585 replies to this topic

[UltraPeepi]

So it seems, that there are necessary file(s) in the demo folder?

 

 

 

There used to be a dependency on the Fonts folder - but that requirement was remove in the April 23, 2014 build.

 

Here are the minimum files required to launch UltraDMD.exe

 

atl90.dll

Flash.dll

libusb0.dll

UltraDMD.exe

XDMD.dll

XDMDNative.dll

 

Other files may be needed to do cools stuff like playing videos etc:

Flash.ocx

Microsoft.DirectX.DirectDraw.dll

 

And YES UltraDMD.exe needs to be in the same folder as the rest of the files.

[Sindbad]

Thanks for the quick answer. 

[Sindbad]

Okay, got my Flash Gordon table working with UltraDMD. All output which goes to the display on the backbox is now routed to the DMD. It's really fun to see that it works. I'd like to implement some animation sequences now.

 

But before I put more work into this, does anybody know whether

 

- the DMD can be placed on a specific position (x,y coordinates)?

- the colours of the DMD can be defined?

[UltraPeepi]

Yes, the DMD is restored to the same X,Y coordinates each time.  You just move it into the position you want, configure the size you want, and it will appear that way each time it is run.  You can also set your color preference.

 

Now, if you are asking whether the table author can programmatically change these things, the answer is currently NO.  I don't see a benefit for a table author to programmatically set the size/position; but it might be nice if each table could specify the DMD color.  If I add this, I would probably also add a checkbox in the user configuration to "allow table to specify DMD color".  That way, the end user can override the table's setting.

 

Did that answer the questions?

[Sindbad]

Yes, Thanks for your feedback

[UltraPeepi]

Based on some feedback by Shoopity (in support of America's Most Haunted), I have made available a new version of UltraDMD.exe (v1.1.150129).  This update requires an updated XDMD (download XDMD as normal, then download the patch Beta 0.3 Preview XDMD.dll file).

 

 

• Previous versions had a limitation around using the NONE transitions.  I have addressed these issues (I believe).  So there is greater flexibility in how scenes are presented.
• I also addressed the PAUSE timing issue.  The pause time was documented to be in milliseconds, but it really wasn't very accurate.  The new version is much more precise - not perfect but much better.

 

 

As always, feedback is welcome.

[UltraPeepi]

If you have a table that uses UltraDMD, please post a link to it here (or PM me).  To ensure I don't break anything, and to maintain backward compatibility, I would like to be able to have as many tables for testing as possible.  Thx.

[UltraPeepi]

UltraDMD v1.1.150215

 

New update should help with debugging "File Not Found" issues.  It no longer crashes on a file not found.  Instead is displays an error image and logs the error to a log file.

 

Changes:

• UltraDMD now has a log file that reports “file not found”.
• When specified background image is not found, a special background image with “File Not Found” is displayed.
• UltraDMD configuration window (right-click on the DMD virtual display), now has “Display Error Log” and “Clear Error Log” options.

[lodger]

super excited to try this, but am really struggling to set it up. I'm not clear on how to install xdmd and then after that where you put all of the different zips. A vid would be extremely helpful if someone were inclined to make one. My guess is that this is a barrier to more people trying the software.

 

thanks!

[UltraPeepi]

This is from https://ultradmd.wor...m/documentation

 

 

 

Installation (minimal install)

• First, if you are running Windows XP, you will need .Net 2.0
• Install XDMD from XDMD.info (Beta 0.2 or later).
• Download UltraDMD.exe and place it in the same folder as XDMD (XDMD.dll).
• Open a command window with administrator privilege.
• Change directories to the folder with UltraDMD.exe.
• RunUltraDMD.exe /i
  
  OR
  
  C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\RegASM UltraDMD.exe

 

I concede that the installation is not automated.  However, since UltraDMD is built upon the capabilities that XDMD offers, it is bound by the installation of XDMD (which is currently a download / unzip installation).  Also, UltraDMD is built using .Net framework (as is XDMD).  XDMD relies on .Net 2.0.  So I implemented UltraDMD using the same version of the framework - to reduce the requirements matrix.  If you do not have .Net 2.0 installed, you will have to go and get that too.

 

All that said, Tom recently granted me access to manage the XDMD site.  With that, I can build an installer that does everything.  My question is, does everybody think that this is a blocking issue to getting UltraDMD adoption?  It's sort of a chicken and egg problem: without tables that rely on UltraDMD there is no compelling reason to create an installer for it; without an installer for UltraDMD, table authors may not be compelled to build tables that rely on UltraDMD.

 

You tell me.

Edited by UltraPeepi, 05 March 2015 - 07:40 PM.

[Shoopity]

Well, I personally didn't have any issues installing, but I'm also used to custom installs; I usually put stuff in specific places anyway.  I can't figure why so many people have such issues with "installing" VP.  It's essentially a portable app; not portable in the sense that it doesn't leave anything behind, but portable in the sense that you can put all your files/folders onto a USB stick and you can play VP anywhere.  Even if you add VPM, it only requires an initial run of the Setup and that's it; otherwise you can throw VPM on a stick too.

 

I think one issue might be the small amount of original development period.  But with VP10 Beta released, that might spark more originals since they can look better with less effort, so more effort can go into a DMD.

[freneticamnesic]

This is from https://ultradmd.wor...m/documentation

 

 

 

Installation (minimal install)

• First, if you are running Windows XP, you will need .Net 2.0
• Install XDMD from XDMD.info (Beta 0.2 or later).
• Download UltraDMD.exe and place it in the same folder as XDMD (XDMD.dll).
• Open a command window with administrator privilege.
• Change directories to the folder with UltraDMD.exe.
• RunUltraDMD.exe /i
  
  OR
  
  C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\RegASM UltraDMD.exe

 

I concede that the installation is not automated.  However, since UltraDMD is built upon the capabilities that XDMD offers, it is bound by the installation of XDMD (which is currently a download / unzip installation).  Also, UltraDMD is built using .Net framework (as is XDMD).  XDMD relies on .Net 2.0.  So I implemented UltraDMD using the same version of the framework - to reduce the requirements matrix.  If you do not have .Net 2.0 installed, you will have to go and get that too.

 

All that said, Tom recently granted me access to manage the XDMD site.  With that, I can build an installer that does everything.  My question is, does everybody think that this is a blocking issue to getting UltraDMD adoption?  It's sort of a chicken and egg problem: without tables that rely on UltraDMD there is no compelling reason to create an installer for it; without an installer for UltraDMD, table authors may not be compelled to build tables that rely on UltraDMD.

 

You tell me.

 

It's the same issue as Unit3d pinball, only possibly exacerbated by several things, authors need to implement it. I installed it to tinker around with and quite frankly it's beyond my skills. I'm not an original table author, and there's so few who exist and who would be willing to try it. The one time I thought it would be great to use and be worth learning was with Americas Most Haunted, which thankfully is being taken care of. People will install UltraDMD to play that game, and making it an easy install will help. I know I had some dumb questions, I can't be the only one... but now that it's installed, and working, it's great.

You won't have people installing it just to install it, so there needs to be tables. I have ideas for original tables but honestly I'm still worried about the scripting that will be required to use this. I know it would be awesome in the end, but how much time do I want to spend on a table? Maybe I'm not very creative.

[Zablon]

Thanks for the bump on this. I want to give it a shot and see if it is more stable/resource un-intensive than HyperDMD with possibly some more options for specific tables.

 

As for using it, tables would be nice, but honestly most people will probably start using it as a cabinet intro/dmd filler in hyperpin/pinballx like HyperDMD is used. As that progresses more people may use it for tables, but there really aren't too many original tables made in VP on a regular basis.

 

If it works like I think it will, and VP10 is easier to make builds, I may resume trying to create one.

Edited by Zablon, 05 March 2015 - 11:47 PM.

[lodger]

It would be very helpful to have some sort of install file,etc for this. Regarding the general install of visual pinball, it isnt too bad once you are used to the logic of it...however for someone who is not a higher end computer user the learning curve is a bit prohibitive. my thoughts regarding ultra dmd is that while i'm not an uber windows user, I am baffled by the xdmd install (the steps to get ultra dmd sound reasonably straight forward). to my reasoning, if I as a table designer am baffled by the install, those with less experience are going to be less likely to play my tables if i include this feature. I am super psyched for ultra dmd, but am struggling to get the setup together

 

/ update 3/8/15

 

i understand that the xdmd has to be unzipped to the ultradmd directory, that the ultradmd exe has to be in there. along with the supplemental files. I opened a command window in win 7 64 bit and ran the exe with the /i and it sounds like i got the same message that fren got- a popup screen that ultra dmd has stopped working

 

what am I doing wrong?

Edited by lodger, 07 March 2015 - 03:01 AM.

[lodger]

I tried installing this again tonight- still a bit baffled. here's what i did: on a new windows 8 computer, i copied the xdmd install to a directory called xdmd. in the subforder c:\xdmd\bin\release I copied the ultra dmd file. I downloaded libusb and copied the dll to that directory as well. i ran the install from command prompt as administrator with the /i. windows 8 did a scan, approved the file and it appeared to install. when i launched the test table, i get a message that "activex component can not create object: ultradmd.dmdobject.

 

am I at least heading down the right path with this? thanks!

 

 

/////

update: i think i'm a bit further ahead now...uninstalled and installed ultradmd in the xdmd demo/bin/release folder. I am able to launch the demo of xdmd and the launch for ultra dmd where you can configure it. My 2 questions now are that I am receiving the null error when trying to load the scene editor and am still getting the "activex component can not create object: ultradmd.dmdobject." when attempting to run the test program...I'm further along for sure but just need a bit more guidance.. thanks!

Edited by lodger, 20 April 2015 - 12:11 AM.

[lodger]

At long last, I finally have it installed....so worth it! I had to uninstall the software and I copied the contents of the xdmd/xdmd demo/bin/release folder to another folder (c:\ultra_dmd). from there, i ran ultra dmd with the /i. I look forward to using this in the near future nice work

[lodger]

ultrapeepi- I had a few questions regarding the editor and animations.

First let me say this software is brilliant and makes it super easy to add dmd to original tables...I am so grateful for your work!

 

So far, i've gotten the score display and scroll text screens working really well with scrolling and effects but had a few questions

 

-in the editor, how do you have it play back an animated gif with no text or writing overtop?

-is it possible to use fonts in ultradmd?

-I tried loading some single frames of animations to chain together but when it played, it would continue to play all the previous pictures along with the current one for the duration of the animation..not sure what i did there.

 

again, really amazing job with this program... after i get the hang of using the editor in full, i'm hoping to make a video explaining it for people

 

-Lodger

[Shoopity]

Lodger, since you got it installed, could you give my America's Most Haunted table a run-through.  I got kinda burned out on the table (as I tend to do), I have all the original artwork from the table creator, I would love some assistance.

 

As far as your first question, I actually never used the editor.  I believe the editor is simply used to generate the code you put into the VP script.  To run an animation without any text, you just use "" where the text would be; so something like this:

UltraDMD.DisplayScene00 animation.gif, "", -1, "", -1, animatein(which style do you want, 14 for nothing), pause(length of animation if you just want it to go through once), animateout

[lodger]

Shoopity,

 

thanks- I will try as soon as I get home and settled this evening. I'll also give AMH a check. thanks!

[remembermom]

After installing UltraDMD (Which looks awesome!), I hit some sort of a "Hide DMD" option in the config menu, and now I can't find a way to show the DMD again. It seems like I can run the program (It shows up in the task manager) but it doesn't display anything. No display = I can't right click to show the config menu to make the DMD show up again...
 
Am I missing something? What do I need to do to get the DMD to show up again?