Difference between revisions of "AKAIO"

Revision as of 14:50, 26 October 2008

AKAIO (AceKard All-In-One) is a custom firmware for the Acekard R.P.G., Acekard 2, and some support for Acekard+. The latest release is AKAIO 1.2

Features

• Cheat Improvements - R4/XML Cheat File processing, online updating
• Plug-ins for TXT/MP3/etc.
• "Future Adaptable" Multi-loader support (AK2)
• Multiple Save Slots per title - with copying between slots
• Slot-2 Integration - EZ3in1 (w/GBA Patching) and older FlashAdvance Pro carts
• Shortcut tweaks
• Multi-page Start Menu
• Filetype-based external icon support
• Per-Rom settings for soft-reset/download play/cheats
• Copying/Cutting/Deleting SAV files along with NDS files
• Several improvements to 2byte language support
• SAV backup/restore from within GUI (.SAV<->.BAK)

Installing and updating

AKAIO

Download the latest AKAIO from the link below. If you have the official firmware installed delete __AK2 (or__rpg) and akmenu4 from the root of your memory card. Then move the files __AIO and akmenu4 from the downloaded file and place on the root of you memory card.

AK2 Loader

The AK2 loader can be used to allow AKAIO to use the offical firmware to load games, allowing AKAIO not to update just because a new update fixes game compatibility. To install, the firmware must be placed at "__AIO/ak2loader/". The loader can be renamed freely. To use the loader, select a .NDS file, and open up the .NDS Properties by pressing the Y button or using the Start menu. Then pressing Y again to bring up the .NDS options which allows you to change the loader from AKAIO to whatever the other loader is named.

This option is currently only for AK2, not akRPG

Cheats

You can also have multiple Cheat DB in your __AIO/cheats folder, you are also able to name them for organizational purposes.

Updating via computer

The latest Cheat DB can be found at cheats.gbatemp.net. AKAIO can use CHEATS.XML, CHEAT.DAT, or USRCHEAT.DAT format. Simply download and place the file at "__AIO/cheats."

Updating via Wi-Fi

Cheats can also be updated via Wi-Fi in AKAIO. It requires the Wi-Fi to be set up in the DS firmware, mostly by using a game that connects to Wi-Fi. The USRCHEAT.DAT update can then be found at Start > Update DB. AKAIO will then automatically download and uncompress the newest cheat database.

A nice feature of the Wi-Fi updater is the option to check 'What's New' before deciding to update by setting 'Get WhatsNew.txt' to 'Enable' in the USRCHEAT Updater window.

For RPG owners, you can also update to the latest savelist.bin via wifi by selecting 'show on load' in the USRCHEAT Updater window. (You can also do this on the AK2, as it also uses the file for unknown savetypes).

Icons

External icons are supported in AKAIO. They must be in BMP format at 32x32x15bpp. Naming conventions are described below. VatoLoco has compiled icons for the use with the AKAIO you can find his post here

Per Extension Icons

Icons named with the extension of the file you wish to associate them with can be placed in the "__AIO/icons" directory for global usage, or your skin's "/icons" folder for usage with just that skin (e.g. - "__aio/ui/Adv.Evo/icons") For example, to use a custom icon for all files with a TXT extension, your icon will be named TXT.BMP

Per File Icons

Specific icons can be assigned to specific files in AKAIO. Make a standard 32x32x15bpp BMP icon for the file for which you wish to have a custom icon, and name it the exact name of the file, but with a BMP extension. For example, for the file "Bob's Homebrew Game.nds", you'd have a BMP named "Bob's Homebrew Game.BMP". Be sure to place the icons in the same directory as the file you're assigning them to.

Plugins AKAIO 1.0-1.2

Someone know how to update Plugins?

Interface Theme (Skins)

Skins allow you to customize the look of the AKAIO menu. Skins can be downloaded from Acekard's website. Skins are installed by placing the uncompressed folders at "__AIO/ui". The skin to use is shown at Start > System Options > Interface Themes.

Start Menu

The Start Menu can be accessed by pressing Start or click on the word "Start" on the touchscreen

Start Menu Options

• Copy
• Cut
• Delete
• Paste
• Patches
• System Options
• Properties
• 3in1
• Cheats
• Update DB
• Help

Patches

Press Start and going to patches brings up a window to change some settings:

• DS Download Play
• Soft-Reset
• Autorun
• Cheat/Action Replay
• Select Cheat Database

Individual games settings can be set differently.

Options

Press Start and select "System options"

System Options

• Interface Theme (SKINS)
• Interface Language
  • English
  • S.Chinese
  • T.Chinese
  • 日本文 (Japanese)
  • Francais (French)
  • Italiano (Italian)
  • Deutsch (Dutch)
  • Español (Spanish)
  • Nederlands (that how it is spelled, Netherlands)
• Brightness (DS lite ONLY)
• Set file list type (What files show up)
• Trim ROM when copying
• TXT viewer (two options "plugin" is bliss' text viewer, "internal" is Smiths text viewer)

Advanced Options

While in "System Options" press the Y button for Advance Settings

• Show Hidden files
• Rom Name Type
• Scroll Speed
• Copy/Cut SAV with ROM
• Delete SAV with ROM
• Save Extension
• Cheat Scrolling

FAS1 Options

While in Advanced settings press the Y button for FAS1 options

.NDS Properties

The .NDS Properties window shows up when you press the Y button when you select a .NDS file. Or hit Start > Properties. It will show you:

• .NDS Icon
• The three (or less) lines of text that come with each game that I have no idea what they are called.
• .NDS Name
• Last Change Date
• File Size
• Save Type
• Game Code

Shortcut

A shortcut can be created to any .NDS file by pressing X on the Rom Properties Window. A shortcut will then be showed on the first page.

Rom Info

At the .NDS Properties Window, press Y to launch the ROM Info Window. In it you can change individually for each game:

• Save Type
• Save Slot
• DS Download Play
• Soft-Reset
• Cheat/Action Replay
• AK2 Loader
• Rumble
• Slot copy

Cheats

The Cheat Window, press Start > More > Cheats or Touch the Cheat button on .NDS properties (or the Select button)

How to Enable Cheats

Once you open the Cheat Window, you will see codes that are not sorted into folders first, followed by folders, in a list. Folders can be expanded by press the A button while highlighting it. Pressing the A button while a cheat is highlighted will enable the cheat, or disable it if it is already enabled. Pressing the Start or Select button will save and exit.

The cheat patch needs to be enabled or else the cheats won't work. The patch can be enabled globally at Start > Patches, or individually for each rom at .NDS Properties.

Cheat Window Options

There are two options Rebuild which is the X Button and Select Database (Sel. DB) which is the Y Button.

Rebuild

The Rebuild button will disable all cheats, and update the cheat list to the newest file.

Select Database

This lets you chose which Database you use in the "_AIO/Cheats" folder. The benefit of this is you are able to have the compiled database and able to have a custom or older version in there too.

Wi-Fi Plugin

Start > More > Update DB which will bring up the USRCHEAT updater. Press X or touch Update DB

Links

• Downloads
  • AKAIO 1.2
  • Icon Extension pack compiled by VatoLoco
  • Homebrew icon pack made by VatoLoco
  • The NEW massive CHEAT Database maintained by Narin
  • Acekard Skins
• AKAIO 1.2 Release Thread
• GBATemp AceKard Forum

Main Authors

• Normmatt - Kiwi. Low-level + Main guy
• Smiths - drinks a lot
• gelu (zg) - keeps the AceKard RPG useful