Custom HomeScreen & Main Menu with launcher app as Menu Item

[whiteshores]

Hi Folks,

This customization was put together from instructions from a few others on multiple threads. It is a combination of there work, plus little tweak of my own. Unfortunately, I have been using their mods for a year or so now, and can not remeber who to give credit too. I just added my tweak this week.

Basically, I wanted to add a menu item to the Boxee HomeScreen to launch apps: Hulu Desktop (tv), Steam Game Engine Front End (games), Zino (magazines), Skype (phone). I did this previously by using the launcher app. However, I decided i wanted a more fluid integration, so wanted a menu item called "Programs", just like TV, Movies, Music, etc., that would bring me to a list/thumb view of my programs via the launcher app. So, i just edited the homescreen.xml and main.xml to launch the launcher app. There is another user who I got the idea from. However, his would launch individual apps from HomeScreen, so you would have a mene itme for each app you wanted to add. That was too much to fit on homescreen, especially if you wanted to launch more than 2 programs. So, i decided i just wante to luanch the luacnher app, wherein i could then choose which program i wanted to launch.

Becasue of size issues, i deleted the "Photos" menu item and put my "Programs" menu itme in it's place. Also, because of formatting issues, i had to rename it from "Programs" to "Launch" beacause "Programs" was too long and got cut off. Also, i used the icon for the play DVD, which is a Disc, for my "Launch" menu item. I never use discs anyways, but you probably dod, so you may want to find another icon. I actually made a bunch of icons to match Boxee icons, but in the end prefereed the Boxee ones.

Anyways, here the .xml's and here are some screenshots. Also, this .xml was modified to have "Recently added" items on homescreen which is used from another user on forums.

Instructions:
1. unzip attached "HomeScreen Launch.zip"
2. copy both .xml files in it to "C:\Program Files (x86)\Boxee\skin\boxee\720p" for x64 systems.
3. restart boxee and you will now have a luanch menu item. to add apps, you should read or search for the "launcher app" instrcutions. But basically, youjust arrow left to side menu bar once in this app and you will see a button for "add application" from where you name it, choose it's location/.exe, and choose an icon.

Edit: Make sure you already have the "Launcher App" from Fuzzthed repository installed and already working. All my "Launch" menu itme does it point to it.

Hope you like it!

[kratie00]

Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but my home screen looks like your screen shot but when I click on the Launch icon nothing happens. I never get to a screen to add any new apps... Am I missing a step somewhere? I downloaded your file, copied both items to the place you indicated, replaced the files that were already there by the same names and then restarted Boxee.

Thanks for any help!

[whiteshores]

Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but my home screen looks like your screen shot but when I click on the Launch icon nothing happens. I never get to a screen to add any new apps... Am I missing a step somewhere? I downloaded your file, copied both items to the place you indicated, replaced the files that were already there by the same names and then restarted Boxee.

Thanks for any help!

You know, I missed a step to include, which was an assumption on my part. You do have to have the Launcher App added to your apps or shortcuts. I think maybe that is what might be your problem? My "Launch" menu item launches the "Launcher App." Do you have launcher app installed? If, so then you should be able to add applications to it. Check the forums for the "Launcher App" if you have questions that pertain to it specifically. But pretty much, if you have the "Launcher App" working, than my cusomization should work fine.