Automate creation of browser artwork

DoRock123

After looking to import my own sample packs into Maschine I spent a couple hours this morning working on making the process of adding browser artwork less of a chore. If you are interested this is how.

This requires AutoHotKey (free scripting application) to be installed for it to work.

This is for Windows 10, you may need to edit the relevant locations for Mac, also change the C:\Users\dpsro to your relevant username.

Create a new text document in Notepad++, sublime text or whatever, paste the following into it:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

InputBox, Filename, Enter Name of Pack, Enter the exact name of the pack
InputBox, Colour, Enter Colour, Enter the Colour Hex Value no hash

;Create Directory for DATABASE
FileCreateDir, C:\Users\Public\Documents\NI Resources\dist_database\%Filename%

;Create Files for DATABASE
FileAppend, 
(
{"Vendor":"DR","Product":"%Filename%","CategoryDB":[{"FileType":"FX","Categories":[]}]}
), C:\Users\Public\Documents\NI Resources\dist_database\%Filename%\Categories.json

FileAppend, 
(
{"VB_bgcolor":"%Colour%"}
), C:\Users\Public\Documents\NI Resources\dist_database\%Filename%\Color.json

FileAppend, 
(
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" standalone="no"?>
<resource version="1.0">
 <vendor>DR</vendor>
 <name>%Filename%</name>
 <type>dist_database</type>
</resource>
), C:\Users\Public\Documents\NI Resources\dist_database\%Filename%\%Filename%.meta

FileAppend, 
(
{"MST_shortname":"%Filename%","MIKRO_shortname":"%Filename%","MKII_shortname":"%Filename%","VB_shortname":"%Filename%"}
), C:\Users\Public\Documents\NI Resources\dist_database\%Filename%\shortname.json

;Create Directory for IMAGES
FileCreateDir, C:\Users\Public\Documents\NI Resources\image\%Filename%

;Create Files for IMAGES
FileAppend, 
(
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no" ?>
<resource version="1.6.0.0">
<name>%Filename%</name>
<type>image</type> </resource>
), C:\Users\Public\Documents\NI Resources\image\%Filename%\%Filename%.meta

;Move artwork files from the desktop to the relevant folder
FileMove, C:\Users\dpsro\Desktop\MST_artwork.png, C:\Users\Public\Documents\NI Resources\image\%Filename%
FileMove, C:\Users\dpsro\Desktop\VB_artwork.png, C:\Users\Public\Documents\NI Resources\image\%Filename%
FileMove, C:\Users\dpsro\Desktop\MST_plugin.png, C:\Users\Public\Documents\NI Resources\image\%Filename%
FileMove, C:\Users\dpsro\Desktop\MST_logo.png, C:\Users\Public\Documents\NI Resources\image\%Filename%
FileMove, C:\Users\dpsro\Desktop\VB_logo.png, C:\Users\Public\Documents\NI Resources\image\%Filename%
FileMove, C:\Users\dpsro\Desktop\OSO_logo.png, C:\Users\Public\Documents\NI Resources\image\%Filename%

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

save the text file as anything.ahk to your desktop or wherever.

Create your artwork files in the program of your choice (e.g. photoshop) I used Adobe xD which is by far the quickest application for this stuff as you can create artboards with the correct image sizes and export them all at once.

The artwork files you need to create -

MST_artwork.png (Full Image, 134w x 66h)

MST_plugin.png (Full Image, 127w x 90h)

VB_artwork.png (Full Image, 97w x 57h)

MST_logo.png (White word text with transparent background, 240w x 196h)

VB_logo.png (White word text with transparent background, 227w x 47h)

OSO_logo.png (White word text with transparent background, 417w x 65h)

You can check an existing folder within C:\Users\Public\Documents\NI Resources\image\ to see examples of the type of images that need to be created.

Once you have created the images save them all to the desktop.

Now open the anything.ahk file. It will open a popup window asking to type in the name of the pack. If you want to add the artwork to a folder you have imported called "House Kicks" then in the popup window type House Kicks. It must be the same name as the imported folder. Once done another popup will open asking for a color hex value. This is the colour you want the background to be in the right side browser panel. This website https://htmlcolorcodes.com/ will help you pick a color and get the 6 digit hex value for it. type in the value (without the # at the beginning).

Once you click OK the script will continue and create the relevant folders and files in the correct directories and also move the artwork from the desktop into the correct folder. The changes should show up in maschine straight away.

For another folder - create the artwork, export all to desktop then run the .ahk file again.

I do not claim to be any kind of expert, this just something I though you guys might find useful.

Peter Harris

That is really fabulous work! Thank you so much for sharing!