Getting Started

  1. Launching the MediaPortalEditor for the first time
  2. Creating a new skin
  3. Working with an existing skin

Launching The MediaPortalEditor For The First Time

The first time you launch the MediaPortalEditor (MPE) you will be prompted to select your MediaPortal folder or directory.  Clicking OK will open up the Preferences Dialog.  To select your folder do the following:

  1. Click on the MediaPortalDir property
  2. Click the [...] button on the right.
  3. A folder browser will open.
  4. Select the appropriate folder and Click OK.
  5. Click OK to close the Preferences Dialog.

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Creating A New Skin

It is highly recommended that you create a new skin to work with instead of directly editting one of the existing skins. Use the following steps to create a new skin:

  1. Click the File menu then Click New.
  2. Alternatively, you can press <Control-N>.
  3. The Skin Browser Dialog will open.  This dialog will be used to enter the new skin name and to select one of the existing skins that will be used as a template for your new skin.  All of the controls, fonts, screens, images, and strings will be copied from the selected template skin to your new skin folder.
  4. Select the skin you wish to use as a template.
  5. Type the name of the new skin.
  6. Click the OK button.
  7. A new folder will be created with the name that was specified in the Dialog for the new skin.
  8. All of the resources will be copied to this new folder.
  9. If successful, the new skin will be openned and you can begin editting.

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Opening An Existing Skin

Use the following steps to open an existing skin:

  1. Click the File menu then Click Open.
  2. Alternatively, you can press <Control-O>.
  3. The Skin Browser Dialog will open. 
  4. Click on the skin you wish to Open.  If the skin has a preview.jpg in its root folder, then this image will be displayed in the preview box.  In a future version of MPE, this image will be generated automatically, but for now, you must take your own screenshot and save it the root folder of the skin.
  5. Click the OK button, or Double-Click the skin you wish to open.
  6. The skin's resources will be parsed and opened.

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Getting Around the Editor