FMCB Commands

[N98bCadrin]

I was wondering if someone could implement the poweroff command that sits inside of uLE inside the FMCB Configurator so that it can be placed as a shortcut on the OSD.

I guess it's nearly the same as using the shared (FMCB Configurator and uLE) command "OSDSYS" that lets the user restart the system from the OSD and also lets the user go to the OSD from uLE itself, unfortunately the only system commands I see that have the ability to be assigned as shortcuts on the OSD besides actual programs are OSDSYS and LAUNCHDISC in the FMCB Configurator.

It would be even easier if someone could code a simple program that would shut the system off when the ELF is launched - just like Cb_launch.elf does a system call for OSDSYS.

I appreciate it guys, it would make it easier to shut the system down rather than have to wear our my power button :P or have to sit there and hold the button for 5 seconds because the IOP didn't reset properly from the last program exit...

[urbigbro]

The same effect can be achieved by having a separate copy of uLE in a folder of the MC (NOT the BOOT folder) or a USB stick with a uLE CNF configured to auto run the uLE power off command.
*The CNF must be in the same folder that the uLE elf is in for it to use that one, and not the one in MC:0/SYS-CONF.

You can then have a FREEMCB.CNF on the root of your USB drive that has this custom uLE install as a shortcut labeled power off.

LbFn also has auto launch features and the 'MISC/power off' function. You could do the same thing with it, but it is less obvious how to configure it due to it having a different menu structure for assigning buttons than uLE has, and less people are familiar with it.

You can also use the newer PS2 DVD remotes that have a power button if you have a v9 or newer.

The feature of uLE to run a CNF from the folder that the uLE.ELF file is in can be used to auto-run all of the currently assignable functions of uLE, or ELF files.
For example, you could have one for running the jpeg viewer in uLE.

[xtc-king]

The same effect can be achieved by having a separate copy of uLE in a folder of the MC (NOT the BOOT folder) or a USB stick with a uLE CNF configured to auto run the uLE power off command.
*The CNF must be in the same folder that the uLE elf is in for it to use that one, and not the one in MC:0/SYS-CONF.

You can then have a FREEMCB.CNF on the root of your USB drive that has this custom uLE install as a shortcut labeled power off.

LbFn also has auto launch features and the 'MISC/power off' function. You could do the same thing with it, but it is less obvious how to configure it due to it having a different menu structure for assigning buttons than uLE has, and less people are familiar with it.

You can also use the newer PS2 DVD remotes that have a power button if you have a v9 or newer.

The feature of uLE to run a CNF from the folder that the uLE.ELF file is in can be used to auto-run all of the currently assignable functions of uLE, or ELF files.
For example, you could have one for running the jpeg viewer in uLE.

that was really hard, is there an easy method, or a step by step. thanx

[dlanor]

----- re: using extra instance of uLE as a power-off tool

that was really hard, is there an easy method, or a step by step. thanx

It only seems hard because you're not used to this stuff yet.

uLE has the ability to launch ELFs not only by manual command, but also as an automated action, triggering at a set delay timeout from the startup of uLE, unless the user intervenes manually before that time. And if no elf has been set there for the auto-ELF choice, then this delay timeout method is not used.

Both the delay time and the auto-ELF choice are stored in the normal LAUNCHELF.CNF file, like all other uLE configuration details.

Step by step instructions:

1: Use uLE FileBrowser's "New Dir" to create a new folder on MC, called "PowOff_uLE"
2: Into the "PowOff_uLE" folder, copy the file "LAUNCHELF.CNF" from uLE release package
3: Into the same folder also copy uLE's BOOT.ELF, but renamed to "PowOff_uLE.ELF"
4: Start PowOff_uLE.ELF and enter its configuration menu (by pressing 'SELECT' once)
5: Cursor should already be at the "Default:" entry, which works almost like a normal launch key, except that it is not activated by any key, instead using a timeout. This is in fact the entry I referred to as 'auto-ELF' above. You should now set this just as a normal uLE launch key, but not to a real elf file, but to the internal subprogram command "MISC/PS2PowerOff" (accessible through the normal FileBrowser).
6: With the "Default:" line showing the PS2PowerOff choice, move cursor to the "Startup Settings..." entry to enter that submenu
7: In the "STARTUP SETTINGS" submenu, move cursor to the line saying "'Default' Timeout:" and reduce the displayed number to zero (btw: the time unit is seconds here)
8: Press 'Triangle' once to back to the main configuration menu again
9: Move the cursor to the OK command and use it (to save this changed CNF)

At this point the new poweroff tool is ready, and can be tested simply by using the FileBrowser from the normal menu and use it to browse the MC into the new PowOff_uLE folder and there start the new PowOff_uLE.ELF file, which should result in speedy poweroff, though you may or may not have time to glimpse a brief view of the uLE menu.

With this tool prepared you can now use the FMCB configurator to add this new PowOff_uLE elf file to the FMCB menu, so you can use it from there, either by direct menu entry choice, or by using a redefined launch key shortcut (defined similar to those of uLE).

For instructions on how to use the FMCB configurator, I refer you to the many tutorials already written on that subject.

Best regards: dlanor

[N98bCadrin]

Using uLE is a good idea and I will admit I didn't think about simply because I was looking at it from a different angle.

The reason why I mentioned using a purposely-made elf to call this system command, or to add this function into the FMCB configurator (which I believe is just uLE modified into a settings app) is because it would be a very small elf file (smaller than 5kb) that would not take up any more precious space on my already loaded 8mb memory card :P

I will try out the method for using uLE and I think it's an awesome idea, but I think maybe making a dedicated elf or integrating it into FMCB CFG would be more memory efficient, faster, and more simple to users less familiar with the ps2's file structure.

dlanor: if it's possible to do this, I think you would be the best coder to try it that I know of, as if I recall you are the one who coded the Cb_launch.elf that someone requested about a year ago and I love it, it works great! initially, it's what gave me the idea for an independent poweroff elf

[urbigbro]

Using uLE is a good idea and I will admit I didn't think about simply because I was looking at it from a different angle.

The reason why I mentioned using a purposely-made elf to call this system command, or to add this function into the FMCB configurator (which I believe is just uLE modified into a settings app) is because it would be a very small elf file (smaller than 5kb) that would not take up any more precious space on my already loaded 8mb memory card :P

If you have the 'power off uLE' located on USB, it takes up zero additional space on the MC. You could also just boot the uLE elf already on the the MC and have power off as a button short cut.

[N98bCadrin]

Hey guys, I took your idea and made a nifty lil rendition of what I think looks pretty good and I really like so I decided to share it with the community. Yes is takes up almost half a mb, but really.. I can deal with it in regards to the feature it adds, and how nice it looks. You couldn't get these results with a lil elf file anyway so I think the size is worth the eye-candy

I'd like to know what you guys think

I created my own custom skin and tweaked some a few settings in uLE to make it look the way it does. Everything is already pre-configured for your convenience Just extract the files to the root of your memory card and start the poweroff.elf file and watch the "magic"

To finish up I added the elf to FMCB CFG and called it Poweroff System at the end of the list and it works really well - that part You'll have to do on your own most of you know how to do this anyhow

word of caution: DO NOT (in any circumstance) put the ulaunchelf.cnf provided in your sys-conf folder or you will be imminently stuck with the system powering off every time you start uLE.. and you'll have to use recovery mode to fix it :P

.... there is but no warning that exists without reason... haha

EDIT: @urbigbro You posted just before I started this post so I didn't see what you wrote until now, but to respond I was looking for something I could add to the OSD that would look good and not take extra time by having to load up uLE and waiting for it to load but this method I have setup here works great - thank you though.

ohh and about the mc space: I wanted everything integrated into the mc so I can use it on any ps2 I am near at the moment without having to worry about having to rely on an external source - I'm a minimalist I guess you could say I do use my hard drive for extra apps that take up too much space though - but the essentials (like "poweroff") I wanted on the mc

[dlanor]

I will try out the method for using uLE and I think it's an awesome idea, but I think maybe making a dedicated elf or integrating it into FMCB CFG would be more memory efficient, faster, and more simple to users less familiar with the ps2's file structure.

A small elf containing no interactive code at all, but only a direct call to the "PowerOff" code, this can of course be made much smaller than uLE, and its simplicity will also eliminate som initialization code so that it executes a little faster.

dlanor: if it's possible to do this, I think you would be the best coder to try it that I know of, as if I recall you are the one who coded the Cb_launch.elf...

That is in fact incorrect. It was not I... I think it was jimmikaelkael.

But there are several coders here who could make a "PowerOff" utility like you want, in any case.

Best regards: dlanor

[dlanor]

word of caution: DO NOT (in any circumstance) put the ulaunchelf.cnf provided in your sys-conf folder or you will be imminently stuck with the system powering off every time you start uLE.. and you'll have to use recovery mode to fix it :P

In most cases it will be possible to recover using only uLE, as uLE does make some gamepad checks before the timeout check, able to abort the timeout. So if you just press Dpad-Up or Dpad-Down and keep it pressed just before uLE has had time to start after a launch, then you will 'land' in the main menu with the menu cursor running around vertically. So when you then release the Dpad button again, you will be able to navigate into the configuration menu to remove the "Default:" entry and resave this CNF. (With next task being to prepare the other CNF for the "PowerOff" folder.)

Best regards: dlanor

[N98bCadrin]

I forgot to attach the file... here you go guys

@dlanor: my bad I thought it was you that made the reboot elf, sorry

in the case of being able to hold up or down on the d-pad at uLE startup.. I tried that and it would move the cursor down or up the menu, but still power down the system, no matter what button I tried to hold at startup :/ maybe it only works for assigns elfs and not special system commands?