uLaunchELF Documentation Project - Page 2

gravelhead44 · #26 10-17-2005, 09:24 PM

Does anyone have any suggestions for things they would like more detailed instructioins for the Doc. I can just start in the beginning and go from there, but would rather key in on problem areas or parts of the program where people have had a lot of questions. As far as modules, etc. MonkY, I can't be of much assistance in that area. The last code I wrote was in basic on an Apple IIe(ouch).

MaPomme · #27 02-17-2006, 03:00 AM

With the 3.43-44-45 version of LaunchElf, the 1.1 version of the doc can lead the user to big mistakes, in the "memory saves copy" and in the "launchelf.cnf file format" sections.

HypERSoniC · #28 03-01-2006, 07:42 AM

yeh, its really outdated.. gotta find some time to redo it.. its long overdue..

next release will be in html probably.. or pdf created with open office.org

ps2dragon · #29 03-07-2006, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HypERSoniC

yeh, its really outdated.. gotta find some time to redo it.. its long overdue..

next release will be in html probably.. or pdf created with open office.org

Hi HyperSonic, I've actually already completely re-did this document in HTML/CSS. I agree it's really outdated now, and I am willing to help in anyway I can if you want, since I've got lots of free time.

What I've Updated:
- Improved the visual layout using HTML/CSS
- Re-created snapshot images using uLE v3.41t+ GUI
- Updated uLE ChangeLog
- Added Acknowledgements (this may need to be corrected)

I've tested this in both IE v6.0.2900.2180 and FireFox v1.5.0.1 and it looks great. Please let me know what you think of my improvements.

--EDIT: I've been trying to find a free HTML-to-MHT/CHM tool, and stumbled across something that converted my .html to a .mht doc. It seems to work, but I'm not sure if it's just reading my images from the browser cache or some other location. Can someone please compare the MHT file with the HTML/CSS document and tell me if all Images are showing up in the MHT file?

--EDIT: I've sent a copy of just the MHT file to a friend who tested it, and he says all the images show up fine and the links work too.

Here are the updated documents:

gravelhead44 · #30 03-08-2006, 07:36 PM

Looks reall great dragon. Nice work.

ps2dragon · #31 03-08-2006, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gravelhead44

Looks reall great dragon. Nice work.

Thanks man, I was also trying to find a free .html to .pdf maker, but haven't been able to yet. With the new CSS layout, it is a lot easier to modify the document colors and layout. The only thing I haven't done yet was to put back in all the italics, which is easy enough to do.

I was also thinking of re-writing this to have three main parts, one for the average user, one for the advanced user, and a third for developers (suggestion taken from 'MonkY'). I made it pretty simple looking because I was trying to keep the file size down, using as little images as possible cause I first want to know what direction I should be taking this from the others.

I also wanted to know who put in all the content? I wasn't sure if it was HyperSonic, everyone here, or just stuff taken directly from E P and dlanor.

gravelhead44 · #32 03-10-2006, 12:55 AM

BTW how did you take the screenshots with launchelf??

ps2dragon · #33 03-10-2006, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gravelhead44

BTW how did you take the screenshots with launchelf??

The images I used in the new document weren't actually screen shots. I completely recreated the entire uLE interface in Photoshop just so it would be small in size and as clear as possible. Although, I do have a program that I use to take screen shots with my PS2 connected directly to my PC through the graphics card. It does a pretty good job, which you can check out in the attached image below. You can tell it's a screen shot from the shady lines at the top of the image. The program is called iuVCR, great program for taking snap shots and recording short videos.

--EDIT: I also included a screen shot from Soul Calibur III so you can see how well it captures images from a game.

ps2dragon · #34 03-10-2006, 01:46 AM

I also just realized I can make the current images in this documentation a lot clearer (which I will include in the next release), because right now the text in the resized images is hard to read (which is why I linked them to a larger image). I would like to know the exact font uLE uses so I can make it almost identical, even though I came pretty close using the Fixedsys font.

I also think a great thing to include in this documentation is a FAQ section. This would eliminate a lot of the questions new users ask up front. I was thinking of re-writing parts of this documentation (starting with the mcPaste function), but I first wanted to get some feedback from HyperSonic since he started this documentation in the first place.

HypERSoniC · #35 03-10-2006, 09:08 AM

nice one ps2dragon.. im not claming ownership of the documentation, its a community thing... we can improve the documentation together for everyone.

your html conversion looks great btw

ps2dragon · #36 03-10-2006, 01:15 PM

Ok, I decided to use the version scheme from the original documentation.

New Updates:
- Added highlighting of specific terms (dark blue), files/locations/commands (light blue), locations (green), and actions (red)
- Fixed resized images so text is readable
- Removed redundant images (light bulb and globe)
- Added controller button icons
- Did a complete spell check and fixed up some small formatting issues
- Added mcPaste to the documentation (from information dlanor provided me previously)
- Added myself to the Acknowledgements section

Question: is there any purpose in continuing to upload the MHT file? Is anyone using it?

Jones23 · #37 03-10-2006, 05:28 PM

@ps2dragon:
Hi there. Nice work. Your Pics look better than the original.

I just made some test-records with my DVD-recorder and took some screenshots from DVD. Have a look and let me know if you want some more, just in case you want to have the original-look in your doc.

ps2dragon · #38 03-10-2006, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jones23

@ps2dragon:
Hi there. Nice work. Your Pics look better than the original.

I just made some test-records with my DVD-recorder and took some screenshots from DVD. Have a look and let me know if you want some more, just in case you want to have the original-look in your doc.

Edit:
Don't know why this pic looks so bad in my browser. It was fine in corel draw.

Thanks for the offer Jones23, but I already have the ability to capture real screen shots with iuVCR (hence my post yesterday to gravelhead44 in post #33). As I said in that post, I decided to recreate the interface in photoshop so the images would be smaller in filesize and look more clear. Also, if your wondering why my recreation of the images is a little brighter then an actual screen shot, that's because uLE shows up brighter on the TV, making it appear brighter then the screen shots you take, at least it does on my TV anyway.

ps2dragon · #39 03-10-2006, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HypERSoniC

nice one ps2dragon.. im not claming ownership of the documentation, its a community thing... we can improve the documentation together for everyone.

your html conversion looks great btw

Thanks Hyper, did you see my post #31? I was asking who wrote the bulk of this documentation, because I wanted to get your opinion if it was you. There have been a lot of improvements to uLE and I don't know what's missing or changed/updated. If you don't have the time, can anyone here please help me go through this document and tell me what is incorrect and needs updating?

ps2dragon · #40 03-11-2006, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaPomme

With the 3.43-44-45 version of LaunchElf, the 1.1 version of the doc can lead the user to big mistakes, in the "memory saves copy" and in the "launchelf.cnf file format" sections.

I believe I corrected the memory card save section by adding mcPaste now, if not please let me know. Can someone please elaborate what MaPomme meant about the "launchelf.cnf file format" section?

dlanor · #41 03-11-2006, 02:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ps2dragon

I believe I corrected the memory card save section by adding mcPaste now, if not please let me know. Can someone please elaborate what MaPomme meant about the "launchelf.cnf file format" section?

Well, the old LaunchELF versions used a very primitive CNF file format compared to the current one.

As you can see in the modern CNFs, each line consists of a config variable name, followed by an equals sign, followed by the value assigned to that variable. But the old CNF format only contained values, and was therefore dependent on following a strict order for those values. Any deviation, whether by adding extra lines or by leaving any out, would cause subsequent values to be misunderstood, affecting other internal parameters than they were intended for.

In the new format however, most lines may be arbitrarily ordered, except that the "CNF_version" variable MUST be defined before any other variables. But even it doesn't need to be the first line in the file, as you may optionally precede it by any number of comment lines.

The new format gives both users and developers a lot of new freedom in what the CNF files may now be used for, and how they can be manipulated. For example, we can safely add almost any number of new variables, since there is now little need to keep track of line positions, and users may freely edit variables by copy/paste methods in any text editor. Barring obvious user mistakes, such editing is not only safe, but in fact the recommended way to do some things. It is certainly the best way for an experienced user to get a quick overview of all the settings for any given uLaunchELF setup.

There is even one variable which MUST be entered by external editor, if it is to be altered at all. The "NET_HOSTwrite" variable is by default given the value "0", thus diabling writes to your PC, and the only way to change this is to edit the value to "1" in a text editor. This is to discourage inexperienced users from having this enabled, as it could lead to damage of files on their PC, if they misuse it.

Anyway, a fully complete documentation for LaunchELF needs to mention each of the existing CNF variable names, and how their values are interpreted by LaunchELF, so that users may edit their CNF files with confidence.

Best regards: dlanor

Experiment1106 · #42 03-11-2006, 05:10 AM

very good work Ps2 Dragon i think that you have forgotten the host function - i think a lot of users have no Idea what he can do with that

ps2dragon · #43 03-11-2006, 12:21 PM

Another update, starting to get into modifying/updating more of the content.

New Updates:
- More formatting improvements/changes
- Added new LAUNCHELF.CNF information (taken directly from the LAUNCHELF.CNF file)
- Included some extra detail on the Network Settings section
- Added an extra image to the The File Manager Screen section

NOTE: I didn't include all the LAUNCHELF.CNF file settings information yet, just wanted to get the basics uploaded for now.

--EDIT:
I just made a quick change by removing the first two sections "Preface" and "Welcome to LaunchELF" from the navigation, since there was no point to have them there. I re-numbered all the other sections, which means I corrected references to those sections in the document also.

ps2dragon · #44 03-11-2006, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Experiment1106

very good work Ps2 Dragon i think that you have forgotten the host function - i think a lot of users have no Idea what he can do with that

Thanks. I'm not sure what you mean by your not able to find information on HOST. Information on HOST is located in both sections "3c. The File Manager Screen" and "4d. Supported File System Detail". Maybe you mean there isn't enough information about HOST to completely understand it? If so, I will add more detail once I get a chance. I believe there is some information in one of the uLaunchELF thread somewhere about HOST, which I will add once I am able to find it.

Experiment1106 · #45 03-12-2006, 04:43 AM

no what i mean is that - for my self i have no problem with your docu - and i have no Problem to Configure Ulaunch for my self

i understand the working from Ulaunch and its for me The 1st Choice for PS2.

What i mean in My Post is noobs have Problems to understand that - but thats a problem of the most Docus.

ps2dragon · #46 03-12-2006, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Experiment1106

no what i mean is that - for my self i have no problem with your docu - and i have no Problem to Configure Ulaunch for my self

i understand the working from Ulaunch and its for me The 1st Choice for PS2.

What i mean in My Post is noobs have Problems to understand that - but thats a problem of the most Docus.

I completely agree with you, and I was thinking that's what you meant, but just wanted to make sure. I also posted earlier that I was thinking of splitting this document into three main sections: 1) one for the average user, 2) one for the advanced user, and 3) a third for developers. But right now I?m still trying to collect the missing content before making the split. Since I'm fairly new to this app myself, I'm still trying to separate what would be considered advanced and what would only be considered necessary for a new user. If anyone can give me some suggestions I would greatly appreciate it.

Experiment1106 · #47 03-12-2006, 01:39 PM

that with the 3 sections is a very good Idea - i think its the best what i have hear it. I think the version who exist is the version for the advanced user when he looks the manual he can find all Information.
The first i think the best way to realize that is a step by step manual with many pics lol you know what i mean.
The third is thinking the biggest Problem - when a developer can do that were very cool my skills to do that is not enough but i hope anybody will do that.
Can you tell me what for content you need maybe I can help you ????

best Regards

Experiment1106

ps2dragon · #48 03-13-2006, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Experiment1106

that with the 3 sections is a very good Idea - i think its the best what i have hear it. I think the version who exist is the version for the advanced user when he looks the manual he can find all Information.
The first i think the best way to realize that is a step by step manual with many pics lol you know what i mean.
The third is thinking the biggest Problem - when a developer can do that were very cool my skills to do that is not enough but i hope anybody will do that.

Yes I think it would be good to have a separate section for new users since there is so much information to cover, although I still don't know yet if it's really a good idea or not. I'm starting to realize it might be just better to better organize the current content instead, but we'll see how it turns out. I still have no idea what would go into a developer section for this app, so I think I'm just going to focus on the current content for now.

Quote:

Can you tell me what for content you need maybe I can help you ????

To be honest, I have no idea what I need. I just know it's not complete yet and it needs a lot of work. I was hoping you or some others could tell me what I needed to include or change. Right now I have been taking a break from working on it, but I haven't lost all interest, so I'll release something as soon as I get the desire to work on it again.

--EDIT:
Actuallly, I just realized I still need to include the "Screen Settings" and the "Startup Settings" sections. I was also thinking about having a step-by-step version using screen shots, which is how I think the current document will look like anyway once I get the rest of the sections completed.

E P · #49 03-16-2006, 02:47 AM

Nice work ps2dragon, I really like the layout.

A few things could probably be added about FTP. I just took these quotes from one of my earlier posts. Dlanor has some pretty good posts about how to use host from earlier as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by E P

Now you can mount a hdd partition to pfs/0 in three different ways:
1. Traditional way, issue the custom command "SITE MNT /pfs/0 hdd:+MAIN" through a FTP Client.
2. ULaunchELF way, view a certain hdd partition to make uLaunchELF mount that particular one.
3. New way, Open a directory partition in hdd/0 to auto-mount the partition.

Three ways of un-mounting a hdd partition that is mounted at pfs/0:
1. Traditional way, issue the custom command "SITE UMNT /pfs/0" through a FTP Client.
2. ULaunchELF way, after viewing a mounted partition in the fileBrowser press select.
3. New way, Open up the hdd/0 directory listing to auto un-mount the previous one.

Anyway this pretty much finishes off all I wanted done with ps2ftpd except that one issue with GetFileSize function in FileSystem.c for pfs. It's the only other issue I can't seem to find a fix or a more proper workaround for.

Code:

Differences between uLaunchELF's PS2Net FTP and SlicStik's EXECFTPS:

				EXECFTPS		PS2Net
based off of chips ps2ftpd:	Yes, older version 	Yes, latest version
source changes open:	 	No			Yes
complete UNIX LIST format:	No, partial		Yes
hdd driver supports 48-bit lba:	No			Yes, using uLaunchELF's hdd drivers
shows only up to 2 mc devices:	No			Yes
support for usb mass devices:	No			Yes, using uLaunchELF's usb drivers
shows only valid partitions:	No			Yes
open copy-protected mc folders:	No			Yes
hdd attributes set properly:	No			Yes
rename files/dirs on hdd:	No			Yes
new timestamps are consistent:	No			Yes, using uLaunchELF's drivers
auto-mount hdd partitions:	No			Yes
proper sizes of hdd partitions:	No			Yes, using uLaunchELF's hdd drivers
support for ps1 memory cards:	No			Yes

Currently I use Filezilla and also Windows builtin commandline FTP. I stopped using bpftp after they gave their FTP client program a makeover. It wasn't a moment to soon as I had just finished the auto-mounting hdd partitions via FTP client. The transition to Filezilla was a breeze after that.

Anyway you're free to use my earlier info in the manual/documentation if you want in any way you want.

r0dent · #50 03-20-2006, 03:18 AM

Hello,

and thanks very much for this document!

There is a section where it says "You can boot uLE direct from CD/DVD",
Unfortunately there is no Info on how to configurate uLE for CD/DVD use,
and on how to burn uLE to CD/DVD.

Is there any chance you can add this to your guide?

is there any other tutorial available on this?

thanks
RGDS
Alex