HowTo convert custom 3.40OE icons to 3.5x M33

[MicroNut]

3.5x M33-X firmware
Its well known now that a custom Battery Icon will lockup a PSP when the USB, photos and music functions are used.
system_plugin_fg.rco = Battery Icon

Its not M33 fault.
Sony changes the way things work all the time.
Thats why there are theme versions for various firmwares. 3.03 vs 3.10 3.40 and so on...

While most RCO's seem to work fine from firmware to firmware some RCO's might need to be converted.

For instance the top menu rco of some custom icon sets seem to be causing problems with 3.5x
It fails to load causing a White Screen on Boot...
topmenu_plugin.rco = Main System Icons

If you want to know more: Endless Paradigm Fully customize your XMB (http://endlessparadigm.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=236)

What you will need
RCOEdit114d (http://www.pspbrew.com/?page=fileInfo&cid=&d=5060) By ZiNgA BuRgA
The original decrypted 3.51 RCO's (http://forums.maxconsole.net/showthread.php?t=69298)
CXMB (http://www.2alien.info/2007/06/cxmb.html) A plug-in for risk free themes

Most of the information I needed to do this I learned from DCEmu forums.
This conversion processes was primarily gleaned from this howto:
Unofficial 3.40OE-A -3.51M33 Icon/RCO converter Guide [ Edited ]
(http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/message?board.id=psp&message.id=3062065#M3062065)


Converting 3.40 RCO's to 3.51

01. Open the RCO you want to convert (a 3.40 RCO)
http://www.fullburn.com/convert/01_Open Original_3.40.jpg

(Black Battery in this Example)
http://www.fullburn.com/convert/02_Open_Original_3.40_black.jpg


02. Choose to "Extract All" and extract the RCO to its own folder
http://www.fullburn.com/convert/03_Open_Original_3.40_extract.jpg


03. Open the original decrypted matching RCO from 3.51
http://www.fullburn.com/convert/04_Open_Original_3.51.jpg

This is the original 3.51 Battery Icon
http://www.fullburn.com/convert/05_Open_Original_3.51_original.jpg



04. Choose to "Extract All" and extract the RCO to its own folder
http://www.fullburn.com/convert/06_Open_Original_3.51_extract.jpg


05. Next choose to Replace Multiple (Multiple files)
http://www.fullburn.com/convert/07_Replace_Multiple.jpg


06. Browse to the extracted file folder of the RCO you want to convert.
In this example its the Extracted Black Battery
http://www.fullburn.com/convert/08_Replace_Multiple_FilesUsingExtracted3.41_Extrac ted Files.jpg


07. Click on OK and your done.
http://www.fullburn.com/convert/09_Replace_Multiple_Files_Done.jpg

What happens in steps 6 & 7 is that the app copies all of the 3.40 files over the 3.51 files.
Basically using the 3.51 RCO file as a template.
It creates a backup of the original 3.51 RCO (the .bak file)
The highlighted file is the new RCO
http://www.fullburn.com/convert/10_Done_FixedBattery.jpg



Cleaning TopMenu after conversion.
What you will need:
A copy of the 3.30IconMakerPack with the CleanerBlanks icon package. (get it here (http://forums.qj.net/f-psp-mods-media-18/t-guide-convert-icons-for-use-on-330-oe-a-105129.html))

01. Open the Top Menu that you converted using the steps outlined above.
http://www.fullburn.com/convert/clean/01_Open_Converted_3.51_OpenConverted.jpg


02. Next choose to Replace Multiple (Multiple files)
http://www.fullburn.com/convert/clean/02_Open_Converted_3.51_ReplaceMultiple.jpg


03. Choose the CleanerBlanks folder.
http://www.fullburn.com/convert/clean/03_Open_Converted_3.51_CleanBlanks.jpg


04. Click on Ok and your done.
http://www.fullburn.com/convert/clean/04_Open_Converted_3.51_Done.jpg

[Buddy4point0]

nice guide, but i think you should tell people (because for some reason noobs cant figure out the easyest things) that you can use extract all, then replace all to convert the entire rco

[ICE]

for the non noobs you just need the decrypted system_plugin_fg from 3.51 and put your battery icon in there.

[MicroNut]

nice guide, but i think you should tell people (because for some reason noobs cant figure out the easyest things) that you can use extract all, then replace all to convert the entire rco

Thank you,
Good suggestions.
Made some changes to the text.

The use of the CXMB plug-in can cause noob pain in itself.
Please notice that no where in this thread do I say to ever write any thing to flash memory.

RCO's that work/load with the CXMB plug-in using firmware 3.5x M33-X.
I'll update this list as I go and add to it if anyone wants too.

system_plugin_fg.rco = Battery
*3.40 icons must be converted to 3.5x

topmenu_plugin.rco = Icons
*Some 3.40 topmenu_plugin.rco's must be converted to 3.5x

sysconf_plugin.rco = USB Slider Bar. The activity bar that moves back and forth during read/writes
*Must be converted to 3.5x

opening_plugin.rco = Video -Cold boot video.
*Can be "cleaned" to be about 200k smaller by stripping audio which has been moved by Sony to a prx

impose_plugin.rco = Volume Bar
system_plugin_bg.rco = Back ground waves
system_plugin.rco = Information Bar
photo_plugin.rco = Place holder icon before thumbnail
game_plugin.rco = Place holder icon
visualizer_plugin.rco = changes the appearance of the first graphic display during music playback

gameboot.pmf = video played before game is launched

01-12.bmp = default background image. Waves ride on top of image.
The colored texture 01-12.BMP that are 60x34x24b work for setting multiple color backgrounds.
They are used to set monthly selectable theme colors.

The larger BMP can be still used as a wallpaper background with waves on top (http://endlessparadigm.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=205&page=1)
You must first resize the BMP to 352x199
If you try and use it as background theme (the first selectable theme color) without resizing the image
You will randomly loose the display of some icons. (white blocks)
Once the BMP is resized you can convert it to a JPG.
Then rename it to 01-12.BMP <- make sure to change the extension from JPG to BMP... yes it works.

Here are 140 background images already formatted and ready to be used as background images with waves on top.
PSP Backgrounds for 01-12 Package.rar (http://www.fullburn.com/convert/0112/PSP Backgrounds for 01-12 Package.rar)

CXMB cannot redirect VSH modded custom themes that use pspbtcnf.txt in 3.5x firmwares.

For instance:
Complex themes like evolves (http://www.evolvexmb.com) 363 will not work.
Themes like Glass and DNA DO work work.

Looks like there is a way to build themes without the use of pspbtcnf.txt

Basic themes like the Ultimate Black Themes, which are also on evolves front page, will work most of the time.

[MicroNut]

I have converted 6 battery icons for use in 3.5x M33 themes.
I have tested each one using CXMB
Each retain the name of their original theme.
Yes, you can mix and match to build your theme to your own desires.

http://www.fullburn.com/convert/battery/6Batteries.jpg

6Batteries.rar (http://www.fullburn.com/convert/battery/6Batteries.rar)

[MicroNut]

The "system_plugin_fg.rco" and "topmenu_plugin.rco" needed to be converted for this one.
Tested using CXMB on firmware 3.51M33-7

http://www.fullburn.com/convert/pirates/5.jpg

Desi Soulja's Pirates Theme for 3.5x M33 (http://www.fullburn.com/convert/pirates/Desi_Soulja's_Pirates_Theme_3.51.rar)

[MicroNut]

The "system_plugin_fg.rco" and "topmenu_plugin.rco" needed to be converted for these as well.
Tested using CXMB on firmware 3.51M33-7

Red and Blue Vista Orbs by SaiZn (http://forums.qj.net/f-psp-mods-media-18/t-releasevista-orbs-98803.html)

Red Vista Orbs for 3.51 (http://www.fullburn.com/convert/RedVista/Red_Vista_Orbs_3.51.rar)

Blue Vista Orbs for 3.51 (http://www.fullburn.com/convert/BlueVista/Blue_Vista_Orbs_3.51.rar)