Installing or changing 'skins'

[m1k3g]

How do you go about changing the look of SageTV, specifically using the customizations available in the download section? I have attempted to add the 'CenterSage' skin with almost disastrous results. I ended up having to restore from a shadow copy as everything just went black after following these detailed instructions.

"Installation : unzip to your SageTV install folder. On windows computers, this is usually at C:\Program Files\SageTV\SageTV"

Yeah. And then what do you do? It appeared that I needed to install SageMC? What's the difference between SageMC & SageTV, and why the heck are there apparently two different packages? I tried 'importing' STV's, as opposed to loading an STV(???) But I can't even find where the files are stored, as Sage's directory structure is not exactly clear - SageTV\SageTV\SageTV3\STV\...... etc. Not exactly intuitive. Read the guides, search the forums, sit in front of the PC/TV and tinker with settings for hours on end...

I was able to get the iTV skin to halfway load. But it really just has the black background, none of the customized buttons or anything are there? Why do I need to import 3-4 different packages of bars, buttons, etc.. can't the package just install and configure everything at once?

I seem to spend half of my life reading these forums lately and I'm really starting to think that it's just not worth it... Sorry for the rant.

[Opus4]

SageMC and its themes are a completely separate user-created interface for SageTV. See the SageMC subforum.

- Andy

[mbowling]

I am also a new user so I can offer advise from the newbie perspective. I also had a few black screens when I first started playing with SageTV customizations. The important thing is to understand is the difference between Loading and Importing. The excerpt below will help you understand when to Load and when to Import.

This is from http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...91&postcount=1

STV extension is the old SageTV Application Package extension.
You should think of these as Sage "skins" or "themes". This changes mostly what Sage looks like and it's functionallity. DELETE THESE THAT END IN STV! These are old and are limiting and will prevent you from loading the new STV "skins" or "themes".

XML is the NEW extension for these STV SageTV Application Package files.
(People have begun to refer to them as STVs.) Again, think of these as Sage "skins" or "themes". It's a look and functionallity.

NEVER IMPORT A STV !
You don't import a STV ("skin") in the default STV and most other STVs. You LOAD an STV. When you load an STV its extension ends in .xml.

STVi extension is the SageTV Application Package Import.
Think of these as a "plug-in" or "add-on" and is usually meant to add a single new function or application to SageTV. (Example: Video Edit, Netflix, MovieTimes, etc.)

NEVER LOAD AN STVi !
Never load an STVi. Bad things can happens. ALWAYS import an STVi. Let associate the "i" with Import.

SAGEMC IS AN EXCEPTION TO THE RULES !
SageMC was designed for particular ease of use and for use with a remote only. (For the most part) Because of that SageMC was never designed to handle Imports. That's why you don't see .STVi extensions in there. But what it CAN see is the .xml extension. Which is also the default extension for STV also. And this is where the confusion comes in. In SageMC, when importing a plugin you will see STV and Imports because they both use the .XML extension. You just need to be careful and understand what you are doing. Know the name of the import you wish to use. Look for imports specifically designed for SageMC. They will say so.


Read Brent's blog to understand how to use SageMC. He gives an excellent overview and step-by-step instructions. This was very helpful to me when I was trying to get my mind around SageMC.

http://www.geektonic.com/2008/01/sup...th-sagetv.html

[m1k3g]

Thanks for for the positive reply. I know I probably sound sounded frustrated in this post (I am), but getting answers to SageTV questions is a little like do-it-yourself brain surgery. One slip of the knife (mouse) and you're in a world of pain. Especially when you're experimenting with the only TV/STB combination in the house

I have read the items you linked to previously, but I guess I need to go back and try to read through them again.

[Wxford]

If at first you don't succeed try and try again!

Seems like it is that way these days for the really good programs like SageTV.

I too have been going cross eyed in the forums looking for answers and I am finding many of them here but just not crystal clear to the average computer hobbyist like me.

I do not mean to say I think you are average too, far from it, you are going for the whole enchilada and setting up SageMC.

I on the other hand will feel extremely relieved once I get the standard SageTV working 100% the way I want it to (and it's getting there) then I might get bold and delve into SageGM.

That said, please post back how things go for you on the setup of SageMC.

Knowing that you and m1k3g made it work and like it would help me to take that next step too.

Hope all goes well this time round.

Paul

[m1k3g]

Well, after reading the very helpful response from MBowling, I went and read the Geektonic articles and that made things so much clearer. I got SageMC installed in about 10 minutes and am now working on some other customizations. I highly recommend that site.

I realize that SageTV is designed as a fairly open and extensible product, but some things just aren't clear and the responses from some of the folks on these forums certainly comes across as "I figured it out, why can't you?".

[Wxford]

Originally Posted by m1k3g

Well, after reading the very helpful response from MBowling, I went and read the Geektonic articles and that made things so much clearer. I got SageMC installed in about 10 minutes and am now working on some other customizations. I highly recommend that site.

Thanks for the response on setting up SageMC.

Glad to hear it is coming together better for you, now I am a little more at ease with my desire to try SageMC looking forward to that next big step when the time is right.

Yea I really like the information out on Geektonic and how detailed the information and instructions are. That's Brent's Blog he post and helps alot here in the SageTV Forums.

Originally Posted by m1k3g

I realize that SageTV is designed as a fairly open and extensible product, but some things just aren't clear and the responses from some of the folks on these forums certainly comes across as "I figured it out, why can't you?".

Yea I felt the same way when I first started asking questions and even asked once if the instructions could be written in step by step detail for a noob like me and one of the Sage Advanced Users "k10ck3r" made the perfect instructions and added them to his post and it worked like a champ.

I used BeyondTV for several years and I have to say the responses to my post (a second post sometimes) here have been really great and helpful and I am looking forward to activating my SageTV account this weekend.


Have a great day.

Paul