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collections [2017/05/15 18:09]
bodbod [(Sub-)Menu collections]
collections [2020/03/18 07:50]
phulshof [Directory Structure of a collection]
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-====== About Collections ​======+====== About collections ​======
 \\ \\
 A collection defines a set of games or menu level that generally have a common purpose, e.g. "​Nintendo Entertainment System"​ or "​Consoles"​. RetroFE generally supports 3 types of collections:​ A collection defines a set of games or menu level that generally have a common purpose, e.g. "​Nintendo Entertainment System"​ or "​Consoles"​. RetroFE generally supports 3 types of collections:​
  
 +  - (Sub-)Menu collections
   - ItemGame collections   - ItemGame collections
   - ItemSub/​Merged collections   - ItemSub/​Merged collections
-  - (Sub-)Menu collections 
  
 These types can be combined in one collection though, by simply having the required elements of more types in one collection. ​ These types can be combined in one collection though, by simply having the required elements of more types in one collection. ​
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 \\ \\
  
-===== Default ​Folders in Collections ​=====+===== Default ​collections ​=====
  
 The basic RetroFE installation leaves you with 2 main folders but you will be able to add many other as you wish later on :\\ The basic RetroFE installation leaves you with 2 main folders but you will be able to add many other as you wish later on :\\
Line 17: Line 17:
  
 ^Folder ^ Description ^ ^Folder ^ Description ^
-|_Common|Shared icons and other artworks used for the categories, manufacturers,​ etc|+|_common|Shared icons and other artworks used for the categories, manufacturers,​ etc|
 |Main|Default collection used for the main menu to work properly and containing the key file to be edited once you have created extra collections so they can be enabled on your screen (menu.txt)| |Main|Default collection used for the main menu to work properly and containing the key file to be edited once you have created extra collections so they can be enabled on your screen (menu.txt)|
  
 \\ \\
-**PS**: ​Some pre configured sets can be added for your convenience,​ they will not contain the roms of course, this is something you need to sort out on your own.+**PS**: ​In the installation you downloaded, some pre configured sets may have been added for your convenience,​ they will not contain the roms of course, this is something you need to sort out on your own.
 \\ \\
 \\ \\
-===== How to Add/Create Extra Collections? =====+===== How to Add/Create Extra collections? =====
  
  
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 **For Windows (example):​** **For Windows (example):​**
-    ​Core/RetroFE.exe -createcollection "​Nintendo Entertainment System"​+    ​core\RetroFE.exe -createcollection "​Nintendo Entertainment System"​
  
 **For Linux (example):​** **For Linux (example):​**
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 \\ \\
 **PS:** To enable your new collection in the interface menu, you will need to add the name of the collection in the menu.txt file stored in the Main folder **PS:** To enable your new collection in the interface menu, you will need to add the name of the collection in the menu.txt file stored in the Main folder
 +
 +
 \\ \\
 +
 +===== Directory Structure of a collection =====
 +
 +^File / Folder^ Description^
 +|info.conf|This file can be used to add additional system information,​ such as manufacturer,​ year, generation, etc. that can be displayed from the theme layouts. This same information can also be defined within settings.conf,​ but this extra file allows for a clean separation of settings and system information.|
 +|include.txt|If not empty, include only those files to show on the list, if empty, all files in ROM folder will be included. This file must contain one game per line (without the file extension). |
 +|exclude.txt |List of ROMs to exclude from showing up on the menu (if you want this collection to be a menu of collections). This file must contain one game per line (without the file extension).|  ​
 +|exclude_all.txt |List of ROMs to exclude from the all playlist. This file must contain one game per line (without the file extension).|  ​
 +|[[settings.conf|settings.conf]]|Set ROM file extensions, launcher (emulator to execute), override default media paths, etc |
 +|<​collectionname>​.sub|Imports a list of games from another collection. (i.e. Your collection is named "​Mario"​. You would have an "​Nintendo Entertainment System.sub"​ and "Super Nintendo Entertainment System.sub"​. Each sub file would contain a list of all mario games for that system. The .sub file contains one game per line (without the file extension).If the file is blank, the list settings defined for the subcollection will be used. |
 +|roms|Default location to search for ROM files (can be different if modified in the settings.conf file)|
 +|playlists|Default location for the favorites.txt file allowing you to manage your favorites|
 +|medium_artwork/​|Artwork for individual games|
 +|medium_artwork/​artwork_back|Default location to search for flyer, box and case backs |
 +|medium_artwork/​artwork_front|Default location to search for flyer, box and case fronts|
 +|medium_artwork/​medium_back|Default location to search for disc and cartridge backs|
 +|medium_artwork/​medium_front|Default location to search for disc and cartridge fronts|
 +|medium_artwork/​screenshot|Default location to search for screenshots for each individual game|
 +|medium_artwork/​screentitle|Default location to search for screentitles for each individual game|
 +|medium_artwork/​logo|Default location to search for logos for each individual game|
 +|medium_artwork/​video|Default location to search for videos for each individual game|
 +|medium_artwork/​story|Default location to search for game information story txt files for scrolling text display.|
 +|system_artwork/​|Artwork for the system collection. i.e. a picture of a Nintendo Entertainment System, its logo, or a "best of" video.|
 +|system_artwork/​device.png|Picture of the system device|
 +|system_artwork/​logo.png|Picture of the systems logo|
 +|system_artwork/​video.mp4|Video to play for this particular system|
 +|system_artwork/​story.txt|Text file containing system information for scrolling text display. |
 +
 \\ \\
 \\ \\
-====== The 3 kinds of Collections explained ====== 
 \\ \\
 +====== The 3 kinds of Collections Explained ======
  
-===== Games Collections ​=====+\\ 
 +===== (Sub)menu ​=====
  
-Games collections are collections consisting ​of the games, e.g. for a certain system like "Nintendo Entertainment System"It uses the contents of the rom directory in combination with the include.txt and exclude.txt file in the following manner:+A menu contains a list of other collections,​ and can be defined via the menu.txt file. When you select that item in the frontend, it will load that collection in a submenu. RetroFE allows you to combine ​games and collections in a single menu, by using both a menu.txt file and a games collection. A (sub-)menu collection is used to create a hierarchical level within your menu structure, e.g. Main->​Consoles->​Nintendo Entertainment System.
  
-If list.includeMissingItems in the settings.conf is false:+Below is an example for a basic collections/<​collection name>/​menu.txt file:
  
-      ​- Read the contents of the rom directory.+  Atari 2600 
 +  Atari 5200 
 +  Atari 7800 
 +  MAME 
 +  Nintendo Entertainment System 
 +  Super Nintendo Entertainment System 
 + 
 +Note that for each item specified, a directory with an identical name (case sensitive) must exist in your collections folder, so e.g. /​collections/​Super Nintendo Entertainment System/. 
 + 
 + 
 +Older versions of RetroFE used a menu.xml file in stead of a menu.txt file. For legacy support, such files are still supported. Below is an example for a basic collections/<​collection name>/​menu.xml file: 
 + 
 +  <​menu>​ 
 +     <​collection name="​Atari 2600" /> 
 +     <​collection name="​Atari 5200" /> 
 +     <​collection name="​Atari 7800" /> 
 +     <​collection name="​MAME"​ /> 
 +     <​collection name="​Nintendo Entertainment System"​ /> 
 +     <​collection name="​Super Nintendo Entertainment System"​ /> 
 +  </​menu>​ 
 + 
 +As you can see: using the menu.txt file requires far less typing. :)  
 + 
 +\\ 
 + 
 +===== Games collection ===== 
 + 
 +Games collections are collections consisting of a list of games, e.g. for a certain system like "​Nintendo Entertainment System"​. It uses the contents of the rom directory in combination with the include.txt and exclude.txt file in the following manner: 
 + 
 +If list.includeMissingItems in the [[settings.conf|settings.conf]] is false: 
 +      ​- Read the contents of the roms directory.
       - Keep only the names defined in include.txt.       - Keep only the names defined in include.txt.
       - Remove the names defined in exclude.txt.       - Remove the names defined in exclude.txt.
  
-If list.includeMissingItems in the settings.conf is true: +If list.includeMissingItems in the [[settings.conf|settings.conf]] ​is true:
       - Use the names defined in include.txt.       - Use the names defined in include.txt.
       - Remove the names defined in exclude.txt.       - Remove the names defined in exclude.txt.
 \\ \\
  
-=====Sub/​Merged ​Collections=====+=====Sub/​Merged ​collection=====
  
 Sub collections contain a subset of other collections,​ e.g. Capcom Play System I can be set up as a sub-set of Arcade. The sub-collection is defined by a <​collection>​.sub file, e.g. "​Capcom Play System I.sub"​. Sub collections contain a subset of other collections,​ e.g. Capcom Play System I can be set up as a sub-set of Arcade. The sub-collection is defined by a <​collection>​.sub file, e.g. "​Capcom Play System I.sub"​.
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-===== (Sub-)Menu Collections ​=====+====== Playlists ======
  
-A (sub-)menu ​collection ​is used to create ​hierarchical level within ​your menu structure, ​e.g. Main->​Consoles->​Nintendo Entertainment System. It is defined by the menu.txt file as described in Menus. Since older versions ​of RetroFE supported ​menu.xml file in stead, such legacy support still exists within RetroFE, but using menu.txt file is easier+RetroFE supports playlists, a sort of sub collection ​within ​collection. You can step through them using the previous/​next playlist keys defined in your [[controls|controls.conf]] file. You can use this feature to e.g. show a list of all games from certain manufacturer or certain genre.
  
 +Playlists are defined via txt files in the playlists directory of your collection, and like include.txt files simply contain a list of the games you want in that playlist. If a game is pulled from another collection via a sub/merged collection (.sub file), use _<​collection name>:<​game name>.
  
-\\ +Example: playlists/example.txt 
- +  ​_Super ​Nintendo Entertainment SystemSuper Mario World 
-====== Directory Structure of a Collection ====== +  _Nintendo ​Entertainment System: Super Mario Bros 
- +  Super Turrican 
-===== Collection Folder ===== +This defines ​playlist called examplecontaining ​the Super Mario World game from the Super Nintendo Entertainment System ​collection, Super Mario Bros from the Nintendo Entertainment System ​collectionand Super Turrican from this collection ​(available in the roms section and/or defined via the include.txt file).
- +
-^File Folder^ Description^ +
-|info.conf|This file can be used to add additional system information,​ such as manufacturer,​ year, generation, etc. that can be displayed from the theme layouts. This same information can also be defined within settings.conf,​ but this extra file allows for a clean separation of settings and system information.| +
-|include.txt|If not empty, include only those files to show on the list, if empty, all files in ROM folder will be included. This file must contain one game per line (without the file extension). | +
-|exclude.txt |List of ROMs to exclude from showing up on the menu (if you want this collection to be a menu of collections). This file must contain one game per line (without the file extension).| ​  +
-|settings.conf|Set ROM file extensions, launcher (emulator to execute), override default media paths, etc | +
-|<​collectionname>​.sub|Imports a list of games from another collection. (i.e. Your collection is named "​Mario"​. You would have an "Nintendo Entertainment System.sub" and "Super Nintendo ​Entertainment System.sub". Each sub file would contain a list of all mario games for that system. The .sub file contains one game per line (without the file extension).If the file is blank, the list settings defined for the subcollection will be used. | +
-|**roms**|**Default location to search for ROM files (can be different if modified in the settings.conf file)**| +
-|**playlists**|**Default location for the favorites.txt file allowing you to manage your favorites**| +
-|**medium_artwork/​**|**Artwork for individual games**| +
-|     medium_artwork/​artwork_back|Default location to search for flyer, box and case backs | +
-|     medium_artwork/​artwork_front|Default location to search for flyer, box and case fronts| +
-|     medium_artwork/​medium_back|Default location to search for disc and cartridge backs| +
-|     medium_artwork/​medium_front|Default location to search for disc and cartridge fronts| +
-|     medium_artwork/​screenshot|Default location to search for screenshots for each individual game| +
-|     medium_artwork/​screentitle|Default location to search for screentitles for each individual game| +
-|     medium_artwork/​logo|Default location to search for logos for each individual game| +
-|     medium_artwork/​video|Default location to search for videos for each individual game| +
-|     medium_artwork/​story|Default location to search for game information story txt files for scrolling text display.| +
-|**system_artwork/​**|**Artwork for the system collection. i.e. picture of a Nintendo Entertainment Systemits logo, or a "best of" video.**| +
-|     system_artwork/​device.png|Picture of the system device| +
-|     system_artwork/​logo.png|Picture of the systems logo| +
-|     system_artwork/​video.mp4|Video to play for this particular system| +
-|     system_artwork/​story.txt|Text file containing system information for scrolling text display. | +
- +
-\\ +
- +
- +
-=====Playlists===== +
- +
-RetroFE currently supports one type of playlist: one list of your favorite games per Collection.\\ +
-This file is located in playlists/​favorites.txt and will be automatically created when you add your first game to the list.\\ +
-\\ +
-The controls configuration allows you to assign keys to add games to this list, remove them from this list, and switch between ​the full list and this playlist.\\ A setting in the general settings.conf allows you to automatically switch to your favorite games if this list exists.\\  +
- +
-**PS**: Support for more playlists is planned in a future release. +
- +
- +
-=====Menus===== +
- +
-If a collection folder has a menu.txt file, it will be loaded into your list. When you select that item in the frontend, it will load that collection in a submenu. RetroFE also supports the ability to have games and submenus in the same menu. +
- +
-Below is an example for a basic collections/<​collection name>/​menu.txt file: +
- +
-  Atari 2600 +
-  Atari 5200 +
-  Atari 7800 +
-  MAME +
-  Nintendo Entertainment System +
-  ​Super Nintendo Entertainment System +
- +
-Note that for each item specifieda directory with an identical name (case sensitive) must exist in your collections folder, so e.g. /​collections/​Super Nintendo Entertainment System/. +
- +
- +
-Older versions of RetroFE used a menu.xml file in stead of a menu.txt file. For legacy supportsuch files are still supported. Below is an example for a basic collections/<​collection ​name>/menu.xml file: +
- +
-  <​menu>​ +
-     <​collection name="​Atari 2600" /> +
-     <​collection name="​Atari 5200" /> +
-     <​collection name="​Atari 7800" /> +
-     <​collection name="​MAME"​ /> +
-     <​collection name="​Nintendo Entertainment System"​ /> +
-     <​collection name="​Super Nintendo Entertainment System"​ /> +
-  </​menu>​ +
- +
-As you can see: using the menu.txt file requires less typing:) +
  
 +A special type of playlist is the favorites playlist (playlists/​favorites.txt). Games can be added/​removed from this playlist directly from RetroFE using the addPlaylist and removePlaylist controls, and a separate key favPlaylist allows you to switch between the favorites list and the full game list. You can even use the autoFavorites = yes parameter setting in your [[global_settings.conf|global settings.conf]] file to automatically switch to your favorite games when you enter a collection.
collections.txt · Last modified: 2022/10/25 01:58 by igarikoitz