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How does the database match files?


LordShadowen

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Total noob here, just starting - sorry if this is explained somewhere else.

So, to start small, I tried importing a complete set of Sega Model 2 roms, using the Sega Model 2 platform and the Model 2 Emulator 1.1a. Mostly it works fine, but there is some weirdness I don't understand. 

Let's take the example of Daytona - there are 8 "versions" of Daytona listed in the emulator:

image.png.aa6950c76c1b0393f996be6ccfbcc9c4.pngI have each of these 8 romsets as zip files (daytona.zip, dayton93.zip, etc...). They all launch correctly from the emulator directly.

When I import this folder in LB, this is what it finds:

image.thumb.png.e46d4a50e77f793e73b803ac18380bbd.pngYou'll notice that it finds 6 "Daytona USA" and 1 "Daytona USA Special Edition" - so 7 in total. It does not find the Daytona '93 Edition at all.

I figured that there must be an issue matching the names with the database. I looked in the file "Files.xml" (btw, is this the right place to look?), and it's even stranger because I found this:

<File>
    <Platform>Sega Model 2</Platform>
    <FileName>dayton93</FileName>
    <GameName>Daytona USA Deluxe '93</GameName>
  </File>
  <File>
    <Platform>Sega Model 2</Platform>
    <FileName>daytona</FileName>
    <GameName>Daytona USA</GameName>
  </File>
  <File>
    <Platform>Sega Model 2</Platform>
    <FileName>daytonagtx</FileName>
    <GameName>Daytona USA: GTX2004</GameName>
  </File>
  <File>
    <Platform>Sega Model 2</Platform>
    <FileName>daytonam</FileName>
    <GameName>Daytona USA: To The Maxx</GameName>
  </File>
  <File>
    <Platform>Sega Model 2</Platform>
    <FileName>daytonas</FileName>
    <GameName>Daytona USA (Saturn Ads)</GameName>
  </File>
  <File>
    <Platform>Sega Model 2</Platform>
    <FileName>daytonat</FileName>
    <GameName>Daytona USA Turbo</GameName>
  </File>

The file has 6 entries (not 7 or 8). It does contain the 93 edition, and it does not contain any "Special Edition".

Also, the names for each version are distinct (and even roughly match their Emulator names), and not simply "Daytona USA" like the import dialog shows.

I'm very, very confused ?

Anybody can explain what's happening? Am I misunderstanding the whole thing?

 

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Model 2 roms come from a MAME romset, and therefore have the MAME shortname naming scheme, daytona.zip, daytonam.zip etc. These wont scrape normally in Launchbox as they are, as said shortnames, not actual full game names. For these cases you need to check the box in the import wizard to use MAME metadata for systems that use MAME metadata.

Untitled.thumb.png.07ea98f209887e4bb93abe3bb8fef90e.png

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Thanks, but unfortunately got exactly the same results, made no difference. 

I've tried with all the options to not skip anything, and even force duplicates (just in case), but always end up with the same 7 (still no '93 version), with the same names (just like in my first post)

In fact, it looks like LB was already somehow handling it as MAME shortnames, otherwise it wouldn't have found anything at all right?

There must something else going on. Any other ideas?

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Short answer:

Despite what you see in Files.xml*, LB won't find/import "dayton93.zip" *** as it doesn't exist in MAME (anymore**).

Long answer:

I did a drag & drop [import] of the daytonaxx roms and all 8 imported.   I checked the box in Neil's pict "Force Using MAME...".  And then selected Import All Clones, and un-checkd all other boxes.  Note: Tested with  "Scrape As - Arcade"  and also  "Scrape As - Sega Model 2" .  

While testing this, I realized I have "daytona93" and not "dayton93".  Looking into a little... **back in MAME Release 0.133u1: "Renamed (dayton93) to (daytona93)".  

*The file you want to look into is Mame.xml (vs Files.xml) if "Force Using MAME..." is checked (and/or using MAME as the emulator).

Mame.xml

Name               FileName

Daytona USA  daytona
Daytona USA  daytona93
Daytona USA  daytonagtx
Daytona USA  daytonam
Daytona USA  daytonas
Daytona USA Special Edition  daytonase
Daytona USA  daytonat
Daytona USA  daytonata

***If you do not check "Force Using MAME...",  and "Scrape As"  "Sega Model 2" AND use an emulator other than MAME, "dayton93" will Import.  But you won't get the proper Names.   File "daytona.zip" will be given the Name "daytona", and not "Daytona USA".

image.png

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Ah, that explains a lot, thank you.

So, as long as they are treated as MAME roms, everything that is happening makes sense now.

However, the last part is still unclear:

Quote

*If you do not check "Force Using MAME...",  and "Scrape As"  "Sega Model 2" AND use an emulator other than MAME, "dayton93" will Import.  But you won't get the proper Names.   File "daytona.zip" will be given the Name "daytona", and not "Daytona USA".

I can't replicate this - I'm using the "Sega Model 2" platform, not checking the MAME box, not using MAME as the emulator and the import list always shows the exact same thing. What I expected is that by doing what you say (and that I've tried), LB would not associate these files to MAME in any way, and use the Files.xml descriptions instead.

It looks like there is some sort of "assumed" MAME connection no matter what I try... are you able to get the names out of Files.xml? e.g. "Daytona USA: GTX2004" on daytonagtx when you do it?

 

 

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39 minutes ago, LordShadowen said:

I'm using the "Sega Model 2" platform

Oops.  Ya, I was using "Daytona" as my [created] Platform.  So definitely will produce different outcomes.

Here some sample runs.  [If I did did enough of them] you'll see a pattern.

Platform:    Sega Model 2
Scrape as:    N/A
Emulator:    Dolphin (as in Not MAME)
Force MAME:    No

Daytona USA        daytonas.zip
Daytona USA     Special Edition    daytonase.zip
Daytona USA        daytonat.zip
Daytona USA        daytonata.zip
Daytona USA        daytona.zip
Daytona USA        daytona93.zip
Daytona USA        daytonagtx.zip
Daytona USA        daytonam.zip

================================
Platform:    Sega Model 2
Scrape as:    N/A
Emulator:    Dolphin
Force MAME:    Yes
Import Clones:    checked
Everything Else:    Un-checked

Daytona USA        daytonas.zip
Daytona USA     Special Edition    daytonase.zip
Daytona USA        daytonat.zip
Daytona USA        daytonata.zip
Daytona USA        daytona.zip
Daytona USA        daytona93.zip
Daytona USA        daytonagtx.zip
Daytona USA        daytonam.zip

================================
Platform:    Daytona
Scrape as:    Sega Model 2
Emulator:    Dolphin
Force MAME:    No

daytonas    daytonas.zip
daytonase    daytonase.zip
daytonat    daytonat.zip
daytonata    daytonata.zip
daytona        daytona.zip    
daytona93    daytona93.zip
daytonagtx    daytonagtx.zip
daytonam    daytonam.zip

================================
Platform:    Sega Model 2
Scrape as:    N/A
Emulator:    MAME
Force MAME:    N/A
Import Clones:    checked
Everything Else:    Un-checked

Daytona USA                    daytonas.zip
Daytona USA Special Edition    daytonase.zip
Daytona USA                    daytonat.zip
Daytona USA                    daytonata.zip
Daytona USA                    daytona.zip
Daytona USA                    daytona93.zip
Daytona USA                    daytonagtx.zip
Daytona USA                    daytonam.zip

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Ah, got it. So basically, LB has built-in logic that says "treat Sega Model 2 platform roms as MAME roms" no matter what (regardless of the checkbox). It's only by creating a custom platform that you can get away from that.

That's different from what Neil was saying...

I wonder if it's a bug or by design. If intentional, not sure if that's a good idea or not, but what's interesting is that there is never a scenario where the entries from the Files.xml are ever used then.... it's either MAME or treated as "unknown" and the names are just the file names (without prefix).

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