Request for generic menu items between skins (3 Viewers)

[rekenaar]

We've got such a nice variety of skins to choose from these days that I am currently rotating between a few of them every few days.
Think about the massive WAF/user-friendliness we will gain if menu-items can be consistent between skins.

Initial Outdated Thread Content:

Spoiler

Would be nice if anyone can create a type of generic menu editor which will save user settings and be able to generate various basichome.xml's. Then everyone can have same menu items in different skins with minimum effort.

User settings can be stored in a file, maybe called usermenu.xml. Cul8er is already doing similar with xfactor. Sure others as well.

Skinners can then create a basichome.xml template with standardized replacement tags where the menu editor should insert the menu items. When skinner release new version, we just update his template and menueditor do the rest.

I know some skins use brilliant sub menus and I guess it might be a problem supporting skins WITH and skins WITHOUT sub menus.

Trevor is doing great work on his editor, maybe this is a nice challenging hobby for him - what do you say Trevor?
Or anyone else with the required skills?

Current suggestion to consider:
cul8er (xfactor, 2level) suggest that with all the specialized code in each skin, we could rather focus on a standard settings file where each skin can use the same file to produce the settings/menu-items for it's BasicHome.

Skins buying into the concept (judging from replies and/or THANKS-presses to cul8ers post (alphabetic order):

1. 2Level
2. Essence-1080p
3. PureVisionHD
4. X-Factor

Big request for other designers to assist please...


Draft layout of settings file to be discussed:

Spoiler

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<MenuSettings xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">
<General>
<UseRss>Yes</UseRss>
<DefaultMenu>Movies</DefaultMenu>
</General>
<MenuItems>
<MenuItem Text="Music">
<Caption1>Listen To</Caption1>
<Caption2>Music</Caption2>
<Hyperlink>30</Hyperlink>
<Action>-</Action>
<FanartHandler>Music</FanartHandler>
<BackgroundImage>-</BackgroundImage>
<BackgroundFolder>-</BackgroundFolder>
</MenuItem>
<MenuItem Text="Movies">
<Caption1>Watch Your</Caption1>
<Caption2>Movies</Caption2>
<Hyperlink>96742</Hyperlink>
<Action>-</Action>
<FanartHandler>Movies</FanartHandler>
<BackgroundImage>-</BackgroundImage>
<BackgroundFolder>-</BackgroundFolder>
<SubMenuItems>
<SubMenuItem Text="Movies">
<Hyperlink>96742</Hyperlink>
<Action>-</Action>
<FanartHandler>Movies</FanartHandler>
<BackgroundImage>-</BackgroundImage>
<BackgroundFolder>-</BackgroundFolder>
</SubMenuItem>
<SubMenuItem Text="Online Videos">
<Hyperlink>4755</Hyperlink>
<Action>-</Action>
<FanartHandler>Movies</FanartHandler>
<BackgroundImage>-</BackgroundImage>
<BackgroundFolder>-</BackgroundFolder>
</SubMenuItem>
</SubMenuItems>
</MenuItem>
</MenuItems>
</MenuSettings>
</xml>

 

[trevor]

Have been thinking of a generic type editor but there are some issues there, the idea of a skeleton/tags file would get round a lot potential issues. The submenus, thinking x-faxtor here will present a challange, maybe the usermenu.xml may offer a solution there - will have to have a look.

I will look into it but my free time is sporadic to say the least currently.

Cheers

 

[Dadeo]

Rekenar - thanks for the suggestion! I think it would be a huge boon to skinners. I know I would use a generic editor if it was available (though I like the SubMenu style). I just wanted to add my enthusiastic support for the great idea!

 

[rekenaar]

Re: Request for generic menu editor

Bump

Maybe we can interest cul8er in this since various other skins is starting to use multi level menu's similar to xfactor.
Where the xfactor menu editor already support the horizontal groups with the vertical menu entries.
What do you say cul8er, I know your day already have more than 24 hours but...

Seems like Trevor is also implementing it in StreamedMP editor. Trevor, also too much on your plate?

What a wonderful world it would be to have a generic editor catering for multiple skins supporting multi-level menus.

 

[Dadeo]

Re: Request for generic menu editor

I think Fanart Handler is keeping cul8er pretty busy. I don't know how much we can expect from him before he cracks!

My only request is that the menu generator is NOT a process plugin. Why? Because every time I use a skin that uses one, it screws up other skins settings. For those of us who love switching skins, it is a huge pita. So unless some genius can figure out a way around that.... maybe a common menu generator would solve that?

P.S. Are super moderators allowed to bump posts/threads?

 

[cul8er]

Re: Request for generic menu editor

Hi,

Would it be an idea to just standardize the settings file (I think that's what some of you suggested above). Create a xml structure that can hold menuitems, subitems, images, texts, captions etc (all that could be used in a menu). It would then only be for every skinner that uses a menu editor to replace their setting file with the generic one (read / write). Perhaps quicker that making one generic editor that should support every skin?! Put the suggested usermenu.xml file in the MediaPortal config directory and every editor tool read and write to that file.

Example (only a quick draft without much time to think );

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
  <MenuSettings xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">
    <General>
      <UseRss>Yes</UseRss>
      <DefaultMenu>Movies</DefaultMenu>
    </General>
    <MenuItems>
      <MenuItem Text="Music">
        <Caption1>Listen To</Caption1>
        <Caption2>Music</Caption2>
        <Hyperlink>30</Hyperlink>
        <Action>-</Action>
        <FanartHandler>Music</FanartHandler>
        <BackgroundImage>-</BackgroundImage>
        <BackgroundFolder>-</BackgroundFolder>
      </MenuItem>
      <MenuItem Text="Movies">
        <Caption1>Watch Your</Caption1>
        <Caption2>Movies</Caption2>
        <Hyperlink>96742</Hyperlink>
        <Action>-</Action>
        <FanartHandler>Movies</FanartHandler>
        <BackgroundImage>-</BackgroundImage>
        <BackgroundFolder>-</BackgroundFolder>
        <SubMenuItems>
          <SubMenuItem Text="Movies">
            <Hyperlink>96742</Hyperlink>
            <Action>-</Action>
            <FanartHandler>Movies</FanartHandler>
            <BackgroundImage>-</BackgroundImage>
            <BackgroundFolder>-</BackgroundFolder>
          </SubMenuItem>
          <SubMenuItem Text="Online Videos">
            <Hyperlink>4755</Hyperlink>
            <Action>-</Action>
            <FanartHandler>Movies</FanartHandler>
            <BackgroundImage>-</BackgroundImage>
            <BackgroundFolder>-</BackgroundFolder>
          </SubMenuItem>
        </SubMenuItems>
      </MenuItem>
    </MenuItems>
  </MenuSettings>
</xml>

best regards
cul8er

 

[n4orcer]

Re: Request for generic menu editor

This sounds like an great idea. That way the user would define what items and how they are arranged in the usermenu.xml and all the design/layout of the actual menu is done in the skin.

Would it not also be possible to have an menulayout.xml of which the skin describes how the menu should be built. For example the menu editor could build the basichome.xml with the layout/design from menulayout.xml and use the items from the users usermenu.xml?

That way the skin designer can control how the menu looks but the user controls all the items. Perhaps an option to choose between different predefined "styles" of basichome menus that each skin could "support" and just have a <define> in menulayout.xml that says which predefined styles the skin support aswell as it's own custom design if there is one?

This is kind of what we have planned for the editor for Essence-1080p, but if there is an general editor that would work instead, a standardized editor and xml files that would be a very good thing and each skinner do not have to create there own editor if they do not want to. But if it would be a "standard" in how the xml files would look and how the generation would work, each editor that allready exsists could just implement that and they would all be compatible with the generic editor while providing more options for their specific skin aswell.

/n4orcer

 

[catavolt]

AW: Request for generic menu editor

There was an attempt to build a generic editor here: https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/...menueditor-beta-02-update-05-05-2010-a-72653/
I think he gave up atm, maybe we could reactivate him?

 

[ysmp]

Re: AW: Request for generic menu editor

There was an attempt to build a generic editor here: https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/...menueditor-beta-02-update-05-05-2010-a-72653/
I think he gave up atm, maybe we could reactivate him?

my thot's excacly ...i do use this editor he can mack 4 defrent style of basichome ,for evry skin ....

i allrady pm him to see if he can do it , i belive he can ,
just he getting merid soon and i dont' belive he will have so mach free time .. but let see what kyle imself say ...

 

[cul8er]

Re: Request for generic menu editor

Hi,

I'm sorry to say that a generic menu editor is allmost impossible. Don't get me wrong. You can do a standard horizontal menu, a standard vertical menu and so on but if you like to add things like in the X-Factor (Images menu for example) or even my new skin 2Level you would have to add that specific code to the generic menu editor. In that case we are really talking about a menu editor with add on module capabilities where skinners must submit their code and that is not very generic and not easy to support (think release management). If we can all agree on a standard settings file that would solve all problems wouldn't it? Every skinner would use the same settings file but still be able to make any specific menu in their choosen editor (plugin based or stand-alone).

Let's start with something that really could be implemented fast and give flexibility. If anyone then really need ONE tool instead of several skin specific tools (this is really the only difference) that could be step two.

I would love to support the common setting file in x-factor and my new 2Level skin but if the aim here is to create a all in one tool I dno't think I will have the time to add support for it. Sorry.

Just my 2 cents, but from experience I know how hard it is when you try to make a all in one wonder tool

cheers
cul8er