Hi,
I was trying to sort out contents for my ROM. I made 3 folders for media contents - music/photo/video - which i put in the EXT folder.
Now, the contents, the song and its album art, in the music folder were processed okay. They showed up fine after I flashed the ROM. But not for the contents in the other two folders. I checked the build log and while the folders were included in the ROM, none of the files in those folders were processed.
I then put back some of the files to the original folder to see what happens and worked fine.
I searched around the forum but couldn't find anything or maybe I just didn't do it right. But please enlighten me on why this happens.
Thanks.
you should edit the regs in your camera EXT PKGS that way you will be able to create those folders and of course make some directories by app.dat check your initflashfiles.dat to know how
+ Que PPC said:
you should edit the regs in your camera EXT PKGS that way you will be able to create those folders and of course make some directories by app.dat check your initflashfiles.dat to know how
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Thanks for the reply.
This is my first time cooking a ROM so please be patient. Still learning here.
I think I wasn't being clear. What I was saying was that the files weren't included in the cooking process, even though I enabled the folders in EVK already.
Usually, whatever folders I enable in the EVK, the files inside those folders will be in the Windows directory after I flash the ROM. And when I check the build log, they're there.
I still don't get why. I did download another kitchen and check and the owner just added a provxml file to copy those files to My Pictures/My Videos folder. I also tried that and nothing happened. I guess that's because the files didn't get processed during ROM creation and weren't in the Windows directory to begin with.
The ones in the SampleMusic was okay and I did use a provxml to copy it to My Music folder. I took out the provxml and worked fine. The files were found in the Windows directory. So I put some files back into the original folder in the SYS and they showed up. Very puzzling.
Oh i understand now
Well, if you want to move the files you can use the provxml... cause the EVK will add all files first in windows "ALL" then it will makes a copy of that files where you want them... Using the app.dat file inside every EXT PKG check them
I just cooked with a different set of SYS and will leave those sample multimedia files where they are. Not a big deal anyway.
As for those EXT packages/folders I made, I just moved the files from my stock OEM over only. Most of them don't have app.dat/app.reg/provxml as I want to make sure the cooked ROM work without trouble first before I mess around with those registry files.
Got a question though. If I make app.dat/app.reg/provxml for these packages, do I leave the stock registry files alone or modify them or even delete them?
well if you went from OEM to EXT the rgu should be converted into app.reg if not... "do it" cause RGU is not a file that will be registered and imported by the rom and app.reg is the file you must to use for import regs into the cooking process
The thing is that many rgu files I see, they have settings for multiple apps. I have to separate them into different files before I convert them right? And some apps have settings on multiple rgu/provxml files. What a pain.
And I just found out there's a program that converts OEM to EXT. And there I was, doing it manually the other day.
Default Trouble Cooking
I am trying to add Gameloft games that I have bought to my os kitchen. I am having trouble getting NBA 2010, Midnight bowling 2, and Avalanche Snowboarding to launch. I have all of the file in the correct places and they all show in in the rom after it has finished cooking but they dont launch either from the start menu or the programs files folder. I am hoping that if some could help me figure this out, and in the process help others who could have the same problem.
i used CABTOEXT And Package to ext the edited the appdata with xml maker. then i tried with out editing the appdata and nothing. i will be willing to compansate for the fix
I think it's better to make EXT's from scratch instead of using a cab-2-package creator. There may be registry keys added by a setup.dll that you miss, or that are added after launching the app or a soft reset. Here's how I do it (you need sk tracker):
Do a scan with sk tracker.
Install the cab.
Scan again.
Launch the program, enter any codes or settings.
Scan again.
Now, do comparisons of the scans, and find all the new files and registry keys. Export the reg keys to an app.reg file. You can generally ignore the HKLM\Software\Apps and appinstall keys-these are just keys that allow the device to uninstall the cab. Occasionally, the install directory key is needed, but usually not. Definitely leave out the files in \windows\appmgr, that's just un-install info.
Next, don't bother with getting the program loaded into its own folder in \program files. That's usually a waste, because most apps work straight out of \windows. Exe's search for resources first in their own folder and then in \windows most of the time, so if you put the .exe and everything else in windows, you're good to go. If there are sub-folders, then the sub-folders need to be loaded into \windows\ as a sub-folder (I personally use zip files/mortscripts to do it, but a cab will work as will initflashfiles.dat). You have to be careful about settings files, particularly .ini's. They do not like being read-only, and this may be why your game doesn't launch. So, if you have an .ini file, or a settings.txt file, or a game.dat file (or similar), you need to load it into \windows or wherever so it's not read-only. Personally, if I have sub-folders going into windows, I'll create a zip file that sends the .ini, .dat or .txt file into \windows as an archive file, but you can also use initflashfiles.dat to create a copy wherever you want that isn't read-only.
If you change the install directory from program files to windows, then you may need to look into the .reg keys and change some paths. Also, you'll need to change any shortcut paths to \windows\game.exe. Putting things directly in windows saves memory, and you can also convert files to modules to take advantage of the increase VM slots with native 6.5 kernels. It all comes down to experimentation, though.
Thanks for the info, but all of the reg entrys were either in the hklm\security\appsinstall or the hklm\software\apps, andi i entered them and still nothing. I have never worked with mortscript, I did look for a tutorial but couldn't understand all of what they were saying is there a video tutorial, or another soultion?
Did you check to see if any settings-type files are read-only? That will kill a game for sure, and they usually save user data in files (not the registry).
I appericeate your willingness to help a noob, and thank you. how do I check to see if they are read only, how do I make shure that they are what they need to be during the cooking process?
all of the files for one of the games are as follows
Avalanche Snowboarding.exe
data.bar------------------this one Program Files\Gameloft\Game name
GetRealDPI.exe------------------this one Program Files\Gameloft\Game name
icon_45x45.png------------------this one Program Files\Gameloft\Game name
icon_60x60.png------------------this one Program Files\Gameloft\Game name
icon_90x90.png------------------this one Program Files\Gameloft\Game name
Installer.dll------------------this one Program Files\Gameloft\Game name
STPA001.DLL---------------------------this one is in windows\ appmgr
60DE.tmp---------------------------this one is in windows\ appmgr
Avalanche Snowboarding.lnk------------------this one Windows\start menu\ programs\Games
the structure of each game is very simalier, except for midnight bowling 2 which has no icon.png in the gameloft file after install.
Which one look s like the suspect for tha data file\needs not to be read only?
do the games work when you install them as a cab? after you cook your rom and you say they wont launch, have you tried installing them as cabs and see if that fixes it? if so you know its a problem with your pkg and not something else in your rom. basically what farmer ted is saying is that you can make your own package by installing the cab and then exporting all the installed files/reg and putting them in your kitchen with app.dat to put them in the right places i think this is your best bet.
Data.bar is probably the game store; just check the file properties with total commander. If it's read-only, then uncheck it.
Get rid of the two appmgr files; those are just uninstall junk, and you don't need to cook them in. You only need one of the 3 icons in all likelihood. They're start menu icons, right? Just use the one that is in the startinfo/icon reg key, and leave out the other two. I kind of doubt you need installer.dll or the getrealdpi.exe as well. It seems like those just run the install. Speaking of which, this is probably where you're screwing up. Did you just dump this stuff from the .cab with a package creator? It seems like you have files for a partially installed app. Probably, the cab installs the 'getrealdpi.exe', and that process runs and figures out your device resolution, then the installer.dll decides what files to install or maybe sets reg keys for the proper resolution. I'm not sure that you have everything you need in your package. I suspect this is the source of your problem, more so than having a settings file marked as 'read-only.'
Edit: cough, cough, I know a little more about the game now (not saying how). Data.bar is a resource file (a big one). You need it, obviously. The settings files are .sav files (2 of them, as far as I can see). They're created after you launch the game. The only two files you really need are the avalanche snowboarding.exe and the data.bar file. Do this: stick them in an EXT, and don't use an app.reg file. Just send them to \windows. Send the shortcut to the games folder, but you'll need one with the proper path. You can make the shortcut by putting the following in a .txt file and changing the extension to .lnk.
Code:
1#"\Windows\Avalanche Snowboarding.exe"
Name it whatever you want.
Long story short: put the two files in a package. Screw the icon.png, they're a huge frickin waste, imo. Then use an app.reg to send the shortcut (also in the package) to the games folder. If you want to back up user data, save the .sav files and copy them into \windows after flashing. It should work.
Farmer Ted said:
Data.bar is probably the game store; just check the file properties with total commander. If it's read-only, then uncheck it.
Get rid of the two appmgr files; those are just uninstall junk, and you don't need to cook them in. You only need one of the 3 icons in all likelihood. They're start menu icons, right? Just use the one that is in the startinfo/icon reg key, and leave out the other two. I kind of doubt you need installer.dll or the getrealdpi.exe as well. It seems like those just run the install. Speaking of which, this is probably where you're screwing up. Did you just dump this stuff from the .cab with a package creator? It seems like you have files for a partially installed app. Probably, the cab installs the 'getrealdpi.exe', and that process runs and figures out your device resolution, then the installer.dll decides what files to install or maybe sets reg keys for the proper resolution. I'm not sure that you have everything you need in your package. I suspect this is the source of your problem, more so than having a settings file marked as 'read-only.'
Edit: cough, cough, I know a little more about the game now (not saying how). Data.bar is a resource file (a big one). You need it, obviously. The settings files are .sav files (2 of them, as far as I can see). They're created after you launch the game. The only two files you really need are the avalanche snowboarding.exe and the data.bar file. Do this: stick them in an EXT, and don't use an app.reg file. Just send them to \windows. Send the shortcut to the games folder, but you'll need one with the proper path. You can make the shortcut by putting the following in a .txt file and changing the extension to .lnk.
Code:
1#"\Windows\Avalanche Snowboarding.exe"
Name it whatever you want.
Long story short: put the two files in a package. Screw the icon.png, they're a huge frickin waste, imo. Then use an app.reg to send the shortcut (also in the package) to the games folder. If you want to back up user data, save the .sav files and copy them into \windows after flashing. It should work.
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I am Trying now.
twopumpchump said:
do the games work when you install them as a cab? after you cook your rom and you say they wont launch, have you tried installing them as cabs and see if that fixes it? if so you know its a problem with your pkg and not something else in your rom. basically what farmer ted is saying is that you can make your own package by installing the cab and then exporting all the installed files/reg and putting them in your kitchen with app.dat to put them in the right places i think this is your best bet.
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yes the cabs work after i cook, the problem seems to be in the package.
JMM2009 said:
I am Trying now.
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No Dice, any other suggestions?
Have you tried just clicking on the .exe instead of the shortcut? This should be working.
Edit: ok, I was getting tricked. This game only works when the .bar file is in \program files\Gameloft\Avalanche Snowboarding. Make sure you have the folders named correctly-when I changed it to game loft, the game wouldn't launch. The .exe can be in \windows. I guess the search path for the .bar file is hard-coded to the one folder.
I put them in the Program Files\Gameloft\Game Name and I got one working, Brain Challenge 3. But of the four games I am trying to install I have only been able to get one working at best during any time I have been cooking, could it be possible that the app.dat file that I have for the file path is overwriting the data.bar. This is what I have in each app.dat file
Directory("\Program Files\"):-Directory("Gameloft")
Directory("\Program Files\Gameloft\"):-Directory("Avalanche Snowboarding")
Directory("\Program Files\Gameloft\Avalanche Snowboarding"):-File("Avalanche Snowboarding.exe","\Windows\Avalanche Snowboarding.exe")
Directory("\Program Files\Gameloft\Avalanche Snowboarding"):-File("data.bar","\Windows\data.bar")
Directory("\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Games"):-File("Avalanche Snowboarding.lnk","\Windows\Avalanche Snowboarding.lnk")
could the fact that I am creating a new gameloft folder with each game be screwing me up?
D'oh, that's definitely it! You need to work around that. Name them data1.bar, data2.bar..., then have the app.dat files rename them to data.bar when it copies them. Lol, glad it's figured out.
Edit: here's a dummy package that I would try out if I were you. It has mortscript included and all the necessary reg keys. What you need to do is to add your .exe's to the \Files folder, then add the data.bar files to the game folders inside the zip file. Basically, create a zip file with this structure: \Program Files\Gameloft\individual game folders\ and put the data.bar files in each corresponding game folder. Make sure the names are correct on the folders. Zip it up, and make sure the paths are correct, just like the way I have it, although I don't know the game names.
Then, look in the UnzipGameloft.mscr file with a text editor. Edit the .exe names in each of the 'createshortcut' commands to the name of the exe (exactly). You can call the .lnks whatever you want. The mortscript will create the shortcuts, so don't bother with putting shortcuts in the folder. Also, the package has a script to back up user data for all of the games. This is only going to work if the .sav files are created in \windows, and not in the stupid program folders (you can write a script to back up the games in that case, but it's more of a pain). During customization, the zip file is unzipped, the shortcuts are created, and the user data is restored.
what do you use to make your pkgs???
OMG i would like to get rid of the windows files with the one in program files...
Does this MSCR pkg can do that you know this is a case of double files in windows and in progranfiles
Edited
Farmer Ted said:
D'oh, that's definitely it! You need to work around that. Name them data1.bar, data2.bar..., then have the app.dat files rename them to data.bar when it copies them. Lol, glad it's figured out.
Edit: here's a dummy package that I would try out if I were you. It has mortscript included and all the necessary reg keys. What you need to do is to add your .exe's to the \Files folder, then add the data.bar files to the game folders inside the zip file. Basically, create a zip file with this structure: \Program Files\Gameloft\individual game folders\ and put the data.bar files in each corresponding game folder. Make sure the names are correct on the folders. Zip it up, and make sure the paths are correct, just like the way I have it, although I don't know the game names.
Then, look in the UnzipGameloft.mscr file with a text editor. Edit the .exe names in each of the 'createshortcut' commands to the name of the exe (exactly). You can call the .lnks whatever you want. The mortscript will create the shortcuts, so don't bother with putting shortcuts in the folder. Also, the package has a script to back up user data for all of the games. This is only going to work if the .sav files are created in \windows, and not in the stupid program folders (you can write a script to back up the games in that case, but it's more of a pain). During customization, the zip file is unzipped, the shortcuts are created, and the user data is restored.
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Ok Renaming didn't do the trick, so I am trying the mortscript method, have the exe in the first gameloft.zip then I have put the data.bar file in the folders that contain there name, I edited the unzipgameloft file with the creat shortcutlinks. now my question is this the gameloft zip withen the bundled files you sent, does this need to be renamed or can I drop it in my kitchen?
as of right now I am using OS kitchen, I tried cooking them in, which didn't work. then I tried pausing then adding the file, but I thought i remembered reading somewhrer that you need to pause before it reads the dump file however I dont have that ability I can onlt pause before the platform builder runs do I need to use a different kitchen, or should cooking them in or add them before the platform builder work?
Now this is funny
I tried to cook the games in with renaming data1 data2 ect... then I cooked, when the rom loaded I went to program files\gameloft folder and renamed each data.bar back to what it was, and they WORK thats good, now all i need to figure out is how to get each of those files to be renamed during the cooking processes or during the start up customazation. am I correct in thinking this, is it possiable?
JMM2009 said:
I tried to cook the games in with renaming data1 data2 ect... then I cooked, when the rom loaded I went to program files\gameloft folder and renamed each data.bar back to what it was, and they WORK thats good, now all i need to figure out is how to get each of those files to be renamed during the cooking processes or during the start up customazation. am I correct in thinking this, is it possiable?
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You can edit app.dat and change the destination file name to do that.
Directory("DESTINATIONFOLDER"):-File("DESTINATIONFILENAME","\Windows\SOURCEFILENAME")
airxtreme said:
You can edit app.dat and change the destination file name to do that.
Directory("DESTINATIONFOLDER"):-File("DESTINATIONFILENAME","\Windows\SOURCEFILENAME")
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It didn't rename it, it did however allow windows to overwrite the other data.bar files so it looks like it will have to be done during the customization
JMM2009 said:
It didn't rename it, it did however allow windows to overwrite the other data.bar files so it looks like it will have to be done during the customization
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I suggest you to leave the cab as it is and add it in the config.txt file for Autorun (with an add2config.txt file): using cab2ext when the application has to stay in program files can make the first boot a little quicker but it's going to waste more imgfs space because the files are not compressed (also with CABs you can uninstall the game in case you need). If you still want to cook it in as an expanded package you just have to use the kitchen package converter, rename all the package files adding an identifier in front of it like "gamename_" different for each game and edit the initflashfile changing the source file name with the one with the prefix. That should do it.
airxtreme said:
I suggest you to leave the cab as it is and add it in the config.txt file for Autorun (with an add2config.txt file): using cab2ext when the application has to stay in program files can make the first boot a little quicker but it's going to waste more imgfs space because the files are not compressed (also with CABs you can uninstall the game in case you need). If you still want to cook it in as an expanded package you just have to use the kitchen package converter, rename all the package files adding an identifier in front of it like "gamename_" different for each game and edit the initflashfile changing the source file name with the one with the prefix. That should do it.
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Click to collapse
What kitchen package convertor do you reccomned?