README.TXT
LCARS SYSTEM 3 - Version 3,0 - For RainMeter.
First the credits: Weather Icons Courtesy of: VClouds Weather Icons© Created and copyrighted© by VClouds vclouds.deviantart.com/ or fav.me/d2ynulp Earth Animation Images courtesy of: Source/Concept by Jeffrey Morley, Earth Images by NASA/ Stellar Cartography Database Images By NASA. Original idea for an actual rotating earth image to replace old "wire-frame" earth courtesy of my lovely wife Dianna. Original program source: (LCARS DATABASE 2.5.1 For RainMeter (1280 X 800) Version by: Maxi S. AKA Jefson at DeviantArt). I Can't stress enough that Jefson, who's been developing LCARS for RainMeter since 2011 maybe earlier, was the original author of this skin, and although System 3 is quite different from the original, I didn't re-invent the wheel either. The structure of the program, most things about the way it works, probably 25-35% of the code, the border graphics, buttons, etc. are taken directly from Jefsons work. Check it out, his suite comes with skins for multiple screen sizes and I think he even has a version for a three monitor setup. Moon Phase concept and graphics courtesy of GTLLCARS.DE , New weather data aquisition code from XXENIUM. Financial Markets data display concept and a bunch of code from MORDASIUS. Warp Core animation from OldCrow10 on DeviantArt, RSS News feeds Concept an some code (Radically Re-Written for LCARS) from ELECTRICTEC @ Deviant art. Animations collection from Adges startrek.org.uk. Images for Star Ship Image Gallery coutesy of too many people on TUMBLR, Pinterest, and the Internet in general, to mention here. And finally, thanks to my oldest daughter Athene' for testing and critiques on visual style, color scheme, etc.
New in version 3.0
- Dead code removal
- streamlined code - Now uses 78% less system resources.
- Numerous "Inconsistancies" fixed.
- Database preset (Actually a file manager) now moved to HARDDRIVES On the left culumn of buttons on thr new LCARS menu.
The New LCARS - Drive Navigator, is accessable via the HARDDRIVES Module.
- Many color scheme tweaks.
- More aniations of buttons and other graphics.
- Added Starship Image Gallery Preset in place of Database.
- Image gallery has 127 presets and contains over 300 images viewable in slideshow mode.
- Upgrades to weather module and moon phase code.
- New installer won't disrupt existing settings if installing over previous version(s).
- The Original Systems menu is GONE! Now replaced by 3 new menus...LCARS, Windows, and News Feeds.
- Alot of attention was given to the Media Player(s)...You'll see.
- ADDED TOO MANY NEW FEATURES TO LIST HERE..
- AND, THE MOST IMPORTANT CHANGE: LCARS Now auto scales to the following screen resolutions...1128X634, 1280X800, 1366X768, 1600X900, 1760X990, 1920X1080, 1920X1200, and 2560X1440.
- The next release will additionally support 3072X1728, 3840X2160,
5120X2880 resolutions as well. Actually, It will run as is in the higher resolutions but has not been tested and :Tweaked" yet so performance is unpredictable.
New to Rainmeter? Please Read the following installation instructions.
Installation Instructions (for novices): This is a RainMeter skin so you'll need to have RainMeter up and running on your system. If you're not familiar with the RainMeter Desktop Customization Tool, you'll Need to download and install it from WWW.RainMeter.Net. (I Strongly recommend downloading and installing the latest Release as some functions in LCARS will no work correctly). When installing RainMeter, check the "Run RainMeter on Startup" option when prompted. If this is your first time using RainMeter, you will notice that it starts up by loading a couple of small semi-transparent "skins" (or at least it used to) - <Right Cliick> on each of them and click "Unload Skin". Your almost ready....Now for some Windows settings: First, go into your Windows settings and set your screen resolution to one of the screen sizes mentioned above.. Second, set your desktop background to black. Now you're ready too install LCARS. If You haven't already done so, download it. The downloaded skin package will be placed in your default download folder. Simply Double Click the Icon and, provided that RainMeter is running in the background, LCARS will install and load. Once the skin loads, you'll need one more Windows setting and that is to turn off the display of your desktop icons - just <Right Click> on any black area on the screen to bring up the Windows screen context menu, move your cursor down to "View" Then uncheck "Show Desktop Icons" and your done with the basic setup.
For the rest of the setup instructions, consult the ReadMe file which is on the main menu.
If you are installing a new release of LCARS on top of an older version,, don't worry the software is set up to do a "merge Install" which preserves your settings, links, etc. that you may have already condfigured. The only thing that will have to be reset is your Gmail UserID and password and your Weather Location Code.
One final Note of Caution: This is a "Busy" skin and therefore requires a fairly decent PC to run. If you are unfortunate enough to have an older 1 Ghz, 2-core clunker, it can eat up as much as 60% CPU, Minimum configurations I recommend is 2 cores@2.5 Ghz or higher with 6GB of RAM (Prefered: 4 cores @ 3ghz or higher with 8-16BG of RAM). Also, a large monitor 27" or larger is preferred.
I'm running a liquid cooled 5.0 Ghz, 8-core, 32GB beast, so my CPU Usage is less than 1%...You have been warned.
I am always open to providing technical support and I check my DeviantArt page and my E-mail for comments almost every day. You can E-mail me at Pashaak@comcast.net. Contact information is also imbeded in the skin under the LCARS INFO section in the System Information Module.
Finally, enjoy the skin. I initially wrote this for my own personal use as I had been looking for an LCARS style interface for my own PC and I now use it as my daily OS. This means that I am constantly adding new features, making minor visual corrections and trying to make it as versitile as possible. It was't until the author of the original skin (JEFSON at DeviantArt) encouraged me to make it available to the general public that I did so. As of the date of this readme file, I have had over 40,000 downloads and over 99% positive feedback. If you have any suggestions for new features, changes, etc., please e-mail them to me, Please Put LCARS 3 as the subject line so I can easily find it moree easily as I get around 200 E-Mails a day..
Feel free to modify the program in any way you wish. All I ask is that if you go nuts with it like I did, and use it to create your own LCARS themed skin(s) for publication, credit me as the author of System 3 and include ALL the credits listed above.
Creative-Commons 3.0 License - Non-commercial use ONLY - This work was done for the enjoyment of Star Trek fans everywhere, not for financial gain. That Said, I will be setting up a secure web page at which you can make a donation to help support the ongoing development and support of LCARS System 3.
- Phillip Allen Shaak - (February 25, 2023)
~ Things are only impossible until they are done.
