MAME Software Lists Import Tool - plugin

[JoeViking245]

1 hour ago, dsync89 said:

I’ve noticed that if the ROM files in MAME-0.277/roms/softlist are identical (i.e., same filenames and checksums) to those already present in MAME-0.263/roms/softlist, then the LaunchBox MAME Softlist Import Tool will not update the ROM paths.

When updating, the plugin assumes one MAME, one ROM set.  /MAME/roms/softlists/  Then, it actually only checks/cross-checks the ROM filename.  It doesn't bother with the checksums.  That between you and MAME (and something like clrMamePro if you use it).  

In your case, you're essentially updating to a new set. Rather than from a new set.

Your workaround:  Tools < File Management < Change ROMs Folder Path for Selected Games...

 

1 hour ago, dsync89 said:

I’m adding the clones as Additional Apps. For example, if a game title like "foo" already exists in Platform A which I imported from 0.263 MAME softlist, and the updated 0.277 MAME softlist set introduces a clone named "foo2", the import tool does not add "foo2" as an Additional App under the existing "foo" entry. It seems that if the base title already exists, newly introduced clones with different filenames aren’t added automatically as Additional Apps.

Thanks for clarifying this.  I'll add "check this" to my to-do list.  No promises on when that may take place.  

 

1 hour ago, dsync89 said:

Too bad ever since MESS being integrated into MAME, there are still using the legacy hash.xml files for those systems. To the best of my knowledge there is no DAT project for those softlist systems.

Well, it's not really a bad thing.  There's a lot of duplicity in the innerworkings between MAME and MESS.  And accessing the xml files via the exe is not CPU intensive by any means. The alternative is to add 760+ files of data into the executable that may never even get touched. 

DAT files are available for MAMEs softlists which clrMamePro can innately utilize.  (a P.I.T.A. until you learn to make it work "for you". But doable none-the-less.)  But traversing 14 iterations of releases is beyond reasonable.  

 

1 hour ago, dsync89 said:

Updating is a pain since I had to manually go through these softlist system and re-run the import tool. 

You could always update/import them the other way.  😎