View source for XMB

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto"
|+ Read [http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps3/current/ manuals.playstation.net/document] and [http://us.playstation.com/support/manuals/ps3/index.htm us.playstation.com/support/manuals]
! {{icon category users}}<BR />[http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps3/current/users/index.html Users] !! {{icon category settings}}<BR />[http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps3/current/settings/index.html Settings] !! {{icon category photo}}<BR />[http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps3/current/photo/index.html Photo] !! {{icon category music}}<BR />[http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps3/current/music/index.html Music] !! {{icon category video}}<BR />[http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps3/current/video/index.html Video] !! {{icon category tv}}<BR />[http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps3/current/tv/tvvideoservices.html TV/Video Services] !! {{icon category game}}<BR />[http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps3/current/game/index.html Game] !! {{icon category network}}<BR />[http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps3/current/network/index.html Network] !! {{icon category psn}}<BR />[http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps3/current/psn/index.html PlayStation Network] !! {{icon category friends}}<BR />[http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps3/current/friends/index.html Friends]
|-
|}
<div style="float:right">[[File:Tex_classic_theme.png|200px|thumb|left|XMB Classic theme]]</div>

=Description=
The Xross Media Bar (pronounced "Cross Media Bar") (or [[XMB]]) is the graphical user interface for the PS3

The first Sony product with a XMB interface was the "Sony PSX" in 2003 (A hybrid of a PS2 + DVR player with recorder capabilityes only released in japan, see: [http://www.psx.sony.co.jp/ PSX sony.co.jp] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PSX_%28DVR%29 Wikipedia PSX]), later was used by the PSP, then PS3 and some Bravia TV's

The word "Xross" (the "X" itself) is a reference to the alignment of the icons in rows and columns, each column is a category

[[System_Software| System Software]] can be updated from the XMB settings by using an [[Playstation_Update_Package_%28PUP%29| .PUP file]]
 
Installable Content (games or apps in [[PKG_files| .pkg]] format, and a few
[[Emulation#PS2_System_Data_.28PSN_HDD_Tool_package.29 | PS2 Discs]]), and contents in [[PS3_DISC.SFB|PS3 Discs]], are "preloaded" by XMB using an small file (see: [[PARAM.SFO]]) this file is indexed in a database for efficiency purposes and fast access (see: [[XMB_database|XMB Database]]) and contains an identifyer that belongs to an specific XMB column (see: [[PARAM.SFO#CATEGORY|CATEGORY]])

The dynamic wave on the background [[PlayStation 3 Theme (P3T)|theme]] are more condensed into a 'ribbon' rather than the PSP's large waves, unselected icons shrink slightly and every selectable background color has been made a shade darker.

The PS3 includes the ability to store various master and secondary user profiles, manage and explore various photos format([[Talk:Content_Information_Files |.MPO since FW 3.70]]) with Photo Gallery or an ordinary musical/non-musical slideshow, rip audio CDs, rip iTunes AAC protected files, play and copy music and video files from the [[Harddrive| hard disk drive]], an optional USB mass storage or Flash card, or an optical disc ([[Bluray_Drive |Blu-ray Disc]] or DVD-Video).

Web browser, also supported with [[Keyboard |USB or BlueTooth keyboard]], can download multiple file types but with some restrictions. [[PARAM.SFO#CATEGORY |Shortcut]] for launching website is also possible from TV/VIDEO collumn. 

Since FW 4.30, [[Trophy_files |trophies]] have been moved to the PlayStation Network category, in which Online shopping through the PlayStation Store is possible.

The Friends menu allows email with emoticons and attached picture features and video chat which requires an optional webcam (although the PlayStation Eye and the EyeToy are official webcams, most USB webcams will work).

The PS3 reserves 48 MB of RAM at all times for XMB functions, multi-task in ways such as listening to stored audio files while surfing the web, looking at pictures or [[PARAM.SFO#ATTRIBUTE_In_Bootable_content |playing games]].


The XMB by default changes its color depending on the current month of the year and brightness depending on the time of the day (only in original and classic [[PlayStation 3 Theme (P3T)|Themes]]). XMB color can be configured to "default" (changes every month) or one of the 12 color preconfigured for months, in XMB Settings column ---> Theme settings ---> Color

This change of color affects background, waves, all the icons, and other images like the "side menu". The color is applyed to the originall images like a "color filter" layer over them (note originall icons are semitransparent white to improve this effect)

The background images changes acordingly with the month. The file '''lines.qrc''' contains 24 '''textures_month_bg_*.dds''' images of 64x32 pixels. Each day has 2 different images for "day" and "night". See [[Qt Resource Container (QRC)]]

The color filter and brignhness values in this tables are not the exact values, is unknown how this filters are applyed, where are stored, and how works, see [[Talk:XMB]] for speculations
{{XMB colors}}

{{XMB brightness}}

=Virtual Shell (VSH)=
The [[VSH|Virtual Shell]] encapsulates the XMB interface. It is loaded at: '''/dev_flash/vsh/module/vsh.self'''

And has numerous modules and descriptor files. The VSH does not directly load the XMB interface, it loads support modules to do that instead. The modules directly responsible for the XMB interface are in '''/dev_flash/vsh/module/''' and include:
 explore_category_friend.sprx
 explore_category_game.sprx
 explore_category_music.sprx
 explore_category_network.sprx
 explore_category_photo.sprx
 explore_category_psn.sprx
 explore_category_sysconf.sprx
 explore_category_tv.sprx
 explore_category_user.sprx
 explore_category_video.sprx

 explore_plugin.sprx
 explore_plugin_ft.sprx
 explore_plugin_game.sprx
 explore_plugin_np.sprx

== VSH Modules ==
All the .sprx files inside '''/dev_flash/vsh/module/'''. See: [[Plugin Interfaces]] page

Those modules are responsible for processing the XMB descriptor files (.XML format) used to generate the XMB interface. All of the above modules except for "'''explore_plugin_game.sprx'''" and "'''explore_plugin_np.sprx'''" contains a full list and location of XMB configuration files and the "root" entry which is to be loaded for the root of the category for each firmware type (CEX/CEX-Shop/DEX/ARC/TOOL).

It's important to note that '''explore_plugin.sprx''' is capable of managing most of the XMB categories, and thus, not all of these modules might be in use at any time. The '''explore_plugin.sprx''' is actually available to '''vsh.self''' and other modules through the '''xmb_plugin.sprx''' and '''xmb_ingame.sprx''' See [[XMBML module-action]]

== Modules Resources ==
All the .rco files inside '''/dev_flash/vsh/resource/'''. See: [[Resource Container (RCO)]] page

=== RCOXML Configuration Files===
These are XML files which defines the visual structure of XMB, are embedded inside all .rco files. See: [[RCOXML Coding]] page

There are 2 modes used by XMB: "XMB Main" and "XMB In-game", and other modes that replaces XMB like the "Coldboot", "Gameboot", or "Impose"

====XMB Main ([[xmb plugin]])====
The XrossMediaBar after the coldboot, with full functions of all the items/icons displayed

*Managed by: xmb_plugin.sprx / xmb_plugin_normal.rco

====XMB In-Game ([[xmb ingame]])====
Introduced in firmware 2.40, available inside games by a '''short''' press of {{padps}} button

Is a reduced version of the XrossMediaBar where most of the icons are "dummies" that triggers a message like: "to use this function you need to quit the game and return to Main XMB, want to quit?". <!-- lol, needed to find the exact error message --> The only items that are really enabled are the ones usefull to use inside games, like savegames view, trophies view, gamedata view, friends, chat, etc...

There are also some icons, options, or settings that only can appear in this mode (never displayed "XMB Main" mode)... like screenshots icon in the photo colum (when enabled), or some settings specific for emulators (in settings column, things like resolution, filters, etc...)

*Managed by: xmb_ingame.sprx / xmb_ingame.rco

*Note XMB In-Game is inneficient in concept, because displays items that are dummies not needed and cant be used, in some games the loading of XMB In-Game is laggy (specially the loading of savegames and trophies submenues)

*http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2008/06/ps3-ingame-xmb-2.40-clock.jpg
*http://www.viddler.com/simple/1ffb1ce3/

====Impose Menu ([[impose plugin]])====
Available in "Main XMB" and inside games by a '''short''' press (under 2.40 firmware) or '''long''' press (over 2.40 firmware) of {{padps}} button

Allows to asign controllers to players, view battery levels of controllers, quit game, etc... http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/01/ps3-in-game-menu.jpg

*Managed by: impose_plugin.sprx / impose_plugin.rco

====ColdBoot ([[custom render plugin]])====
The old animation when PS3 boots (from 1.00 up to 2.60 firmware)

*Managed by: custom_render_plugin.sprx / custom_render_plugin.rco

====ColdBoot2 ([[custom render plugin]])====
The new animation when PS3 boots (from 2.70 up to {{latestPS3}} firmware) , associated with [[coldboot.raf]]

*Managed by: custom_render_plugin.sprx / custom_render_plugin.rco

====GameBoot ([[custom render plugin]])====
The animation when a game boots

*Managed by: custom_render_plugin.sprx / custom_render_plugin.rco

====OtherBoot ([[custom render plugin]])====
Unknown, seems associated with OtherOS

*Managed by: custom_render_plugin.sprx / custom_render_plugin.rco

===Languages===
Language files are stored inside [[Resource Container (RCO)]] files, are loaded based on a user setting stored in [[XRegistry.sys]]

XMB can be configured to display the texts in several languages, and every language uses a language code internally to identify it, this same language codes are used in contents that contains several languages availabes (like games, trophy installers, themes, etc...).

See: [[Languages]] page
{{PlayStation Languages}}

==Fonts==
All the .ttf files in '''dev_flash/data/font/ '''

The fonts are loaded by the rcoxml files (rcoxml files contains font definitions like color, sizes, type, etc...) and based on a user setting stored in [[XRegistry.sys]]

Font can be configured in XMB -> settings -> Theme to "original", "rounded", and "pop". See: [[XMB Fonts]] page

==XMBML Configuration Files==
Are the configuration files for the modules responsibles of the contents in the 10 XMB categories, loaded individually by the associated '''dev_flash/vsh/module/explore_category_*.sprx''' module

All the XMBML configuration files are included in all firmwares for all PS3 models, and are located in path: '''/dev_flash/vsh/resource/explore/xmb/'''

For more information about the structure of this files see: [[XMBML Files]], [[XMBML Coding]], [[XMBML Functions]] and [[XMBML Coding Examples]]

<div style="height:525px; width:1300px; margin:auto; overflow:auto">{{PS3 XMBML Configuration Files}}</div>

== XMB Layouts ==
This files contains a list of numeric values that defines the positions, sizes, etc of most/all the items displayed in XMB. They're divided into 4 resolution modes, most specifically by these heights: (272, 480, 720, and 1080), and 2 types: (factor, and grid).

For more info about this files see: [[XMB Layouts]] page.

{{XMB Layout Tables}}

{{Firmware}}<noinclude>[[Category:Main]]</noinclude>