"How to make a S60 screensaver" tutorial

[Shiranai]

I somehow had nothing better to do today than using FExplorer and search where that screensaver from my operator is hidden. I found it, played a little around, searched the internet and after a few minutes I had my own screensaver with the rolling katamari you see on the left

And here's how it works:

What you need:

A paint program (Corel, Photoshop, ....... Windows Paint )
Fexplorer on your phone http://users.skynet.be/domi/fexplorer.htm
MBM wizard http://www.symbian-freak.com/downloa...mbm_wizard.zip
Screensaver Plugin + ini http://de.geocities.com/luxserver/BMPANIMSCRPLUGIN.zip
(if you got a branded phone you maybe find the plugin files also in Z:/system/screensavers)

1) First you need a picture. As we want it fullscreen, the size should be 176x208. Save it as BMP. If you want to make an animation, you have to save several BMPs.
2) Open MBM wizard. Select your BMP picture(s). In the field where you see /c8 select the palette that your picture has. For example /c24 is 24-bit color. Click on "Add selected as". If you want to make an animation you of course have to add several BMPs. Now save the file as: BMPANIMSCRPLUGIN
3) Open BMPANIMSCRPLUGIN.zip (the file you downloaded from above) and extract the files.
4) Open BmpAnimScrPlugin.ini and edit it to your needs. I think no explanation is necessary. Remember to change the path to c:

; Plugin name
name=NAME OF YOUR SCREENSAVER (can be everything)

; Bitmap file name (on ROM full path is needed)
mbmfile=c:\system\screensavers\BmpAnimScrPlugin.mbm

; Running time in millis
runningtime=60000000

; Suspend time in millis (max 2147483647, -1 indefinitely)
suspendtime=-1

; Time between images in millis
timing=200000

; Time to keep lights on in seconds
lights=15

5) Almost finished. Now just transfer all 3 files (the .mbm, .ini and .sc) to
c:\system\screensavers (you have to create the directory)

If you've done everything right you can now select your new screensaver in
Tools > Themes > Edit > Screensaver

It works for 6630 but I'm not sure if it works on older Symbian phones

Have phun

[claudio]

Thank's for sharing Really Good work

[a2k24]

Shiranai, thankx

finally got ur 6630 eh! congrats! long time coming, none the less! im sure its been sweet
take care

[sag0]

i had one of those screensaver programs before on my old 3650 and it can use animated gifs as screensavers. it was a good program but it really sucked because it drains (or sucks) the battery dry very quick.

just a question... would this have a great effect on the battery life on a phone? well i think it would but up to what extent?

thanks! and cheers!!!

[D-Off]

Yes, it will drain your battery fast. Any custom "screen saver" (should it be called power saver instead?) that user full screen, deep color pictures and complex animation (long/high fps) have that problem. Standard saver user "partial mode" so only small part of the screen is actually powered. Also remember that screen saver triggers some system clean-up processes because phone assumes that it is in idle mode.

[rohit]

One Question!
Will it work on s90 fone? (7710)

[Shiranai]

You can try. But I dont think so.

BTW: It will not drain much battery. Remember that it is an (official) plugin for Symbian , not a 3rd party program. A program would run in the background and drain battery. Additionally, the screensaver stays for only about 1 minute (depending what you set). After that it changes to the standard clock-screensaver.

[malinda]

Is it possible to do this on the Nokia 7710 (s90) phones.

[gauravdc]

very nice......great post!

[Trinitow]

mmh - my experiences with this screensaver toolkit - thanks to the autor, was that my 6680 displayed, after it had shown my selfmade screensaver, always RAM is Full - because my screensaver seemed to be to huge for the ram -

so

[U] just use small pics, and if you want to use an animation the pics have to even smaller in file size [B]

[Shiranai]

Really?
I use a fullscreen animation with 4 pictures, it never displayed something like that.
Whats the size of your MBM file?

[Pat Lang]

Hi everyone, I am new here... I am a UI designer that is experimenting with my 6630 phone and having trouble with step 5.

5) Almost finished. Now just transfer all 3 files to
c:\system\screensavers (you have to create the directory)

How do you create this directory, I don't see a system anywhere on my phone. My only guess is that I must use the usb cable that came with the phone in order to transfer files and create directories. Any clues would help.
Thanks!

[adxalf]

install an File Explorer like FExplorer on your phone then you can cut copy paste delete all files and folders!
http://www.gosymbian.com

[mirkocrocop]

Hi i see that here is not posted .ini file that works for sure on others s60 mobiles like 6600 etc. so here it is

[info]
; Plugin name
name=MODIFY ME

; Bitmap file name (on ROM full path is needed)
;mbmfile=c:\system\screensavers\BmpAnimScrPlugin.mbm

; Running time in millis
runningtime=160000000

; Suspend time in millis (max 2147483647, -1 indefinitely)
suspendtime=0

; Time between images in millis
timing=100000

; Time to keep lights on in seconds
lights=0

You can modify next things:
1. name (this is the name that will be shown as name of screensaver)
2. mbmfile (this is a path to your .mbm file so if you want you can have your screensavers on memory card if you are low on phone memory)
3. runningtime (set in milis running time of screensaver)
4. timing (this is time between images in .mbm file so lower the number the pictures are going to change faster and vice versa)

P.S. Here is some advice for easyer changing of screensavers

; Bitmap file name (on ROM full path is needed)
;mbmfile=c:\system\screensavers\1.mbm

I tried to simplify that screensaver changing, so i have come to this solution, you can put all of your screensaver .mbm files in screensavers dir and give it simple names for example 1, 2, 3, 4 etc. then if you want to change screensaver just open that .ini in the mobile and change the number and voila screensaver is changed, quick and simple :wink:

I dedicate this post to all Symbian Freaks

[oeloluka05]

I am having problem on points 2 and 5. I dont know how to save the MBM file as. When i do save it, it saves successfuly and it isnt in the folder where i saved it...

Does anyone have any suggestions on this?

[Schturman]

I tried to simplify that screensaver changing, so i have come to this solution, you can put all of your screensaver .mbm files in screensavers dir and give it simple names for example 1, 2, 3, 4 etc. then if you want to change screensaver just open that .ini in the mobile and change the number and voila screensaver is changed, quick and simple :wink:

Hi
I dont understand how your edit .ini file on phone ? I open this file, but It does not allow me to edit, only view ??? How you did this, how you edit this file on phone ?
Thanks

[mirkocrocop]

YEdit is text editor whit it you can edit the .ini files Here is their web page

www.yellowcomputing.de

[Schturman]

YEdit is text editor whit it you can edit the .ini files Here is their web page

www.yellowcomputing.de

Thanks for answer , but I have found another way. It is more simple and good way for me, and without editing of .ini files (see picture and explanation).
1) I have created a few folders with names of my screensaver (on my comp)
2) I have created a few .mbm files with different names (on my comp)
3) I have created a few .ini files with the changed names inside of .mbm files (names of my .mbm files) and put them in to different folder (folders with names of my screensavers (names of .mbm files), on my comp).
3) I have put all my folders (with .ini files inside) to my phone, on the:
e:\System\Screensavers\ (NOT on c:\, because on my mmc 512MB)
4) I have put .SC file to the same directory (e:\System\Screensavers\)
5) I have put all my .mbm files to the same directory (e:\System\Screensavers\)

6) NOW - I choose a screensaver which I want. I take (cut) .ini file from folder which I have chosen, and put him (paste) to this directory: e:\System\Screensavers\

7) Wooala Only come to your theme, and choose your screensaver (now, name of your screensaver available )

If you want change screensaver to another one -> CUT current .ini file from e:\System\Screensavers\ and retrieve (PASTE) him to his folder. NOW - return to step 6 and 7.

GOOD LUCK !!!

[rohit]

Can you edit MBM files?
I mean can you convert 'em to BMP, jpg... or anything, readible/viewable/editible on the comp?

[badger]

rohit, mbmwizard

[rohit]

rohit, mbmwizard

Oh, just figd it out!
I forgot to click FILE earlier

P.S: i did, i tried opening an mbm file, but the SW Hung
P.S'2: Happened 2wice..

[barhoom18]

Do any one get problem in saving the file.... whene i save the file program FREEZE ... iw aith more than 10 min... i didnt get any respond..

plz help me...

regards
barhoom18

[seynts]

hi! im a newbie here.. the mbm file what should be the file size of it? bcoz ime getting 0 byte.. & how will i know the size of the image i need to use for 6680?

[malange007]

Hi i have been tryin to make an mbm file but the one wizard makes is of 0bytes can u please help me

[malange007]

hi bro whenever i save an mbm file i get o bytes whats worng why is this happening

[malange007]

is there nayone whio can help on this matter

[malange007]

there has to be someone in here

[malange007]

shiranin im wwaiting for your reply

[malange007]

someone help me please

[xkube]

malange007 shirinai haven't been in this forum for more than 3years now. and that instruction ifaik is design for S60 2nd edition symbian 7or 8 so if you have a s60 3rd edition it might not work at all as the security have been tighten.