Animated gif, touch and switch and new ideas..

[Jocman]

Hi guys, newbie here.

First of all: GREAT SOFTWARE !!! (but I think it isn't a news, right?)

Btw, I got my touchscreen then designed my interface. It looks working fine....

Ok, now some points:

1) Initially, I made the backbone of my profile using some .png files, so to realize smooted button and needing to keep the transparency in the .png files.
Unfortunately, as I experimented then found in the forum, using all those .png (about 35) causes the emulator crash, so i decided to replace all the pngs with gif. It works great: transparency and, mainly, I see the pictures instead of an icon (as for pngs)
So I tryed to use some animated gif, but they don't work. I don't understand why: there are gif, or not?

2) There will be the possibility to use more images in the "button" feature too (as in switches)? This is because initially a realized the buttons as "touch": it's nice to see the button giving you a "sign of life" when you press it; but the "touch" type needs 2 macros: activates and deactivates (toggle status), isn't?
It is possible to use a touch button as a single button? I mean: I suppose the touch button works this way: I touch the screen > generates the 1st macro; I pull of my finger > generates the 2nd macro
The 2nd macro can be empty?

3) Switch button. There's the way to execute 2 different macros? (i.e. key A when switched on, key B when off)


Finally, I'd like the give some ideas for some features to add in a next Toolkit version: the possibility to copy the content of a TAB into another one: it could be usefull for placing clone buttons, without the need to create a new tab then placing manually all the buttons to clone trying to find the exact coordinates IOT not feel the tab switching.
Again, the possibility to move groups of buttons. Finally: what about import single TAB from other profiles?

By now thankyou very much for everything.

Jocman

[Wild.Bill.Kelso]

Originally Posted by Jocman

1) Initially, I made the backbone of my profile using some .png files, so to realize smooted button and needing to keep the transparency in the .png files.
Unfortunately, as I experimented then found in the forum, using all those .png (about 35) causes the emulator crash, so i decided to replace all the pngs with gif. It works great: transparency and, mainly, I see the pictures instead of an icon (as for pngs)
So I tryed to use some animated gif, but they don't work. I don't understand why: there are gif, or not?

TB does not animate gifs by default. Read this:
Animated Gifs - Made Easy...

Originally Posted by Jocman

2) There will be the possibility to use more images in the "button" feature too (as in switches)? This is because initially a realized the buttons as "touch": it's nice to see the button giving you a "sign of life" when you press it; but the "touch" type needs 2 macros: activates and deactivates (toggle status), isn't?
It is possible to use a touch button as a single button? I mean: I suppose the touch button works this way: I touch the screen > generates the 1st macro; I pull of my finger > generates the 2nd macro
The 2nd macro can be empty?

Yes, I think it can be empty. Did you just try it? Then you will find out.

Originally Posted by Jocman

3) Switch button. There's the way to execute 2 different macros? (i.e. key A when switched on, key B when off)

There are a list of the Button Types in the Help in the Toolkit. Just press F1 when you are on the Macro Edit screen. There is no Button Type called 'Switch'.

If you want to send one set of macros the first time a button s touched, and another set of macros when it is touched again, you need to look for Button Types that use this Syntax:
macro_select =
macro_deselect =

Look at the 'Hold' and 'Touch' Button Types.

Originally Posted by Jocman

Finally, I'd like the give some ideas for some features to add in a next Toolkit version: the possibility to copy the content of a TAB into another one: it could be usefull for placing clone buttons, without the need to create a new tab then placing manually all the buttons to clone trying to find the exact coordinates IOT not feel the tab switching.
Again, the possibility to move groups of buttons. Finally: what about import single TAB from other profiles?

There is already a way to do this in the Toolkit. It has not been tested very well and not many users have ever used it. So, use it at your own risk (backup your profiles!) But you should be ok.

Again, Press F1 to get the Help menus. And search for 'Import Tabs'. Or read this....

1. Open your profile in the Toolkit.
2. Select (or create) the tab you want to import 'into'.
3. Go to the 'Profile Manager' tab (the first tab).
4. Click on the 'Info' toolbar button (Toggle Preview Pane). it's the first toolbar button.
5. Select the profile that has the tab you want to 'import' into your profile's tab.
6. Cross your fingers.
7. On the Preview Panel (top right) select the Tab in that profile you would like to import, and click the Import Tab button.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you get it to work.

WBK

[Jocman]

Originally Posted by Wild.Bill.Kelso

There are a list of the Button Types in the Help in the Toolkit. Just press F1 when you are on the Macro Edit screen. There is no Button Type called 'Switch'.

Hi, WBK.
You're right, no type called "switch"; actually I was referring to the "toggle button".
Btw, you gave me an answer, cause there's no way (referring to Help file) to manage 2 different macros with this type (at least, untill next versions of TB).

About animated gifs, I'm sorry to cannot use them; the solution of a parallel software to manage them could be fine, but as you say other guys must have it if needs to share the profile, so...

I'll keep working on the last details for my TB interface, then start the testing in the next week (my PC super monster is still sleeping - damned online stores.....).
If evrything will work fine, I'll post the resoult, then if someone is interesting in,I'll share the profile (I think is too specific, but this will be decided by the guys)

In any case, you guys are fantastic, rarely I found a forum with this patience and willingness.

Jocman

[Wild.Bill.Kelso]

Originally Posted by Jocman

Hi, WBK.
You're right, no type called "switch"; actually I was referring to the "toggle button".
Btw, you gave me an answer, cause there's no way (referring to Help file) to manage 2 different macros with this type (at least, untill next versions of TB).

Why don't you just use one of the other buttons that does let you send two different macros? Hold and Touch type buttons may work.

Also, there will be no more development of Touchbuddy or the Toolkit. The TB developer has left the project for good.

[Jocman]

Originally Posted by Wild.Bill.Kelso

Why don't you just use one of the other buttons that does let you send two different macros? Hold and Touch type buttons may work.

Also, there will be no more development of Touchbuddy or the Toolkit. The TB developer has left the project for good.

Well, really I tought about hold and touch buttons; but as I understood on the help file, there are some .... disadvantage.
Hold: as I understood, the "key" keep being pressed, until another button is pressed. Well, we can use the "No Reset" Option, but I'm afraid when the help says "This is to prevent any keyboard oddities that could happen with keys being held down"......
This button could be the excellent one I'm looking for, but I tought about the "oddities"...
Btw, in the USE description, it works in the right way I mean. Honestly, I'm confused: it works right for that, but some oddities can happen....

Touch button: same topic, but I need to keep the single button state (change of image) without keep pressing, so the Hold could be the one.

The use I need is something like this (i.e.): press and generate "Key combo A" and change of image. Then (after seconds, minutes, hours...) press and generate "Key combo B" and image reset. On paper it works, ok, but what about the oddities??? Or there's some way to "depress" the key combo (don't know, smt like the KEYUP state) waiting for the 2nd pression?

About the TB developer left...I'm sorry to hear about.

Jocman

PS: btw, what I'm looking for isn't essential for the game, my interface works fine, it's just the silly looking for details perfection....

[Wild.Bill.Kelso]

This is very easy to do and is used in may profiles. touch button and send macro A and change image. touch button again and send macro B and change image. It is used all of the time in almost every profile... Look at other profiles for examples.

The oddities that I am referring to in the Help for keys held down or repeated is this. If you have for example key A pressed down and leave the game, the key is still pressed down all the time until you touch the button in touchbuddy again. Pressing and holding any key down in the Windows Desktop will cause some oddities. It will always type the letter AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA...

Just image if you are holding the Delete key down?

[Jocman]

Originally Posted by Wild.Bill.Kelso

The oddities that I am referring to in the Help for keys held down or repeated is this. If you have for example key A pressed down and leave the game, the key is still pressed down all the time until you touch the button in touchbuddy again. Pressing and holding any key down in the Windows Desktop will cause some oddities. It will always type the letter AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA...

Just image if you are holding the Delete key down?

Mmmmhhh, it means that I can avoid those "oddities" simply by resetting the profile (in TB TAB) before quit the game (btw during the game the loop won't be played even tough the macros is executed, right?)? If It's so it's a good news, and I'll change all the settings of my profile.

Jocman

[Wild.Bill.Kelso]

Or by just turning your switch off. I assume if you have a button that presses a key down, that when you touch it again it un-presses that key.

I don't know what you mean by 'the loop wont be played'. What loop?

[Jocman]

Originally Posted by Wild.Bill.Kelso

Or by just turning your switch off. I assume if you have a button that presses a key down, that when you touch it again it un-presses that key.

I don't know what you mean by 'the loop wont be played'. What loop?

Well, of course the switch is one I've should turn off too; but in case of emergency quit (i.e.: when the coffee is ready) I won't check evry switch, simply quit game and shut down the PC; that case, I will reset all macros via TB TAB, then quit, avoiding any oddities.

About "the loop won't be played": if I write a macro for an hold type (i.e. select: A deselect: B), when I "select", macro will generate in the game A only once (not AAAAAAAAAAA). But if I'd quit without "release" the hold button, the O.S. will keep A pressed, generating a loop (AAAAAAAAAAAA).
Or at least that's what I understood.
Btw, I already modified my profile with hold types I nedd, and it looks more cool.....
Just need to test (damned PC store, still waiting...maybe this week will be the one)