Overview

The GUI section allows you to select a skin, theme and skin settings, and configure global settings that affect the Graphic User Interface (GUI).

The GUI Section

You may also select or change these settings within MediaPortal, see GUI Settings.

includes sub pages for:

• GUI Configuration
  • Language Settings
  • Control Settings
  • Thumbnail
  • Screensaver
  • File Menu
  • On-Screen Display
  • Skip Steps

Skin Selection

You may also select or change these settings within MediaPortal, see Skin Settings.

Skin Selection

Choose between installed skins and change the look to your liking. A preview of the selected skin is shown in the window to the right. The selected skin will be used the next time MediaPortal is started.
Note the version number: Skins not compatible with the current release will not pass the Skin Version Check and you will get a warning if you try to use them.

Edit Skin Settings

Edit settings for the selected skin by clicking the Edit Skin Settings button - see below for details.

More new and hot skins

The link displays The Extensions > Skins Wiki page with general information on how to find all the latest skins.

You can also download new skins from the Skins Download page.

Skin Settings

Theme Selection

Choose between installed skin themes for the selected skin. A preview of the selected skin theme is shown in the window. The selected skin theme will be used the next time MediaPortal is started.
Note the version number: Skin themes not compatible with the selected skin will not be displayed in the list.

TV guide

Settings

Enable and disable TV guide program color settings including program genre coloring.
See TV Guide for additional information. These settings are not accessible if the TV plugin has not been installed.

You may also control these settings via TV settings within MediaPortal. 

Colors

These settings provide for the selection of colors associated with programs in the TV guide, including setting program colors according to program genre.
See program genre mapping and TV Guide for additional information. These settings are not accessible if the TV plugin has not been installed.

GUI Settings

You may also select or change these settings within MediaPortal, see General GUI Settings.

Allow remember last focused item on supported window/skin

Default: On
When this setting is enabled, MediaPortal will remember the last focused item in the skin when entering and exiting a plugin. E.g. if you enter Videos and then return to the home screen, Videos will be re-selected rather than the default item.

Hide file extensions like .mp3, .avi, .mpg...

Default: On

Hides file extensions when showing file lists.

Enable File existence cache (improves performance on some systems)

Default: Off
This setting, when enabled, will store the existence of files on the video and music shares amongst others. It can improve the performance of MediaPortal when navigating through these shares for a second time however might list files that has been removed by other means.

Enable skin sound effects

Default: On

Enable sound effects that are built into skins, for example when selecting a menu item.

Show special mouse controls (scrollbars, etc)

Default: Off
When this option is enabled, some skins display scrollbars or other controls for navigating lists when using a mouse. If you are using a remote control you may leave this option deselected.

Reduce frame rate when MediaPortal is not in focus

Default: Off

The MediaPortal GUI is rendered at a reduced frame rate when it is not in focus to let the GPU perform better in other applications. MediaPortal is expected to be inactive when it is not in focus however some users might use a remote control which can send commands to MediaPortal even when it is not in focus. This option should be enabled if the MediaPortal GUI is stuttering when not in focus, for example when using other applications on another monitor.

Add media info to the video database for use in share view

Default: Off

As of v1.7.0, when this option is enabled, MediaPortal will scan all movie files for audio and video codec information in the background when you open Shares view. This feature requires a supported skin, and is necessary in order to show duration for the video file in list view automatically. If this setting is unchecked, video duration will only be updated for a movie once it's played or you select Update Media info from the context menu.

Home Screen

Default: Classic and Basic, prefer Classic

Select from four different options:

• Classic and Basic, prefer Classic
• Classic and Basic, prefer Basic Home
• only Classic Home
• only Basic Home

If you select one of the 'only' options, then the other Home screen will not be available even when you press or the home button while viewing the Home screen.

Changelog