[MAME ini locations?]

There're are a couple of .ini files located in your MAME's root folder.  But in an attempt to keep things tidy, the rest are stored in MAME's /ini/ subfolder.  Anything in particular you're looking for? Or just ini files for MAME in general?

[Treating NeoGeo games differently en-masse in MAME]

2 hours ago, vaderag said:

is there any way to send that as a default on all neogeo games?

Select your NeoGeo Playlist (if you don't have one, create it [hint "Source=neogeo.cpp"]) so you can easily select all [only] your NeoGeo games.

Download, install and use this plugin per the Setting Up: instructions. 

 

 

[Treating NeoGeo games differently en-masse in MAME]

4 hours ago, vaderag said:

I wonder if there's a way to pass a config

Start by testing it on one game (3 Count Bout).

Edit the game and under Emulation, check Use Custom Command-Line Parameters, and put     

-keyboardprovider dinput -ctrlr neogeo

Look at your MAMEs default commands and see if there's anything else you should add. Like "-rompath %romlocation%".  (Because those won't get passed)

 

[Treating NeoGeo games differently en-masse in MAME]

I know pretty much nothing about LEDBlinky.  Can't help with this one.

[Treating NeoGeo games differently en-masse in MAME]

20 minutes ago, vaderag said:

the neogeo.ini is being called

That's a good sign.

 

42 minutes ago, vaderag said:

I've tried mapping in 3 Count Bout for the specific system and the way it then allocates is slightly different

Correct.  How MAME saves them per game (3countb.cfg) is different than how they're saved globally (default.cfg).  That's why set them up in MAME under General Settings, then copied/renamed that file.

 

52 minutes ago, vaderag said:

I also tried changing the line in mame.ini to ctrlr neogeo

That won't work because of the order-of-precedence of 'when' ini files are loaded.  Well, it would if you deleted neogeo.ini.  

 

1 hour ago, vaderag said:

there was no cfg file for the roms I was testing

How about ini file(s)?   ../MAME/ini/3countb.ini

 

I tested both these games and both loaded neogeo.cfg (controller/keyboard configs) when launched from inside the MAME UI [mame.exe].  Also tested with a batch file and same (good) results.

mame neogeo 3countb
pause

With "pause" in there you can see behind-the-scenes.

 

And after looking closer at it myself, I think I found out what your issue may be...

(My guess) You've changed some of your default input assignments under General Settings which got saved to default.cfg (in the /cfg/ folder).  (After moving and renaming it to ../ctrlr/neogeo.cfg.)

The fix.?.?...

• You have your 'custom' neogeo.cfg file in /ctrlr/ already.
• You have neogeo.ini set to load neogeo.cfg already.
• Move default.cfg from /cfg/ to /ctrlr/  (Move, don't copy)
• Edit mame.ini and set    "ctrlr    default"
• Save and close
• Start a NeoGeo game

What my testing showed was, MAME will load [red underlined] neogeo.cfg (in /ctrlr/) and then load default.cfg (/cfg/ folder) [next line down].  The line after that is the neogeo.cfg file in /cfg/ that has nothing to do with controller settings.

"What the heck" you say?  Ya. Me too. But not so nicely. lol

Oh, and if you didn't plan to make 'default' input changes, simply delete default.cfg in the /cfg/ folder.  It will later create a "clean-slate" default.cfg.

 

And if none of that helps or fixes the issue, I have one more sure-fire cure up my sleeve.  

[Treating NeoGeo games differently en-masse in MAME]

I was thinking more like open MAME (mame.exe), search for a NeoGeo game and start it from there.  

For the game you're testing this on, delete the ../MAME/cfg/rom_name.cfg file.

i.e.   Alpha Mission II (alpham2.zip) delete ../MAME/cfg/alpham2.cfg file.

 

If that doesn't fix it....

In you mame.ini file, is writeconfig set to 0 (zero)?  Is so, leave it that way.  If not, change it to "0".  Save and close.

 

What game are you testing?

Let's say Alpha Mission II (alpham2.zip). 

• In your /ini/ folder, is there a matching ini file for that ROM (alpham2.ini)?  If so, delete it.
• In your /cfg/ folder, is there a matching cfg file for that ROM (alpham2.ini)?  If so, delete it.

 

 

[Treating NeoGeo games differently en-masse in MAME]

Does it work if you start a NeoGeo game directly from MAME itself?  

[Tiger Game.com]

47 minutes ago, polygonslayer said:

Does anyone have a working set up of Game.com currently?

I do. But it's for stand-alone MAME.  You'll need gamecom.zip in your roms folder.  Then of course the game ROMs (and their path added to the rompath in mame.ini).

The command line is "gamecom -cart1".  But also simply "gamecom" will work.  The full command to run Sonic Jam would be

mame.exe gamecom -cart1 sonicjam

OR

mame.exe gamecom sonicjam

 

If you have other MAME softlists set up in RetroArch, you should be able to see how they're setup, and (sorta) copy that.  I don't use RA for MAME at all what-so-ever. So can't help any further with that.

 

(Back the stand-alone MAME) If you had LB setup your MAME emulator, I believe the default command line sets the rompath to the games ROM.zip (sonicjam.zip) folder. In that case, you'll need gamecom.zip to be placed in the same folder that your gamecom game ROMs are in.  (Which is actually a bit easier than messing with mame.ini)

[How to hide a platform in Bigbox or games within a platform (but not within its auto-generated playlists)]

3 hours ago, Kefka2b said:

I tried to use a custom field but I didn't manage to find a way to apply it in the Bulk edit wizard (as it doesn't appear)

To do this, add a Custom Field ("My Custom Field" or whatever) to one of your games.  You'll need to enter a Value ("True" or whatever) also.  Otherwise, it won't save. Then save your changes.

Now select all the games you want to add this to and click Edit.  Choose the Custom Field: you added and enter a value. etc.

 

[Closing Sinden App]

1st thought is to change    ~Esc::   to    $Esc::

If that still don't work, verify that the exit script is even getting touched.  After the $Esc:: line, add in something like "SoundBeep,1000,500".  Add it several times if you'd like.  Then when in the game, press ESC and see if you hear the beeps.  If you press ALT+F4, it won't work.

[Closing Sinden App]

1 hour ago, atalec said:

Ok I follow what you say. 

My sinden app launch correctly but when I exit game with alt+F4 or esc, the process is not killed and if I want to launch another rail shooter my sinden can't start again and give me an issue. 

Thx

Can you show me both your scripts? (the one that loads it and the one that [is supposed to] kill it)

Can you also show screenshots of the 2 Additional Apps?  Edit each Additional App and share those [edit] screens.

[MAME Save / Load States and Rewind]

I think I remember for sure now why I stopped messing with it.  And a sure reminder as to not go trying it again. lol 

You might have a little better luck with something like /MAME/plugins/autofire/init.lua  

[MAME Save / Load States and Rewind]

16 minutes ago, vaderag said:

Struggling to find any reference in MAME to the emu.register_ options

That might have been when I gave up. lol

Time for a little deeper digging.  It's "documented" in the luaengine.cpp file.  mame/luaengine.cpp at master · mamedev/mame · GitHub

In the commented section emu library and starting on line 603.

Have fun. 

[MAME Save / Load States and Rewind]

44 minutes ago, vaderag said:

will the running script be active while running

Yes.  It's launched in conjunction with the game starting and stays active until either the script closes itself (ExitApp) or the game exits (then it's forced closed).

 

45 minutes ago, vaderag said:

I have no idea what an lua script plugin is... but i might investigate!

Scripting MAME via Lua — MAME Documentation 0.249 documentation (mamedev.org)

MAME Lua Class Reference — MAME Documentation 0.249 documentation (mamedev.org)

They're pretty cool and can do A LOT of things.  I do pretty well with AHK, C# and batch files (which are actually lot more powerful than you can imagine).  I can look at a Lua script and understand and follow through with what it's intending to do.  But I'll be damned if I could write/create one from scratch. lol  But it's been a couple years since I've looked at them.

In the last year, MAME has updated their Lua scripting documentation.  Namely in the Class Reference section.  Though I haven't really looked at it.  Maybe you'll have more patience than me.  

[Treating NeoGeo games differently en-masse in MAME]

There may be an easier way, but one way is (assuming standalone MAME),

• in your /MAME/cfg/ folder, make a backup of your default.cfg file. 
• Open MAME and set the inputs as you want them for NeoGeo. 
• Save and exit. 
• Move the 'new' default.cfg file to /MAME/crtlr/ and rename it something like neogeo.cfg.
• go back to your /MAME/cfg/ folder restore the backup of your default.cfg file. 
• in your /MAME/ini/ folder, create a [text] file and call it "neogeo.ini"
• in there, put "ctrlr   neogeo" (or whatever you named the "something like neogeo.cfg." [minus ".cfg"])

Now whenever you load a game that has the Source as neogeo (MAME will know), it will load the controller settings in 'neogeo.cfg'.

 

[MAME Save / Load States and Rewind]

2 hours ago, vaderag said:

I'm giving up on the rewind

Good. 🙃

 

2 hours ago, vaderag said:

Perhaps it was an older version of mame thing...

Kind of doubt it.  But it may have been something in a MAME offshoot.?.?..  MAMEui, qmc2, or something funky like that.  To limit save/load to a single slot, I can see having both pros and cons (compared to having up to 10).  Depends on the end-user's needs/requirements.

I do know that you can have a specific game or system automatically load a specific save state by creating an ini file.  In the ini folder create a text file like mslugx.ini (for Metal Slug X) or neogeo.ini (for all NeoGeo games) and put in just 1 line.  "state    1".  Every time you load that game or a game using that source, save state 1 will load automatically.

 

2 hours ago, vaderag said:

Seems someone else has it working here

If you reassign the save state to Shift+P, I imagine if you hold the P a little longer, you'd end up sending Shift+PPPPPPPPPP.  Ultimately saving it in the "P" slot. lol

 

Compiling your own as both links talked about, would be a pain.  Though not really difficult.  But still a pain.

I think it'd be a lot easier to just have an AHK script and put it in the Running Script section of your MAME emulator.  Chances are that it won't work if you want to upload your high scores to the Community Leaderboard.  To make it work, you need to have "-keyboardprovider dinput" in the command line (which is put there by default).

This example will load the save state in slot 1 (if one exists) for a game when you press "A".

SetKeyDelay, 0, 50

a::
{
  send {F7}
  sleep 100
  send 1
}
        

Yes, you will still see a popup for a split second.  Because of how MAME is, it's not a popup "window" you can hide.  You could also change the "a" to "$F7" to have F7 load slot 1 (vs it just bringing up the option menu).

 

If you wanted to get real crazy, you could probably create a lua script plugin to do this and have it work directly in MAME.  With this, you wouldn't have to compile-your-own MAME anytime you update. Or ever, for that matter.

Here's something you might be able to modify.   If you're so inclined.   It's set to save and load to the "auto" slot [only].   http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,151810.msg1623419.html#msg1623419

[MAME Save / Load States and Rewind]

1 hour ago, vaderag said:

Previously it never asked for a slot so presumably I'd set it to default to a slot somehow. It may have been something I did with AHK

Having an AHK script to do that makes sense and is probably the only way.  I don't think MAME has a setting-of-sorts for always using slot "1" (or whatever).

 

1 hour ago, vaderag said:

My keys are being passed and step forward works, but I can't rewind

Have you tried this during gameplay?  Vs. pausing then 'rewinding'.  May double check your key assignments in MAME.  Honestly, I never paid attention that rewind was even a thing.  I've used the Insert [key] for fast forwarding though.

[MAME Save / Load States and Rewind]

5 hours ago, vaderag said:

Before, I had a single key which saved and a different single key which loaded a save state to a slot, but I can't seem to find a way to do this... am I missing something 

Is there a way "quick save" and "quick load" without having to go through a dialogue... sure I had it set up before...

Have you changed the default key(s) in MAME for save and load?  When you say "go through a dialog", are you talking about accessing the save/load feature available in the pause menu (Pause Screen)?  If you go through the pause screen, LB is setup to use MAME's default F7 (Load) and Shift+F7 (Save).  But sounds like you may have had (at one point?) set up different keys in MAME itself to a single key [respectively].  Which, regardless of how it's setup in the pause menu, would still work for you directly in MAME.  Just not via the pause menu.

 

5 hours ago, vaderag said:

I'm trying to get MAME rewind to work - in theory - if I Pause, and then press Shift-` ¬ then it will rewind.

It tries to but it fails

You may need (want?) to disable LB's pause menu.  At least for MAME.  I'm pretty sure that when you're in the pause screen, direct keystrokes are not sent to the emulator.

If you want to disable it (at least do so for testing), edit your MAME emulator and in the Pause Screen section, un-check Enable Game Pause Screen.

[MAME not working]

What version is your MAME emulator?  (example “0.249”)

Can you provide Screenshots of the following sections:

Go to Tools, Manage, Emulators, select the emulator you setup for MAME and provide a screenshot of 

• Details
• Associated Platforms

["object reference not set to an instance of an object"]

6 hours ago, Joe35car said:

The popup shows quickly then the games open

(This is useful information as to what exactly triggers the popup.)  So the popup appears when you go to launch a game?  Not before?

 

Which LB Theme are you using?  If you switch to a different Theme, do you get the same error popup?

 

Can you share a screenshot of the error window.  Have you looked at any debugging logs?  Make sure it's on (Tools, Options). Exit LB, then restart it (to create a fresh log file). As soon as the error pops up, click OK on it and then close LB.  (Doing it this way will create a smaller log file.)  Then look at the most recent (just created) log file.

["object reference not set to an instance of an object"]

On 10/28/2022 at 7:49 PM, Joe35car said:

everything works

So LaunchBox loads?  Looks normal?  Then the popup shows with no other info?  If you click Close on the popup, does LB then shutdown (close)?

If it was a .NET Core issue, I believe it would say so.  But there's more info here regarding that.

 

[.net core download error message]

You need the .NET Desktop Runtime 3.1.xx version.

 

[help with shift+f3 comand]

It shouldn't keep the shift key pressed.  If it did, F3 would be staying pressed too.

You could try instead...

F1::Send {Shift Down}{F3 Down}{Shift Up}{F3 Up}

This way you know Shift is being released.

 

[PS3 (Eboot.bin) bulk importer]

34 minutes ago, DanCue said:

this is a process that the normal importer would have done automatically with any other platform

The MAME Arcade Full Set [Import] Wizard will allow for combining parent and clone ROMs.  I don't believe importing for other platforms will.

 

36 minutes ago, DanCue said:

Are you saying that if I select the US version last that will be the first option on the list of games that I should select as my "main" game when asked?

No.  If that works, it's just a coincidence.  

 

43 minutes ago, DanCue said:

I would prefer to use the US version as the "main" game but when I am asked to select which one they are both the same name so I can't tell which is which.

If they're not really name BLES and BLUS and are actually named the exact same, there's a couple ways to go about this.  

One is to edit one of them and change the games Title to something like BLUS-US to distinguish it from the other. Then combine.

Another is to just combine them, then Edit the combined game(s).  Go to the Additional Apps section and click the one you want to be default and then click Make Default (in the lower right corner of that screen).

[Closing Sinden App]

6 hours ago, atalec said:

Hi everyone,

I want to launch Sinden App when I launch a rail gun shooter but not for other game type.

But,  I can't put a ahk script for a game, only for emulator that's right ?

Someone help me please ?

Thx

You can use additional apps for this purpose.  You'll need to create 2 additional apps (AHK scripts) to do what you're wanting.  One that will Automatically Run Before Main Application (load the Sinden app) and that will Automatically Run After Main Application (close the Sinden app).

Create the 2 respective AHK scripts and then add them to your game as outlined here.  

Check the appropriate box to run Before/After for each additional app.