29 replies to this topic

[kruuth]

I replaced the LCD I was using for the DMD and now I can't seem to find the DMD on the screen.  What do I need to do to get it back?

[Tesla]

I suppose the first thing to mention is what VPX-Table you are working on now (pick one).

 

Then, is the DMD-rendering done by B2S, vPinMame Internal, or External-DLL ?

 

If the resolution changed for your new DMD LCD-Panel, then you will surely need to reprogram your ScreenRes.txt a bit.

 

After I swapped my main Playfield LCD-Panel, the reprogramming of screenres.txt and table.res files starts about here:

https://www.vpforums...ic=52387&page=4

[kruuth]

Ok.  I didn't change the playfield and backglass screens, just the DMD one.  I'm not sure where the DMD info is on that one.  It dos work in PinballX fine.

[kruuth]

I don't really know what is doing the DMD rendering.  I take it B2S is used if there was no DMD?  Sorry it's been awhile since I did this.  I was thinking I could test pinmame somehow to see if it was going to the right spot but I haven't been able to figure out how

[Tesla]

 just the DMD one.  I'm not sure where the DMD info is ...

 

They are in your ScreenRes.txt

I was thinking I could test pinmame somehow to see if it was going to the right spot 

 

Run the vPinMame Setup .exe directly. Test the proper rom-set.

 

---------------------------------------------

 

I do my initial install & configuration of VPX-Tables completely outside my Front-End program (I use PinballY).

Edited by Tesla, 20 November 2023 - 10:13 PM.

[kruuth]

Where is ScreenRes.txt?

[Tesla]

Where is ScreenRes.txt?

 

Should be somewhere inside C:\Visual Pinball\ folder ... likely inside the \Tables folder.

 

It's the default RES-file. Only one is allowed.

[kruuth]

Ok did a deep search.  Found it.  Sorry, it's been a while since I did this stuff.  Needless to say, I have been playing with the screenres.txt and no matter what I do, I can't get it on the DMD LCD screen.  Does it matter what order the monitors are laid out in windows?  My current flie looks like this:

 

1920

1080

1366

768

1

0

0

1360

510

1380

50

1

 

My Screens are configured [BACKGLASS(1)]-[TABLE(2)]-[DMD(3)]

[Tesla]

Ok did a deep search.  Found it.  Sorry, it's been a while since I did this stuff. 

 

1. Needless to say, I have been playing with the screenres.txt and no matter what I do, I can't get it on the DMD LCD screen. 

 

2. Does it matter what order the monitors are laid out in windows?

 

My Screens are configured [BACKGLASS(1)]-[TABLE(2)]-[DMD(3)]

 

3. My current flie looks like this:

 

1920

1080

1366

768

1

0

0

1360

510

1380

50

1

 

 

 

1. Not surprising, as that ScreenRes.txt looks a bit wrong if for a 3-screen VPX cabinet.

 

2. Yes, it does. While it can probably be made to work in that order, we usually order them as:

[TABLE PLAYFIELD] -  [BACKGLASS]  -  [DMD]

.... as that is the logical order and also how they are defined in the file.

The assigned-numbers don't matter, only the layout-order on that Windows-Settings screen.

 

3. I've never really tried to write this for someone else, but try this ScreenRes.txt 

 

Where it says 1280 and 800 below, change to the resolution of your little DMD LCD-Panel. 

 

 

# This is a ScreenRes file for the B2SBackglassServer (v1.3.1.1 or higher) 

# Full-Wide Aspect-Ratio (16:9) Backglass with Full-Screen 3rd-Screen (16:10)

# In Windows, Left-most display is Primary - All 3 Displays are top-edge aligned

# Playfield Screen resolution & size - width/height (Portrait 9:16)

1080

1920

# Backglass Screen resolution & size - width/height (Landscape 16:9)

1366

768

# Backglass Display Devicename screen number. 

1

# Backglass x/y position start relative to the upper left corner of the selected screen.

1080

0

# width/height of the DMD area in pixels on 3-screen cabinet (DMD gets defaults if 0,0)

# width/height of the B2S (or Full) DMD area

1280

800

# DMD x/y position of the DMD area relative to the upper left corner of the BACKGLASS screen

1366

0

# Y-flip, flips the LED display upside down

0

# Background x/y position when StartBackground is active, relative to upper left corner of the selected screen

0

0

# Background width/height when StartBackground is active

0

0

# C:\path\Frame = The path to background image or black if none selected.

Edited by Tesla, 21 November 2023 - 03:07 AM.

[kruuth]

I tried that but I don't think that it worked.  This is what I got:

 

I did the file as you posted it, however I did swap the 1920 and 1080 values, due to the orientation of the monitor in the cabinet.

Edited by kruuth, 21 November 2023 - 03:39 AM.

[Tesla]

Getting close.

 

Now that I know what the cabinet looks like, I might be able to fix it ... if you can't.

 

Did you order them as I suggested in Windows Settings?

And left most is Windows-Primary and in Portrait orientation?

All top-aligned?

Edited by Tesla, 21 November 2023 - 04:08 AM.

[Tesla]

Try this ScreenRes.txt .

It is programmed with a 1360x510 resolution of your Landscaped LCD-Panel DMD.

Actually, you should be able to change it to anything-required without throwing-off the layout (as it should be last).

 

I've found Tom & Jerry to be a good table to test the settings (for all three displays) in your ScreenRes.txt

https://www.vpforums...&showfile=14023

 

# This is a ScreenRes file for the B2SBackglassServer (v1.3.1.1 or higher) 

# Full Landscape Aspect-Ratio (16:9) Backglass with Full Landscape 3rd-Screen

# In Windows, Left-most display is Primary - All 3 Displays are top-edge aligned

# Playfield Screen resolution & size - width/height (Landscape 16:9)

1920

1080

# Backglass Screen resolution & size - width/height (Landscape 16:9)

1366

768

# Backglass Display Devicename screen number. 

1

# Backglass x/y position start relative to the upper left corner of the selected screen.

1080

0

# width/height of the DMD area in pixels on 3-screen cabinet (DMD gets defaults if 0,0)

# width/height of the B2S (or Full) DMD area

1360

510

# DMD x/y position of the DMD area relative to the upper left corner of the BACKGLASS screen

1366

0

# Y-flip, flips the LED display upside down

0

# Background x/y position when StartBackground is active, relative to upper left corner of the selected screen

0

0

# Background width/height when StartBackground is active

0

0

# C:\path\Frame = The path to background image or black if none selected.

Edited by Tesla, 21 November 2023 - 05:35 AM.

[kruuth]

OK just tried that one--didn't seem to work.  B2S crashed.  I think I might have an old version of it or something but it did work before.  From the look of things though there's more values in the one you gave though.

[Tesla]

1. OK just tried that one--didn't seem to work.  B2S crashed.  I think I might have an old version of it or something but it did work before. 

 

2. From the look of things though there's more values in the one you gave though.

 

1. Should be fine. Reboot and try again. 

 

Try my newly edited file above. 

 

2. It would have to really old. Like how old ?

 

 

I did the file as you posted it, however I did swap the 1920 and 1080 values, due to the orientation of the monitor in the cabinet.

 

Not sure why you want to, but NO ... that is not allowed if you want the file to work. It would have to re-calculated. 

 

Windows should be on Playfield-screen and running Windows in Portrait mode Desktop.  

If tables are not rotated properly when you start them, you simply adjust one number in VPX-Editor Cabinet-View and then save it.

Edited by Tesla, 21 November 2023 - 04:29 AM.

[Tesla]

That (now edited last-one above) should work.

 

If still not, you might have to change:

 

# Backglass Display Devicename screen number. 

1

 

to:

 

# Backglass Display Devicename screen number. 

0

 

Because you changed your Display positions in Windows.

 

If the Backglass is still not starting in the proper left-corner, you need to adjust:

 

# Backglass x/y position start relative to the upper left corner of the selected screen.

1080

0

 

... likely the 1080 to a smaller number (will bring it left ... get it) ?

Edited by Tesla, 21 November 2023 - 05:06 AM.

[Tesla]

Well, how far did you get?

[kruuth]

I tried pasting the file into the screenres.txt but it still crashes.  I set the resolution and made the main screen portrait as you said, but now the table is squashed.  Here's a pic of the screen arrancement and screenres.

 

Apologies for late reply--been a hectic week.

Edited by kruuth, 21 November 2023 - 08:14 PM.

[Tesla]

1. I tried pasting the file into the screenres.txt but it still crashes.

 

2. I set the resolution and made the main screen portrait as you said, but now the table is squashed. 

 

3. Apologies for late reply--been a hectic week.

 

1. I will write you another.

 

2. 

 

Table-Setup-Troubleshooting-Mode:

- To aid in config-changes, TEMPORARILY make these settings

- - In VPX/Prefs/Video, disable Exclusive Full-FS Mode

- - In DMDDevice.ini, set virtual stay-on-top to True

After you finish troubleshooting (especially finding targeted-window coordinates for DMD display-areas), be sure to switch these back for a more responsive and optimized play-time environment. 

 

If you ever load a table and the playfield jumps to another screen, just exit it. Load VPX-Editor WITHOUT a table loaded. Reset all screen and resolutions to proper ones (should probably be "Windowed Full Screen" entry at the bottom). Leave it on Display #1 showing before you Save and Exit.

 

Good-work on getting the Windows Desktop as Primary and Portrait. Although, that needed to be done in the beginning for anything up to this point to really work.

 

If Tables are squished:

a. Load VPX-Editor WITHOUT a table loaded. Reset all screen and resolutions to proper ones (should probably be "Windowed Full Screen" entry at the bottom). Leave it on Display #1 showing before you Save and Exit.

 

b. Load the problem Table in VPX-Editor. Go to Cabinet View (looks like a Pinball Machine). Adjust your view-parameters to be more normal. Save it.

 

3. No problem, but lets try to finish as the holiday is coming and I will be out-of-pocket.

 

Please install Tom & Jerry (Williams 2018) table or we will have to find some-other VPX-Table we both have ... that also just uses a B2S-Server based DMD and uses ScreenRes.txt fully.

Edited by Tesla, 21 November 2023 - 09:23 PM.

[kruuth]

OK I'll get tom and jerry.  BTW, I was trying this in Visual Pinball 5 I think.  Not Visual Pinball X

[kruuth]

OK Just DL'd T&J from the link, I get this "B2S Backglass Server has stopped working" warning