Some newbie questions

[Gaffeltrucken]

Hi, this is my first post here on the forum. I've been using Rockbox for quite a while now on my ipod video so now I'm getting interested in making my own theme

Though I do have some questions after trying to make my first wps.

First of all this is what I want i to look like (this is just a basic model, more details will come later..if possible):


Anyway here's my questions.

1. I really don't get the Viewport thing ..and since I can't find a real guide to it (like the basic WPS guide), I'm trying to figure it out on my own. Which brings me to the question, what does these numbers stand for? "%V(146,66,138,21,3)"

I've figured out %V(x,y,width of the box,?,?) the other things I'm stuck on..

2. Is it possible to use different font size on specific text?

3. Since you have to use BMP images, how do I make the "non-covered" areas on small images (like the pause button for example) transparent? So that I doesn't get a big colored box around my icons?


Hope you have time to answer my questions. If i get it I the end I promise you I will produce more themes =)


/G-Truck   

[paulheu]

All this information is in the wiki and the manual

[gbl08ma]

I don't need to answer completely to your questions, because as paulheu said, all the info is in the wiki and the manual, but here go some tricks that might help...

1. Here's a "basic WPS guide", the problem is that it isn't updated to the new theme syntax (Rockbox changed of theme syntax as of release 3.7). You might or might not get confused with that guide. So, here's the complete reference for theme creators: http://www.rockbox.org/wiki/CustomWPS . All this info can be found in the wiki.

2. Yes, but avoid it as much as possible. Loading more fonts in the same WPS will make it more slow and resource consuming (also, make sure you don't exceed the RAM available for the design).

3. Although BMP doesn't support transparency, Rockbox will interpret the color #FF00FF (RGB 255, 0, 255) as being 100% transparency and instead of that color will show the image behind it. However, there are no intermediary levels of transparency (30%, 60%, 70%, etc.), so to get an anti-aliased effect images must be anti-aliased with the background in mind.

[[Saint]]

2. Is it possible to use different font size on specific text?

2. Yes, but avoid it as much as possible. Loading more fonts in the same WPS will make it more slow and resource consuming (also, make sure you don't exceed the RAM available for the design).

I think that this is quite poor advice to give, at the very least...poorly worded.

In my opinion this comment makes it seem as though every last byte of space need be fought for, and that graphical themes will markedly decrease your players performance...this is simply not true.

Judging by the screenshot of the intened outcome, the user could code a .wps using incredibly inefficient syntax, add a couple of full screen backdrops, load a few additional fonts (large ones) and *still* have room left over in the buffer for an equally inefficient .sbs and .fms to boot.



[St.]

[Gaffeltrucken]

Thanks a lot for the answers! That solved all my problems som far.    

I Think I'm going with two font files after all then =)

[gbl08ma]

2. Is it possible to use different font size on specific text?

2. Yes, but avoid it as much as possible. Loading more fonts in the same WPS will make it more slow and resource consuming (also, make sure you don't exceed the RAM available for the design).

I think that this is quite poor advice to give, at the very least...poorly worded.

In my opinion this comment makes it seem as though every last byte of space need be fought for, and that graphical themes will markedly decrease your players performance...this is simply not true.

Judging by the screenshot of the intened outcome, the user could code a .wps using incredibly inefficient syntax, add a couple of full screen backdrops, load a few additional fonts (large ones) and *still* have room left over in the buffer for an equally inefficient .sbs and .fms to boot.



[St.]

I was just trying to help Gaffeltrucken to not end in the same road as me when porting a theme, that is, lack of memory. However, I agree it's something exceptional that only happens on really complex themes (not the case). I said it consumed more resources based on my personal experience, that is, viewports with specific fonts take some more milliseconds (it's a really small time amount) to load than those with the system font. Apart from that, I have nothing against using multiple fonts

Gaffeltrucken, good luck with your theme, I'd see something like it but with different colors and background on my Nano... but don't worry, I'll do the port myself

[Gaffeltrucken]

Gaffeltrucken, good luck with your theme, I'd see something like it but with different colors and background on my Nano... but don't worry, I'll do the port myself

Yea, halfway through the design I saw that It was becoming a bit "girly". But wth this is more of an experiment. If people like it I'll make more colors =)