Message files for the GRUB gfxmenu

Themes, icons, wallpapers, etc.
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JustGreg
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#31 Post by JustGreg »

Thank you very much, Trapster. The jpg is even better! Have a great day, because you made mine.
Enjoy life, Just Greg
Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

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trapster
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#32 Post by trapster »

You're welcome. Always glad to help a fellow New Englander.
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vellowax
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#33 Post by vellowax »


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CatDude
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#34 Post by CatDude »

Hi

I have finally figured out how to change the colour of the Help text (next to the F1)
it appears that there is a typing error in one of the files in the SUSE source code. :roll:

So, if you would like to change the colour of said text
this is what you need to do:

After unpacking your message file, open gfxboot.cfg in your text editor
and find the line that looks like this:

Code: Select all

panel.fg=0xffffff
and change it to this:

Code: Select all

panel.normal.fg=0xffffff
That's it, obviously you can change the colour from white to whatever you like,
then re-pack the message file as explained in Step 2. of this post.

I also re-compiled using the latest SUSE sources gfxboot-4.3.8-2.2.src.rpm
and hacked the code so the F1 Help is now located in the upper lefthand corner.

Below are some message files using this new layout,
there are two of each size, one with and one without the animated penguins theme.

Those with the penguins have been set to a 50% chance of them showing.

CatDude
.
Attachments
black-cat_1024x768.png
(93.26 KiB) Downloaded 6410 times
black-cat_penguins_1024x768.png
(170.77 KiB) Downloaded 5456 times
[img]http://www.smokey01.com/CatDude/.temp/sigs/acer-futile.gif[/img]

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ASRI éducation
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#35 Post by ASRI éducation »

Hello.

I have a problem to create a boot image (back.jpg) 800x600 for file pupsta1.
I work with Precise Puppy 5.7 and Gimp 2.8.1.
I tried different resolutions, sizes and settings for color, but I do not understand, it does not work.

mikeb has already succeeded in transforming me a picture. But I can not do it.

For better understanding, I provide you an example.
The two files below seem to have the same characteristics.
However, if the file of mike works (back-mike-ok.jpg), mine (back_new.jpg) shows me a black background.
If anyone can help me understand what's wrong.

Link for back-mike-ok.jpg
Link for back_new.jpg
Link for black background

Cordialement
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mikeb
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#36 Post by mikeb »

Hmm not a resolution issue it seems.

I also tried using another image...resized and it worked.

In the image properties the 'working' images have a color profile listed....in a hex editor they both have a substantial amount of meta data at the beginning of the file. The one that fails has no mention of profile in the gimp and lacks any significant metadata.

This may suggest that the grub splash code 'expects' a certain amount of data at the file beginning and gets upset without since its working at a low level of code. Without further knowledge and understanding it would seem to be a case of copy and paste to a known good image for now.

mike

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ASRI éducation
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#37 Post by ASRI éducation »

I like problems, because it allows people to find solutions!
So let me tell you about my research / testing (it may be useful to other users).

1 - I tried copying and pasting with Gimp-5.7 2.8.2 and precise. This does not work because it changes the properties (metadata) of the original file (functional). Suddenly, the new file is not functional.

2 - I tried to remove metadata with command 'exiv2', but nothing improved.

I spent last night (I'm a geek) to test different solutions, but I found nothing.
So, I continue my research... :wink:

@ mikeb
What software do you use for your copy and paste?

Cordialement,
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mikeb
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#38 Post by mikeb »

In this case GIMP 2.4.6 window to window and it appears it keeps the metadata of the 'pasted to' image. The core workings of GIMP are unlikely to change significantly with versions plus updates give me indigestion :D

Problem with this is that there is no way I know of to log grub to attempt to trace the cause of the problem...we are working semi blind on a visual enhancement

mike

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ASRI éducation
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#39 Post by ASRI éducation »

mikeb wrote:Problem with this is that there is no way I know of to log grub to attempt to trace the cause of the problem...we are working semi blind on a visual enhancement
Ok. :?
And of course, thank you for all !
Très cordialement,
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mikeb
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#40 Post by mikeb »

At least by posting our info anyone else will
1. have a clue when it does not work and

2. have a workaround.

This may be the best solution we get...its not just windows that has its devine mysteries...

mike

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CatDude
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#41 Post by CatDude »

Hello ASRI éducation & mikeb

Sorry i haven't responed sooner but i have also been trying to figure out this problem.

I can confirm ASRI éducation's findings,
in so much as GIMP 2.8.4 also appears to be 'mangling' jpg images. :shock:

I loaded up a copy of back-mike-ok.jpg (after verifying it worked in a GRUB gfxmenu file)
then exported it as a jpg with a different name, at which point it became corrupted
and i could not get it to work in a GRUB gfxmenu file.

This behaviour does not happen when i use GIMP 2.6.10

Another workaround to fixing these 'corrupted images',
is to open them up using mtpaint
and the use Save As to either overwrite it or save it with another name.

That does something which allows the image to display OK in a GRUB gfxmenu file.


CatDude
.
[img]http://www.smokey01.com/CatDude/.temp/sigs/acer-futile.gif[/img]

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greengeek
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#42 Post by greengeek »

Is this problem anything to do with palette depth or indexing perhaps? When I was playing around with boot images it seemed that the image parameters were restricted in some ways and I think I recall having to use irfanview on windows to (possibly) reduce colour depth or something (didn't know how to use Gimp or mtPaint properly). Sorry I can't remember much more...

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ASRI éducation
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#43 Post by ASRI éducation »

greengeek wrote:Is this problem anything to do with palette depth or indexing perhaps? When I was playing around with boot images it seemed that the image parameters were restricted in some ways and I think I recall having to use irfanview on windows to (possibly) reduce colour depth or something (didn't know how to use Gimp or mtPaint properly). Sorry I can't remember much more...
I will perform complementary tests, but at first sight, I do not think the color is decisive.
It's a difference with the Splash image method (cf. HOWTO add splash image to grub).
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#44 Post by ASRI éducation »

I followed the advice CatDude. That's ok, I have an image compatible with the gfxmenu!

I want to say how I did it to create compatible files back.jpg for grub-gfxmenu (it might be useful to other users).


Steps for creating the image
1 - Gimp
Creating a project: 1600x200 image 300x300 ppi, 24b RGB color (sRGB). Note: The project is created with a size and a resolution larger than the file that will be used for gfxmenu, it is always better to have a good matrix, then it is sufficient to reduce the image in the desired size .
At the end, save the project in Gimp format (.xcf) and in jpg format (which will be used to create back.jpg file).
Reduce the size and resolution of the jpg file created => Image | Scale image (800x600 size, resolution 72x72 ppi).

Characteristics of the final image back.jpg
Format: jpg
Size: 800x600 pixels or more large
Colors: 24b RGB color (sRGB)
Resolution: 72x72 ppi
Recording quality: 100%

2 - Remove metadata
In terminal "exiv2 rm /my_folder/my_image.jpg"

3 - mtpaint (workaround with Gimp 2.8.2/4)
Open the image with mtpaint, then save it under the name "pupsat1".

4 - Creation of file pupsta1
Test the image (back.jpg) by creating a pupsta1 file. => All is ok.


Cordialement,
Attachments
asrimenu_20130813.png
(98.06 KiB) Downloaded 2996 times
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mikeb
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#45 Post by mikeb »

More glorious workarounds...so in a nutshell its a lack of/messed up meta data from the GIMP.

Hi CatDude.... thought I'd pop into the forum just to upset the locals :D

have fun

Mike

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#46 Post by ASRI éducation »

mikeb wrote:More glorious workarounds...
The result of a team effort. :D
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Griot
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#47 Post by Griot »

mikeb wrote:Ok got here at last....

For grub4dos users the main point is to use version 4.4 which includes gfxmenu support. (and 256 inode and ext4 but not for the partition grldr is on).
The actual splash file is built in exactly the same way as normal grub.
Simply add
gfxmenu /path/to/splashfile
to your menu.lst

and enjoy....now to try and be artistic and get some graphics posted

mike
Hi mikeb. Would you be so kind to explain this to dumb a$$ noob like me? It seems like that this utility by smokey01 & CatDude (hi there dude!) doesn't work with grub4dos. :?:
All of the above relates to Legacy GRUB. Grub4Dos can also use these gfxmenu files, so it may be easier to edit whatever script it (Grub4Dos) uses to create the menu.lst and add a similar line to it.
Thank you.

P.S. Blame CatDude, he's the one who said:
So if anybody has any questions concerning it, please direct them to the grub4dos expert Mr mikeb :wink: :wink:
8)

EDIT: Due to a forum quirkiness these days, all the correspondence between mr. mikeb and yours truly, was carried out via PM. Case closed!

Thank you very much, sire. ;)

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mikeb
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#48 Post by mikeb »

Ok forum quirks indeed.

Here is a screenshot I made which might make it easier to see what needs to be done than a pile of words.

Mike
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splash.png
(81.15 KiB) Downloaded 290 times

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