[RELEASE] CXMB-override: mix-n-match theme bits

[AtomicDryad]

Desc:
ACHTUNG! WARNING! DISCLAIMER! Before you use this, be sure to know how to use RECOVERY MODE to disable the plugin, if you put in a bad replacement.

This is cxmb with matchung's changes for 5.50gen functionality, plus the ability to load individual theme related files from the memory stick (rco/bmp/pmf/prx/etc). Thus, one can use different components of different themes without having to unpack and repack .ctf files, or write anything to flash0.

Changelog:
0.2 - Fixed 5.00m33 support


0.3 - ignore.txt: per-thread blacklist of certain files (override/* and inside ctfs). Included ignore.txt disables alternative font loading for the web browser's HTML rendering, since that always ends up messy.

CXMB is no longer restricted to ms0:/cxmb. You can now throw it into /seplugins, /psp/cxmb, /omg/wtf/bbq, or whatever. override/* and conf files must exist in the same directory as cxmb-override.prx.

/kd/ overrides enabled: not as useful as you may think.

read and lseek no longer croak on overridden files after sleep mode, a bug which was most noticable with override/font/ltn0.pgf.

loglevel.txt: controls logging verbosity. 0(quiet) - 5(everything). +10 = log to /log.txt (and probably crash).


Detailed desc:
If any file exists on the memory stick in the /cxmb/override/vsh/module, /cxmb/override/vsh/resource, or /cxmb/override/font folders, it will load the file -instead- of whatever is (or isn't) in a .ctf.

Yes, this includes .prx files, (except for paf.prx, common_gui.prx, and vshmain.prx which will be added later). This means you can hex edit htmlviewer_plugin.prx and change the 'online instruction manuals' link to whatever, without unpacking and repacking your .ctf. This also opens the possibility for homebrew to edit this sort of thing onboard - for now, pspconsole's hex editor works great for onboard tweaking.

This is intended for theme developers, power users, and anyone who wishes to use their own gameboot, 01-12.bmp, sounds, or whatever, instead of what may be in the loaded theme.

As CXMB is licensed under the GPL, the full source code is provided in the source directory.

Caveats:
* For now, one must have a .ctf theme loaded for /cxmb/override/ to work.
* As in the original cxmb, lflash_drv->funcs->IoWrite is -not- hooked.
* Semi-bricking possible if one puts in a bad .prx or .rco - this can be fixed by disabling cxmb-override.prx in recovery mode.
* Adding certain stuff like 01-12.bmp will require a reboot. Others like gameboot.pmf do not require it. When in doubt, reboot.
* Simply tossing in a gameboot.pmf will not change the playing time. Find or edit the appropriate vsh/resource/opening_plugin.rco. MyGameboot.prx is a better plugin if you simply want this functionality.
* Likewise, 01-12.bmp with multiple images will not work if the chunksize for individual images is different in vshmain.prx(?). Find a theme that you like and rip/edit the 01-12.bmp from that.
* The included binary outputs debugging messages, which are normally invisible but may have a performance impact.

Tested so far:
* Firmware: 5.50gen d3final, (5.00m33 should work)
* .ctf Themes: P3T ([Release] P3T550 Persona3 Theme), V1 ([550gen]V1a), stock 5.50gen files.

Tested replacements - (much more is possible):
01-12.bmp (wallpaper)
gameboot.pmf (pre-game video)
htmlviewer_plugin.* (web browser)
opening_plugin.rco (bootup intro, gameboot delay)
topmenu_plugin.rco (menu strings)
osk_plugin_500.* (keyboard)
rss_browser.* (rss reader)
system_plugin.* (sounds)
impose_plugin.rco (volume adjustment bar)

Links (censored because I might be a no good dirty spammer)
Project page: code.google.com/p/cxmb-override/
Download: cxmb-override.googlecode.com/files/cxmb-override-0.2.7z
Mirror: fnord.to/psp/cxmb-override-0.2.7z

Installation:
* copy cxmb/cxmb-override.prx to the cxmb folder on your memstick.
* (optional) copy the cxmb/override folder to cxmb/override on your memstick. This contains a gameboot and 01-12.bmp that have been tested to work (yes, the wallpaper is moronic :P).
** in /seplugins/vsh.txt, disable ms0:/cxmb/cxmb.prx
** in /seplugins/vsh.txt, add ms0:/cxmb/cxmb-override.prx 1
*** You can simply replace cxmb.prx too.

Usage:
* To replace a gameboot.pmf or 01-12.bmp, toss it into /cxmb/override/vsh/resource/ You may need to put an opening_plugin.rco with the right delay as well.
* The above likely applies to waves and whatever was included in TheCraziness1's 'XMB RCO Patcher'

Debuggery:
The logfile debugging function in the original cxmb croaked with high volume logging. The included binary prints to stderr instead, which means psplink and pspsh.exe are needed to see informative messages. If you want to help debug issues, a .zip of a working psplink and utilities can be provided.

I would appreciate testing and source review, as I am not -that- familiar with C or PSP programming.

Todo:
* TESTING (mostly done I believe).
* Reading from /cxmb/override without a loaded ctf.
* Retry-on-error for read/seek/open/etc as in .ctf files
* Find a better way to check for a file's existence than just attempting to open. This applies to .ctf too.
* vshmain.prx and others.
* conf.txt options for debugging/enabling/etc.
* optional 01-12.bmp chunksize and gameboot.pmf delay handling.
* options for per-module override exceptions (such as not allowing the browser to use a custom font, etc).
* overriding more than just 3 flash0 dirs without croaking (flash0:/kd/* in game mode?)

Why:
rco_patcher.prx provides functionality for replacing .rcos only, and doesn't work with cxmb. I am too lazy to constantly unpack and repack CTF themes while testing stuff.

Thanks:
* Dark_alex for cfw and especially a recovery menu with usb mode :P
* The original author of CXMB for creating it and placing it under GPL, who's name I am ignorant of because I are teh noob.
* Poisonhzkj and Matchung for coding and updating cxmb.

Version 0.3 changes:

ignore.txt: per-thread blacklist of certain files (override/* and inside ctfs). Included ignore.txt disables alternative font loading for the web browser's HTML rendering, since that always ends up messy.

CXMB is no longer restricted to ms0:/cxmb. You can now throw it into /seplugins, /psp/cxmb, /omg/wtf/bbq, or whatever. override/* and conf files must exist in the same directory as cxmb-override.prx.

/kd/ overrides enabled: not as useful as you may think.

read and lseek no longer croak on overridden files after sleep mode, a bug which was most noticable with override/font/ltn0.pgf.

loglevel.txt: controls logging verbosity. 0(quiet) - 5(everything). +10 = log to /log.txt (and probably crash).

http://cxmb-override.googlecode.com/...verride-0.3.7z

[nickxab]

I already posted this here but it's nice to see you there too.
Fell free to post your updates. ;)
Good work but i already said you when i press in any of the icons in the settings menu my psp freeze.

[AtomicDryad]

Good work but i already said you when i press in any of the icons in the settings menu my psp freeze.

Whoops! I missed that reply because the EP thread sortof wandered off into a discussion on cxmb in a TM environment.

What firmware are you using when this happens? What theme, and what replaces if any?

[nickxab]

I am in 5.00 m33-6 and i use a theme that i made.
But maybe the problem is any of my plugins....i will test it with out my plugins and then if it works i will enable one-one my plugins to see which has problem.

[AtomicDryad]

Allright. From what I can tell by looking at the -code- this (and the 5.50-compat version it's based on) should be compatible with 5.00, but I've not actually tested it, nor have I gotten any feedback from other 5.0 users. I can revive my old 1000 after I get it back from a friend's and test it on that if this persists.

In 5.50 the following plugins played nicely with this: xmbim, game_categories, pspconsole, mybootlogo, homebrew_shortcuts, psnlover, macrofire, psplink

Hostcore and rco_patcher may conflict with this and stock cxmb?

[nickxab]

Oki tried it again without my plugins and still the same problem.
So the problem cause by the CXMB-override. ;)
Ok if you got your 1000 back test it.

[AtomicDryad]

AHA! I am pleased to announce that not only does 0.2 fix 5.0 support, but that the bug wasn't my fault! !!!! Try now ^^

BTW, where can one track down total_noob? I would like to incorporate any improvements he may have made into this as well.

Also, how does one get a homebrewthingie posted on the frontpage & dl.qj.net?

The issue was:

--- cxmb-read-only/main.c       2010-06-21 18:36:55.859375000 -0500
+++ cxmb-mt/main.c      2009-04-28 14:58:58.000000000 -0500
@@ -453,7 +453,7 @@
        else if ( strcmp( mod->modname, "sysconf_plugin_module" ) == 0 )
        {
                unsigned int offset = getSysconfOffset();
-               if ( fw_version == FW_500 )
+               if ( fw_version == FW_550 )

[mootjeuh]

Send him a PM or an e-maill, just look at his profile page. And the bloggers have to read this so that they can post it on QJ's front page.

[cmbeke]

or you could click the "contact us" link at the top of the page ;)

[mootjeuh]

There's a contact us link? :O Never even noticed it

[nickxab]

AHA! I am pleased to announce that not only does 0.2 fix 5.0 support, but that the bug wasn't my fault! !!!! Try now ^^

Ah cool

BTW, where can one track down total_noob? I would like to incorporate any improvements he may have made into this as well.

I can contact with him.But he has his msn in his profile. ;)

Also, how does one get a homebrewthingie posted on the frontpage & dl.qj.net?

You can't add it in frontpage even i.
This job is for our blogers. ;)

[ricosuavez]

thank you so much for the fix ,i had the same problem as above with my fat on 5.00m33 ...now it works and my psp doesnt freeze when i enter settings...by the way i use psp console1.7 to edit(copy/paste/delete) its fast and works great

thank you thank you thank you:Jump:

[nickxab]

Hehe the same here too.
It seems that it works fine.
Good job.

[tehrzky]

can you make it work on 5.03 Gen-B... because i cannot see all of my CTF themes. tnx

[AtomicDryad]

Send him a PM or an e-maill, just look at his profile page. And the bloggers have to read this so that they can post it on QJ's front page.

I suppose checking to see if someone is a forum member before asking about contact info might be a be a good idea for next time :P~~~

can you make it work on 5.03 Gen-B

I'll ask total_noob for the source code for psp-hacks.com/file/1742 too.

Edit: Or I would but apparently it's msn only and I don't have that. >.> Does someone know where the source code is posted? The offsets in cxmb source don't match 550 .prx's (for PTF it's 0x257B8 in src, 0x28858 in sysconf_plugin.prx), so I'm missing something when trying to find answers there. That, and no 5.03genb testing environment, so yeah.

[nickxab]

I will tell TN to check this thread.

[elite999]

We are sorry for any forum-frontpage delay. It is just too slow.

[nickxab]

It is already in the front page:http://dl.qj.net/psp/homebrew-applic...rride-v02.html

[elite999]

Yeah, I know. Just wanted to clarify that if any such problem occur in the future.

[nickxab]

Ah ok !

@AtomicDryad
I have a question.
Is it possible to run files for the kd folder ?
With a mod maybe ?

[AtomicDryad]

I will tell TN to check this thread.

Thanks!

We are sorry for any forum-frontpage delay. It is just too slow.

Noted, and thanks

Ah ok !

@AtomicDryad
I have a question.
Is it possible to run files for the kd folder ?
With a mod maybe ?

Originally I had it checking -everything- including f0:/kd/, however the psp failed to boot even with nothing in ms0:/cxmb/override/kd. This may have been due to the old log() debug-to-file function which caused many crashes, however. If you want to try, add "/kd/" to override_dirs at the top of main.c and bump override_dirs_c to 4, then rebuild.

I'm likely to look into fixing /kd/ etc when I finish with my current project - being terribly sick =[

Fixing /kd/ would be great as a game plugin could be created to use CFW 5.50 prometheus without flashing, perhaps even in 5.00m33.

[AtomicDryad]

I compiled it with /kd/ overrides enabled and have uploaded. It boots, so I must conclude that it was the file logging. Here it is: http://fnord.to/psp/cxmb-override-0.2.kdtest1.zip (This is not a release intended for announcement / blogging)

Give it a shot, and let me know what /kd/ files you're trying to replace, and how that works out? I think many things simply won't work as they'll be loaded before /seplugins/ gets processed, like vsh/module/vshmain.prx, etc.

It's a pity all CFWs are proprietary.

[tehrzky]

is there any new update about 5.03 Gen-B? tnx...

[elite999]

That is irrelevant to the topic tehrzky. Please create a new thread for any help.

[nickxab]

Ah cool thanks.

EDIT: i tried it and it doesn't crash the psp but it doesn't read the files from the kd folder in the ms (ms0:/cxmb/override/kd).
I added a hex edited vshctrl.prx

[tehrzky]

That is irrelevant to the topic tehrzky. Please create a new thread for any help.

update of cxmb override to GEN-B 5.03...any news? tnx

[AtomicDryad]

Ah cool thanks.

EDIT: i tried it and it doesn't crash the psp but it doesn't read the files from the kd folder in the ms (ms0:/cxmb/override/kd).
I added a hex edited vshctrl.prx

vshctrl.prx is loaded before /seplugins/ are started, I imagine. I really need to look into a scary firmware-modularizing-module to put into pspbtcnf.bin. That would be a whole new beast, rather than a CXMB derivative. I'll look into it right after I rant about closed source CFW, and closed source pspbtcnf editors. Bleh, black-boxes. >.>

is there any new update about 5.03 Gen-B? tnx...

As soon as I find out which offset to use for sysconf_plugin.prx. I -think- I can determine the correct one with arithmetic, if you are willing to test to see if it works. This is very likely to 'soft brick' your psp, which can be fixed by disabling the test module in recovery menu.

[nickxab]

Well basically i am interesting to run pspbtcnf.bin,pspbtdnf.bin ,pspbtjnf.bin,pspbtknf.bi n,pspbtlnf.bin files from the ms. ;)

[AtomicDryad]

Well basically i am interesting to run pspbtcnf.bin,pspbtdnf.bin ,pspbtjnf.bin,pspbtknf.bi n,pspbtlnf.bin files from the ms. ;)

Aha. That's impossible with an seplugin, since the module that loads seplugins loads because it's an entry in pspbtcnf. If you're familiar with old windows 3.1 systems, pspbtcnf is autoexec.bat, /seplugins/ are dlls lurking in \windows\system.

At least, I think so. I could be an ignorant noob spewing misinformation, instead of an ignorant noob who's theorizes correctly. I'm too lazy atm to decrypt GEN .prx modules and grep for seplugins :P

Pandora/Timemachine is your best bet for the moment, for pspbtcnf-and-everything-else-on-ms.

On that note, does anyone know of a 32GB stick that works after pandora conversion? My 16gb says 'yeah. sure. whatever' and loses all data when I try -.-

[AtomicDryad]

New version released. Is there a way to upload to dl.qj.net? If not, I've included a blurb for those admin types.
url: http://cxmb-override.googlecode.com/...verride-0.3.7z

cxmb-override is an enhanced version of cxmb that allows one to replace individual theme related files (gameboot, wallpapers, fonts, rco, prx, etc) without unpacking and repacking ctfs.

Version 0.3 changes:

ignore.txt: per-thread blacklist of certain files (override/* and inside ctfs). Included ignore.txt disables alternative font loading for the web browser's HTML rendering, since that always ends up messy.

CXMB is no longer restricted to ms0:/cxmb. You can now throw it into /seplugins, /psp/cxmb, /omg/wtf/bbq, or whatever. override/* and conf files must exist in the same directory as cxmb-override.prx.

/kd/ overrides enabled: not as useful as you may think.

read and lseek no longer croak on overridden files after sleep mode, a bug which was most noticable with override/font/ltn0.pgf.

loglevel.txt: controls logging verbosity. 0(quiet) - 5(everything). +10 = log to /log.txt (and probably crash).