Log In
Register
Home
Topic RSS
Offline
After putting off my PS3 theme for more than a month I finally got it finished recently. So when I went to the upload tab it took me to the page that everyone comes across. I was confused for part of it but eventually got past it. Around the end of the page though, it said to include the .p3t file to continue. I had thought that it was just another copy of the theme and simply clicked on browse for files, only to then find that the only file of the theme was a .xml (excluding the theme preview .jpg file). I then acted like the complete idiot I am and simply just renamed the .xml file to a .p3t file. I'm not sure if I did something wrong of I'm finally doing something right when it comes to file types. I'm also curious on how the whole upload process works, but I'll save that for another forum post.
Forum Contributor
Offline
Well, mate, the XML file is just a "container" for the theme's info: it is like a blank sheet where every single information regarding the theme is written in real time while you're creating it.
Instead, the P3T file is the final result of those info which are all put together to create the theme: therefore it actually is the theme itself (and the only file to upload here)
I think you'd better check again because - every time you build a theme - the program creates a folder with the same name you gave to the theme, and inside that folder you will always find all the backgrounds and icons you used, plus the XML file and the p3t file which inevitably must be there... 
Offline
I checked the folder and all my pictures used in the theme are there, with the .xml file, but not the .p3t (excluding the renamed file mentioned earlier). To make sure I didn't delete it earlier I clicked on "New" and copied the existing theme. I then checked the copied theme folder and there was no .p3t file. Should I be clicking on "Build" once I'm finished, or would it be there from the get-go?
Forum Contributor
Offline
@Sir Pannington: Sure, mate!
Once you finished adding backgrounds/icons/everything else, you necessarily have to click on "Build" button: using PS3 Theme Builder program, this is the only way to "physically" create a usable theme (and so getting the p3t file)
Otherwise, as you noticed, all you got is just the elements you've put in the theme and the XML file (which simply lists the operations you made)...
Instead, by clicking on Build button, the program compiles all the info contained in the XML file to create the real - and usable - theme, which is the "p3t" file, like I said.
So, if you're sure all the elements you need for the theme are in the right place, just click that button and... WELCOME ABOARD! 
Offline
Thank you for the support. But there is another problem I came across. Apparently it requires the Xross Media Simulator to work and for some reason when I try installing the Media Simulator it constantly encounters errors and doesn't work. I've tried installing it a countless number of times but errors, errors, and more errors. I'll try installing it again a few times after I have posted this and I'll see where I get, but at the time of this reply, I have had no luck getting it to work.
Offline
Actually, I just clicked on build again and now it just keeps saying error. Nothing about the Xross, just error.
Forum Contributor
Offline
@Sir Pannington: No problem, mate!
Well, the XMB Simulator isn't essential for themes creation: believe me, I never installed/used it, and I made themes for years and years without problems...
It actually is just an "appendix", an additional feature for those who probably like tinkering with that stuff, but it doesn't affect in any way the program's functions.
As for the error you get when clicking on Build button... hmmm, that's weird.
I mean, it's weird the program says only "error", because it usually should say more when something's wrong.
Are you sure it doesn't appear any dialog box, when it gives you error?
For example, something like: - "[Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'C:\\Documents and Settings\\...etc" - or - "The application has failed to start because msvcp71.dll was not found" - or other stuff like that?
Also... Are you absolutely sure all the elements for your theme are correct (like the background's dimensions, or format, etc)?
Try checking these things and/or anything else, and then let me know
Offline
Yeah, the dialog box pops up and says that the first background image isn't a jpeg file. The first background file was a .png when I first noticed so I changed it to a .jpg. It still said it wasn't a jpeg file so then I renamed all 30 images used as backgrounds to .jpeg (not .jpg). Then it wouldn't even let me add the .jpeg files as backgrounds. So I renamed every image back to .jpg and the same dialog box came up with the warning. To be a little bit more specific, the final thing that pops up on the dialog list is 'C:\Documents and Settings\Compaq_Owner\My Documents\My Playstation Themes\Team Fortress 2 Theme\1283813719252.jpg' is not a jpeg file. Then it says failed after that. Also, I'm pretty sure that the dimensions are correct for the backgrounds and icons, I had posted an issue about dimensions a while ago but resolved it using Photoshop. I went through every single background image to make sure they were either 1920x1080 or 640x480. I hope this helps a bit.
Forum Contributor
Offline
Make sure you save your images as BASELINE/STANDARD JPGs. Not OPTIMIZED or PROGRESSIVE.
Forum Contributor
Offline
@Sir Pannington: Uh, I knew there had to be something else!
Well, I'd say we found out what's wrong...
You know, renaming images isn't a solution: this is because that way you're simply changing the file extension, but in the end the actual format and all related data remain the same, and since the images you used are a "non-standard" jpeg format, obviously the program detects this as an error.
So, all you need to do now is simply resave all the images in a standard jpeg format (as my friend Ultra said, NO PROGRESSIVE or OPTIMIZED or anything else) and everything should work fine
Oh, and another thing (just to be picky ): if you've also put sounds in your theme, you have to be absolutely sure that the length of each one of them doesn't exceed 1 second, or you'll get an error message again...
Now, fix this stuff and let me know
Offline
Again thank you for the support, I'll get on it A.S.A.P., unfortunately I ran into another problem, this has nothing to do with the theme messing up, it's just my computer being a little messed up. Photoshop isn't working currently on my computer so once it's up and running again, I'll be sure to re-save the images. If there's another way to re-save the images, then please tell me. Again thanks.
Forum Contributor
Offline
@Sir Pannington: Don't mention it, bro, always a pleasure!
Well, there are lots of other programs out there... you'll be spoiled for choice
For example GIMP, or Paint.NET, or PhotoFiltre: they're all free and user friendly... anyway, if the only thing you wanna do now is to save again those images in the right format, I suggest you to use PhotoFiltre, which is very easy and allows to save images very quickly.
And once you've done, let me know
Offline
Okay thanks for the suggestion. I'll check it out.
Offline
Okay, I just got all the images in the theme working. I'll get it uploaded today. Thank you both for the support.
1 Guest(s)
