Why isnt there more XMB mods!

[bguerville]

All this behaviour comes from this very dangerous idea that the code we write belongs to us... When actually, it does not & should not in most cases.
Acknowledging someone else's work should always be sufficient without any other consideration.

Copyrights were originally set up in order to promote art & creation in general but certainly not to get rich... Nobody was supposed to own a piece of music or a text. Copyrights were supposed to give a creator the means to continue creating, that is it. No more no less.
It seems obvious to me that this original concept has been completely abused, leading to the situation we have today.
Linux has been a beautiful reaction to this madness but has been paying dearly for it in kind.
Isn't it why AAA games are not released for Linux? Such games have been running on a FreeBSD platform in the ps3/ps4 for years but strangely enough never reach the Linux stage...

 

[STLcardsWS]

Yeah there is still that mentality which is detrimental to the scene, people are like "who do you think you are modifying the work of others", they completely forget that Sony made 99% of all CFW in the first place and most apps are based upon the work of others before them, libraries etc , then you have muppets like GR moderating sites and putting down people who are starting off and trying to learn, "text editors" he called me and bits when we made XMBM+, like it was some kind of slur to create items using text, while completely forgetting that he HIMSELF is no more than a text editor creating items using text , and also forgetting that ALL code is text, then talks about the scene like he wants to help it...

These things do not help, but hopefully people don't pay any attention to that BS and still have a go regardless.

Well, i do not think that is entirely the case, at least talking the history of the community. Usually when someone does XMB mods with a custom firmware. They are not completely honest about what they have did or done. Usually when they start claiming the work as their own and they built the firmware themselves, then you see parts of known CFW's. Most times the little bit of XMB modding (which is usually light in these cases) is overshadowed by the actions of the person. Usually if those people were honest they would get alot more respect and more appreciation for the things they did but it gets over shadowed.

But most of the guys who did massive XMB mods (released them as mods to add to a CFW not in a CFW itself), they had to be done again for new firmwares and i think that is where you see XMB modding issues. Because most projects do not survive time due to this.

 

[lord3490]

Well i am usually only here and on psdevwiki and i didn't see anyone demonize you for your mods @DeViL303 (had to look up the word, in german "verteufeln" = "demonize" --> too bad, literally translated it would be DEVILize )
I am working in my own toolbox now.
I got an icon for editing the bootplugins (using webman mod) and an update icon so far.
The update is not fully working atm, i have to delete the old XML before.
Strange though, because i tried to copy from net0 to HDD using copy_ps3.

/copy_ps3/<path>&to=<destination> - copy file or folder to destination path

NOTE: /copy.ps3 do not overwrite existing files with the same size. /copy_ps3 always overwrite.

I also tried updating with download from http:
/download.ps3?to=<path>&url=<url>
But i only get an error, maybe a typo
Btw. Is there a way to combine actions? Like first delete then copy then restard?
Using webman mod parameters or multiple actions on XML?

 

[DeViL303]

I got an icon for editing the bootplugins (using webman mod) and an update icon so far.
The update is not fully working atm, i have to delete the old XML before.
Strange though, because i tried to copy from net0 to HDD using copy_ps3.

I also tried updating with download from http:
/download.ps3?to=<path>&url=<url>
But i only get an error, maybe a typo

Cool, looking forward to any new mods.

DeViLize! I like it!

Make sure you are on the latest WebMAN mod, its possible the version you are on isn't the latest, or its possible aldostools has it working slightly differently than expected, he (rightly) doesn't like to have files deleted without confirmation.

Note: I assume you are using the ".xm!" extension when trying to download xmls. PS3 will error on xml files otherwise (unknown reason).

Btw. Is there a way to combine actions? Like first delete then copy then restard?
Using webman mod parameters or multiple actions on XML?

I asked aldo this once before, if webman commands/actions could be chained. He said they can using java script, Im not sure how to do it though, If you figure it out, I would like a small template to work off myself, even just 2 items and a small delay in between.

I would like to be able to build in an auto soft reboot after XMBPD updates, and stuff like that. Or multiple renames, so I can do file swaps locally.

 

[Berion]

Why isn't there more XMB mods!?

I want mod my XMB but to be honest, I don't know where exactly are those files (XML? QXML?) and the most important reason: when I broke something, I need reinstall fw which is time consuming. I'm to lazy for that. ;p

But I really want get rid of some categories like "Music" or "Video" which I'm not using, to move "Trophy" to "Game", and delete all SEN and PSS related stuff, maybe also delete "Vita Transfer Utility", Save Data for PSP, also "/APP/Home" which also I'm not using it since Cobra 7. Could someone help me clean my menu? It's even possible? Sony destroyed my ascetic menu by some ads junk... I also don't like "debug stars".

Oh, and one question which interest me since XMBM+. Why we don't have Copy and Paste in XMB, only Delete (and why name of this option is Unlink)?

 

[bguerville]

I want mod my XMB but to be honest, I don't know where exactly are those files (XML? QXML?) and the most important reason: when I broke something, I need reinstall fw which is time consuming. I'm to lazy for that. ;p

But I really want get rid of some categories like "Music" or "Video" which I'm not using, to move "Trophy" to "Game", and delete all SEN and PSS related stuff, maybe also delete "Vita Transfer Utility", Save Data for PSP, also "/APP/Home" which also I'm not using it since Cobra 7. Could someone help me clean my menu? It's even possible?

Oh, and one question which interest me since XMBM+. Why we don't have Copy and Paste in XMB, only Delete (and why name of this option is Unlink)?

That's a lot of questions.. [emoji3]
First of all, you asked where the xml was.
Basically it all begins with the category_xxxx.xml files in /dev_flash/vsh/resource/explore/xmb.
Each xml file defines what you see in each column. You should also know that those files contain XMB entries for the different modes (CEX/DEX...).
From there, Aldo & DeViL303, have linked their own xml files located on /dev_hdd0.
Reinstalling the fw is not time consuming, I did it again last week & it took me 15mn. Note that you do not have to reinstall games & brews so all you need to do is tweak the settings.
More information can be found in the psdevwiki pages. There is much to read about xml usage on the ps3.

AFAIK you can add/remove entries from a column but I dunno of you can remove a whole column.

The reason we don't have Copy/Paste on the XMB is that XMBM+ simply reuses existing XML tags & actions.
"Unlink" is the name given to the delete function under Unix/Linux & as the ps3 is built upon FreeBSD, S#ny kept the terminology.
It was not really a good idea though as most users do not have a clue what unlink means!
Unlink (delete) is a known feature that we can call from xml whereas copy/paste aren't.

 

[aldostools]

I asked aldo this once before, if webman commands/actions could be chained. He said they can using java script, Im not sure how to do it though, If you figure it out, I would like a small template to work off myself, even just 2 items and a small delay in between.

I would like to be able to build in an auto soft reboot after XMBPD updates, and stuff like that. Or multiple renames, so I can do file swaps locally.

With javascript it is possible to execute a sequence of commands from a link calling a function or a javascript:// link.
Using window.location= or window.open() commands it's possible to call webMAN commands. The limitation here is that XMB does not accept javascript links directly, but it is possible to open a web page that do the calls.

For these kind of tasks, it is better to start a project using main.c of webMAN's updater as a template, and modify it to do the desired task.
The updater provide access to functions like CopyFile, sys_fs_mount, sysLv2FsLink, sysLv2FsUnlink, etc.

Anyway, based on your needs I have added support to restart the console after /copy.ps3, /install.ps3, /swap.ps3, /rename.ps3 or /delete.ps3 if this sufix: ?restart.ps3 is added to the link. e.g. /copy.ps3/path1&to=/path2?restart.ps3

Also I have added a new command: /swap.ps3<file1>|<file2> or /swap.ps3<file1>&to=<file2>
File1 and File2 must exist. The files are exchanged doing a temporary rename of File1 to File1.bak

Link: http://aldostools.org/temp/test/webMAN_MOD_1.43.36_Updater_20161012.pkg

(Notice that the path says "temp" & "test"... that means -> do not link it because it will be deleted soon)

BTW I experimented with chained commands, and although it worked with certain combination of commands, there were some issues with some commands that work asynchronically. So I put that feature on hold (if I ever implement it).

 

[DeViL303]

I want mod my XMB but to be honest, I don't know where exactly are those files (XML? QXML?) and the most important reason: when I broke something, I need reinstall fw which is time consuming. I'm to lazy for that. ;p

Well its not that risky anymore with WebMAN running, if you mess up a file and a category disappears for example, you can just FTP a working backup of the xml back on and reboot, so no FW reinstall needed for xml mistakes(before an auto booting ftp server existed a FW reinstall was required to fix this)

But I really want get rid of some categories like "Music" or "Video" which I'm not using, to move "Trophy" to "Game", and delete all SEN and PSS related stuff, maybe also delete "Vita Transfer Utility", Save Data for PSP, also "/APP/Home" which also I'm not using it since Cobra 7. Could someone help me clean my menu? It's even possible? Sony destroyed my ascetic menu by some ads junk... I also don't like "debug stars".

Deleting main categories like Music and Video hasn't been done properly yet as far as I know, only buggy methods that leave blank items behind, but deleting any other items like utilities etc is as easy as removing the "query" or "item" entry from the relevant category xml (found @ dev_flash/vsh/resource/explore/xmb/category_xxxxx.xml). Debug stars can be taken out by simply editing the "title" entries for each item.

Oh, and one question which interest me since XMBM+. Why we don't have Copy and Paste in XMB, only Delete (and why name of this option is Unlink)?

I have always wanted to get copy and paste working via XMB but don't know how. Its called unlink in the FW for the reason bguerville says. I know where the reference is, So it can easily be changed to say "delete" on the XMB instead but so far it hasn't been in any CFW. The "unlink" reference is in the explore_plugin.sprx and once decrypted to prx it can be changed with a hex editor to "delete".

Anyway, based on your needs I have added support to restart the console after /copy.ps3, /install.ps3, /rename.ps3 or /delete.ps3 if this sufix:
?restart.ps3 is added to the link. e.g. /copy.ps3/path1&to=/path2?restart.ps3

Also I have added a new command: /swap.ps3<file1>|<file2> or /swap.ps3<file1>&to=<file2>
File1 and File2 must exist. The files are exchanged doing a temporary rename of File1 to File1.bak

Link: http://aldostools.org/temp/test/webMAN_MOD_1.43.36_Updater_20161012.pkg
.

WOW! Thats amazing!

 

[Berion]

That's a lot of questions...

I'm curious of the world.

Ok, it's not so easy as I thinking before.

I have get rid all junk from Game category but I cannot get rid of App Home. In "root" item I have commented "seg_gamedebug" and also commented "seg_gamedebug" childnode. But still it show up in XMB. Why?

Also I have added to "root" trophy transplanted from "psn.xml" and added:

  <View id="seg_trophy">
     <Attributes>
       <Table key="trophy">
         <Pair key="icon_rsc"><String>item_tex_trophy</String></Pair>
         <Pair key="title_rsc"><String>msg_trophy_collection</String></Pair>
         <Pair key="data_connection"><String>xcb://localhost/query?limit=2048</String></Pair>
       </Table>
     </Attributes>
     <Items>
       <Item class="type:x-xmb/xmltrophy" key="trophy" attr="trophy"/>
     </Items>
   </View>

But it's no show up. Why?

but deleting any other items like utilities etc is as easy as removing the "query" or "item"

When I commenting only item, it's no change anything in XMB.

you can just FTP a working backup of the xml back on and reboot

WebMAN in Rebug 4.80.1 doesn't mount dev_flash RW and I don't see any option for this in his settings. So I using multiMAN but it's very unhandy to every time going to settings and change dev_blind.

 

[DeViL303]

Also I have added to "root" trophy transplanted from "psn.xml" and added:

<View id="seg_trophy">
<Attributes>
<Table key="trophy">
<Pair key="icon_rsc"><String>item_tex_trophy</String></Pair>
<Pair key="title_rsc"><String>msg_trophy_collection</String></Pair>
<Pair key="data_connection"><String>xcb://localhost/query?limit=2048</String></Pair>
</Table>
</Attributes>
<Items>
<Item class="type:x-xmb/xmltrophy" key="trophy" attr="trophy"/>
</Items>
</View>

But it's no show up. Why?

One thing to note is that there are 2 sections in each of the category xmls for items (except game as that has 2 separate xmls instead), 1 section is for CEX XMB , and the other is for DEX XMB. So if you are on Rebug then this can cause issue depending which XMB you are set to. The best solution is to add your query to both the "root" and the "tool_root"

 

[Berion]

Yes, I have read whole post. But if I'm using only CEX QA menu, and other changes showed up, so I deduced that files are separate for both types of menu.

 

[bitsbubba]

Yes, I have read whole post. But if I'm using only CEX QA menu, and other changes showed up, so I deduced that files are separate for both types of menu.

To make changes in game category you need to make the changes in both XMLs so it shows your changes in all

 

[kozarovv]

and the most important reason: when I broke something, I need reinstall fw which is time consuming. I'm to lazy for that. ;p

No you don't need reinstall fw. Setup webman to run at start with enabled dev_blind and ftp server. Then even if vsh stop loading xmls (aka wave only), then FTP will allow you to rewrite correct files.

 

[bitsbubba]

No you don't need reinstall fw. Setup webman to run at start with enabled dev_blind and ftp server. Then even if vsh stop loading xmls (aka wave only), then FTP will allow you to rewrite correct files.

This has got me out of quite a few pickles and not just XML edits but also some SPRX (system) edits

 

[aldostools]

WebMAN in Rebug 4.80.1 doesn't mount dev_flash RW and I don't see any option for this in his settings. So I using multiMAN but it's very unhandy to every time going to settings and change dev_blind.

Try the full edition of webMAN MOD. It will auto-enable /dev_blind if you access http://ps3-address/dev_blind from a browser. Or use "SITE FLASH" or "LITERAL SITE FLASH" to toggle /dev_blind in the FTP client.

 

[bguerville]

@Berion
You don't use wMM Full Edition?
If you did, you would see the "Enable /dev_blind on startup" option at the top of the setup page, just under the list of USB ports to scan.

 

[Berion]

I don't even know there is full version (in my there is no option to enable dev_blind). I using default, pre-installed with Rebug 4.80.1 Rex.

"SITE FLASH" is a custom command for FTP server like i.e "SITE NAMEFMT"? Cool, I'll definitely use this.

Thank You all for indications. I'll check them in near occasion.

 

[bguerville]

I don't even know there is full version (in my there is no option to enable dev_blind). I using default, pre-installed with Rebug 4.80.1 Rex.

"SITE FLASH" is a custom command for FTP server like i.e "SITE NAMEFMT"? Cool, I'll definitely use this.

Thank You all for indications. I'll check them in near occasion.

The version included in Rebug is the Rebug Mod edition. It is outdated now & won't support XMBPD or other recently added commands.
After installing Rebug CFW, you should immediately use the most recent webMAN-MOD updater from github.com/aldostools/webMAN-MOD/releases
Once the updater pkg is installed, launch it while keeping L1 button pressed until reboot. This will install the Full Edition along with wm_vsh_menu.

 

[Berion]

Ok, I have got rid of App Home but still I cannot transplant Trophies to Game category. I added even in both: "category_game.xml" and "category_game_tool2.xml" but still they doesn't show up. They are hardcoded or something?

 

[sandungas]

Deleting main categories like Music and Video hasn't been done properly yet as far as I know, only buggy methods that leave blank items behind

I did for a friend for several different firmwares, works fine, no problem, the XMB auto-adjusts properlly for the new width

From memory...
Is needed to edit xmb_normal.rco ...and... xmb_ingame.rco (or whatever are named one for main xmb and the other for ingame)
In the rcoxml generated when you extract the contents of the .rco locate the line with the label named "xmenu", it has an attribute named "itemscount" with the value 0xa

Under the line with the label "xmenu" you have his "childrens", one line for every child (settings, photo, video, music, game, etc... 10 lines in total)
You just need to delete the lines you dont want to be displayed, and then modify the value 0xa

The 0xa is the number of main icons in XMB (0xa = 10 by default)... depends of how many you are going to delete you need to reduce it
For my friend i removed: photo, music, video, network, psn, friends (intended to be a "offline gaming only" PS3, heheh)


Btw
The problem you mention about a trailing "blank" space is a mistake, is the consequence of deleting one of the childrens of "xmenu" but not reducing the value 0xa of the attribute "itemscount"
So the line where "xmenu" is defined is reserving an space in the screen bigger than the humber of his childrens, is not a bigger problem though (no firmware crash or anything bad noticed) but is wrong