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Black Rainbow Sub Custom Menu Tutorial

RPG Maker 2000: Sub-Custom Menu System (S-CMS)
Written by Josh Smith (Neo862k)


Table of Contents:
I. Introduction
II. Requirements (Materials)
III. Programming
IV. Extras
V. Conclusion
VI. Legal

I. Introduction

In this section, I will explain what a Sub-Custom Menu System (S-CMS) is, and how to make one. This is in no way perfect, but it is something inwhich you can start with, and then add to your liking. If you want a Custom Menu System (CMS), this isn't the place to find out how to make one, as they are extremely difficult to make, and even harder to explain, but by studing the programming of this S-CMS, then you can eventually learn how to design your own CMS. A S-CMS is a custom-made system that allows the programmer more options than the Default Menu System (DMS) allows you. In this S-CMS, you will have the options of: Main Menu, Save, and Quit.

II. Requirements (Materials)

In this section, I will explain what materials are required to make a S-CMS, and what knowledge is required to understand how to make a S-CMS. I do not want you to copy the programming of this, and not understand how it works. The purpose of this guide is to explain better the use of variables, pictures, switches, and fork conditions. If the preceeding words scare you, then this isn't the guide for you. But if you understand the preceeding words, or atleast partially understand them, then this guide is for you, as it will better help you understand them. The following is what pictures you will need:
1. The Menu (Should be a rectangle, or whatever shape you choose, with the words Main Menu, Save, and Quit listed in it.)
2. A Cursor (Can be a box to fit around the text, or a hand or dot to be displayed beside the text)
3. A Menu stating: Quit-Yes No (This can be displayed by the show choice command)
4. A Cursor (Used to fit for the Quit Menu, not necessary if you use the chow choice command)

III. Programming

In this section, I will explain what to do to make the S-CMS, as well as what the programming should look like.

  1. Make a Common Event, and name it: S-CMS Menu.
  2. Make the Event Start Condition Parallel Process, without an Apperance Conditions Switch.
  3. Make the first event Disable System Menu: Disable
  4. The second event as Disable Save: Disable.
  5. Enter Password: (Select a variable and name it S-CMS. Wait Until Key Hit, and Input Key: Cancel [6]).
  6. Fork Condition: Option: Variable: S-CMS is set to 6, without else condition.
  7. Inside the Fork Condition, Show Picture 1 (The Menu) on the screen. This is a hard part, as there is no way of figuring out the location of the picture, except be trial and error. For this S-CMS, place the picture so that the top left corner is in the top left corner of the Screen.
  8. Move Event: Hero, insert Wait a Moment into the action, and then select repeat.
  9. Set Screen Tone: Red 75, Green 75, Blue 75, Chroma 75, and make the wait time 0.1 sec, with wait until done selected.
  10. Change Switch (Select a Switch and name it Main Menu Selected, and set it ON).

    The Events Commands should look like this:

    <> Disable System Menu: Disable
    <> Disable Save: Disable
    <> Enter Password: [XXXX:S-CMS]
    <> FORK Optn:Varbl[XXXX:S-CMS]-6
    <> Show Picture: 1, The Menu, (XX,YY)
    <> Move Event...: Hero ,Wait
    <> Set Screen Tone:(R075,G075,B075,S075),0,1sec(W)
    <> Change Switch: [XXXX:Main Menu Selected]-ON Set
    <>
    :END Case

    If yours doesn't look like that, then check back with the directions, and see if you did anything wrong. Now, let's continue.

  11. Make a CYCLE event.
  12. In the CYCLE event, make a Fork Condition: Switch: If Main Menu Selected is ON, without else condition.
  13. Inside the Fork Condition, Show Picture 2: (The Cursor) at the location so that if it is a box, the word Main Menu is inside of it, and if it is a hand/dot, then the dot is to the left side of the word Main Menu. For this demonstration, the location of the picture will be know as (MM,MM).
  14. Enter Password: (Make a Variable and name it S-CMS Cursor. Wait Until Key Hit, and Input Keys: Direction [1,2,3,4], Descision [5], and Cancel [6]).
  15. Fork Condition: Variable: S-CMS Cursor is set to 1.
  16. Inside the Fork Condition, make a Move Picture 2, to a location where if the selector is a box, that the word Save is in it, or if it is a dot or hand, that it is to the left of the word Save. This location will be known as (SS,SS). Have it take 0.1 sec, and wait until key hit.
  17. Change Switch: Main Menu Selected-OFF
  18. Make a Switch and label it Save Selected, and turn it ON.
  19. Then after the END Case, make a new Fork Condition: Variable: S-CMS Cursor is set to 4.
  20. In this Fork Condition, make it Move Picture 2 to a location where if the Selecter is a box, that is has the word Quit inside of it, and if it is a dot or a hand, that it is beside the word Quit. This location will be known as (QQ,QQ). Make it 0.1 sec, and wait until key hit.
  21. Change Switch: Main Menu Selected-OFF
  22. Make a new Switch and label it Quit Selected, and switch it ON
  23. After it's End Case, make yet another Fork Condtion: Variable: S-CMS is set to 5.
  24. In the Fork Condition, Erase Picture: 1
  25. Erase Picture: 2
  26. Call System Menu
  27. Set the Screen Tone to Red 100, Green 100, Blue 100, and S 100. Make it 0.1 sec, and wait until done.
  28. Move Event: Hero, leave it blank
  29. Break Cycle.
  30. After the END Case, make a new Fork Condition: Variable: S-CMS is set to 6.
  31. In the Fork Condition, Erase Picture: 1
  32. Erase Picture: 2
  33. Set the Screen Tone to Red 100, Green 100, Blue 100, and S 100. Make it 0.1 sec, and wait until done.
  34. Move Event: Hero, leave it blank
  35. Break Cycle.

    The Events Should look like this:

    <> Disable System Menu: Disable
    <> Disable Save: Disable
    <> Enter Password: [XXXX:S-CMS]
    <> FORK Optn:Varbl[XXXX:S-CMS]-6
    <> Show Picture: 1, The Menu, (XX,YY)
    <> Move Event...: Hero ,Wait
    <> Set Screen Tone:(R075,G075,B075,S075),0,1sec(W)
    <> Change Switch: [XXXX:Main Menu Selected]-ON Set
    <>
    :END Case
    <> CYCLE
    <> FORK Optn: Switch [XXXX:Main Menu Selected]-ON
    <> Show Picture: 2, The Cursor, (MM,MM)
    <> Enter Password: [XXXX:S-CMS Cursor]
    <> FORK Optn:Varbl[XXXX:S-CMS Cursor]-1
    <> Move Picture: 2, (SS,SS), 0.1sec(W)
    <> Change Switch : [XXXX:Main Menu Selected]-OFF Set
    <> Change Switch : [XXXX:Save Selected]-ON Set
    <>
    :END Case
    <> FORK Optn:Varbl[XXXX:S-CMS Cursor]-4
    <> Move Picture : 2, (QQ,QQ), 0.1sec(W)
    <> Change Switch : [XXXX:Main Menu Selected]-OFF Set
    <> Change Switch : [XXXX:Quit Selected]-ON Set
    <>
    :END Case
    <> FORK Optn:Varble[XXXX:S-CMS Cursor]-5
    <> Erase Picture : 1
    <> Erase Picture : 2
    <> Call System Menu
    <> Set Screen Tone:(R100,G100,B100,S100),0.1sec(W)
    <> Move Event...: Hero
    <> BREAK Cycle
    <>
    :END Case
    <> FORK Optn:Varbl[XXXX:S-CMS Cursor]-6
    <> Erase Picture : 1
    <> Erase Picture : 2
    <> Set Screen Tone:(R100,G100,B100,S100),0.1sec(W)
    <> Move Event...: Hero
    <> BREAK Cycle
    <>
    :END Case
    <>
    :END Case
    <>
    END Cycle
    <>

    Believe it or not, but that is only one third of the programming. Now before you run off ripping the hair from you head, there is something that God greatly blessed us with. That mighy tool is: Copy and Paste. Sure, you say big whoop now, but in RPG Maker 2000, it can save days of work. Now what I want you to do is take what you have done, and copy the FORK Optn:Switch [XXXX:Main Menu Selected]-ON, it should also select all the way down to the bottom of the FORK: [S-CMS Cursor]-6. Now take that, and go to the bottom, just before the END Cycle, and paste it twice. You will have to make some changes to it, but you won't have to retype all of it.

  36. At the top of where you pasted, where it says: FORK Optn:Switch [XXXX:Main Menu Selected]-ON, and change the switch to Save Selected.
  37. Now under that, where it says Show Picture 2, change the location to: (SS,SS)
  38. Under FORK Condition S-CMS Cursor-1, change the move picture location to: (QQ,QQ).
  39. Under that, change the [XXXX:Main Menu Selected]-OFF to [XXXX: Save Selected]-OFF.
  40. Under that, change the [XXXX:Save Selected]-ON to [XXXX: Quit Selected]-ON.
  41. Under the next FORK Condition, change the Move Picture 2 location to: (MM,MM).
  42. Under that, change the [XXXX:Main Menu Selected]-OFF to [XXXX: Save Selected]-OFF.
  43. Under that, change the [XXXX:Quit Selected]-ON to [XXXX: Main Menu Selected]-ON.
  44. Under the next FORK Condition, Erase the Call System Menu, and replace it with the Call Save Menu.
  45. Keep the last FORK Condition the way it is.
  46. Now, where you pasted the second FORK Optn:Switch [XXXX:Main Menu Selected]- ON, change the switch to Quit Selected.
  47. Now under that, where it says Show Picture 2, change the location to: (QQ,QQ)
  48. Under FORK Condition S-CMS Cursor-1, change the move picture location to: (MM,MM).
  49. Under that, change the [XXXX:Main Menu Selected]-OFF to [XXXX: Quit Selected]-OFF.
  50. Under that, change the [XXXX:Save Selected]-ON to [XXXX: Main Menu Selected]-ON.
  51. Under the next FORK Condition, change the Move Picture 2 location to: (SS,SS).
  52. Under that, change the [XXXX:Main Menu Selected]-OFF to [XXXX: Quit Selected]-OFF.
  53. Under that, change the [XXXX:Quit Selected]-ON to [XXXX: Save Selected]-ON.
  54. Under the next FORK Condition, Erase the Call System Menu, and replace it with a Message that says: [Quit:]
  55. Under that, Show Choice: Yes/No.
  56. Under the Yes Case, Show Message: [Are you sure?]
  57. Then Show Choice: Yes/No
  58. If Yes, then Go to Title Screen
  59. If No, Set Screen Tone:(R100,G100,B100,S100),0.1sec(W)
  60. Move Event...: Hero, leave Blank
  61. Break Cycle.
  62. Copy the Set Screen Tone through the Break Cycle, and paste it under both of the [No] Cases.
  63. Keep the last FORK Condition the way it is.

    It should read as follows:

    <> Disable System Menu: Disable
    <> Disable Save: Disable
    <> Enter Password: [XXXX:S-CMS]
    <> FORK Optn:Varbl[XXXX:S-CMS]-6
    <> Show Picture: 1, The Menu, (XX,YY)
    <> Move Event...: Hero ,Wait
    <> Set Screen Tone:(R075,G075,B075,S075),0,1sec(W)
    <> Change Switch: [XXXX:Main Menu Selected]-ON Set
    <>
    :END Case
    <> CYCLE
    <> FORK Optn: Switch [XXXX:Main Menu Selected]-ON
    <> Show Picture: 2, The Cursor, (MM,MM)
    <> Enter Password: [XXXX:S-CMS Cursor]
    <> FORK Optn:Varbl[XXXX:S-CMS Cursor]-1
    <> Move Picture: 2, (SS,SS), 0.1sec(W)
    <> Change Switch : [XXXX:Main Menu Selected]-OFF Set
    <> Change Switch : [XXXX:Save Selected]-ON Set
    <>
    :END Case
    <> FORK Optn:Varbl[XXXX:S-CMS Cursor]-4
    <> Move Picture : 2, (QQ,QQ), 0.1sec(W)
    <> Change Switch : [XXXX:Main Menu Selected]-OFF Set
    <> Change Switch : [XXXX:Quit Selected]-ON Set
    <>
    :END Case
    <> FORK Optn:Varble[XXXX:S-CMS Cursor]-5
    <> Erase Picture : 1
    <> Erase Picture : 2
    <> Call System Menu
    <> Set Screen Tone:(R100,G100,B100,S100),0.1sec(W)
    <> Move Event...: Hero
    <> BREAK Cycle
    <>
    :END Case
    <> FORK Optn:Varbl[XXXX:S-CMS Cursor]-6
    <> Erase Picture : 1
    <> Erase Picture : 2
    <> Set Screen Tone:(R100,G100,B100,S100),0.1sec(W)
    <> Move Event...: Hero
    <> BREAK Cycle
    <>
    :END Case
    <>
    :END Case
    <> FORK Optn: Switch [XXXX:Save Selected]-ON
    <> Show Picture: 2, The Cursor, (SS,SS)
    <> Enter Password: [XXXX:S-CMS Cursor]
    <> FORK Optn:Varbl[XXXX:S-CMS Cursor]-1
    <> Move Picture: 2, (QQ,QQ), 0.1sec(W)
    <> Change Switch : [XXXX:Save Selected]-OFF Set
    <> Change Switch : [XXXX:Quit Selected]-ON Set
    <>
    :END Case
    <> FORK Optn:Varbl[XXXX:S-CMS Cursor]-4
    <> Move Picture : 2, (MM,MM), 0.1sec(W)
    <> Change Switch : [XXXX:Save Selected]-OFF Set
    <> Change Switch : [XXXX:Main Menu Selected]-ON Set
    <>
    :END Case
    <> FORK Optn:Varble[XXXX:S-CMS Cursor]-5
    <> Erase Picture : 1
    <> Erase Picture : 2
    <> Call Save Menu
    <> Set Screen Tone:(R100,G100,B100,S100),0.1sec(W)
    <> Move Event...: Hero
    <> BREAK Cycle
    <>
    :END Case
    <> FORK Optn:Varbl[XXXX:S-CMS Cursor]-6
    <> Erase Picture : 1
    <> Erase Picture : 2
    <> Set Screen Tone:(R100,G100,B100,S100),0.1sec(W)
    <> Move Event...: Hero
    <> BREAK Cycle
    <>
    :END Case
    <>
    :END Case
    <> FORK Optn: Switch [XXXX:Quit Selected]-ON
    <> Show Picture: 2, The Cursor, (QQ,QQ)
    <> Enter Password: [XXXX:S-CMS Cursor]
    <> FORK Optn:Varbl[XXXX:S-CMS Cursor]-1
    <> Move Picture: 2, (MM,MM), 0.1sec(W)
    <> Change Switch : [XXXX:Quit Selected]-OFF Set
    <> Change Switch : [XXXX:Main Menu Selected]-ON Set
    <>
    :END Case
    <> FORK Optn:Varbl[XXXX:S-CMS Cursor]-4
    <> Move Picture : 2, (SS,SS), 0.1sec(W)
    <> Change Switch : [XXXX:Quit Selected]-OFF Set
    <> Change Switch : [XXXX:Save Selected]-ON Set
    <>
    :END Case
    <> FORK Optn:Varble[XXXX:S-CMS Cursor]-5
    <> Erase Picture : 1
    <> Erase Picture : 2
    <> Messg:Quit
    <> Show Choice: Yes/No
    :[Yes] Case
    <> Messg:Are you sure?
    <> Show Choice: Yes/No
    :[Yes] Case
    <> Goto Title Screen
    <>
    :[No] Case
    <> Set Screen Tone:(R100,G100,B100,S100),0.1sec(W)
    <> Move Event...: Hero
    <> BREAK Cycle
    <>
    :END Case
    <>
    :[No] Case
    <> Set Screen Tone:(R100,G100,B100,S100),0.1sec(W)
    <> Move Event...: Hero
    <> BREAK Cycle
    <>
    :END Case
    <>
    :END Case
    <> FORK Optn:Varbl[XXXX:S-CMS Cursor]-6
    <> Erase Picture : 1
    <> Erase Picture : 2
    <> Set Screen Tone:(R100,G100,B100,S100),0.1sec(W)
    <> Move Event...: Hero
    <> BREAK Cycle
    <>
    :END Case
    <>
    :END Case
    <>
    END Cycle
    <>

IV. Extras

With this S-CMS, you can add extras, but they aren't necessary.
  1. You can use pictures to replace the Show Choice commands.
  2. You can add another category such as Settings, where you can adjust the brightness or speed.
  3. If you have a Custom Battle System (CBS), you can add such things as Party where you can change party members, or Battle, where you can change the aspects of the Battle System, as what order the characters are in, and what position the characters are in.
  4. You can add System, where you can change the System of the messages.
  5. You can add something unique to your game, like if you have a cell phone, then add a phone book.
  6. You can incorporate a Save system, inwhich you can only save if you are on a save point or in an inn.

Here is a pic I created with the above guide:

And here is a movie of the Menu System that was made for the game, Reolis:

V. Conclusion

You should now have a S-CMS, that you can customize and change to your liking. After reading this guide, I hope you better understand how variables, pictures, switches, and passwords work. The advantages of a S-CMS over the DMS are endless. With a S-CMS, you can add anything that you want, and incorporate new and fun Ideas. S-CMSs are also visually better then the DMS. Also, with a S-CMS, you can improve upon the creativeness and playability of your RPG. With this S-CMS, you can learn how to do almost anything, as it teaches the fundamental building blocks of things such as CBS, and CMS.

VI. Legal

I, V. Josh Smith (Neo862k), give permission for anybody viewing this guide to print it and use it. But this guide must be printed in full, including the author's name. This Guide is only available for viewing on the following web addresses:

  1. Black Rainbow- www.angelfire.com/rpg2/blackrainbow/home.html

    © 2000; Josh Smith
© 2000, All material on this site is copyrighted by its original owners, and I am not responsible for any damage caused by this website, or material on this website.