unofficial LaunchELF v4.30

[E P]

OK, here is the unofficial version of LaunchELF. (Note: It's based off Mirakichi's source to LaunchELF v3.41)

Changes: Unofficial LaunchELF releases by EP + dlanor

LaunchELF v4.30 (2008.09.30)
-Fixed HDD mountpoint issues in HddManager (due to changed methods from v4.23)

LaunchELF v4.29 (2008.09.25)
-Fixed a new bug in the CNF parser, introduced when fixing the previous one. That bug cause the character after the equal sign in a variable assignment to be skipped. This should not matter for uLE or FMCB CNF files, where that character will always be a space. But it does matter when parsing SYSTEM.CNF for PS2 discs, since those files sometimes have no space in that position. This caused some discs to fail booting, both with the uLE MISC/PS2Disc command, and with the disc launcher of FMCB.
-Minor changes to CDVD checking
-Added DVD-Video launch capability for MISC/PS2Disc

LaunchELF v4.28 (2008.09.07)
-Fixed a bug in the CNF parser, preventing variables from being accepted when not separated by any other character from the '=' character preceding its value string.
NB: Since uLE always uses a space separator in creating CNF files, this bug has never affected CNF files created by uLE, but only CNF files edited by 'hand' and the SYSTEM.CNF files of game discs, causing some of those not to work with the PS2Disc command of uLE. So try again now, with games that failed earlier.

LaunchELF v4.27 (2008.09.04)
-Added ability of MISC/PS2Disc subprogram to also boot PS1 discs
(Based on ideas and examples contributed by jimmikaelkael @ psx-scene)

LaunchELF v4.26 (2008.09.02)
-Fixed a bug preventing detection of PAL/NTSC mode on some slim PStwo units.
(Now reads "rom0:ROMVER" instead of using gsKit's function "gsKit_detect_signal")

LaunchELF v4.25 (2008.08.19)
-Fixed a bug preventing proper updates of IPCONFIG.DAT (open file)
-Fixed a bug preventing Cancel command from working in some file selections
-Modified Skin CNF saving to allow selection of existing filenames
-Corrected cursor positioning for LNG translated network settings

LaunchELF v4.24 (2008.08.15)
-Fixed a bug preventing unmounting of VMC devices for some cases

NB: Though VMC usage should no longer be able to interfere with normal HDD access, it may still lock up in some VMC operations. This VMC driver is still to be considered a beta version, though the uLE release is otherwise stable. You should therefore not use VMC operations without backup of each VMC file used.

LaunchELF v4.23 (2008.08.15)
-Fixed a bug that made it possible to select uLE configurable files (drivers, skins, etc) on VMC
-Fixed a bug preventing psuPaste from restoring PSU files to gamesave folders on VMC
-Restructured the HDD mountpoint usage to eliminate conflicts between VMC and other browser needs. Conflict should now only be possible between ftp server and VMC browsing, so these activities should never be combined (user responsibility)
-Enforced 32 character limit for vmc object names in FileBrowser (same as on MC)
-Modified VMC mounting to last only throughout a FileBrowser session. Leaving the FileBrowser automatically unmounts any mounted VMC files
-Fixed a VMC driver bug causing it to consider a VMC to be mounted even after a failure to do so due to unformatted content

LaunchELF v4.22 (2008.08.14)
-Fixed various bugs that could crash the RunELF function when called with improper device names or paths to non-ELF files. From now on on real launch attempts are made only after accessing the file and checking its ELF header.
-Fixed a bug dealing with SYSTEM.CNF files for the "MISC/PS2Disc" subprogram (string termination for a file buffer from malloc was made one byte beyond the allocated area)
-The above changes also fix the inability of the previous beta to launch ELFs from virtual memory cards.
-Made a new revision of 'ps2client_for_uLE'. This rev8 fixes a problem with file open modes that prevented the new VMC driver from mounting VMC files over network.

NB: Mounting VMC files over network is not recommended at this stage, since it is very slow. The VMC driver will need a new caching strategy to make network use practical.

LaunchELF v4.21a beta (2008.07.21)
-Embedded virtual memory card driver by Polo35 and ubergeek42, and implemented its use in FileBrowser. Note that vmc0: and vmc1: will not be shown in FileBrowser until some VMC file has been mounted, using new commands in the R1 menu of FileBrowser.

LaunchELF v4.21 (2008.07.20)
-Changed FileBrowser icon colour assignment to use Color5, Colour6, and Color7 for folders, ELF files, and generic files, respectively
-Changed default colour values for FileBrowser icons to be yellow, green, white, used for folders, ELF files, and generic files, respectively. This change also affects HddManager pie charts as they use two of the same colour definitions

LaunchELF v4.20 (2008.07.17)
-Implemented an icon mode for the FileBrowser, where each file/folder name will now be prefixed with a small coloured icon. The icon shape for folders is different from that for files, and three different colours are used. One for folders, another for ELFs, and a third for all other files.
-Implemented a new CNF variable 'FB_NoIcons', which may be set to disable the new FileBrowser mode. By default it is zero, enabling the new mode. There is no entry in the configuration menus for this variable, so you must add or change it by text editor (as yet).

LaunchELF v4.19 (2008.07.17)
-Fixed a bug preventing launch keys D-Pad Left and D-Pad Right from working, when redefined from defaults, and only one menu page was used (== only one CNF)
-Fixed missing implementation of "uLE:/" search for some device related configurable files (mainly alternate USB drivers and regional keyboard maps)

LaunchELF v4.18 (2008.07.09)
-Modified loading of IPCONFIG.DAT to use "uLE:/" (so also found in uLE dir). If no initial IPCONFIG.DAT is found, any new one edited will be saved as "mc0:/SYS-CONF/IPCONFIG.DAT".
-Fixed a number of bugs affecting display and functionality of the default commands "Configure", "Load CNF++", "Load CNF--" for various combinations of settings for skin and menu control. Note that direct button linking was not affected, so pressing the correct button always gave the correct response. But highlighting a command and pressing the 'OK' button did not always work.
-Consolidated some PAL/NTSC GUI menu routines, and corrected a slight error in the placement of button text for D-pad 'Right' button

LaunchELF v4.17 (2008.07.05)
-Fixed a bug that made some launch links malfunction for 'childsafe' setups
-Modified loading of ELISA100.FNT to use "uLE:/" (so also found in SYS-CONF/)

LaunchELF v4.16 (2008.06.16)
-Fixed missing driver inits for cases where uLE is launched from host: with IOP reset ON
-Fixed a bug causing launch to crash if an elf was launched through a "uLE:/" path when stored in the same folder as the uLE elf on mass: or host:.

LaunchELF v4.15 (2008.06.14)
-Fixed a bug preventing initial CNF load from defaulting to mc?:/SYS-CONF/

LaunchELF v4.14 (2008.06.13)
-EP added 2 changed source files for PS2SDK, to eliminate a conflict between those libs and the method used by uLE for loading JPG files from HDD.
-removed loadConfig adaption of CNFs from obsolete uLE versions
-Fixed some bugs in "Save As" command of TextEditor
-Implemented "Load Skin CNF" and "Save Skin CNF" commands in "Screen Settings". (more info in changes.txt)
-Fixed a bug in cursor movement for colours in "Screen Settings"
-Implemented uLE-related file selection. (more info in changes.txt)

LaunchELF v4.13 (2008.05.30)
-Fixed Linux issues with the makefile do to case sensitivity.
-Changed draw.c and updated gskit source files to fix issues with the newer gsKit.
-Added script setup.sh to the "Changed source for external projects" directory for setting up outside projects.
-Moved libjpg\include\libjpg.h into libjpg parent directory to match up with myPS2's SVN sources location.
-Reverted to an older working version of ps2sdk(revision 1420).
-Reverted back to the older SMS network modules(revision 588) resolving a severe bug, which was first introduced in the 4.12 betas.
-Rearranged ps2ftpd sources and LaunchELF's makefile, removing the IRX module from the source package.
-Updated libcdvd source files so it can be correctly built without the old ps2lib library.
-Modified uLE source package further so that precompiled binaries are neither required nor included.
-Fixed bug in reloadConfig(), skin wasn't loaded if using various CNF files and one had GUI_SKIN enabled.
-Added option to disable text in menu screen under skin settings when GUI_SKIN is enabled.
-Commented out fixed PS2DEV environment variable in the gsKit Makefile.pref file.
-Added code from betas minus vmc: related things with changes noted further below.
outside source file additions and changes:
gsKit\Makefile.global
gsKit\Makefile.pref
gsKit\ee\gs\src\gsPrimitive.c
gsKit\ee\gs\src\gsTexture.c
libjpg\libjpg.h
ps2sdk\iop\system\iomanx\src\ioman_sbv.c
libcdvd\makefile
libcdvd\ee\makefile
libcdvd\iop\cdvd_iop.c
libcdvd\iop\makefile
libcdvd\iop\ps2lib_ioman.h


summary of prior changes:

LaunchELF v3.41a (2005.05.30) - LaunchELF v4.12 betas (2007.06.17)
-Many other tweaks and improvements (see "changes.txt" of latest release)
-Added support for GUI-like skin JPG for alternative use in main launch menu.
-Enforced filename limits: 32 char for MC, 256 char for other devices
-Updated to use the current ps2sdk changes added by jbit.
-Implemented FileBrowser command "New Icon" (for Sony-style MC icon definitions)
-Improved host: to allow display of file sizes and timestamps in FileBrowser
-Switched to using networking modules by EEUG
-Changed FileBrowser to use denser text for long file/folder names
-Improved browser of JpgViewer to include new features of FileBrowser (PathPad etc)
-Modified MC attribute handling for PS1 gamesaves
-Improved HddManager unmounting
-Added new "Debug Info" popup to "MISC"
-Extended FileBrowser from 2 display modes to 3
-Extended FileBrowser from 2 sort modes to 4
-Added 8 new character definitions to "font_uLE.c", for use as 4 double-width D-Pad button characters
-Added new popup to FileBrowser, to control new display and sort modes. (opened by L1 button, as it obsoletes the old Title ON/OFF functionality)
-Added new LNG definitions to cover all new features
-Modified initialization of uLE to improve compatibility with SwapMagic ELF launching. These changes allow uLE to find its CNF in the same folder as the ELF when launched on mass: by SwapMagic, despite the incorrect path passed in argv[0] ("mass0:\SWAPMAGIC\"). Note that this is NOT the same modification used in earlier betas, which caused other bugs. This method does not involve IOP reset, and should therefore be bug-free. That has been verified both for exploit booting and the 'back to browser' feature of SMS, which were both bugged by the old method.
-Shortened the LNG(Modes) lang.h definition of earlier betas to LNG(Mode)
-Extended HddManager size limit for logical partitions to 128 GB
-Corrected a bug in HddManager sizeSelector tooltips (missed using an LNG definition)
-Modified HddManager sizeSelector to use L2/R2 to step partition size -/+ 10 GB
-Modified tooltips for HddManager sizeSelector to include new features
-Merged loadable font system (by Polo35)
-Replaced old usb_mass driver with embedded "usbhdfsd" (by Herben)
-Patched gsKit to prevent 'lost' rectangle plots in non-interlace mode
-Improved timestamp support in FileBrowser
-Merged additional font characters (by Polo35)
-Increased font resolution to 8x16 and font size to 256 characters
-'Paste+Rename' pseudo renaming command
-PSU gamesave support
-gsKit adaption (by Polo35)
-JpgViewer (by Polo35)
-TextEditor (by Polo35)
-HddManager (by Polo35)
-Improved CNF handling functions
-Abortable Paste/mcPaste transfers
-USB Keyboard support
-Rename support for PS1 MC files
-User defined launch key titles
-PathPad array for user defined browser shortcuts
-Option for opaque VS transparent popups
-Skin 'Brightness' control
-Improved resolutions 640x512(PAL) and 640x448(NTSC) (by Polo35)
-Full support for NTSC and PAL modes for any console type
-Event driven menu handling
-Menu Frame option
-Menu Titles
-JPG 'skin' implementation (by Polo35)
-Support for 'slim' PStwo using IDE HDD
-ELF loader compatibility improvements
-progress reports when copying files
-capability to write files to a PC used as host: device
-mcPaste for safe backup of MC gamesaves
-IOP reset
-multiple CNF config loading
-key mapping to swap X and O associations
-FTP server and PS2NetFS support through key config MISC/PS2Net
-host: device support using ps2client
-alternate sort order for showing titles: L1=sort_by_title, L2=sort_by_folder
-network settings menu for changing IPCONFIG.DAT settings
-new CNF format that allows for easier file editing
-ability to copy timestamps and attributes of saves from one PS2 mc to another
-special preserved attribute set on mc saves when restoring saves from other devices
-selectable USBD.IRX module
-various changes and bug fixes to many different things

Detailed change log can be found in changes.txt file.

If you find errors with this build, please report them here. Thank you.

Special thanks to: EP, dlanor, kthu, Slam-Tilt, sincro, and Polo35 for all their contributions.
And an especially big thank you to: Mirakichi's excellent program LaunchELF.

Documentation for uLaunchELF can be found in this thread at ps2newz or ps2-scene and the Wiki here.

NB: The ISO files provided in the ZIPs below are minimal, containing only the files needed to launch the elf properly (sizedummy + SYSTEM.CNF + elf). So you should also download the main release file (no ISO in the name), to get the source code and some documentation, including the heavily commented example CNF file.

[dick_onion53]

The two configs is a really great idea... congrats...

[peeman]

can you add a nice GUI like KeyLauncher?

[Agent_underfire]

yeh keylauncher has a beautiful interface

[MISTA]

MISTA

I think il stick with v 3.33 cos its got umcdr, as i dont have a chipped (modded) machine, if i want to get mp3`s etc on the HDD i use umcdr.

I carnt remember if the later versions have it... i dont think so thats why i use the old one.

A gui would be a good idea, maybe a .jpg?
get ppl to send in a pic?

No music though. (shudders) menu music is always BAD!

KiIT
1 Satin silver ps2 (with the dreaded click!!) Launch v 3.33 (cos of umcdr) HDLoader (latest)
1 Black PS2 no Drive at all
1 Black PS2 with dodgy laser (wont read nothing)
2 Bust pads

[_zaphod_]

if you have draks cdvd.irx then you can create umcdr-enabled builds, if youi don' then you can't. tryign to fork from 3.33 won't help one bit.

however such builds are for personal use only, and not for distribution.

[dlanor]

I most strongly advise AGAINST any fancy graphics for LaunchELF.

Remember that this is an application that will often be used from memory card, so it is imperative to keep its size down. Adding a fancy JPG background would be possible, but it would probably magnify the size by a factor of 10 or worse !!!

The same phenomenon is noticeable with HDL too, where those with supersimple BMPs pack to a size of appx 155KB, whereas those with complex BMPs pack to a size of appx 1300KB, with even worse results for some of them. The factor would be larger with LaunchELF however, as the added picture would be a larger percentage of the payload.

Summing up: If any graphics are added, keep them simple, to minimize size.

Best regards: dlanor

[<G>]

if people are going to cry so much then why not just simply use libpng or libjpg and let people make simplistic backgrounds for it. This way you dont have to worry about the interface yourself and people can beat themselves up making skins if they want them so bad.

[c0d3x]

i think it's not so simple G

[<G>]

Originally Posted by c0d3x

i think it's not so simple G

i have tons of imaging tools that will let you view files outside of the elf. I used these to test various images on the ps2 for user interfaces. How could it be "not so simple"?

[retro]

G use the sorce and do it then. me and the rest of the "nice gui viners" would realy apriciate it.

[<G>]

i never said i have the source to these UI testing tools now did i?
I just said its possible. But now we are getting off subject. EP and dlanor have done a terrific job so far. Adding a better UI is completely up to them and not us. Lets not take the heat away from their fire.

[dlanor]

Originally Posted by E P

changes:

LaunchELF v3.41a
-Added reset IOP on start as a toggle (Note: off by default).

I can verify that this works fine, and completely cures the bug of not being able to access USB files properly from a LaunchELF launched by LaunchELF. (Like when using the old 'trick' for extra menus.)

Unfortunately it does not fix all the problems involved with running LaunchELF from USBadvance (total failure) or HDLoader. In the latter case it seems to work, but something is wrong, so that some APPs can't be launched, or will have problems after launch. (For example: A second instance of HDL will fail to launch any ISO.) I believe those problems are due to things done by USBadvance and HDLoader which can't be undone just by an IOP reset.

So the IOP reset is really OK now, though it alone wasn't sufficient to fix all the things we had hoped.

-Added dlanor's fix for the elf launching bug.
-Changed text info from "away" to "subtract" in the menus because it's more proper to say add or subtract than add or away.
-Changed text for setting "INIT" to "INITIAL SCREEN SETTINGS".

Those changes are all OK.

-Added support for two total configs press d-pad left or right to switch between configs. (Note: the two configs are LAUNCHELF.CNF and LAUNCHELF1.CNF).
-Added two menus below the Select config item - left and right to load configs via menu.

Something has been messed up in initial loading of CNFs. If no CNF is found in the same folder as the LaunchELF ELF, then the folder 'mc0:/SYS-CONF' should be used for loading the CNFs instead, but that never happens if the ELF was loaded from another device than 'mc0:'. (tested with 'mass:' and 'hdd0:')

'mc0:/SYS-CONF' is set up as new path for CNF loading, but the CNFs in it are NOT loaded. Instead I see an empty menu, until I press <Left> or <Right> to force the CNFs to be loaded. When I do that the correct CNF does get loaded, but without affecting either IOP reset (so no cure for the USB bug) or the screen positioning (and my set needs non-default offsets).

Note that this is more serious than it seems, as it affects all cases where LaunchELF is run from the HDD, since it can never find CNFs on HDD. This also means that the bug affects everyone who uses LaunchELF for Dev.2 booting. (Which I started doing yesterday, using the new Matrix Infinity firmware.)

Another variation on this, which is less serious but rather strange, is that if the LaunchELF ELF is started from a folder on 'mc1:' and without any CNFs beside it, then the CNFs in 'mc1:/SYS-CONF/' will be used (if present), rather than those on 'mc0:', and the default path for CNF switching will also be set up as 'mc1:/SYS-CONF/'. This I can live with, as it may be debatable if the folder on 'mc0:' is more valid than the one on 'mc1:'. But it's still odd...

Well, that's all I've found so far. I'll check some more and see if I can come up with some constructive fixing advice, rather than just error reports.

Best regards: dlanor

[_zaphod_]

Umm, try using mode 3/kill hdl after launch for launch elf when you launch it from hdloader. then the reset will wipe the wrapper and it shouild work perfectly.

[Powder7891@hot]

LOL that would be funny if mode 3 fixed every thing lol

[dlanor]

Originally Posted by Powder7891@hot

LOL that would be funny if mode 3 fixed every thing lol

Sure it would be, but that is obviously not the case.
(I think you already realized this, unlike _zaphod_)

Naturally I made my tests both with and without mode 3 active, so as to observe any differences. But no differences were visible. The problems I mentioned occur in both cases. Like I said, a simple IOP reset does not restore the entire console to normal boot conditions, so even with such a reset it is still not advisable to run LaunchELF via HDLoader. It can work for some things, but not for everything.

Best regards: dlanor

[E P]

Ok, about custom backgrounds for launchEL