Creating .XML layout

[Guest mcanic2k]

Hi i've started the attached homescreen but do not know anything about how to write the .XML file. i've had a look and can change the filenames etc (lol) but do not know anything about the X and Y placement. Is X the height or width and i'm assuming that 200 is the highest amount which is the top going down to 1 at the bottom.

Can anyone help???

Homescreen.jpg

Homeprograms.jpg

Homemail.jpg

[Guest drblow]

X & Y values represent positioning. Think of the screen like a big grid 176 pixels wide, x 200 pixels height. You set plugin heights(eg. msg plugin height 20). Within that plugin, if you set the text to appear at "x=50" the text will appear 50 pixels in from the side of the screen - you can set which side with the "align left/right" attributes. Similarly, "y=10" will set the item to appear 10 pixels down fro ther top of the plugin. Just remeber, these values happen within each plugin, so x&y values work within the plugin area itself (ie. if your plugin height is 30, and you set the "y=XX" value to greater than 30, the text would disappear below the margin of the plugin.

Its not a bad idea to set your plugins with solid colour backgrounds (eg. bgcolor="000000"). Then you'll be able to see exactly on the screen where the plugins are, so you can adjust things accordingly. You can then change these to transaprent if you want later.

Really, its just a case of messing about with things & seeing what changes etc.

Good luck! Let us know if you need any more help! :wink:

[Guest mcanic2k]

Thanx Dr Blow... Makes things alot clearer, hopefully i'll have this finished today!!! A couple more questions??

1. What is the (000000) number to set as transparent???

1. Do you know anything about creating the cab file, tried to use cabwizsp but it just confused me with the inf setup thing??? :roll:

If you can help me with these i'm sure i'll be able to get it finished, and make sure you get the credit you deserve for helping me..

Thx, Mcanic2k

[Guest scott2eyes]

I can't help you with the .cab file (as I can't download the relevant software thanks to an over-enthusiastic firewall...)- however, if you're just making the homescreen for your own use, I think you should be able to get by without it. As I understand it, you'll want to get the whole homescreen working before packaging it into a .cab though.

I'm a bit of an amateur, so I'm not sure how to get your first screen working (the easiest way to make a homescreen, I find, is to start out with the XML layout, then draw the background around it- that way you know you can do with the code before you start making the pictures- it's much easier to fit a picture around the writing than vice versa- especially if you've got the SmartSS screenshot software- on monolithix.org)

I guess your "Programs" screen will be an MRU plugin, height=200 (so it takes up the whole screen), and then play with the x&y positioning and the "max icons" to make the icons fit to the background. In the "format state=selected" section of the plugin, you'll need to put "bgimage="IPSMApplication DataHomeThemeHomePrograms.jpg" (assuming that's where your picture is on your phone) to set the background image.

The Mail screen will work in a similar way with the SMS/Email counter plugin, again, play with the x and y values to line up the counters with the background and set the background image when it's selected.

Hope this is of help!