Splash Screen Randomizer for PSP 2020/2021 + Custom Splashes

[migf1]

More splashes: Kitten • Feline

Update: August 19, 2020
SSR v0.2.2 Slim Pack for PSP 2020/2021 (19.74 Mb) : SSR, Rage01 & Default Splashes, No helper animations

Just a slim-pack for this one (you can get more splash-screens from the other bundles). This version is a little more user-friendly and hopefully bug free

If you are upgrading, replace older copies of ssr.exe & Create SSR Shortcuts.exe with the new ones (no need to create new shortcuts though). ssrcpy.exe, ssr-settings-2020.txt and ssr-settings-2021.txt have not changed since v0.2.0, so replacing your existing copies is up to you.

What's New
v0.2.2:
• Added Shortcuts' initial customization dialog to the Create SSR Shortcuts tool : http://prntscr.com/u1jn4m
• Added unified dialog for ini-file settings, when invoking Shortcuts holding SHIFT : http://prntscr.com/u1jpsn
• Added new SSR Shortcut icons for PSP 2021 (they now match Corel's)
• Added filename extension check for user defined ini-files (must now be .txt)
• Fixed overwriting user-defined ini-files when their contents were not recognized
• Fixed crash when canceling out of all dialogs after staring a Shortcut with SHIFT

Update: August 9, 2020
SSR v0.2.1 Slim Pack for PSP 2020/2021 (19.73 Mb) : SSR, Rage01 & Default Splashes, No helper animations

Hopefully all v0.2.0 issues have been fixed. Also shortcuts support has been added. Just a slim-pack for this one (you can get more splash-screens from the other bundles).

If you are upgrading, replace older copies of ssr.exe & Create SSR Shortcuts.exe with the new ones (no need to create new shortcuts though). ssrcpy.exe, ssr-settings-2020.txt and ssr-settings-2021.txt have not changed since v0.2.0, so replacing your existing copies is up to you.

What's New
v0.2.1:
• Added support for shortcuts (.lnk files) both as arguments (splash-folder and pass-through images) and as valid randomization entities in user_splashes folder.
• Fixed "PSP already running" conflict between PSP 2020 & PSP 2021 (check removed).
• Fixed path issues with user-defined ini-files.
• Fixed path issues when a splash-folder was Drag & Drop'ed on ssr.exe instead of a shortcut (also fixed default ini-file duplication in splash-folder's path).

Update: August 6, 2020
SSR v0.2.0 for PSP 2020/2021 (90.69 Mb) : [Full bundle] SSR, Rage Splashes for PSP 2020 & 2021, Helper pics & anims
SSR v0.2.0 Slim Pack for PSP 2020/2021 (19.73 Mb) : SSR, Rage01 & Default Splashes, No helper animations
(for those having already custom splash-screens and only need to upgrade their SSR version).

Setup & Basic Usage (5 mins): https://imgur.com/EGc7OLG
Pass Through Images (1 min): https://imgur.com/I01x156

What's New
v0.2.0:
• Added PSP 2021 version of the Rage splash-screens
• Updated Splash Screen Randomizer (SSR) to v0.2.0
◦ Unicode support (paths & filenames can be in any language)
◦ PaintShop Pro 2021 support (-psp=2021 option)
◦ Default ini-file changed from "psp2020_paths.txt" to "ssr-settings-2020.txt" and "ssr-settings-2021" for PSP 2020 and PSP2021, respectively
◦ Added user-defined splashes path in the ini-file, making it possible to keep "ssr.exe" and splash-folders in different places (for randomization)
◦ Added support for user-defined ini-file (-ini=filename.txt option)
◦ Added basic GUI for editing the ini-file (hold down the SHIFT key when starting a Shortcut)
◦ The Create SSR Shortcuts tool can now create shortcuts for both PSP 2020 and PSP 2021, colorized slightly differently (the tool also now has its own icon)
◦ The ico\ folder was removed (icons have been moved into the ssr executable)

Quick Overview:

=== OLDER VERSIONS WILL BECOME OBSOLETE AFTER SSR v0.2.0 GETS FULLY TESTED WITH PSP 2021 =====================

Update: July 26, 2020
SSR v0.1.1 for PSP 2020 (54 Mb)

I finally managed to make a splash-screen randomizer for PSP 2020 (calling it SSR), which can also install splash-screens as long as their folders follow the structure described in the included Readme.txt. It can also launch PSP 2020 when it is done, and pass it images (pass-through images). Its main drawback is that it does not work with non-English paths & filenames (no Unicode support yet).

This image is a quick overview:

The SSR Shortcuts shown above are not there by default. You create them by running the "Create SSR Shortucts.exe" (not shown in the pic but it's also located inside the splashes\folder). It should be the 1st thing to do. You can then place them anywhere you want.

The "psp2020_paths.txt" is plain text, listing the default locations of PSP 2020. You will need to edit it ONLY if you do not have PSP 2020 installed in its default locations.

See this short vid (1.22 min) for the whole process (unpacking, setup, randomize, install custom splash, restore default splash):
https://imgur.com/Jlh07bm

To save you some further reading from the detailed Readme.txt, here are some basics.

The main tool is the "ssr.exe" file, which accepts the following argument flags:
-launch (run PSP when done and pass it any images passed as extra arguments)
-pause (pause with a prompt before exiting or before launching PSP)
-32bit (use the 32bit version of PSP)

Without arguments, it works as a randomizer. Folder arguments are assumed to be splash-folders, and the 1st one gets installed (the rest are ignored). Lastly, when "-launch" is present, any files passed are assumed to be images and they are handed over to PSP 2020.

You don't really need to bother with "ssr.exe" itself (unless you plan to use if from the command-line, or in scripts).

Use the created SSR Shortcuts instead (or create your onwn). They, both have the "-launch" and "-pause" flags in their Properties. The 32-bit one has also the "-32bit" flag. So, it is only a matter of drag & drop folders and images on any of the shortcuts. Or just double-click to have them pick a random splash and launch PSP.

Feel free to adjust their flags: https://prnt.sc/toss9x
For example, you can delete "-pause", so they don't pause before launching PSP.

Everything is explained in the Readme.txt, and there are also 7 helper pics & mini videos inside "Readme_VisualReferences\" folder (the main reason for this new bundle being 14 Mb bigger than the previous one lol).

I deleted the old content of this post. The Rage splash-screens are the same as before, but this bundle also includes SSR and friends :p

If you do not need/want SSR, or you are using folder/file names with non-Latin characters, here is a quote from the original version of this post, for copying manually any of the 4 included Rage splash-screens into your PSP 2020:

Each of the 4 custom screens comes in its own folder, containing 2 sub-folders: Pro\ and Ultimate\
Also, the original PSP 2020 screens are located in an additional such folder called: restore-original\

Assuming PSP 2020 is installed in its default location, open any of the main folders and copy its Pro\ and Ultimate\ sub-folders into:

(for 64-bit PSP 2020)
C:\Program Files\Corel\Corel PaintShop Pro 2020 (64-bit)\Data\

(for 32-bit PSP 2020)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Corel\Corel PaintShop Pro 2020)\Data\

You you will need to grant admin rights in order to replace the original images.

Feedback is always welcome! I'll be watching the topic for any questions, suggestions, etc.

[Jean-Luc]

We did it 5 years ago in the French forum (just for kidding):

http://www.paintshoppro.fr/viewtopic.ph ... reen#p1237

and more recently:
http://www.paintshoppro.fr/viewtopic.ph ... een#p13152

[migf1]

Hi Jean-Luc, that's nice!

I see older PSP versions had the splash-screens in their resource file? Yikes (LOL).

Thankfully PSP2020 has them as separate images.

I am almost done writing a little randomizer in C, but only for my splash-screens for now (I have hardcoded their folder names in the source: http://prntscr.com/tizlmu). Pretty simple, non-GUI little program, using system calls. No plans to add proper directory management and a GUI any time soon, or ever (LOL). But once it's done, I can give-away the source, so others can hard-code their own folder names in there and re-compile.

PS. (Irrelevant) To the forum mods, how about adding a show-off sub-forum or something similar? Could be home for anything made with PSP.

[migf1]

Just letting you guys know that I decided to make the randomizer work with any splash screen folders, not just mine. It can also install a user-specified folder by dragging it on the randomizer icon. It may take me a couple more days. To get an idea, this is a screen-shot from the comments in its source-code, about its usage:

No plans for a GUI, and I know Windows users are not used to command-line. However, in Windows we can make program shortcuts, assign them any combination of command-line arguments, and even drag folders/files on them (they will be treated as command-line arguments too). Those shortucts don't even have to be in the same folder with the main program. I'll provide 2 such shortcuts, one for PSP2020 (64-bit) and one for PSP2020 (32-bit).

It sounds way more complicated than it actually is. It is only a matter of having a shortcut anywhere you want (for example on your desktop) and then either run it for a random splash, or drag a folder on it for user-specified splash.

Here is how it looks like, when running it with "-launch" and "-pause":

Lastly, PSP2020 is very picky when it comes to its resources. If you replace its splash-screens with png's of unexpected specs it crashes on start (you can always put back its original png's and run it again). I have tried to prevent the randomizer from installing invalid splash screens in PSP. It ignores invalid folders, and for valid ones it checks for the PNG signature existence inside the images header, along with the dimensions expected by PSP2020.

[migf1]

Ok guys, I finally made the randomizer.

I completely revamped the 1st post of this topic (even the title); it now includes updated info and content. Feedback is always welcome.

[ehume]

you say the current -2020 - psp has splash screens as separate images. my psp 2018 has the splash screens in the resource file, so i guess it is an "older" psp. what directory are the splash screens in

[migf1]

Hi Ehume!

Yeah, this is specific to PaintShop Pro 2020 (so it's not working with earlier versions).

In PaintShop Pro 2020, the splash-screen images are located in the following folders:

(for 64-bit PSP 2020)
C:\Program Files\Corel\Corel PaintShop Pro 2020 (64-bit)\Data\Pro\
C:\Program Files\Corel\Corel PaintShop Pro 2020 (64-bit)\Data\Ultimate\

(for 32-bit PSP 2020)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Corel\Corel PaintShop Pro 2020)\Data\Pro\
C:\Program Files (x86)\Corel\Corel PaintShop Pro 2020)\Data\Ultimate\

PS. I took a little break, but I started converting the randomizer to Unicode, meaning it will also work with non-English path/file names (and I'll probably add a graphical way to choose the locations of PSP 2020, instead of manually editing the "psp2020_paths.txt" file).

[migf1]

I think I finished coding SSR v0.2.0, adding Unicode support, primitive GUI interaction, user-selectable settings file, and PSP 2021 support.

Quick Overview: http://prntscr.com/ttmhm2
Command-line (for advanced users): http://prntscr.com/ttmihk

The thing is that I can't test it with PSP 2021 and more importantly for now, would someone having PSP 2021 upload its original Pro and Ultimate splash-screen images, so I can include a "restore-original-2021" folder in the bundle? Once I have those, I can make an extra PSP 2021 specific splash-screen, and upload a "beta" SSR version so people can test with PSP 2021.

Thanks in advance!

PS. In the meantime I will make new helper pics/vids, I'll update the Readme.txt and I'll make a few PSP 2021 specific splash-screens (or add PSP 2021 versions of the Rage ones) .

[migf1]

no one?

[migf1]

Thanks to Zantara I was able to bundle the default PSP 2021 splash-screen in the new version of SSR (v0.2.0).

It has lots of improvements compared to the previous version. I updated the first post of the topic accordingly, but I don't and won't have access to PSP 2021 until a trial version becomes available. So any feedback from people trying it in PSP 2021 will be much appreciated.

Thanks again Zantara!

[Jean-Luc]

have access to PSP 2021 until a trial version becomes available.

The trial is available:

[migf1]

Oh great! Thank you Jean-Luc!

[migf1]

I wasn't sure if I should open a new topic for this, it's a new splash-screen I made for kitty lovers. I figured I should post it here, and the mods can decide if it should be moved to a new topic or not.

Kitten Splash for PSP 2020 & PSP 2021 (SSR Ready)

D/L link (13.13 Mb on MediaFire)

SSR is not included, but it is an SSR Ready splash (if you have SSR, just place the kitten splash-folders alongside the rest of your custom splashes, or install them on demand by drag & drop).

PS. It would be less than half of that size if I didn't have to include the original PSP 2020 and 2021 splashes (they are needed for restoring the defaults when you don't have/want any of the other bundles).

[migf1]

I've discovered some bugs in SSR, and started working them out for a 0.2.1 version (none of them cause any damage to your PSP).

• An needless check prevents psp2020 auto-launching when psp2021 is already run, and vice versa
• Drag & Drop on ssr.exe itself (instead of a shortcut) has several issues - plus it falsely creates an ini-file to the directory of the dragged folder
• user-specified ini-files need some more work too

While I am at it, I'll try to add the ability to also use shortucts as arguments or as randomization splash-folders.

[migf1]

Ok, I think I fixed the issues (hopefully) and added Shortcuts support.

Only as a slim-pack for now. I just updated accordingly the 1st post of this topic (right under the splashes preview pictures).