Retro Theme and STV for SageMC

[gplasky]

You can get it here for now:
Sage Retro (http://mywebpages.comcast.net/gplasky223900MI/SageRetro.zip)
It looks like this:
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/gplasky223900MI/Retro.jpg

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/gplasky223900MI/TV.jpg

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/gplasky223900MI/Videos.jpg

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/gplasky223900MI/Music.jpg

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/gplasky223900MI/Pictures.jpg

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/gplasky223900MI/Weather.jpg

Instructions
1) Download zip file from the link above.
2) Extract the zip file in the root folder of your sageTV installation (....Program Files\SageTv\SageTv)-or just make sure the retro folder ends up in C:\Program Files\SageTV\SageTV\STVs\SageTV3\SageMCE folder.
3) While SageTV (and service if used) are not running open the sage.properties or sageclient.properties.
4) Find the lines with ui/themes/... and add the following 2 lines (replace the 5 with the next theme index, might be 7 or 8?):
ui/themes/5/image_root=retro
ui/themes/5/title=Retro

5) Start Sage and go to Detailed Settings->Select theme and apply the Retro selection.
6) Load the retro_22.xml in the detailed setup screen where "Load SageTV Application Package (*.xml) is found. (Just like you would load up SageMC169.)

To get the full effect please modify some of your default settings:
Turn off all of the animations. This is not built for that.
Change the clock to Date and Time
You may have to adjust the "Left Menu Width" in the SageMC Visual settings to stop the menu buttons from overlapping.

Morgan111's iTV package for SageMC inspired me to finally put this together. It is a work in progress so you will find some things not consistent or not completely finished or just plain broken. Creating a completely seperate STV would provides more flexability in the look I was going for.

This was created with Flachbars SageMC16x9 6.13a STV for Sage 6. I would expect incompatabilites with much older versions or the last mlbdude SageMC.

This is based on an xmbc theme that the author has released the graphics for free use. Original graphics by me.

Let me know what you think. It's on the Sage download site...twice...and I think there is an issue with the file upload. Get it here for now.

version retro_33.xml
Under TV
Movies and Search seem to be missing the shadow box.
Both screens now have shadow box.
Live TV playback header and timeline is blue, should it be gray?
Should be gray-and now it is.
Under Music
Music playback header and timline is blue
It is now gray,
Under DVD Playback
No DVD in drive message is blue (I am testing via place shifter)
Dialog box now gray and shows correct button style.
Under Videos
IMDB searches are missing shadow box
Shadow box is now there.

Couple other changes based on Morgan111 suggestions
Removed no-focus boxes for Videos, Music and Pictures.
Also tried to enlarge covers.
System info now indicates version of SageMC and Retro.
FIle now linked at the SagTV Downloads forum.here (http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/downloads.php?do=file&id=135)

Gerry

[CanadianEh]

Very cool looking.... I like it!

[Naylia]

Gerry,

Mind if I bum the graphics for a matching XLobby skin? I'm trying to make available some more matching skin options for folks.

[gplasky]

Gerry,

Mind if I bum the graphics for a matching XLobby skin? I'm trying to make available some more matching skin options for folks.
Be my guest. Just in case it comes into question, here is the post from the author.

Hello Mediaportalskinners

I've decided to give away all original gfx for the skin Retro I made for xboxmediacenter way back. Beeing that there are so many talented people out there I'm hoping this can be a push to get started on a skin.

As you can tell from this thread MrMario64 has done some initial work on it a long time ago. I have never personally seen the result of his work but I'm sure it has the quality it needs.

Anyone willing to take it and rip it apart or create a new skin from it, feel free . If so, a credit would be fun but absolutely not required. Do whatever you want with it as long as you don't hurt anyone and If you really get in to it I could try to dig up the original Illustrator/Photoshop files aswell.

The ~6.7Mb file containg all the uncompressed graphics an all the old xbmc xml-files (which are of little or no use in mediaportal i know) I could find can be downloaded here: http://rapidshare.de/files/29536853/...Combo.rar.html (It's a bit of a hassle, but it free) and you can find some really old previews above in theis thread.

If the file at rapidshare isn't available just pm me here and I'll up it again.

--floink


Other than the xmbc skin that was created nothing else was ever released. Based on this post I am using the graphics. Based on this post I don't see an issue with anyone else using it. I tried PM'ing the author to get an actual email response from him but I have not received anything.

If you look at any of the xmbc screenshots you'll see many obvious differences and some of my own graphics being used. Feel free to use any or all. As a work in progress more changes will happen. If you need some of the .psd's from mine let me know. I am also working on 2 more concepts different from this, so, more to come.

Gerry

[Morgan111]

Nice! That looks pretty cool! The negatives fpr pictures adds a nice touch too. You should try removing the nofocus image for the pictures (and maybe even movies) so that the negatives don't have an extra border around them when not highlighted. Something to try, you may or may not like that.

[Jesse]

WOW!:goodjob: :clap:

Man, you really are "Big Gerr."

This will be on my machines tonight.:thumb:

Thanks for your efforts.

Jesse

[Naylia]

Thanks Gerry, now I just need a few free hours :)

[gplasky]

Thanks Gerry, now I just need a few free hours :)
Ain't nothing free......;)

:D

Gerry

[PGPfan]

Hi Gerry,

I really like what you've done here! Very nice!

One question, (I suppose it'd be for SageMC in general, but...) does this STV support the new Sage features like the Google video stuff? I haven't seen it mentioned on the SageMC thread or this one.

-PGPfan

[Mark SS]

Looks fantastic, very well done! I've not been tempted to use an alternative STV before, I might have to give this a shot though.

[VikingCrown]

Gplasky, this looks amazing, i will be doing an install of this tomorrow! And as a fellow Pug owner/enthusiast great job on this one!

[gplasky]

Hi Gerry,

I really like what you've done here! Very nice!

One question, (I suppose it'd be for SageMC in general, but...) does this STV support the new Sage features like the Google video stuff? I haven't seen it mentioned on the SageMC thread or this one.

-PGPfan
The latest SageMC 6.13 a does support Sage 6 and you can add Google to the menu.


Gerry

[bcjenkins]

Hi Gerry,

I love the theme. The Play DVD graphic on the main menu seems to be squished down, or is it my poor eyesight?

Thanks!

B

[bcjenkins]

Gerry,

I'll say it again. I love this theme! :goodjob: I hope you take the comments below in the spirit intended. I went through all the menus looking for what I thought were inconsistencies in the experience. I did not go through all the Settings menu because it isn't what is used every day.

Under TV
Movies and Search seem to be missing the shadow box. Right term?
Live TV playback header and timeline is blue, should it be gray?
Under Music
Music playback header and timline is blue
Under DVD Playback
No DVD in drive message is blue (I am testing via place shifter)
Under Videos
IMDB searches are missing shadow box

Thanks again,

B

[dagar]

Very cool theme! Nice work Gerr, I look forward to trying this out!

[gplasky]

Gerry,

I'll say it again. I love this theme! :goodjob: I hope you take the comments below in the spirit intended. I went through all the menus looking for what I thought were inconsistencies in the experience. I did not go through all the Settings menu because it isn't what is used every day.

Under TV
Movies and Search seem to be missing the shadow box. Right term?
Live TV playback header and timeline is blue, should it be gray?
Under Music
Music playback header and timline is blue
Under DVD Playback
No DVD in drive message is blue (I am testing via place shifter)
Under Videos
IMDB searches are missing shadow box

Thanks again,

B
Thanks for the comments. This is what I'm looking for. I'm working on a couple of other ones so my time is limited. I haven't worked much on any of the OSDs and I'm sure there might be more dialog boxes I missed. Hopefully I'll have most of the glaring misses fixed by end of week.

The "play DVD" graphic may indeed be squished. I may be creating another new one for that.


Gerry

[m0ng00se30]

I don't see the same main menu screen as the examples show. My Graphics are to the right hand side with the menu being down the middle. Not an issue.. still looks very nice.

I am also not seeing a "selection" box around the preview windows, and that can be a little annoying at times, but otherwise this is my households new favorite theme!

THANKS GP!

--Mike

[gplasky]

I don't see the same main menu screen as the examples show. My Graphics are to the right hand side with the menu being down the middle. Not an issue.. still looks very nice.

I am also not seeing a "selection" box around the preview windows, and that can be a little annoying at times, but otherwise this is my households new favorite theme!

THANKS GP!

--Mike
That's where the next part of the instructions come into play. ;)

From the first post:
Load the retro_22.xml in the detailed setup screen where "Load SageTV Application Package (*.xml) is found. (Just like you would load up SageMC169.)

Just like you would choose a new SageMC STV you need to choose retro_22.xml for your STV.

Gerry

[heffe2001]

Definitely like this SageMC derivitive. Got it running on my local client in my PC room, and plan on putting it on our MVP in the study and see how the WAF is with it...

[m0ng00se30]

GP,

I tried this.. and the stv never loaded. I had to go back to my normal SageMC and it looked like it had worked. SO I didn't question much. Then I started noticing the couple of difference, but it looks like that most of the functionality is there!

I would love to load the retro_22.xml file, but if I try to load it it goes back to SageTV3.xml stv. Or if I try to load it via studio it reverts back to SageTV3.xml. It doesn't like something in my system.

--Mike

[gplasky]

I've uploaded a new version and also fixed the download link in the Community Downloads. This is mostly a bug fix/comsistency issues.

Under TV
Movies and Search seem to be missing the shadow box.
Both screens now have shadow box.
Live TV playback header and timeline is blue, should it be gray?
Should be gray-and now it is.
Under Music
Music playback header and timline is blue
It is now gray,
Under DVD Playback
No DVD in drive message is blue (I am testing via place shifter)
Dialog box now gray and shows correct button style.
Under Videos
IMDB searches are missing shadow box
Shadow box is now there.

Couple other changes based on Morgan111 suggestions
Removed no-focus boxes for Videos, Music and Pictures.
Also tried to enlarge covers.
System info now indicates version of SageMC and Retro

More to come. Check out first post for new images.

Gerry

[m0ng00se30]

Anyone have an idea as to why this stv won't load on my machine? If I try to load retro22 or 33... it spins and then reverts back to my previous stv which in this case is sagemc-1.xml.

I've tried loading it in studio and by turnning everything off and editing the config. If I load it in the config it jumps back to SageTV3.xml.

--Mike

[ellweber]

This theme is intended for SageMC and not for the stock STV delivered with Sage.

Retro Theme and STV for SageMC

I believe this is why you are having trouble installing it.

[m0ng00se30]

This theme is intended for SageMC and not for the stock STV delivered with Sage.



I believe this is why you are having trouble installing it.


This is based on SageMC, yes! But it is its own stv with its own xml. Either way I have been running SageMC for about as long as I can remember. I haven't run the stock STV since MLB first released SageMC originally a long long time ago.

Thanks!

[flachbar]

This is based on SageMC, yes! But it is its own stv with its own xml. Either way I have been running SageMC for about as long as I can remember. I haven't run the stock STV since MLB first released SageMC originally a long long time ago.

Thanks!
I see you are using SageTV 5. I think Gerry based this STV off the v6 version of SageMC, and v6 STVs can not be loaded into a v5 installation.

You could try to open the STV file in a text editor and remove all occurences of

<BackgroundComponent>false</BackgroundComponent>
and

<AutoRepeatAction>false</AutoRepeatAction>


Can't guarantee you that this will work, but you might want to give it a shot.


Dirk

[m0ng00se30]

Thanks Flachbar

Ok I feel dumb!! Reading back over it again.

This was created with Flachbars SageMC16x9 6.13a STV for Sage 6. I would expect incompatabilites with much older versions or the last mlbdude SageMC.

I guess I read 6.13a and moved on from there! I guess I'll wait till I move to 6!

Thanks again!

--Mike

[Jesse]

Hi,

It will load and work on the latest V5 for me. From within sagemce I select the retro theme and then select the retro stv .xml. Problem is it wont stick if sage is closed. If I leave sage open or put it to sleep then no problem. So really it is fine as long as the machine does not crash:D .

HTH

Jesse

[flachbar]

Hi,

It will load and work on the latest V5 for me. From within sagemce I select the retro theme and then select the retro stv .xml. Problem is it wont stick if sage is closed. If I leave sage open or put it to sleep then no problem. So really it is fine as long as the machine does not crash:D .

HTH

Jesse

As I said, try the suggestion I gave above, it might get rid of your problems ...

Dirk

[toricred]

First off, I love this theme. But I am having a couple of problems with it. The diskbar is white and I can't read the numbers on it. Second, the selection bar on the main menu is too long and covers the nice graphic to the left. Any ideas how to adjust these? If not, I can live with them but I won't know unless I ask.

[MeInMaui]

First off, I love this theme. But I am having a couple of problems with it. The diskbar is white and I can't read the numbers on it. Second, the selection bar on the main menu is too long and covers the nice graphic to the left. Any ideas how to adjust these? If not, I can live with them but I won't know unless I ask.

I handle the long selection bar by shortening it to 80% of the original and then adding back that 20% on the left side as transparent dead space. It works perfectly. Your actual percentages may be a bit different depending on how close the graphic is to the menu text, but the approach is the same.

Aloha,
Mike

[i0zjh02]

Hi I can't get this theme to display correctly, on the main menu, the menu items are displayed more centrally than in your screenshot and the cursor bar extends way to the left so it extends over the icon window.
I've tried adjusting left menu and right pane options but this doesn't change this portion of the screen.
I'm running latest 6 beta and have followed all the instructions correctly, I think !!

Any ideas as I think this theme is really cool.:clap:

[Jesse]

As I said, try the suggestion I gave above, it might get rid of your problems ...

Dirk


Goes without saying.:)

Jesse

[gplasky]

First off, I love this theme. But I am having a couple of problems with it. The diskbar is white and I can't read the numbers on it. Second, the selection bar on the main menu is too long and covers the nice graphic to the left. Any ideas how to adjust these? If not, I can live with them but I won't know unless I ask.
I'll fix the diskbar graphic when I get a chance. You can fix the overlapping menu bars by going to the Detailed Setup-Sage 16 x 9 MC options-Visual-Left Menu Width and change it to something like 0.22 or whatever works for you.

Gerry

[gplasky]

Hi I can't get this theme to display correctly, on the main menu, the menu items are displayed more centrally than in your screenshot and the cursor bar extends way to the left so it extends over the icon window.
I've tried adjusting left menu and right pane options but this doesn't change this portion of the screen.
I'm running latest 6 beta and have followed all the instructions correctly, I think !!

Any ideas as I think this theme is really cool.:clap:
Make sure you also go in and load the retro_33.xml STV in Detailed settings. And also make sure you're running Sage 6 beta version. You could have an issue using Sage 5. (See above posts)

Gerry

[i0zjh02]

Make sure you also go in and load the retro_33.xml STV in Detailed settings. And also make sure you're running Sage 6 beta version. You could have an issue using Sage 5. (See above posts)

Gerry
Hi Gerry,I am currently the latest sagetv beta and have load the correct STV as per the insructions but ufortunately I still have this issue. Would appreciate any other suggestions you have, Thanks

[gplasky]

Hi Gerry,I am currently the latest sagetv beta and have load the correct STV as per the insructions but ufortunately I still have this issue. Would appreciate any other suggestions you have, Thanks
I'm at a loss as to why it would display this way. This is not on a MVP, correct? I haven't tested that. You could load the regular SageMC 613a and choose this theme as a test. This would put the icon graphic all the way to the right, the retro graphic on the left and the menu just off center. See if that works and then switch. Did you actually install the original SageMC theme or run Jason's installer for the SageMC theme? You need to have the full original SageMC theme installed or use Jason's installer.

Gerry

[PGPfan]

Hi Gerry,

I seem to be having the same trouble as i0zjh02 is. Could you take a look at the attached .jpg and tell me what I might be doing wrong?

Thanks!

-PGPfan

[gplasky]

Hi Gerry,

I seem to be having the same trouble as i0zjh02 is. Could you take a look at the attached .jpg and tell me what I might be doing wrong?

Thanks!

-PGPfan
I've taken a look and I can't reproduce it. What do you have the left menu width set for? And the right pane width? Defaults are 0.26 and 0.71. Make sure numbers and not letters are in there. I don't think everyone is having this issue. Are they?

Wait-you're using the MCE type menu? Does it happen using the Sage menu? I didn't test for the MCE style menu. If that's the case change it until I can fix it. Sorry.

Gerry

[toricred]

Thanks, that fixed the main menu problem. I'll be looking for the fix to the disk bar.

[PGPfan]

Gerry,

How exactly do I change to the Sage type menu? As far as I know, I didn't change any menu - I just installed SageMC 6.13a and took all the defaults. Is this wrong? Thanks for any help!

-PGPfan

[gplasky]

Gerry,

How exactly do I change to the Sage type menu? As far as I know, I didn't change any menu - I just installed SageMC 6.13a and took all the defaults. Is this wrong? Thanks for any help!

-PGPfan
On the Main Menu screen use the Options button on your remote. (Or escape on the keyboard or right-click the mouse.) Scroll down to Menu type and cick on MCE. It shoudl now say Sage. (MCE is the default choice of SageMC) I'll fix it by the weekend.

Gerry

[m0ng00se30]

I see you are using SageTV 5. I think Gerry based this STV off the v6 version of SageMC, and v6 STVs can not be loaded into a v5 installation.

You could try to open the STV file in a text editor and remove all occurences of

<BackgroundComponent>false</BackgroundComponent>
and

<AutoRepeatAction>false</AutoRepeatAction>


Can't guarantee you that this will work, but you might want to give it a shot.


Dirk

Worked like a charm! It loaded and I don't see any ill effects. Thanks Dirk!

--Mike

[i0zjh02]

Hi Switching to the "sage" style menu rather than MCE worked for me too, appearance is now like the screenshots. Thanks


Dave

[heffe2001]

Hopefully you can roll the changes from SageMC 6.2 into the Retro theme :).

[geogecko]

Gerry. Nice work on this. Just found it today. I need to scan the forums a bit more, instead of just checking my UserCP all the time!

Any chance this could be an import similar to the iTV theme? I just think it would be easier on you in the long run, so that you don't have to keep up with Dirk.

Look forward to trying it out.

[gplasky]

Gerry. Nice work on this. Just found it today. I need to scan the forums a bit more, instead of just checking my UserCP all the time!

Any chance this could be an import similar to the iTV theme? I just think it would be easier on you in the long run, so that you don't have to keep up with Dirk.

Look forward to trying it out.
Thanks. I've been struggling with how to handle the updates. That's why I'm holding out a bit longer before I decide to do something. That and I'm working on another one.

Gerry

[bullgates]

I feel kind of stupid asking this but what plugin do I use to have access to my library of dvd's and ts files?

Love this theme. Thanks.

[bullgates]

Also any idea why I have big blue box in the bottom left hand corner that says STOPPED? Sorry I am new to this program.

[gplasky]

Also any idea why I have big blue box in the bottom left hand corner that says STOPPED? Sorry I am new to this program.
Because your video is stopped. Play a recording and you'll see the video in the small screen.

Gerry

[gplasky]

I feel kind of stupid asking this but what plugin do I use to have access to my library of dvd's and ts files?

Love this theme. Thanks.
None. Define a video directory where you store your DVDs or your ts files. Also read the Sage manual. This programs does what Sage does-it's just s theme.

Gerry

[heffe2001]

Had any headway with any updates? As of rigth now, I"m running the 33 version on my main PC, but using the theme graphics & stuff with the newer version of SageMC (it works but of course the main menu doesn't look quite right :) ).

[gplasky]

Had any headway with any updates? As of rigth now, I"m running the 33 version on my main PC, but using the theme graphics & stuff with the newer version of SageMC (it works but of course the main menu doesn't look quite right :) ).
Since flachbar came out with SageMC 6.30 I am currently working to make it function with that. Just having some thoughts on how best to incorporate all the new stuff.

Gerry