Overview

Use aMPedConfig, via a Windows desktop shortcut, to select or change all the options available for aMPed or save different options for different users in Profiles.

aMPedConfig

Once you have installed aMPed, use aMPedConfig anytime via a Windows desktop shortcut or Start Menu Programs option (TeamMediaPortal > MediaPortal > Skins > aMPed) to select or change skin options. 

After you have selected the options your prefer, you can save them in a Profile so different users can start MediaPortal using different aMPed options/styles. 

Profiles can be selected in a batch file using a command line option, so they can be mapped to a specific remote key of your choice. See Profiles for further information.

For information on editing Basic Home layouts, see Basic Home Editor

See Choosing Options to learn how to combine aMPed options and features to create the look you prefer.

Themes

• Choose aMPed (default), Super Blue, Monochrome or Wine Glass

To create your own themes for aMPed see the tutorial for Themes

Layouts

• Screen size - 4x3 (PAL 5x4), True 4x3 (new as of version 3.4) or 16x9 (default as of version 3.4)
• Font size - 12pt, 15pt (default) or 18pt
• Video Shares - Covers (default) or Thumbs (for auto generated video thumbnails)
• TV Guide - 8 or 10 (default) lines
• BasicHome Layout:
  • Vintage (formerly named Classic) button style 
  • revaMPed (vertical menu with submenus) (default)
  • Touch - (new as of version 3.4) - combines revaMPed main menu with Vintage sub menus
  • Edit BasicHome - easily modify or create your own menus for any Basic Home layout
• Layout Style - as of version 3.3, you can select the Layout Style for backdrops:
  • Fanart (default) - displays fanart in proper resolution, fully visible even on 4x3 screens
  • Wide fanart - (as of version 3.4 supported for all screen sizes) - displays fanart more as a backdrop (zoomed and centered on 4x3 screens) - especially useful if you select wide list widths on 16x9 screens.
  • No fanart - if you like a minimalist style - fanart still displays when you access menus or details views, unless you also  Layout = None, on the Backdrops tab and disable fanart in plugins that support it.
• List Width (250-530) - the default is 375 for 4x3, 310 for 16x9 screens.
• Big Covers- as of version 3.3. you can choose to display Big covers in list layouts.  Although designed especially for the No Fanart Layout Style, they can be selected even with fanart and backdrops enabled.

Backdrops

• Default Backdrops - Single Image, cycling Multiple Images (default) or None - Default backdrops display on screens that do not have fanart (or when a fanart image is not available).
• Pictures/Video Thumbs - On/Off (default) - use video thumbs as backdrops in windows that generate thumb images, such as Pictures, Video Shares, Recorded TV, Video/TV Series Playlists, etc.
• My Home/Plugins - as of version 3.3 you can select different backdrops for the standard My Home and Plugins screens.  The options are the same as you select for Basic Home using the Basic Home Editor - single image, multi-image or fanart (if Fanart Handler plugin is installed and enabled).

To learn all the ways you can customize backdrops or use the backdrop options, see the tutorial on Backdrops.

Date Formats

Long dates do not fit well in aMPed layouts, especially when using 18pt font on 4:3 screens. To display dates nicely, you should use a short date format. Otherwise your long dates will just scroll which does not look good!

• Language - English (default)
• Date/Time Settings - select or edit the date format in the dropdown box (defaults to current setting). This is exactly the same as the way you do it using the Home plugin in MP Configuration
  • Numeric date formats- select a numeric short format, these display well in aMPed or
  • For abbreviated days/months (three characters or less):
    • Edit Strings - recommended (only required on first setup) - define abbreviated days and month
      • Type in the short forms for days (e.g. Mon Tue Wed...)
      • Go to the Months tab and type in the short forms for months (e.g. Jan Feb Mar...)
      • Press OK to save your short forms
      • Select or edit the format you wish in the dropdown format box
    • You only need to do this once, or if you reinstall MP.

Of course, you can choose to edit your date settings any time you wish.

Note: aMPed actually edits your language string files when it saves your short forms. When you uninstall aMPed it will restore your previous versions, however you should save any changes you made while aMPed was installed or they will be lost.

Profiles

aMPed supports Profiles which you can use to save all your settings. This is very handy if you have multiple users who each prefer different font sizes, themes, backdrops, or even list widths; or if you use a secondary monitor with a different screen size.

See Profiles for details on how to Create and Load your Profiles

Customization

See the Tutorials tab on the main aMPed Wiki page for all the tips how to configure aMPed. Or view Customization for ways you can customize aMPed even further.