable program
Click on dummy, and then click add after, then Click ok
Click Continue with Wizard

Locate your executable.
Click on the browse folder, and go to your hyperspin\mainmenuchanger folder, and double click on mainmenuchanger.exe
Enter any optional parameters
put in _XML_Consoles (this is for a subwheel.. you can use a normal filter here as well)
click NO to do you want to use HyperLaunch to launch this file.
Click Wheel settings, then click Main Menu Wizard again
Click on Remove item from Main Menu
Click on dummy
click on fully remove from install then click ok
click on wheel settings
click on the dropdown box and select your Consoles wheel
Click on Winstate dropdown box and change to Hidden
close Hyper HQ
click Yes to save your changes

To add more categories just follow the steps in Add Categories again. 


Copy the Images and Themes directory from HyperSpin\MainMenuChanger\Media\Mode3\Main Menu and paste it into HyperSpin\Media\Main Menu


Create a subwheel (Sort Consoles by manufactuer)
Start Main Menu Changer HQ
click on create New XML
Make sure you are in your Hyperspin Database Main Menu
Name it as what your category is. (ie. Consoles)
Click yes to edit the XML

Click Main Menu Wizard
Type sub wheel name (ie. Nintendoc) ! If you are going to sort by manufactuer in multiple wheels you need to name each wheel a different name. In this example the c at the end of nintendo specifies that it is for consoles. If you dont name it differently any changes will effect your other wheel. 
Click yes to is this menu item an executable program
highlight dummy and click add after
Click Continue with wizard
Locate your executable.
Click on the browse folder, and go to your hyperspin\mainmenuchanger folder, and double click on mainmenuchanger.exe
Enter any optional parameters
put in genre='Consoles'_AND_manufacturer='Nintendo' and click Continue
Click no to do you want to use HyperLaunch to launch this file. 
Click Wheel Settings, then Click Main Menu Wizard again
Click remove Item from Main Menu
Click on dummy then click on Fully Remove From Install
Close HyperHQ
Click Yes to Save xml file

Launch HyperSpin. You should see only one item in your Main Menu (Consoles)
Select Consoles
You will see the Nintendoc wheel
Select Nintendoc 
All items that have the <genere> Consoles</genre> and <Manufactuer>Nintendo</Manufactuer> Tag should be visible
Press escape to go back to the "Consoles" Main Menu
Press escape to go back to the "Categories" Main Menu
Press escape again to exit Hyperspin. (Make sure you always quit hyperspin correctly) if you quit hyperspin incorrectly the next time you start it, it will load the last list you were in, instead of your catagorie list. If this happens just press ESC until you get to the Category list, or exit all the way out of hyperspin. 

To create items on the first wheel when you start HyperSpin add them to the categories xml. 
Then create XMLs based on your catagories by creating new XML
Add your <tag> filters to your new XML file as a wheel using the paramaters for your filter.  
You can also add a system as you normally would without subwheels to a any of your wheels. 


Main Menu HyperHQ explinations
Settings – change your paths and other setup info for Main Menu Changer
Run Wizard Again – Runs the setup wizard, and will backup and create All.xml, and Categories.xml


Create New XML – creates an xml file with a dummy entry. Used for creating the catagory list wheels (Console, Handhelds, Computers etc...)

HyperHQ
Edit Game System All.xml – Loads your All.xml file into Hyper HQ. This is where you would add new systems to Hyperspin. This is the equivelent of your default Main Menu.xml if you were not using Main Menu Changer. You will need to add your metadata tags to any new system.

Edit Categories – Loads your Categories.xml into Hyper HQ. This temporarly turns Categories.xml into Main Menu.xml. When you start Hyperspin this is the first list you will se. Use this to add your Categories to the first page. (Consoles, Handhelds, 1990, Nintendo)

Edit Other XML Files – this will load your subwheel xml file into HyperHQ. This temporarly turns your sub wheel xml into Main Menu.xml. This would be used to further organize your wheels. (ie. Console wheel from categories -> Nintendo -> lists all systems that have the tags <console> and <nintendo> in the All.xml

HyperLaunchHQ / RocketlauncherUI
Edit Game Systems [all.xml] – this will launch RocketlauncherUI with your All.xml file. If you normally use Rocketlauncher to add systems use this. This is the equivelent of your default Main Menu.xml if you were not using Main Menu Changer.You will need to add your metadata tags to any new system.

Manual XML Editing – just loads the xml files in your text editor specified in Main Menu Changers settings. If you want to manually change your xml files you can use this. 


All.xml – Your main xml file. This contains all your systems. This is the equivelent of Main Menu.xml before using Main Menu Changer. NOTE: This list does not get loaded. The other xmls read from this list to build thier lists. 

Categories.xml – This gets turned into the Main Menu when you start Hyperspin. This is the first list that gets loaded. 

Other xml files – These are your subwheels.

Hope this helps, and doesn't confuse you. Let me know if something needs explained better.

[knewlife]

Great... I gonna add this to the first post.

I can understand English pretty well but write in English is another story

 

Edit: Added... I hope that help people to get this installed easy Thanks again maabus

Sent from my Nokia Lumia 520 using Tapatalk