23 replies to this topic

[Drybonz]

Now that most of us are running higher resolution monitors than when VP was introduced and therefore higher scaling, is there any solution for higher scaling causing backdrops to have problems and other scaling related issues?  Has anyone found a solution or workaround for these problems?  Thanks for the help.

[Mike DA Spike]

Not sure what yo exactly mean. I just put all the screens to 100%dpi and don't have issues with the different resolutions of screens (4k onpf, fullhd for backglass and 720p for hdmi dummy)

[Drybonz]

Many people run a higher res screen with higher scaling, especially in a desktop situation where the computer is going to be used for other tasks, gaming, etc...

 

If you raise your windows scaling you can see how it affects things in VP, if you are really wanting to find out.

[wiesshund]

Many people run a higher res screen with higher scaling, especially in a desktop situation where the computer is going to be used for other tasks, gaming, etc...

 

If you raise your windows scaling you can see how it affects things in VP, if you are really wanting to find out.

 

VPX is not the only game that doesnt end well if you run your desktop at like 200% scale

[Drybonz]

VPX is not the only game that doesnt end well if you run your desktop at like 200% scale

 

 

Sure... mostly old games, but I agree.  I'm just trying to start some discussion as to whether anyone has found solutions.  Can VP be made to ignore windows scaling, for text or other purposes?  Is there a program out there, somewhere, that will force an app to ignore windows scaling?  Is there some other fix?  I really don't know... that's why I was asking.

 

With 4k and 8k somewhere on the horizon, the Windows environment is getting microscopic if you don't use some scaling.  Menus in VP are getting unusable and many desktop backdrops mostly have problems, etc...

 

Anyway, that's the reason that I asked.  If anyone has any ideas about it, I appreciate you.  Thanks.

[Carny_Priest]

I use a CLI program Display Changer II to switch screen resolutions and primary display so that I can play using one profile and tweak, configure, add tables, install software etc. using another profile that makes it at least a little easier for me to read.

 

HOWEVER, according to their program description - 

"(Unfortunately, Display Changer II cannot modify the Windows DPI (scaling factor) or HDR settings. There is currently no Microsoft API that offers these features. Although some applications hack at the Registry to modify the DPI, they require the user to restart Windows, which Display Changer II tries to avoid. If Microsoft does offer these features at some point, I plan to update Display Changer X to take advantage of them.)"

 

Still something is better than nothing, so you could use the program to temporarily change to a lower resolution to be better able to read text.

 

https://12noon.com/?page_id=641

 

The developer has transitioned over to a commercial offer, but it is still pretty easy to find the former freeware version elsewhere, and I think a command line version is more suitable for cabinets anyway. 

[Drybonz]

Thanks, Carny... I appreciate you jumping in with the suggestion.  I'm going to take a look at that.

 

If anyone else has something that works for them, please jump in.  I'm sure there are others that would like to know about what works for people.

[digitalarts]

Maybe this could be helpful:
https://github.com/imniko/SetDPI

[Drybonz]

Thanks... sounds like the other one, but another free solution.  We can potentially run these with a command line through a frontend and then close it when VP exits so it goes back to normal.

[Gravy]

Yeah certainly a valid topic, the UI of VPX is tiny at 4K without scaling and there are some font size issues if scaling is enabled and you are wanting to change some of pinmame settings if I remember correctly. I cant play at 4K but my 32" desktop screen is 4K (currently running it at 1080p though due to GPU issue).

[digitalarts]

@drybonz 

my  hint is not similar to dc2 - this nifty little program just can change the DPI of given display(s) in realtime. Very handy

[Mike DA Spike]

I use a CLI program Display Changer II to switch screen resolutions and primary display so that I can play using one profile and tweak, configure, add tables, install software etc. using another profile that makes it at least a little easier for me to read.
 
HOWEVER, according to their program description - 
"(Unfortunately, Display Changer II cannot modify the Windows DPI (scaling factor) or HDR settings. There is currently no Microsoft API that offers these features. Although some applications hack at the Registry to modify the DPI, they require the user to restart Windows, which Display Changer II tries to avoid. If Microsoft does offer these features at some point, I plan to update Display Changer X to take advantage of them.)"
 
Still something is better than nothing, so you could use the program to temporarily change to a lower resolution to be better able to read text.
 
https://12noon.com/?page_id=641
 
The developer has transitioned over to a commercial offer, but it is still pretty easy to find the former freeware version elsewhere, and I think a command line version is more suitable for cabinets anyway. 

I did the same on my old machine to change registry for 100dpi and 150dpi, but I didnt reboot, but just run dc2 again with the (same) config. That makes my display set the correct dpi.

During launch of the front end, i set playfield to 100 dpi and when frontend ecists i changed it to 150, so i could read the text below icons again

[Drybonz]

@drybonz 

my  hint is not similar to dc2 - this nifty little program just can change the DPI of given display(s) in realtime. Very handy

 

Yeah... this is great.  I tried it today... set up (in Launchbox) to run before and after a table, so that it automatically restores my default DPI on close.  I wish VPX could do this natively.

 

I just can't figure out how to completely eliminate the cmd prompt that opens with SetDPI so that it doesn't show at all.

[wiesshund]

 

@drybonz 

my  hint is not similar to dc2 - this nifty little program just can change the DPI of given display(s) in realtime. Very handy

 

Yeah... this is great.  I tried it today... set up (in Launchbox) to run before and after a table, so that it automatically restores my default DPI on close.  I wish VPX could do this natively.

 

I just can't figure out how to completely eliminate the cmd prompt that opens with SetDPI so that it doesn't show at all.

 

 

Have toxie take a look at this

High DPI Desktop Application Development on Windows - Win32 apps | Microsoft Learn

 

i am not sure how hard to implement, but it is possible for VPX to be DPI aware, and change the scaling for itself to 100 on launch.

[maarten7]

Would be great if VPX is made DPI aware and sets DPI to 100% when running Full Screen and returning DPI to the value set in Windows Settings after close.

 

Playing VPX with great pleasure on 4k display in Desktop Mode, and experiencing the same issues as DryBonz,

[Gravy]

Would be great if VPX is made DPI aware and sets DPI to 100% when running Full Screen and returning DPI to the value set in Windows Settings after close.

 

Playing VPX with great pleasure on 4k display in Desktop Mode, and experiencing the same issues as DryBonz,

Yeah...  that would be good. I'm not sure if a recent change to VPX 10.8 may have attempted to fix this issue.

"the application is now 'DPI aware' this means that it can be used with multiple monitors using different DPI settings. This may needs to adjust position of windows on existing installs."

There's also this bug report regarding tiny text in interactive mode which has since been actioned. https://github.com/v...ball/issues/326

Note that the text was moved to the bottom left in that change but has since been reverted back to top left again due to it being obscured when people use a real apron over the top of the playfield.



 

[Drybonz]

Now the interactive text is in the center on the most recent build... but the text size seems fine.  As far as the overall scaling issue, I haven't noticed any change yet in 10.8.

[JohnIV]

Have you played w/ the DPI override settings on the compatibility properties of the vpin.exe?  Right click and do a properties / compat. / DPI and see if any of those settings make things nicer.

[Mike DA Spike]

Have you played w/ the DPI override settings on the compatibility properties of the vpin.exe?  Right click and do a properties / compat. / DPI and see if any of those settings make things nicer.

I should not mess too many around with the windows settings. Just leave them default

10.8 should work out of the box with, see change log :

the application is now fully 'DPI aware'. This means that one can use multiple monitors at different DPI settings.
This may require to adjust the position of windows on existing installs.

Edited by Mike DA Spike, 17 May 2023 - 05:03 AM.

[Drybonz]

 

10.8 should work out of the box with, see change log :

 

If you open any EM backdrop, for instance, in 10.8 it is still exactly the same.