Sunday, August 21th, 2005
Folks,
because I haven't found a skin up to now, which
completely matches my imagination, I decided to take the construction of a new skin
in my own hands and adapted its design according to our web site
http://www.dvd-live.de. What began as a small project has now turned into a
skin which offers several features and maximizes the fun of managing your DVD
collection.
Illustration
1: DVD-Live Skin
2.60
I hope
you enjoy the skin and have much fun using it.
Regards
Tom76
Table of Contents
Part III: Features and Limitations
6.a Extended Box Sets display:
6.c Automatic language setting:
7 a. Adjustments to the Main Window
7 a. Adjustments to the Title area
1. Error "Cannot create Object" when using the Revolving Feature
Part I: REQUIREMENTS
For usage
of my skin you will need the following software items:
Intervocative’s DVD-Profiler 2.3x and greater
This skin was developed and tested with version 2.3.x. I have no idea if this
runs on earlier versions and therefore cannot give any support if used on them.
Some features supported by this skin like COLORNAMES and automatic setting of
it's language will only be supported by the new version of the DVD-Profiler
(2.4.x)
Internet Explorer 6.0
As the DVD-Profiler depends on the installation of the Internet Explorer, I
assume this being installed in the actual version (>= 6.0).
Part II:
Installation
Extract the contents of the file "dvd-live_v_2_60.zip"
into a temporary directory, this should give you the files "
dvd-live_v_2_60.dps and "
dvd-live_master.zip " (along with some ReadMe files).
Copy the files " dvd-live_v_2_60.dps
" to your "<DVD-Profiler>\skins" directory (<DVD-Profiler>
refers to the installation directory of DVD Profiler).
Extract the file “dvd-live_master.zip
" inside of the Archive " dvd-live_v_2_60.zip" into the
DVD Profiler directory, preserving the included directory structure. This
should put
the file "settings.js" in the "<DVD-Profiler>\skins"
directory
various subdirectories in the "<DVD-Profiler>\images"
directory
Notes:
1.
Before
starting the skin in DVD Profiler, make sure to verify that ALL settings in
"Settings.js" match the situation of your setup! You will
definitely encounter problems if not done correctly! With each new version of this
skin and each new feature added, there may be some new adjustments necessary in
the settings file.
The official download sources of this skin and
it's extended files are the following:
http://www.dvd-live.de/phpBB2/downloads.php?cat=5
http://www.mithirandir.de/dvd-profiler/skins/dvd-live_v_2_60.zip
Part III: Features and Limitations
The skin " DVD-Live Skin " in it's
current version 2.60 has the following features and limitations.
Part III.A:
Features:
1. Language:
You can set the language of the
skin(refer to. Part IV: Customization) to the values "English", "Deutsch",
"Nederlands", "Français" and "Português".
If other languages are wanted (like Spanish oder Italian for example), you
would have to provide me with the translations of the strings used inside the
skin.
2. Tags in the Notes field:
You can use the Notes field to store
additional info about the DVD like an alternative title, the original title for
foreign films, the IMDB tag or when the DVD was last watched. For that, the
relevant information must be enclosed by special tags, these must begin with <TAGNAME>
and end with </TAGNAME>, for example <AKA>...</AKA> for the
alternative title. The tags are not case sensitive.
Currently,
the following tags are supported by the skin:
<ORI>:
Displays text from the Notes field that is
enclosed in <ORI> </ORI> as Original Title in the
title section of the skin. For example <ORI>Lola rennt</ORI>
would show the original title for the film "Run Lola Run" (see
below).
Illustration 3: <AKA> and <ORI > Tags
<AKA>:
Displays
text from Notes field that is enclosed in <AKA> </AKA>
as Alternative Title in the title section of the skin. For example <AKA>The
Gates of Hell</AKA> would show the alternative title for the film
"City of the Living Dead".
<COUNTRY>:
Displays text from Notes field that is enclosed
in <COUNTRY> </COUNTRY> as production country for the
current title in the title section of the skin. For example <COUNTRY>USA</COUNTRY>.
<TAGLINE>:
Displays
text from Notes field that is enclosed in <TAGLINE> </TAGLINE>
as tag line, for example <TAGLINE>In space, no one can hear you
scream.</TAGLINE> would show the tagline for the film
"Alien" under the title in the header of the skin.
Displays
text from Notes field that is enclosed in <WATCHED> </WATCHED>
as date when the DVD was watched in the "Pers. Infos" tab. For
example <WATCHED>2005-03-18</WATCHED>. Since DVD
Profiler 2.4 the "Last Watched" date is also shown here.
<STORAGE>:
Displays
text from Notes field that is enclosed in <STORAGE> </STORAGE>
as storage place for the current DVD in the "Pers. Infos" tab.
For example: <STORAGE>Living Room</STORAGE>
<COMMENTS>:
Displays
text from Notes field that is enclosed in <COMMENTS> </COMMENTS>
as comment for the current DVD in the "Pers. Infos" tab. For
example <COMMENTS>2-DVD</COMMENTS> or <COMMENT>Made
for TV</COMMENT>
Illustration 6: <WATCHED>,
<STORAGE> and <COMMENTS> Tags
<STUDIOS>:
Displays
text from Notes field that is enclosed in <STUDIOS> </STUDIOS>
as additional studios for the current DVD. For example <STUDIOS>Marvel
Entertainment, BMG Video<STUDIOS>. This allow the user to display
more than the three studios allowed within DVD Profiler; given the amount of
companies involved in making movies, this is occasionally necessary.
<GENRES>:
Displays
text from Notes field that is enclosed in <GENRES> </GENRES>
as additional genres for the current DVD. For example <GENRES>Mystery, Crime</GENRES>.
This allows the user to assign more than three genres per DVD or use additional
Genres, not defined in DVD Profiler.
<RUNTIME>:
Displays text from Notes field that is enclosed
in <RUNTIME> </RUNTIME> as runtime of the DVD in an
extended format. For example: <RUNTIME > 1:37:14 </RUNTIME>.
This allow the user to display a more precise runtime than supported by DVD
Profiler. This may be interesting for horror films and the related Cut/Uncut
situation. The supported formats are: "hh:mm:ss" as well as
"mmm:ss", e.g. "01:37:14“ or „97:14“.
<IMDB>:
Uses text
from Notes field that is enclosed in <IMDB> </IMDB>
as a direct IMDb link in the "Pers. Infos" tab.
For
example <IMDB>tt0130827</IMDB> would provide the
direct link for the film "Run Lola Run" in the IMDb (see Part IV: Customization for options).
The
format of the link can be adjusted in the settings by means of the variable
IMDB_Title (see also: Part IV: Customization),
wherein <TITLE> will be replaced by the Title of the selected profile,
<YEAR> will be replaced by the production year of the selected profile
and <LINK> will be replaced by the actual link
For
example, the format "<TITLE> (<YEAR>) [<LINK>] will
result in the display as shown in Illustration 8:
Illustration 8: <IMDB>,
<RATING> and <VOTES> Tags
<RATING>:
Displays text from Notes field that is enclosed
in <RATING> </RATING> as IMDb rating of the current
DVD in the "Pers. Infos" tab. For example <RATING>8.2/10</RATING>.
<VOTES>:
Displays text from Notes field that is enclosed
in <VOTES> </VOTES> as number of IMDB votes for the
current DVD in the "Pers. Infos" tab. For example <VOTES>7.351</VOTES>.
<QUOTES>:
Displays
text from the Notes field that is enclosed in <QUOTES> </QUOTES>
as quotes collection for the current DVD in the Add. Infos tab.
<TRIVIA>:
Displays text from the Notes field that is enclosed in
<TRIVIA> </TRIVIA> as trivia collection for the
current DVD in the Add. Infos tab.
<GOOFS>:
Displays text from the Notes field that is enclosed in
<GOOFS> </GOOFS> as collection of Goofs for the
current DVD in the Add. Infos tab.
<REVIEWS>:
Displays text from the Notes field that that is
enclosed in <REVIEWS> </REVIEWS> as collection of
reviews for the current DVD in the Add. Infos tab.
Illustration 12:
<REVIEWS>-Tag
<DETAILS>:
Displays text
from Notes field that is enclosed in <DETAILS> and </DETAILS>
as detailed description for the current DVD, for example TV episode guides
(EPGs) or track listings for music DVDs, as these often exceed the capabilities
of the Overview field.
The
<DETAILS> tag supports HTML code, such as the integration of images or
background images, playing of music or sounds, setting of back- or foreground
colors as well as many other HTML tags. Some HTML code will, however, not be
displayed properly, as the HTML parser used by the skin does not support .all
available HTML tags.
This
feature was mainly implemented to support the EPG project of user addicted2dvd.
Take a look at "http://dvd.snowhopers.com/epg/"!
Illustration 13:
<DETAILS> Tag (EPG)
Illustration 14: Entering
the <DETAILS> tag for EPGs
1.
To use
EPG's, download the definitions located at the URL given above. Copy existing pictures
to the path you defined in the settings file ("MyDetailsPath",
see also Part IV:
Customization) and insert the HTML text of the EPG into the Notes field. Afterwards,
enclose it by <DETAILS> and </DETAILS>.
2.
Optionally
you can remove the paths of the pictures inside of the HTML code, as this is
replaced by the path defined by the variable "MyDetailsPath"
from the settings. However, if you do this, the images will not be displayed
when the Notes field is viewed with other skins.
3. Headshots
display:
Headshots are small images /typically showing
the head only) of actors/actresses or crew members. To use this feature you
must create a directory called "headshots" in the image
directory of the DVD profiler directory (this would usually be "<DVD
Profiler>\IMAGES\headshots") and place your pictures in there.
The naming convention for the headshot files is
"<name>.gif" or "<name>.jpg",
where <name> consists of all parts of the name exactly as spelled
in the actor listing. So for Mel Brooks it would be "Mel Brooks.gif"
or "Mel Brooks.jpg" and for Brooks, Mel (setting in DVDPro options)
it would be "Brooks, Mel.gif" or "Brooks, Mel.jpg". I
suggest you chose one way and stick with it.
4. Links
to other websites:
Standard Buttons
The skins provides you with some buttons,
providing some fixed defined links to standard sites. One of them is located at
the end of the “DVD-Infos” Tab page, the other two at the end of the “Overview”
tab page.
Illustration 17: Standard-Buttons 1
DVD-Live
Review:
Opens the
review for the current title on the server of the German DVD Forum "DVD-Live"
"www.dvd-live.de". This
is a very nice German forum with very cool reviews.
Illustration 18:
Standard-Buttons 2
IMDb
Search:
Searches for the entry of the current title in
the Internet Movie Database. "www.imdb.com" for international resp.
"german.imdb.com" for German users (depending
on the language setting of the skin).
OFDB Search:
Searches
the entry of the current title in the "Online Film
Datenbank" "www.ofdb.de".
Especially useful for the cut/uncut problematics of your DVDs.
IMDb-Buttons
In addition to the above mentioned 6 buttons the
five buttons at the end of the Add. Infos tab provide links to the quotes,
trivia, goofs, soundtrack listing and external review sub-pages at IMDb.
Illustration 19: IMDb-Buttons
User defined
Buttons
In addition to the above you have the
possibility to define the title and the contents for four user defined buttons,
which can also be found on the "Pers. Infos" tab page. Titles
and URLs for these user defined buttons can be adjusted in the settings (see
also: Part IV: Customization)., the skin
will replace the word <TITLE> inside of the URL by the title of
the actual disc, for example "http://www.allocine.fr/recherche/?motcle<TITLE>".
Illustration 20: User defined
Buttons
With these buttons it is also possible to
called local applications. One could for example start the HTML application
"DVD-Folks" (which can be downloaded at "http://www.dougweb.org/dvdpro/dvdfolks")
by the following URL given in the settings:
"file://C:/Programme/InterVocative Software/DVD
Profiler/skins/DVDFolks0.8.hta"
(Please note the use of "/"!).
5. Cover images:
Revolving:
If you enable "Revolving" in the
settings (see also: Part IV: Customization),
both covers images are displayed with the "Revolving Spinning Effect"
(3D rotation). Large display of the two covers isn’t possible now.
Illustration 22: Revolving Feature
Note:
If you get the error message "Cannot
create Object" after activating the Revolving feature, please refer to the
measures described in Part V: Troubleshooting
1.
6. Other Features:
From version 2.0 of this skin, it will support
the following new features:
6.a Extended Box
Sets display:
The cover images of all DVD's included in a Box
Set have been incorporated into the "Disc Infos" tab page
(provided they are available)
Illustration 23: Extended Box Set-Display
6.b COLORNAMES
Support:
One new feature of the DVD-Profiler 2.4 is the
optional color marking of the names of actors/actresses and crew members. With
this feature, first, middle and last names are shown with different colors for
enhanced clarity.
Illustration 24: ColorNames (with
DVD-Profiler 2.40)
6.c Automatic
language setting:
One other new feature of the DVD-Profiler 2.4
is the possibility to provide the skin with version number, language and
installation path of the program. With the current version, the language of the
skin will be automatically adjusted to the current language of the DVD-Profiler
and does not have to be adjusted manually in the settings file.
6.d Debug-Output
In order
to allow or at least ease the troubleshooting in case of problems with the skin,
debug output has been incorporated in the skin. This output will be displayed
on the "Debug" tab page. To enable this, when needed, the
variable "Debug" in the settings file must be set to "true"
(see also: Part IV: Customization).
Illustration 25: Automatic language
setting and Debug Tabpage
7. Layout settings:
From
version 2.0 of this skin many adjustments to the layout can be done within the
settings (see also: Part IV: Customization).
Since it's beginnings, the skin consists of
these two main sections:
The Title line with the DVD-Live Banner
The Main Window of the Skin
7 a. Adjustments to the Main Window
Since it's
beginnings, the Main Window consists of these three main sections:
The title area with the Title and the collection number.
The left tab pane with the tab pages "DVD Infos",
"Overview", etc.
The right tab pane with the "Covers"
Illustration 26: Main Window
In order
to allow for smaller screen resolutions and personal preferences, the following
adjustments can be done to the Main Window:
Horizontal Layout:
The "horizontal ratio" between the
left area of the main window (title area, left tab pane and lower tab pane) and
the right area (right tab pane) can be adjusted by means of the variables
"leftRatio" and "rightRatio". This allows for
example, to provide more horizontal space for the cover images, while at the
same time reducing the space used for the information displayed on the left.
7 a. Adjustments to the Title area
Illustration 27: Title area in
Standard case
The Title
displays the title of the currently selected profile as well as the collection
status: (Collection No. if Owned, Ordered or Wish List). On the left side an
Avatar is shown and the logo of the DVD-Live website on the right.
If the
option "TITLETAGLINE" in the settings is set to "true",
the collection status is replaced with the movie's tagline (if it is
available). Additionally the color of the tagline can be adjusted with the
value "TITLETAGCOLOR".
Illustration 28: Title area with
Tagline
Part III.B: Limitations
The following
limitations resp. known issues exist in the current version of the skin (2.60):
1.
Currently
non known.
Part IV: Customization
All customizations of this skin can be made
inside of the file "Settings.js" which is stored in the "<DVD-Profiler>\skins"
directory. The following options are available:
1. Data-Files:
|
MyLanguage |
Actual Skin Language: Currently
Supported: English, Deutsch, Nederlands, Français, Português language |
|
|
Note: |
MyCountry
|
Country setting of the skin. |
|
MyDetailsPath |
Directory for Details Pictures, typically for
EPG's |
|
MyGoofsPath |
Directory for the images within Quotes, Trivia,
Goofs, Reviews |
2. Headshots:
|
GIFSUPPORT
|
Set true
to enable GIF support for Headshots |
|
HEADSHOTGROW |
Set true
for small headshot pictures be enlarged to fill display area |
|
MAX_ACTORS |
Maximum
Number of Headshots for Actors |
5. Covers:
|
REVOLVING
|
Set true
for Revolver Spinning Effect for Cover images |
6. Layout:
|
TITLETAGLINE |
Set true
for displaying the tagline (if available) in the Title section instead of the
colllection status |
|
TITLETAGCOLOR |
Color of the
Title Tagline in Hex Notation, for example "000000" = black,
"FFFFFF" = white |
|
leftRatio |
Left
Ratio for Tab pages; (e.g. width of "DVD Infos" etc.) |
|
rightRatio |
Right Ratio
for Tabpages; (e.g. Width of "Covers" etc.) |
8.
Miscellaneous:
|
DEBUG
|
Set true
to enable output of Debug information for troubleshooting |
|
IMDB_Title |
User
defined text for the IMDb link |
|
Usr_Title_1 |
Title for
User specific Button 1 |
|
Usr_Title_2
|
Title for
User specific Button 2 |
|
Usr_Title_3
|
Title for
User specific Button 3 |
|
Usr_Title_4 |
Title for
User specific Button 4 |
|
Usr_URL_1 |
URL for
User defined Button 1 |
|
Usr_URL_2 |
URL for
User defined Button 2 |
|
Usr_URL_3 |
URL for
User defined Button 3 |
|
Usr_URL_4 |
URL for
User defined Button 4 |
Notes::
1.
The
settings of this skin are a subset of the settings for „Mithirandir’s Skin“ and
fully compatible with that.
2.
If you
are using both skins at the same time it would be best to use the settings for
„Mithirandir’s Skin“, because it uses additional values inside of the „Settings.js“!
Part V: Troubleshooting
1. Error "Cannot create Object" when using the Revolving
Feature
When you
get the error message "Cannot create object" when using the
Revolving feature for the Cover images, follow the procedure below (<typical
disclaimer here>):
a.
Download
and unzip the missing DXtmsft3.dll to your SYSTEM32 directory (typically "C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32"
oder "C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32").
b.
Register
the .DLL like this : Click START > RUN and type (or paste) the
following: regsvr32 dxtmsft3.dll
c.
That’s
it.
Part VI: Thanks
I want to
thank the following people, who did some help in creating this skin:
Mithirandir,
for many great features inclusive installing them
Totto , for
the nice banner
MarcCastermans,
who did the Dutch translation of the skin.
annedv und cmaurice
, who did the French translation of the skin.
Zefeer , who
did the Portuguese translation of the skin.
Deniro , for
the great Revolvering Effekt.
Erik Arvidsson
, for the tabpage code (WebFX).
addicted2dvd
and ajm for the EPG's.
Intervocative Software LLC, who provide us with this great program.
Part VII: Version History
2004-12-14
| Idea to create a skin from the DVD-Live Team
2004-12-21
| Initial test version 0.1
2004-12-20
| Internal test version 0.2
2004-12-20
| Internal test version 0.3
2004-12-21
| Internal test version 0.31
2004-12-21
| Internal test version 0.32
2004-12-24
| Internal test version 0.40
2004-12-25
| Internal test version 0.50
2004-12-26
| Internal test version, Added Tabpages 0.60
2004-12-27
| Internal test version 0.61
2004-12-30
| Internal test version, Added EasterEggs 0.63
2005-01-03
| Cleaned up for 1.00 public version
2005-01-14
| Added Background, Studio Logos 1.10
2005-01-16
| Added FSK Logos 1.20
2005-01-30
| Bugfixes, new Title, Translation of the Extras ("") 1.30
2005-02-01
| Added Localization Support (German, English) 1.4
2005-02-05
| Added Localization Support (Dutch, French) 1.41
2005-02-05
| New Logo 1.42
2005-02-07
| Added Original Title, Alternate Title, LastWatched Tags 1.43
2005-02-17
| Added IMDB Tag, some minor Changes 1.50
2005-03-17
| Added Support for COLORNAMES (DVD-Profiler 2.3.2 beta)
2005-03-17
| Dynamically Resizable, Added Revolving Effect1.60
2005-03-23
| Corrected French Language Definitions
2005-03-31
| Added Support for details tag 1.70
2005-04-01
| Added Headshots Support 1.80
2005-04-02
| Added Portuguese Translation 1.81
2005-04-12
| Added Extended Boxset Support 1.90
2005-04-14
| Added French Ratings
2005-04-14
| Added Support for COLORNAMES in Personal Infos Tabpage 2.0
2005-04-26
| Added Support for tagline tag
2005-04-27
| Added user specific Buttons 2.1
2005-04-28
| TITLETAGLINE support
2005-04-29
| Added Support for storage tag
2005-04-29
| Added Auto-Initialization for Version >= 2.40 2.2
2005-05-10
| Added Tags for IMDb Ratings and Votes
2005-05-16
| Added Production Country and <COUNTRY> Tag 2.3
2005-05-28
| Added new studio logos
2005-05-29
| Added user defined Titles for the IMDB Links2.4.0
2005-06-13
| Added support for <ORIGINAL_TITLE>, <LAST_WATCHED_BY> and
|<LAST_WATCHED_ON>
for DVD-Profiler 2.4.0 beta
2005-06-13
| Added support for new subtitles of DVD-Profiler 2.4.0 beta
2005-06-13
| Finally removed the gap problem!2.5.0
2005-06-23
| Some adjustments for the release version of DVD-Profiler 2.4
2005-06-27
| Added Korean and Taiwan Ratings
2005-07-04
| Added Support for Runtime, Studios and Genres Tags 2.5.5
2005-08-18
| Added Support for Quotes, Trivia, Goofs and Reviews Tags 1.52
2005-08-18
| Added Buttons for IMDb Quotes, Trivia, Goofs and Reviews
2005-08-18
| Added new studio logos
Table of Illustrations:
Illustration 1: DVD-Live Skin 2.60
Illustration 3: <AKA> and <ORI > Tags
Illustration 6: <WATCHED>, <STORAGE> and <COMMENTS> Tags
Illustration 8: <IMDB>, <RATING> and <VOTES> Tags
Illustration 12: <REVIEWS>-Tag
Illustration 13: <DETAILS> Tag (EPG)
Illustration 14: Entering the <DETAILS> tag for EPGs
Illustration 17: Standard-Buttons 1
Illustration 18: Standard-Buttons 2
Illustration 20: User defined Buttons
Illustration 22: Revolving Feature
Illustration 23: Extended Box Set-Display
Illustration 24: ColorNames (with DVD-Profiler 2.40)
Illustration 25: Automatic language setting and Debug Tabpage
Illustration 27: Title area in Standard case
Illustration 28: Title area with Tagline