LaunchBox 13.18 - Beta Thread

[faeran]

Hi everyone,

Beta 1 is out now with the following improvements and fixes:

• Improvement: GOG Import Wizard will now only show games you have yet to import
• Improvement: GOG Import Wizard is better optimized to show all installed games on your hard drive
• Improvement: You can now set the auto-import platform per storefront in Tools > Manage > Storefronts
• Improvement: New comparison types have been added to auto-populate playlist string-based rules which allows for multiple values: Contains Any Value, Doesn't Contain Any Value (ie. Version - Contains Any Value: Rev 1; fr; Brazil)
• Improvement: Users now have the ability to disable the Save Management Feature under Tools > Options > General > Save Management
• Improvement: The Game Discovery Center in the Trial Mode of Big Box will now see all curated server-side playlists
• Improvement: Added support for the following new image types (Poster, Square, Icon)
• Improvement: A new link binding has been added to the LaunchBox Game Details view for additional apps that point to a website (for theme developers)
• Fixed: Some advanced search fields with boolean values now work as intended
• Fixed: The Install Emulator page within the ROM Import Wizard will now better reflect existing emulator installations
• Fixed: List View better respects column sort order after adding or editing a game
• Fixed: BIOS detection in the ROM Import wizard now considers RetroArch core changes
• Fixed: Prevented unintended auto-imports for certain platforms
• Fixed: LaunchBox Carousel element rendering issues under certain conditions
• Fixed: Rare crash when loading non-existent images into the image grid

Beta 2:

• Fixed: Issue causing slow loading times of the Game Details Pane on initial startup
• Fixed: Crash that occurred when attempting to import into a platform without a supported emulator (introduced in beta 1)

Beta 3:

• New Feature: Added the ability to import ROMs from several platforms at once
• Improvement: Optimized the startup process for slightly faster load times

Beta 4:

• Fixed: Secondary platforms under Associated Platforms will now correctly respect M3U checkbox settings
• Fixed: A rare issue where specific custom themes could incorrectly sort games when using Arrange By options

 

Thanks to anyone willing to help us test these beta changes and provide feedback about them! We are currently working on a feature for this release that should be out next week that will require lots of testing.

Thanks again

[davemk]

Just curious as to what a square image type is?

[faeran]

4 minutes ago, davemk said:

Just curious as to what a square image type is?

 

[Wally]

So no performance and boot speed improvements in this beta, right?

[l.strain]

Yeah having all these quirky features are great but why are you not tackling the most basic of bugs etc that have plagued this frontend for the longest time as Wally said it needs to be optimised more than anything (I have a pretty beefy PC rig before anyone claims I need a better one) and even with the vast amount of people constantly testing these beta's the end product ends up still being a mess..... Then we have to sit and watch videos of the newest release being the best thing since slice bread when in fact it's not (we all know who does the videos claiming this)  

Edited December 5 by l.strain
pressed enter instead of space bar& corrected spelling mistakes

[faeran]

4 hours ago, Wally said:

So no performance and boot speed improvements in this beta, right?

Look out for a performance FAQ that will be out later today which will educate and explain how users can reliably post feedback about a specific issue and get helpful answers.

Outside of that, let's keep this thread specific to the beta changes, as there's some very specific infrastructure changes in this beta that could have affected things we weren't anticipating that we'd love to catch during these beta rounds.

Thanks for anyone willing to help test.

 

[l.strain]

52 minutes ago, faeran said:

Look out for a performance FAQ that will be out later today which will educate and explain how users can reliably post feedback about a specific issue and get helpful answers.

Outside of that, let's keep this thread specific to the beta changes, as there's some very specific infrastructure changes in this beta that could have affected things we weren't anticipating that we'd love to catch during these beta rounds.

Thanks for anyone willing to help test.

 

All due respect you can't pull this old chest nut to deflect away from the fact the program is very power hungry on resources and needs optimised!

[Retro808]

8 minutes ago, l.strain said:

All due respect you can't pull this old chest nut to deflect away from the fact the program is very power hungry on resources and needs optimised!

With all due respect we understand there is some frustration. Please keep to the topic of this thread as requested by one of our staff. Additionally keep things professional and respectful. 
 

Faeren advised a specific thread will be made that you can use for to help report and provide feedback for this specific issue. 

Any more posts not related to beta testing of new features or arrival of new issues will be deleted going forward.

[l.strain]

4 minutes ago, Retro808 said:

With all due respect we understand there is some frustration. Please keep to the topic of this thread as requested by one of our staff. Additionally keep things professional and respectful. 

Any more posts not related to beta testing of new features or arrival of new issues will be deleted going forward.

It was respectful but clearly in this totalitarian forum environment as per mods seem to have a different point of view on what 'respectful' means........ This is why i very rarely post on this and I was one of the very first to use the forums before this new order! 👌 

[Fursphere]

Regarding performance, I run LB/Bigbox on an old Intel i5 3750k system.  Its a little slow to load up, but after it loads its fine.   Biggest annoyance is that in attract-mode, you can hear it working the hard drive (spindle not SSD) as it flips through the images and videos.  Very disk IO intensive application.   I'm finally upgrading it to a more modern PC, hopefully this weekend, and putting LB/BB on a NVME m.2 drive.  So hopefully that'll quiet things down.    I guess we'll see. 

The metadata.xml file is a pig (429 mb on my install), so to optimize that you'd have to move to some sort of database, like SQL or something.   And that adds all sorts of complexity, and will bring new problems.  I understand why the developers haven't gone there.   Would be nice to have the option though - "advanced users or large installs - use MySQL"  (or something?).    But, I'm making the assumption that that would improve things - no way to know until its tested. 

Anyway..  back to the current beta. 

I've been playing with the emulator management features in the new beta, and I'm getting lots of .NET crashes.  (tried upgrading RetroArch)   Not sure if its because I'm trying to manage an existing install or what.  I might move/backup the existing emulators and let LB/BB take over and do a fresh retroarch install and see if that fixes things up.   If / When I figure out the exact workflow that causes the LB crash, I'll post it up.  

Edited December 5 by Fursphere

[Tecleador]

Hi, I get a crash when I try to import a system. Specifically “System.NullReferenceException”. If more data is needed, please ask for it.

[faeran]

56 minutes ago, Tecleador said:

Hi, I get a crash when I try to import a system. Specifically “System.NullReferenceException”. If more data is needed, please ask for it.

Thanks for the report.

Can you be more specific with regards to what system you are trying to import, and the exact steps you used to import?

[Tecleador]

9 minutes ago, faeran said:

Thanks for the report.

Can you be more specific with regards to what system you are trying to import, and the exact steps you used to import?

Amiga CD32. Tools/Import/Roms... Next... Add Directory... Next... Select the platform... Next... Crash.

 

Object reference not set to an instance of an object.

App:     LaunchBox
Version: 13.18-beta-1
Theme:   Default
Type:    System.NullReferenceException
Site:    Void OnActivated()
Source:  LaunchBox

   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Desktop.ViewModels.ImportWizardInstallEmulatorViewModel.OnActivated()
   at ParameterRepository.ConcatRemoteExporter(Object , ParameterRepository )
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Desktop.ViewModels.WizardViewModel.<>c__DisplayClass78_0.PopInvalidInfo()
   at System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherOperation.InvokeDelegateCore()
   at System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherOperation.InvokeImpl()
--- End of stack trace from previous location ---
   at System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherOperation.Wait(TimeSpan timeout)
   at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.InvokeImpl(DispatcherOperation operation, CancellationToken cancellationToken, TimeSpan timeout)
   at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.Invoke(Action callback, DispatcherPriority priority, CancellationToken cancellationToken, TimeSpan timeout)
   at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.Invoke(Action callback, DispatcherPriority priority)
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Threading.StartDataVal(Object , Object , DispatcherPriority )
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Threading.Invoke(Action callback, DispatcherPriority priority)
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Desktop.ViewModels.WizardViewModel.<>c__DisplayClass78_0.PopTransactionalEvent(Object , DispatcherPriority )
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Desktop.ViewModels.WizardViewModel.<>c__DisplayClass78_0.CheckInvalidInfo()
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Threading.<>c__DisplayClass0_0.FillAwareGetter()
   at System.Threading.Thread.StartHelper.Callback(Object state)
   at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.RunInternal(ExecutionContext executionContext, ContextCallback callback, Object state)
--- End of stack trace from previous location ---
   at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw()

Recent Log:

   17:25:41 Exception

[faeran]

4 hours ago, Tecleador said:

Amiga CD32. Tools/Import/Roms... Next... Add Directory... Next... Select the platform... Next... Crash.

 

Object reference not set to an instance of an object.

App:     LaunchBox
Version: 13.18-beta-1
Theme:   Default
Type:    System.NullReferenceException
Site:    Void OnActivated()
Source:  LaunchBox

   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Desktop.ViewModels.ImportWizardInstallEmulatorViewModel.OnActivated()
   at ParameterRepository.ConcatRemoteExporter(Object , ParameterRepository )
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Desktop.ViewModels.WizardViewModel.<>c__DisplayClass78_0.PopInvalidInfo()
   at System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherOperation.InvokeDelegateCore()
   at System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherOperation.InvokeImpl()
--- End of stack trace from previous location ---
   at System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherOperation.Wait(TimeSpan timeout)
   at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.InvokeImpl(DispatcherOperation operation, CancellationToken cancellationToken, TimeSpan timeout)
   at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.Invoke(Action callback, DispatcherPriority priority, CancellationToken cancellationToken, TimeSpan timeout)
   at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.Invoke(Action callback, DispatcherPriority priority)
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Threading.StartDataVal(Object , Object , DispatcherPriority )
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Threading.Invoke(Action callback, DispatcherPriority priority)
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Desktop.ViewModels.WizardViewModel.<>c__DisplayClass78_0.PopTransactionalEvent(Object , DispatcherPriority )
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Desktop.ViewModels.WizardViewModel.<>c__DisplayClass78_0.CheckInvalidInfo()
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.Threading.<>c__DisplayClass0_0.FillAwareGetter()
   at System.Threading.Thread.StartHelper.Callback(Object state)
   at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.RunInternal(ExecutionContext executionContext, ContextCallback callback, Object state)
--- End of stack trace from previous location ---
   at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw()

Recent Log:

   17:25:41 Exception

Thanks. We managed to track down the issue and it's fixed now in beta 2!

[faeran]

Beta 2 is out with the following:

• Fixed: Issue causing slow loading times of the Game Details Pane on initial startup
• Fixed: Crash that occurred when attempting to import into a platform without a supported emulator (introduced in beta 1)

[Fursphere]

21 minutes ago, faeran said:

Beta 2 is out with the following:

• Fixed: Issue causing slow loading times of the Game Details Pane on initial startup
• Fixed: Crash that occurred when attempting to import into a platform without a supported emulator (introduced in beta 1)

The crash I was having trying to 'update' retroarch using 'managed emulators' option appears to be fixed.   I was able to perform the update successfully from within launchbox. 

[faeran]

14 minutes ago, Fursphere said:

The crash I was having trying to 'update' retroarch using 'managed emulators' option appears to be fixed.   I was able to perform the update successfully from within launchbox. 

we'll take the win!

 

[erling1000]

• Fixed: List View better respects column sort order after adding or editing a game

Now english is not my langauage...

I'm Premium user, but only use Launchbox Listview, no Big Box. so list view is important to me.

Is this saying that we might have my big wish this time? Could be named - Option: "Choose fixed column size" too?

When I scroll down my Arcade games list, some games have so long titles (like below), that all the other columns disappear, because the the titles are very long and LB wants to show all the Title and not only the first part of it, When you scroll past games like theese, no other columns are visible afterwards and you have to scroll sideways or resize columns again.

Some other emulator frontends I have tried (EmuLoader?), can offer Option: Choose Fixed Column size. They could be sized with drag and released, but a size-number could be OK too.

Is this something like that? Could it become something like that?

Some titles below:

War of the Bugs or Monsterous Manouvers in a Mushroom Maze

Touryuu Densetsu Elan-Doree / Elan Doree: Legend of Dragoon

Knights of Valour 2 Plus: Nine Dragons / Sanguo Zhan Ji 2 Qunxiong Zhengba / Sanguo Zhan Ji 2 Feilong Zai Tian / Sangoku Senki Busyou Souha

The Ultimate 11: The SNK Football Championship / Tokuten Ou: Honoo no Libero

Greetings

 

PS: And when you have to resize column size, horizontal scrollbar is missing, until you choose View Image view and back to List view, but that be something wrong in my end, it has been like this more than a year, and not all can reproduce, but some know this "thing".

Edited December 6 by erling1000

[Rlad]

@erling1000 It still expands the column, this fix is for example you dragged Genres to the left next to Title it wont jump back after editing a game (i think i don't really use list view).

I did notice if you pull the second column to the left a little it won't expand the first column when you scroll (until you close Launchbox), but i agree it should be fixed as default.

[Gstar42]

Hi, Since updating to beta2, there has been some issues with the Movie Scraper plugin. I don't know if it's system or application related. The scraper works for some but then throws up the following error for others. I know the plugin is outdated but was working great in 13.17. 

 

Could not convert string to DateTime: 2011-01-12 10:07:11 UTC. Path 'videos.results[0].published_at', line 1, position 1524.

App:     LaunchBox
Version: 13.18-beta-2
Theme:   Rincewind
Type:    Newtonsoft.Json.JsonReaderException
Site:    System.Nullable`1[System.DateTime] ReadDateTimeString(System.String)
Source:  Newtonsoft.Json

   at Newtonsoft.Json.JsonReader.ReadDateTimeString(String s)
   at Newtonsoft.Json.JsonTextReader.FinishReadQuotedStringValue(ReadType readType)
   at Newtonsoft.Json.JsonTextReader.ReadStringValue(ReadType readType)
   at Newtonsoft.Json.JsonTextReader.ReadAsDateTime()
   at Newtonsoft.Json.JsonReader.ReadForType(JsonContract contract, Boolean hasConverter)
   at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.PopulateObject(Object newObject, JsonReader reader, JsonObjectContract contract, JsonProperty member, String id)
   at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.CreateObject(JsonReader reader, Type objectType, JsonContract contract, JsonProperty member, JsonContainerContract containerContract, JsonProperty containerMember, Object existingValue)
   at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.CreateValueInternal(JsonReader reader, Type objectType, JsonContract contract, JsonProperty member, JsonContainerContract containerContract, JsonProperty containerMember, Object existingValue)
   at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.PopulateList(IList list, JsonReader reader, JsonArrayContract contract, JsonProperty containerProperty, String id)
   at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.CreateList(JsonReader reader, Type objectType, JsonContract contract, JsonProperty member, Object existingValue, String id)
   at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.CreateValueInternal(JsonReader reader, Type objectType, JsonContract contract, JsonProperty member, JsonContainerContract containerContract, JsonProperty containerMember, Object existingValue)
   at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.SetPropertyValue(JsonProperty property, JsonConverter propertyConverter, JsonContainerContract containerContract, JsonProperty containerProperty, JsonReader reader, Object target)
   at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.PopulateObject(Object newObject, JsonReader reader, JsonObjectContract contract, JsonProperty member, String id)
   at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.CreateObject(JsonReader reader, Type objectType, JsonContract contract, JsonProperty member, JsonContainerContract containerContract, JsonProperty containerMember, Object existingValue)
   at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.CreateValueInternal(JsonReader reader, Type objectType, JsonContract contract, JsonProperty member, JsonContainerContract containerContract, JsonProperty containerMember, Object existingValue)
   at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.SetPropertyValue(JsonProperty property, JsonConverter propertyConverter, JsonContainerContract containerContract, JsonProperty containerProperty, JsonReader reader, Object target)
   at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.PopulateObject(Object newObject, JsonReader reader, JsonObjectContract contract, JsonProperty member, String id)
   at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.CreateObject(JsonReader reader, Type objectType, JsonContract contract, JsonProperty member, JsonContainerContract containerContract, JsonProperty containerMember, Object existingValue)
   at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.CreateValueInternal(JsonReader reader, Type objectType, JsonContract contract, JsonProperty member, JsonContainerContract containerContract, JsonProperty containerMember, Object existingValue)
   at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.Deserialize(JsonReader reader, Type objectType, Boolean checkAdditionalContent)
   at Newtonsoft.Json.JsonSerializer.DeserializeInternal(JsonReader reader, Type objectType)
   at Newtonsoft.Json.JsonConvert.DeserializeObject(String value, Type type, JsonSerializerSettings settings)
   at Newtonsoft.Json.JsonConvert.DeserializeObject[T](String value, JsonSerializerSettings settings)
   at MovieScraper.GameMenu.GetMovieData(String id, IGame selectedMovie, Root foundMovie)
   at MovieScraper.GameMenu.GetMovieIDs(IGame selectedMovie)
   at MovieScraper.GameMenu.GatherAllMovieData(IGame selectedGame)
   at MovieScraper.GameMenu.SingleMovie(IGame selectedGame)
   at System.Threading.Tasks.Task.<>c.<ThrowAsync>b__128_0(Object state)
   at System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.InternalRealCall(Delegate callback, Object args, Int32 numArgs)
   at System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.TryCatchWhen(Object source, Delegate callback, Object args, Int32 numArgs, Delegate catchHandler)

Recent Log:

   22:55:28 Exception