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About This File
Use this plugin to filter and import MAME Software Lists into LaunchBox.
Features:
- Import MAME Console/Computer ROMs into a new or existing Platform
- Import clones as Additional Apps, separately or not at all
- (Option) Skip Prototypes
- (Option) Skip Non-Supported ROMs
- Adds the Platform and Command-line Parameter to the selected MAME emulator (ex. Atari 2600 a2600 -cart)
- (Option) Copy ROMs to a new folder during importing
- Imported games tagged as not supported by MAME will be marked as "Broken".
- (Option) Import only games that exist in your ROMs Source Folder
- (Option) Ignore games that only have a Title change (when updating)
- New v4.05 Information found inside parenthesis in a Games Title will be added to the games "Version" (metadata)
Audit Feature: Compare your existing softlist console/Platform against the MAME hash.xml.
Will cross check Title and Rom names.
- Select the respective hash.xml and Platform
- Click Audit (last page)
- Any differences along with a brief description will be shown.
- Option to select files (if any) and have them removed from your LaunchBox Platform.
- Will check main Titles as well as Additional Apps (if you imported them that way).
This does NOT check rom integrity. That's between you and Clrmamepro (or related utility).
What's needed:
- (1) dll file included in the zip.
- MAME Software List hash files (located in the "hash" sub folder of your Mame's main folder)
-
MAME Software List ROMs* and BIOS files (only if you want to actually play them)
- *The rom set needs to be either a Split set or a Non-Merged set for a full import
- If you plan to not import clones, any type set will work.
What it won't do:
- Filter/Sort by Region (it's a MAME hash file limitation)
- Determine if/what BIOS files are needed
-
Import Metadata and Media (just use the built in LaunchBox Tool)
- To remove extra information from the games titles [Example "(Jpn)"], select
- Yes, download and replace all existing metadata and media when running the tool.)
How to:
- Copy the "ImportMameSoftwareLists" folder from the zip file to your ..\LaunchBox\Plugins folder.
- Navigate to that folder and unblock the 2 dll files. (Right click, Properties, and click Unblock)
- Start LaunchBox. Click on "Tools" and select "Import MAME Software Lists". 
Notes:
- The Destination Folder is required even if you don't plan to copy the files. It's needed to set up the Application Path for the ROMs when Importing.
-
NEW v4.05 To add Version info (if it exists in the Games Title) to an existing console (Platform), run the plugin and
- DO NOT CHECK Ignore games that only have a Title change (when updating)
See what's new in the Change Log.
* MESS xml *
To see MAME's Overall and Emulation status [Preliminary/Good/Imperfect]in the Import Mame Software Lists plugin, you will need to have the MESS xml file that matches your version of MAME. messxxx.xml (where 'xxx' is the MAME version. i.e. mess215.xml)
This file needs to be located in the same folder as the plugin (..\LaunchBox\Plugins\ImportMameSoftwareLists\) and can be download from: http://www.progettosnaps.net/mess/
These files are [relatively] large (24MB+) and will slow down the screen updates when selecting different consoles/computers.
Use "Shrink_MESSxml.exe" to reduce the mess xml file size to a little over 1MB to eliminate slow screen updates. After 1st making a backup, it then removes unneeded data from the xml file. Place only the one 'shrunken' xml file in the plugin folder. ..\LaunchBox\Plugins\ImportMameSoftwareLists\mess242.xml
The Import Mame Software Lists plugin will search for "mess*.xml". So as you update, just replace the old xml file (mess242.xml) with the new one (mess243.xml).
ONLY HAVE ONE MESS XML FILE IN THE PLUGIN FOLDER AT A TIME!
Other Notes: (things I've learned)
- Software List folder/file locations:
For easiest integration with MAME, place all Software List folders inside a single directory (i.e. "software") and name them the same name as their respective hash xml file_name. For example:
D:\emulators\MAME\software\
D:\emulators\MAME\software\32x\
D:\emulators\MAME\software\a2600\
D:\emulators\MAME\software\a2600_cass\
D:\emulators\MAME\software\apple2gs\
Now, all you need to add to mame.ini in "rompath" is "software". You don't need to worry about any of the Software List sub-folders.
#
# CORE SEARCH PATH OPTIONS
#
homepath .
rompath roms;software
Assuming you still have both boxes checked ("Don't use quotes..." and "Use File name only..." in the MAME emulator settings, you'll be able to lauch these without problems*.
- *Associated Platform Command line parameters
The command lines that get placed in MAME - Associated Platforms come from hash files. However there are a few that will need to be manually edited. A couple I'm aware of are:
Apple 2GS: needs to be changed from "apple2gs -flop1" to "apple2gs -flop3"
Sony PlayStation: (though doens't work in MAME) needs to be changed from "psx -cdrm" to "psu -cdrm" (See MAME and CDROMS)
SNK NeoGeo CD: For some reason I can only get it work if the command line (neocdz -cdrm) is placed under each games "Emulation" tab in "Use Custom Command-LineParameter".
This plugin can help put that in there for you. If someone knows how to get it to work otherwise, please let me know so I don't have to look like I'm pimping my other plugins. 
- MAME and CDROMS
MAME will run (when supported) CDROMS by simply pointing the application path to the game's folder rom_name. You do not need to point to the chd file to run it. (Note: the plugin will have it point to the folder_name.zip, but with the checkbox "Use file name only..." checked, it takes off".zip".
If you wish to import CDROM games into LaunchBox for use with a different emulator, you will need to have the application path point to the games actual file_name.chd.
New Feature: When the plugin sees that the media type is CDROM, you'll be given the option to import the roms for "use with an emulator other than MAME" (Choose "Yes"). If you'll only be using them with MAME, choose "No".
What's New in Version 4.05 See changelog
Released
May 14, 2022
- New Feature: Information found inside parenthesis in a Games Title will be added to games "Version" (metadata)
-
When downloading metadata and Media, choose Yes, download and replace all existing metadata and media to remove 'version' info from the games Title.
- To add Version info to an existing console (Platform) using this new feature, run the plugin and
- DO NOT CHECK Ignore games that only have a Title change (when updating)
