LEDhead Skin Configuration File Value Scaler v1.0 ================================================= (C)Copyright 2006, Rich „Weeds„ Nagel - All rights reserved Overview -------- The LEDhead Skin Configuration File Value Scaler is a utility for the skin configuration (Skin.ini) files used with the Windows version of Peter Hirschberg's "LEDhead" Mattel handheld game emulator. Find out more about this excellent freeware handheld game emulator at http://www.peterhirschberg.com/handheld/ledhead om the Internet, it is sure to bring back sentimental memories of the wildly popular Mattel handheld games of the later '70s and early 80's! What is this thing anyways? --------------------------- One feature that LEDhead currently does not support is resizing the gameplay window when playing any of the included games. Even at a relatively low Windows desktop resolution of 800x600, it can be quite difficult to see those little LED "blips" on the gameplay screen... especially for one who has older aging eyes (like myself), and who is actually old enough to remember these original Mattel handheld game classics in the first place ! What to do? ----------- One can easily resize (or "scale") all of LEDhead's BMP format skin images larger by a specific percentage using an image editing utility (such as Paint Shop Pro). Paint Sho Pro (as well as many other image editing utilities) allows for resizing any number of images by a specific percentage (i.e. 150%). The only work involved to resize the skin images is simply to "Open image / Resize image by a specific percentage / Save image / Close image", which is a fairly quick and easy task to perform (especially when opening multiple image files simultaneously, and then using Paint Shop Pro's keyboard hotkeys). The problem is with editing all of LEDhead's skin configuration "Skin.ini" files located in the various subdirectories of the "LEDhead\Images" directory on your hard drive. After resizing the BMP format skin images using an image editing utility, all entries of every Skin.ini file must be edited to reflect this new larger image size in order to function properly within the game (i.e. if the images are resized to 150 percent, each numeric entry must be multiplied by 1.5, and then edited and saved using Windows Notepad). This can be quite a difficult task to accomplish due to the large number of entires that all of the Skin.ini files contain. The solution? ------------- The LEDhead Skin Configuration File Value Scaler utility will calculate the new numeric entry values of any Skin.ini file based on a specific scaling percentage factor, and then automatically edit and save them in the file... in just a matter of seconds. Note that this utility will NOT resize LEDhead's BMP format skin images for you (use an image editing utility (such as Paint Shop Pro) to accomplish that), but only edits the various numeric entries contained in the actual Skin.ini files (which is the hardest and most time consuming part of the whole process). Installation ------------ To install the LEDhead Skin Configuration File Value Scaler, unzip LSCFVS10.ZIP to the directory on your hard drive where LEDhead is installed (usually "C:\Program Files\LEDhead"). To upgrade the utility from any previous version, simply overwrite the existing files. Usage ----- IMPORTANT NOTE: Before continuing, ensure that you back up all of your existing Skin.ini and BMP format skin image files (which are located in the directories as detailed below)! After resizing all of the various BMP format skin image files using your image editing utility of choice, start the utility by running the file "LEDhead Skin Configuration File Value Scaler.exe". Upon running the utility you will be presented with a small window with several menu buttons. The first thing to do is to open an existing LEDhead skin configuration "Skin.ini" file by clicking the "Open INI File" menu button, and then browsing around your hard drive to one of LEDhead's Skin.ini files. As explained above, the Skin.ini files will be located in the various subdirectories of the "LEDhead\Images" directory on your hard drive (i.e. "C:\Program Files\LEDhead\Images\ArmorBattle"). Next, click the "Set Scaling Factor" menu button to set the scaling factor of the currently open LEDhead skin configuration file. Ensure that you enter ONLY valid numeric values, and that the value represents the scaling factor that you used when resizing LEDhead's BMP format skin images. As an example, a value of 1.5 equals 150 percent, a value of 2 equals 200 percent, while a value of 2.5 equals 250 percent, and so forth. Note that there is absolutely NO error checking whatsoever when setting the scaling factor. Entering anything other than valid numeric scaling factors (such as typing in an "A" or a "?") will most surely make a big mess of the original Skin.ini file... so ensure that you enter proper values! Lastly, click the "Process INI File" menu button to automatically edit and save the currently open LEDhead skin configuration file with the new values based on your chosen scaling factor. Finally, start LEDhead (maximizing the gameplay window), and enjoy the larger easier-to-see gameplay screens! Programs and Utilities ---------------------- The LEDhead Skin Configuration File Value Scaler was programmed and created exclusively using NeoSoft's NeoBook for Windows v4.1.3a. Legalities ---------- The LEDhead Skin Configuration File Value Scaler (LSCFVS10.ZIP) may be freely distributed in it's whole and unmodified form, contained in it's original unmodified and unedited ZIP format archive, including all documents, text, and support files. Note that this utility is NOT endorsed nor condoned by the creator of LEDhead. Void where prohibited, not available in all states, removing factory seal will void your warranty, does not include tax, tag, and title, your results may vary, supplies are limited, etc... etc... . Use the LEDhead Skin Configuration File Value Scaler at your own risk. I will not be held responsible for , and the like . Version History --------------- v1.0 - First release. (September 1, 2006) ENJOY! ------ Rich „Weeds„ Nagel richnagel@earthlink.net richnagel@simpilot.net rfnagel@juno.com rfnagel@racesimcentral.com http://www.richnagel.net http://home.earthlink.net/~richnagel http://www.geocities.com/rfnagel http://www.geocities.com/timessquare/metro/7256 http://www.simpilot.net/~richnagel http://snor.cmoo.com http://snor.cmoo.com/weeds http://www.cmoo.com/~snor http://www.cmoo.com/~snor/weeds