A quick guide on making para files look pretty in EKS-D ParaMania
(as of Alpha release 3)
- CB "Riakodoadm" Cash

This assumes that you have most of your file's assets set up already,
and that you know how to work StepMania's built-in editor.
For a more in-depth guide, visit the one that Neko^2 wrote:
https://kirakira.org/XD/ParaMania/best-practices/

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1: SONG METADATA
Make the song's GENRE the para style. The theme changes the
"Genre" header text on music select to "Para Style"
for the following "genres" (not case sensitive):
	ParaPara
	TechPara
	ToraPara
(Please let me know if there's something missing that you think I should add.)


Use the CREDIT field to list the song's source, in detail.
>	{album/compilation/single source} [{URL or product code}] | {release date in the format: YYYY/MM/DD}

Example:
>	Gazen Para Para Presents Super J-Euro Best [AVCD-17656] | 2005/03/30


Use the ORIGIN field to list the background video's source, in detail.
>	{video source} [{URL or product code}] | {release date in the format: YYYY/MM/DD}
If it's just a standalone YouTube video, list the performer(s) and their website instead.

Example:
>	ParaPara Paradise 5 [AVDB-91073] | 2001/11/28


2: CHART METADATA
Make sure the TITLE (not the description) of the chart is set;
and throw your name into the STEP AUTHOR field for good measure, yeah?
If you're part of a paralist group, include that as well in square brackets
("Riako [EKS-D Cyber]").

I currently use the following chart titles for the listed difficulty slots,
although there'll probably be exceptions in the future:

NOVICE/BEGINNER		=	ParaPara (or respective para style)
EASY				=	ParaPara+ (or respective para style)
MEDIUM				=	Freestyle [Normal]
HARD				=	Freestyle [Hard]
EXPERT/CHALLENGE	=	Freestyle [Expert]


3: SONG LABELS
This may take a little longer, but it'll look *great* on the progress bar in gameplay.
The progress bar makes several segments based on SONG LABELS in the file's timing data.
These segments can be colored for recognition, if they're named after
conventional para routine segment names.

Currently, it recognizes these label names (not case sensitive):
>	"Song Start"
		Always at the start of a newly created chart.
		The theme truncates this to "Start", so you don't have to.
>	"Song End"
		The theme truncates this to "End".
		Nice practice to put this at the end of a chart where "Lead-Out" doesn't work.
>	"A Melo", "B Melo", "C Melo", "D Melo"
		Typically parts of verses/pre-choruses. C Melo is rare; D Melo is even more rare.
>	"Sabi"
		Chorus part.
>	"Intro"
		Typically pre-verse riffs (even if they re-appear after the chorus, near the end of a song).
>	"Lead-In"
		A one-off segment at the beginning of the song. Sometimes used for long intros too.
>	"Lead-Out"
		A one-off segment before the end of the song. Sometimes also used for if a song ends with a fade-out.
>	"Freestyle"
		Unmapped segments, seen in some TechPara routines.

SM doesn't like repeated label names, so when you label up your file,
make sure to number them for each repetition of the segment.
So, Intro 1, Intro 2, A Melo 1, A Melo 2... etc.
The text underneath the progress bar in gameplay will automatically hide these trailing numbers.


4: PARAMANIA.TXT
An extra cherry on top of the cake; make a .txt file titled "paramania" (case sensitive!).
Type in the names of the dancers in the background video (from left to right when the video is mirrored),
and include the dancers' group in square brackets.
Insert a colon, then follow it with the choreographer(s) of the routine in the video.

>	{dancers in video} [{dancer group}]:{choreographer(s)}

If there's a separate video for the Freestyle charts, insert another colon,
followed by the person/people who created the aforementioned video.

>	{dancers in video} [{dancer group}]:{choreographer(s)}:{Freestyle VJ}

If there's any info you don't know or are unsure of, leave it blank.

[TODO: rewrite examples]

Now the dancers/choreographer information will be shown　in the theme, just before gameplay.
It'll also be shown in smaller text over the preview video on music select, and during Jukebox/Demonstration.


5: CLEANUP
If you use a separate music preview file, and it doesn't seem to loop correctly on music select,
set the SAMPLE LENGTH to match the length of the music preview file.
This sometimes automatically corrects itself if you make further changes within the StepMania editor.

You may need to open the song's .ssc file in a text editor to set the video preview file manually.
>	#PREVIEWVID:{video preview filename};
i.e.
>	#PREVIEWVID:preview.mp4;

By the way, if the song happens to have strong/explicit language or suggestive lyrics,
you can add a little marker to the start of the name of the folder containing your file's assets, as described.

Add "[!]" if the song has occasional strong language (infrequent F-bombs, for example).
>	[!] SongName [--- BPM]

Add "[!!]" if the song's lyrics are about something you wouldn't talk about on daytime radio.
Mostly anything sexually suggestive, although not exclusively limited to that.
>	[!!] SongName [--- BPM]

Add "[!!!]" if the song's lyrics are of an especially explicit nature; usually a combination of
frequent strong language and suggestive/wholly NSFW lyrics.
>	[!!!] SongName [--- BPM]

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Do note that some of this is *probably* subject to change. Maybe.
