E2B v1.78m Beta

Because grub4dos can accept up to 32-pixel high characters (I have only tested 24 so far), I have now deprecated the FONT24 variable and instead we should use FONTH=24 to use 24-pixel high fonts in E2B:

Example 1 (default)
# use E2B default 24-pixel high fonts (loads simplified Chinese + terminalbold.f24)
set FONTH=24



Example 2 (default+user font)
# use E2B default 24-pixel high fonts (simplified Chinese + terminalbold24 + developer.f24)
set FONTH=24
set FONT=/_ISO/e2b/grub/developer.f24

Example 3 (default 16-pixel high unifont)
# nothing!  - loads unifont.hex.gz

Example 4 - loads 16-pixel unifont.hex.gz + English user 16-pixel high font
set FONT=/_ISO/docs/Fonts/COURIER.uni.gz

In theory, this allows us to specify other sizes of fonts in the future.
24-pixel high fonts are in the \_ISO\e2b\grub folder and now end in '.f24' (I renamed them!)

The screenshot below is a test menu which uses the standard 1024.x768 stripedflat wallpaper (all bmps are in E2B download). You can find it in the \_ISO\docs\Templates\LargeFont folder.

STAMP1 produces the large boxed red menu area over the top of the wallpaper
STAMP2 is the www.easy2boot.com red text at the top-right of the menu area
STAMP3 is the Lady Morgana picture
STAMP4 is the light-blue E2B BoilerPlate
ANIMATE is the rotating E2B logo under Lady Morgana

Crazy test of large fonts, stamps and animation!

!BAT
# E2B LARGE FONT DEMO
# Some menu functions, text and Help menus may not fit on 800 x 600 - 1024x768 is better

set GMODE=1024
set MYWBMP=/_ISO/docs/Templates/StripedFlat_pwd_is_fred/stripedflat.bmp.gz
set FONTH=24

color highlight=white/black

set bdwidth=o
set rstart=3
set menuw=62
# topstart - heading then must start on line 3 or lower (spaces will overwrite top of menu)
set topstart=3
set noitems=14
if "%GMODE%"=="1024" set noitems=20
# use tophelp = topstart + noitems  for menu help text just under menu box - for 640x480  noitems=18 tophelp=20 - for 800x600  noitems=24 tophelp=26
set /a tophelp=%topstart% + %noitems%
set HBTM=2402
if "%GMODE%"=="1024" set HBTM=3003

set HEADING=EASY2BOOT - MAIN MENU %B64% (%VER%)
set CENTREHD=1

# if 800x600 then Help menus are too big for screen
if not "%GMODE%"=="1024" set NOF1=1

# ---- ADVANCED MENU SETTINGS ----- 

# not enough room for animation if 800x600
if not "%GMODE%"=="1024" goto :EOF

set STAMP1=0=15=56      /_ISO/docs/Templates/Animate/blankredmenu.bmp
set STAMP2=0x80=584=35  /_ISO/docs/Templates/Animate/easy2boot_stamp.bmp
set STAMP3=0x80=876=0   /_ISO/docs/Templates/Animate/LadyMorgana.bmp
set STAMP4=0x80=804=350 /_ISO/e2b/grub/E2BPlate.bmp

set trans=0x80 && set infinite=0x10
set /A type=%infinite% + %trans% > nul
set delay=0x3
set last=09
set x=890
set y=215
# use (bd) for boot drive or (hd0,0), so that if root drive changes it continues to load from correct drive.
# if images are inside a disk image, specify (fd3)
set FILE=(fd3)/frame_0001.bmp
set ANIMATE=%type%=%delay%=%last%=%x%=%y% %FILE%
set trans= && set infinite= && set delay= && set type= && set last= && set y= && set x= && set FILE=
# If using a floppy disk image (fd3), we must specify the image file
# The floppy disk image is loaded into memory and so the animation is faster and does not constantly access the disk
# ANIMFD3 if a floppy disk image file containing the files - it is mapped to fd3 by E2B
set ANIMFD3=/_ISO/docs/Templates/Animate/E2B_GIF.ima


If you prefer, this same menu can be shortened to:

!BAT
set GMODE=1024
set MYWBMP=/_ISO/docs/Templates/StripedFlat_pwd_is_fred/stripedflat.bmp.gz
set FONTH=24
color highlight=white/black
set bdwidth=0 ;; set rstart=3 ;; set menuw=62 ;; set topstart=3 ;; set noitems=20
set /a tophelp=%topstart% + %noitems%
set HBTM=3003
set HEADING=EASY2BOOT - MAIN MENU %B64% (%VER%)
set CENTREHD=1

# ---- ADVANCED MENU SETTINGS ----- 

set STAMP1=0=15=56      /_ISO/docs/Templates/Animate/blankredmenu.bmp
set STAMP2=0x80=584=35  /_ISO/docs/Templates/Animate/easy2boot_stamp.bmp
set STAMP3=0x80=876=0   /_ISO/docs/Templates/Animate/LadyMorgana.bmp
set STAMP4=0x80=804=350 /_ISO/e2b/grub/E2BPlate.bmp
set ANIMATE=0x90=3=9=890=215 (fd3)/frame_0001.bmp
set ANIMFD3=/_ISO/docs/Templates/Animate/E2B_GIF.ima

Other tweaks

The Protect.cmd script can protect your \_ISO\MyE2B.cfg file from the prying eyes of other users (you can see it but other users cannot). I have added a secret option which allows an Administrator to gain access to the file even if the file was protected. Contact Me if you want to know how to do it! I advise you to remove the Protect.cmd file from the E2B USB drive if you don't want anyone to see what is in it!

The .KRN and .LKRN file extensions (as used by iPXE kernels) are now supported by QRUN.g4b so you can boot directly from these files.

There are still bugs in the latest grub4dos version used in this Beta however (especially around using fonts and maybe some of the sample .mnu files for testing fonts), so try if out and if it doesn't work, go back to v 1.77A (just use the UPDATE_E2B_DRIVE.cmd file in the 1.77A download to roll-back to the previous version).

Please, let me know if you think you have found a problem.