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[nes6502]

What is the best way to do multiple screenshots?

Should I follow Xport's way and do 0.png, 1.png, etc...?

Or should I put them in different folders like:

E:\ZsnexBox\prev\cart\super mario world.png
E:\ZsnexBox\prev\box fronts\super mario world.png
E:\ZsnexBox\prev\box backs\super mario world.png
E:\ZsnexBox\prev\title\super mario world.png
E:\ZsnexBox\prev\in game\super mario world.png

I can do either one. Is there a benefit to either method? I know there are some tools people have written to convert to Xport format. So that seems like the best way. I want to pick the method that will make it as easy as possible for people to make screenshot packs.

[GLiTcH]

xports way, seems clearer..



hope next version comes out in a week or so will be leaveing for a couple of months (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[nes6502]

QUOTE(GLiTcH @ Sep 4 2006, 03:32 AM)

xports way, seems clearer..
hope next version comes out in a week or so will be leaveing for a couple of months (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

It might not be out until you get back.

[BobBorakovitz]

I'm not really picky on how it's done, as long as it happens!
Thanks for putting forth the initiative to support multiple screenshots!  (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Andrew_Roy]

QUOTE(nes6502 @ Sep 4 2006, 03:38 AM)

It might not be out until you get back.

That's what I was thinking.

Xports way is more standard and leaves more option I believe.

[gilles9999]

NES 6502; I THINK IT IS POSSIBLE TO DO A BEST SYSTEM THAN XPORT, I EXPLAIN:
a tittle screenshot kave a different format than a "boxart"  or a "cartridge pic" format
so it would be perfect if you keep the idea of the different folder ( tittle, in game, boxart , cartridge, etc...)
and let the user selecting the format of the different previews (if the default ones aren t the good size)

because if the preview size is the same for each folder, it will means deformated boxart cartridge (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

[gilles9999]

here is an exemple of a "standard cartridge and boxart, (if it can help you to do the defaults preview)
http://www.rogepost.com/dn/rflf/top+gear+pack.rar (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[XaRaNn]

I guess it kindda depends if guybird will come thru with his completed snes preview pack.

He said he'd prefer different dirs, it may make things easier (notwithstanding already-coded tools to rename them to xport fashion)

I'd suggest you try to contact him -- see what progress he's done with the pack.

[guybird]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)  Can't believe I didn't see this thread earlier!!!  There are two ways to look at this:

1.  Xport's setup allows easy setup for USER CREATED screenshots.  If a user likes to take their own screenshots, make screenshots for save state points, etc, this is the way to go.
2.  The traditional MAME setup is much easier for ARTPACK CREATORS to setup, and much simpler for users to set it up how they like.  Using Xport's method, its difficult for a user to decide if they only want box fronts to display, or if they want box fronts to display first, followed by backs, etc.

If it were my decision, I'd set it up in the tradidtional MAME setup, with:  "fronts", "backs", "carts", "snaps", "titles" and possibly even "flyers".  Really, I don't think it'd be that difficult to add in support for tons of different art types, as the burden is on the user to come up with the artwork.  Really I think this allows for the best of all worlds; hardcore collectors like me could have all of the artwork I can possibly muster up, while the standard user can settle for snaps or fronts, ITS THEIR CHOICE!  Additionally if it was really desired by people, you could do this in conjunction with XPort's setup for snaps.  This would allow the "stock" artwork that's really not going to change to be there and untouched while the user has the full ability to make pics for save states, or whatever they wish.  As long as the Gui has an option to determine the display order of the "stock" artwork (fronts, backs, carts etc) the setup for the user is a matter of drag and drop.  To setup my art packs for XPort standards,  I have an "XPort Artwork convertor" that you can run on them to set everything up, but its still heavily dependent on the user's know how to get it done.

Bottom line:  Use both the MAME style setup (which allows for great ease of use and future expansion) alongside Xport's setup (in the existing previews folder? or a second snapshots?) for user customized snapshots.  I'd also reccomend putting the artwork folders in either a "artwork" or "previews" folder, to remove clutter from the root ZSNES directory.

This is a HUGE stretch (or maybe not) but using a DAT file system would alleviate many headaches from FATX file renaming to matching up artwork.  I think its done wonderfully for MAME and Surreal, and could be used the same way for ZSNES.  Maybe even going so far as making box art icons for each game (that's a stretch).  Once again though, implementing this shouldn't be hard at all, and once done (either through a true dat file like FBA or MAME or through an .ini file like surreal) the burden of updating these could be put towards scene contributors like me and others, not on you.  Ok enough rambling....

This post has been edited by guybird: Sep 6 2006, 12:47 PM