312 replies to this topic

[TerryRed]

OK, is there something going on with the newest PBX, dmdext and PFX2? I cannot for the life of me get dmdext to run as a "Launch Before" without PFX2 getting stuck and not coming into focus and launching the table. I don't have this problem outside of PBX.

 

So I tried having Pinball FX2 loading right away, while delaying dmdext (in a BAT file as Launch Before) for 10 secs....   PFX2 loads the table, but loses focus when dmdext runs.

 

 

Is there something I'm missing here?  Is there a way to have dmdext run "hidden" and not take focus away?

 

I'm having similar problems with DOFFX2....but again, only with PFX2.

 

I tried using a "custom" system in PBX for PFX2 and get the same result.  It seems PFX2 and dmdext are fighting for "focus".

 

Help....

Edited by TerryRed, 20 August 2016 - 02:34 AM.

[TerryRed]

Ok...so I was able to get around the above problem by using / editing the first part of gtxjoe's Auto Hotkey script:

 

 

 

Run, "c:\zip\dmdext\dmdext.exe" mirror --source=pinballfx2 -q -d virtual --virtual-stay-on-top --virtual-hide-grip --virtual-position 2234 1528 1280,,Hide 

 

Process, wait, dmdext.exe 

 

Sleep, 2000

 

 

Then I used this as a Launch Before with it set to wait for exit. This works perfect.

 

 

Frame Rate:

 

One other things I noticed now:

 

I noticed that the frame rate of the virtual DMD output is less than the original games's DMD.  (It's easy to tell by watching the "Launch Ball" scrolling text from right to left. Its choppy) It doesn't matter what dmdext's framerate is set to, vsync settings, etc...

 

I do notice that if I alt-tab out of PFX2 for a certain amount of time (like 1 minute), and then go back to PFX2....the frame rate of the virtual DMD output is smooth for 1 min (like it is in the original game), but then it goes back to choppy scrolling text,etc...

 

 

Beyond that, it looks fantastic on my 3rd monitor and much better than the game's original DMD.

Edited by TerryRed, 21 August 2016 - 07:29 PM.

[Totaltimo]

Hi TerryRed,

 

I have the same problem with PinballFX2 losing focus and I am glad that you found a way to solve it. But what's that script that you are talking about? Are these batch commands for a .bat script? But "Run", "Process" and "Sleep" don't seem to be batch commands...

 

Could you please explain what to do with it?

 

Thanks!

Timo

 

*** EDIT ***

I got it.... AutoHotkey!!! Cool.... never heard about it, but works perfectly. Thanks!

Edited by Totaltimo, 21 August 2016 - 06:34 PM.

[TerryRed]

Hi TerryRed,

 

I have the same problem with PinballFX2 losing focus and I am glad that you found a way to solve it. But what's that script that you are talking about? Are these batch commands for a .bat script? But "Run", "Process" and "Sleep" don't seem to be batch commands...

 

Could you please explain what to do with it?

 

Thanks!

Timo

 

*** EDIT ***

I got it.... AutoHotkey!!! Cool.... never heard about it, but works perfectly. Thanks!

 

 

Good stuff. I'm still finding I may have to tweak  the sleep times (5000 currently), etc...but for the "most" part it seems to work. I'm still new at AHK scripting as well...

[yagesz]

Long story short this was working when I was on WIN10. I downgraded to Win7 because I wanted to shell Pinballx better. Now I can't get this to work reliably. I have installed all files as far as I can tell but other than that I just don't know. It will occasionally work for test but other than that the test just says can't find PINDMD1. 

My Pindmd did use to populate in Device manager on win10 as PINDMD but on win7 it just says and shows the Com Port 3.  If you have a recommenation let me know.

[freezy]

Long story short this was working when I was on WIN10. I downgraded to Win7 because I wanted to shell Pinballx better. Now I can't get this to work reliably. I have installed all files as far as I can tell but other than that I just don't know. It will occasionally work for test but other than that the test just says can't find PINDMD1. 

My Pindmd did use to populate in Device manager on win10 as PINDMD but on win7 it just says and shows the Com Port 3.  If you have a recommenation let me know.

 

For PinDMDv1 I'm using the FTDI API and not a generic COM API. If I got his correctly, FTDI devices can operate in two modes, as VCP or D2XX. I'm using D2XX. You might want to have a try with the appropriate drivers here. Be aware that this is just a wild guess, maybe Russell has more insight.

[yagesz]

Ok I'll try that

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[yagesz]

Success. Thanks. That did it. And now I am using your script to clear my dmd. Can you implement a way to just flash the image to the dmd and then quit script immideatly?

[freezy]

Cool! I've meant to properly implement clearing the screen, currently the API doesn't support it so I need to send black pixels. Meanwhile you can likewise just load a black image with the "play" command.

[yagesz]

Correct. But the cmd window stays running. I want it to load up. Wait 2 seconds then close itself

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[yagesz]

This is for anyone that uses a PINDMD1.  I was getting annoyed with not getting my DMD to clear post game. So I took the liberty to write a batch script that does it. Using Freezy's DMDExt. I have it currently loading a custom decal for my DMD. If you would like to use it go right ahead.

 

The first target is the dmdext.exe. Adjust this to yours. The second target is a media file. I used png and sized it the same as the PinballX Settings (1040, 242). It works great. Its no custom video but it is a easy way to decal your machine. I built this since PInballX doesn't support Pindmd1. You have to tell PInballX to run after each system your want. 

 

 

@echo off

 

Start "" "C:\Games\PinballX\Scripts\dmdext-v1.2.4\dmdext.exe" play --file=C:\Games\PinballX\Scripts\dmdext-v1.2.4\Default.png--no-virtual

 

timeout 2

 

TASKKILL /F /IM cmd.exe /T 

 

[fuzgi]

Hello everyone.

I have some problems getting dmdext to work with my Pin(1+1)DMD. I hope someone can help me getti getting rid of the flickering and the all red display (that should be black with colored shades). Please see videos:

1: https://youtu.be/p1cegbn3dlY
2: https://youtu.be/X7VwXPC0PrA

My setup/setting:

-Pinball FX2, latest steam version with cabinet support
-Ingame DMD setting: Position 0/0, Size: 1040/272
-parameters of dmdext.exe: mirror --source=pinballfx -d pin(1+1)dmd --no-virtual -q (destination auto doesn't change anything)
-Virtual DMD behind playfield (default top, left)
-videos taken with virtual DMD staying in front and moved to game's DMD (also moved from 0/0 position for comparability)
-no special palette loaded in Pin(1+1)DMD, firmeware 2.30
-dmdext test works full color both from commands and from the app

So, basically the virtual DMD (and the respective output on the Pin(1+1)DMD) are completely red most of the times. Sometimes the virtual DMD goes dark as it shold, but that wouldn't change the output. And after all both DMDs are flickering extremely.

I tried the following without success:

-tweaking fps settings didn't help
-playibg with shading settings and the grey4 option wouldn't help either

So, who has some ideas on how to get this working as it is supposed to?

And: Grüezi freezy. Thansk for the awesome work on this one. Merci vilmal!

[freezy]

Hmm, that's a new one. The problem seems to be the capturing part, not the outputting part. When you try the screen mirror option, does it mirror smoothly or the same way as shown in the video?

 

For completeness' sake, please also post the log from the console when you're doing tests.

[fuzgi]

Thanks for the quick reply, freezy. Feels good that someone is around to help troubleshooting properly.

Yes, I indeed also guess, that this is a input/capturing issue. Will try the screen mirror option soon and post a new video asap (including log). The flickering is gone for the moment. Problem seems to be the position seettings in PBFX2. 0/0 seems to work only when PBX is not running (direct start of PBFX2)

It may always be, that I am just expecting too much, right? But it hard to tell, what is possible, if there are not that many videos/pictures out there of dmdext running for PBFX2 with a similar setup, especially with Pin(1+1)DMD.

I can definitely finetune one PBFX2 game Dmd to look acceptable (num-shading, grid-spacing, brightness and intensity, grey4, etc.) but all the other dmds of the tables i own look very distorted then.

Also, quick notice on the current beta version. It doesn't work with Pin(1+1)DMD. It's looking for Data from/to COM4, which is not my DMD but the analog plunger. DMD is COM3.

[jukedock]

Hello everyone.

I have some problems getting dmdext to work with my Pin(1+1)DMD. I hope someone can help me getti getting rid of the flickering and the all red display (that should be black with colored shades). Please see videos:

1: https://youtu.be/p1cegbn3dlY
2: https://youtu.be/X7VwXPC0PrA

My setup/setting:

-Pinball FX2, latest steam version with cabinet support
-Ingame DMD setting: Position 0/0, Size: 1040/272
-parameters of dmdext.exe: mirror --source=pinballfx -d pin(1+1)dmd --no-virtual -q (destination auto doesn't change anything)
-Virtual DMD behind playfield (default top, left)
-videos taken with virtual DMD staying in front and moved to game's DMD (also moved from 0/0 position for comparability)
-no special palette loaded in Pin(1+1)DMD, firmeware 2.30
-dmdext test works full color both from commands and from the app

So, basically the virtual DMD (and the respective output on the Pin(1+1)DMD) are completely red most of the times. Sometimes the virtual DMD goes dark as it shold, but that wouldn't change the output. And after all both DMDs are flickering extremely.

I tried the following without success:

-tweaking fps settings didn't help
-playibg with shading settings and the grey4 option wouldn't help either

So, who has some ideas on how to get this working as it is supposed to?

And: Grüezi freezy. Thansk for the awesome work on this one. Merci vilmal!

I had this !  I wrote a couple of BAT files and put them in Pinball X.  Will see if I can help you out via PM over the next couple of days.

Drop me an inbox!

All of the extensions did not work for me - but I found a way that did.

[freezy]

Can you elaborate what helped so others can benefit as well? It might be a problem that can be solved on dmdext's side?

[darkangel359]

I have read through every one of these post and still cannot for the life of me grasp how this works, especially the app part of it.  I can get the app to work and display the Pinball FX2 dmd but what to do after that is beyond me.  Any help would be great.  Oh, I am trying to display this on my 2nd monitor (Virtual) as I have no DMD.

Edited by darkangel359, 22 September 2016 - 05:17 AM.

[freezy]

Pinball FX2 already supports rendering on a second monitor out of the box. If you "can get the app to work and display the Pinball FX2 dmd", where do you need help?

 

In general, if something doesn't work or you if you don't understand something, please be more specific. State what you did and what's expected to happen and what happens, state which part of the installation instructions you didn't understand.

[darkangel359]

Pinball FX2 already supports rendering on a second monitor out of the box. If you "can get the app to work and display the Pinball FX2 dmd", where do you need help?

 

In general, if something doesn't work or you if you don't understand something, please be more specific. State what you did and what's expected to happen and what happens, state which part of the installation instructions you didn't understand.

First, I would like to thank you for all your hard work on this project.  I know about the FX2 DMD Cab support, but I prefer the way your DMD looks. So I want dmdext to display on my Backglass monitor when I run PBFX2 instead of the the one that is defaulted by FX2.  I have used dmdext mirror -s pinballfx2 -d virtual but doesn't display on monitor 2.  I tried putting in virtual position but always get an error. "Pinball FX2 process found but DMD not. No game running?"  And the dmdext virtual dmd display is solid red.

[Carny_Priest]

Pinball FX2

1. Enable cabinet options in Pinball FX2
2. Resize the DMD to:
   • Width: 1040
   • Height: 272
3. Move the DMD to somewhere hidden like off-screen or behind the playfield (usually at 0/0).
4. Open a command prompt ([Windows]+[R], cmd, [enter])
5. Type dmdext mirror --source=pinballfx2 --destination=virtual --virtual-hide-grip --virtual-position [your x position] [your y position] [desired width in pixels] -q [enter]
6. Start Pinball FX2

 

In other words, you still have to enable the cabinet mode DMD in Pinball FX2 Settings but you can hide it behind the playfield and dmd-extensions will pick up frames for mirroring the game's DMD whereever you want your virtual display.

Edited by Carny_Priest, 22 September 2016 - 03:52 PM.