68 replies to this topic

[zebulon]

Thanks Michael, your kit was indeed a labour intensive project but we got it worked out....

[dboyrecords]

Just hooked up 8 starter solenoids to USB sainsmart. AMAZING! REALLY, REALLY INCREDIBLE!

If you have the means, don't wait, DO IT!

A million thanks to Arngrim, swisslizard and everyone else involved with DOF!

I gotta go, need to start reading about strobes and beacons and things...

[cyril92]

Just hooked up 8 starter solenoids to USB sainsmart. AMAZING! REALLY, REALLY INCREDIBLE!
If you have the means, don't wait, DO IT!
A million thanks to Arngrim, swisslizard and everyone else involved with DOF!
I gotta go, need to start reading about strobes and beacons and things...

Waoh nice ... please share your work with some photos and tutorial, to help the community.

[parabolic]

Just hooked up 8 starter solenoids to USB sainsmart. AMAZING! REALLY, REALLY INCREDIBLE!

If you have the means, don't wait, DO IT!

A million thanks to Arngrim, swisslizard and everyone else involved with DOF!

I gotta go, need to start reading about strobes and beacons and things...

Yeah - ID REALLY like to see how you made this work without using a LEDWIZ board.... schematics, programming, etc...please!!

[snafu]

I just received my LEDwiz. I understand the electrical connections, but I am totally confused by the DOF application. I have downloaded it and ran the "RegisterDirectOutputComObject.exe" successfully. Now what? I read something about the need to generate a config file from DOF. I ran the "LEDControlFileTester" and saw a bunch of options and menus that I don't have a clue about? 

I am trying to just get the LEDwiz to light a single LED as a test. I loaded a table (Volley) that has DOF scripting in it and none of the outputs go low. So I am assuming I need this mysterious config file.

 

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Oh, I forgot to mention that I have the B2S enabled and running successfully.

Edited by snafu, 20 October 2014 - 05:36 PM.

[arngrim]

the file can be generated from ledwiz configtool website that i manage, search on google i can't post the link

[snafu]

DJ -

I found your website. But I must be doing something wrong. 

I went into Port Assignments and as a test assigned the flippers to ports 1 & 2. I then saved the config and had it generate an output file. The resulting ZIP file is empty? The same goes for when I go to the Table Configs section - empty ZIP files?

 

[Update]

OK, it took 5 or 6 tries, but I finally was able to export a ZIP file that had a "directoutputconfig.ini" file in it. In it I had set ports 1 & 2 for the flippers - all else were left blank.

 

Not sure exactly where I am supposed to put this file? So, I dropped in the VP Tables folder. I then ran DOF LEDControlTester as it has an option in it to open an ini file. Again, I have no idea what I am doing here. But when I try to load the ini file I just created I get an error "Object reference not set in instance..." 

 

Sorry, but all the threads I have found here about LEDwiz and DOF don't seem to get into the nitty-gritty of the details of setting this up.

 

I ran the "Volley" table as it has DOF in it's script. I have an LED connected to port 1 of the LEDwiz. But I don't see any activity when I use the flippers.

Edited by snafu, 20 October 2014 - 07:38 PM.

[arngrim]

seems you didn't save your port assignment config

[snafu]

Yeah, I dunno what happened. But I was finally able to get an ini file. But as you can see in my updated post above I am still stuck. 

You have done a nice job with the website. Should I be doing something in the Table Config area? Both the Table Config and Port Assignment seem to generate ini files and I'm not sure which one is the one I need? 

[gtxjoe]

Test the LEDwiz setup first by itself:    Download LEDblinky (www.ledblinky.net) and run the SimpleLEDTest.exe.  You can turn the outputs on 1 at a time or all at once

 

DOF install:  

Install DOF R2 in the VP tables folder:  C:\Visual Pinball\Tables\plugins\DirectOutput   (unblock the dlls)

Install B2S Server and configure as mentioned in the DOF installation 

Create a Config folder:    C:\Visual Pinball\Tables\plugins\DirectOutput\Config

Put the directoutputconfig.ini in that folder   (in the DOF configtool in My Account make sure you select LedWiz Framework as DirectOutput)

[snafu]

gtxjoe,

Thanks.

I have done all the steps you outlined. I also configured B2S to use plugins. I think I'm getting closer to getting this running.

 

However, I am still not clear on the creation & use of the INI files. On the DOF Control website, do I create an INI file under Port Assigments? Because there is also an option to create an INI file under Table Configs? I have no idea what the difference is?

 

In reading up on INI files for DOF I see that there is a mention of "numbered files" - i.e. "directoutputconfig1.ini" I can't figure out if I need multiple INI files and if so how are they used? Does each port on the LEDwiz correspond to the numbered INI file?

[randr]

Numbered ini files are for multiple ledwiz boards. If you have one ledwiz you will only get the one ini file no number.

[snafu]

Got'cha.

So, I've created a config INI file from the DOF Control site. I set ports 1 and 2 for the flippers (left and right). I did it under the Port Assignments.

 

I copied the INI file to the "...\tables\plugins\DirectOutput\config" folder. I have LEDs connected to ports 1,2,3 on the LEDwiz. Still nothing working on the LEDwiz when I play a table that supports B2S and is also listed in the INI file (i.e. Creature from Black Lagoon). I also tried Volley which is stated to have DOF scripting.

 

If I ground out the LED's they light, so I know they're connected properly.

 

I know I'm missing something.....

[randr]

You running win7? If so make certain you have unblocked all files including ini files! Also I assume you registered dof? You also must have latest bs2server 1.3 installed and registered. And all those unblocked if you have win7

[snafu]

Yes, I am running Win7. I have made sure all the DLL files are unblocked (right-click and select properties). I have ran the executable that registers B2S - it was successful. Also, the directB2S tables are running perfectly, so I know it's installed properly (plugins are also enabled). 

 

I think I'm doing something wrong with the DOF ini files. But I don't know what.

[randr]

Ini files go in config folder unzipped. Hard to mess that up really...so you right click on backglass and plugin is active? Can you see options for dof?

[arngrim]

thanks
are you sure your toys are on port 1 and 2?

[snafu]

On ports 1,2,3 I have simple LEDs connected. Just to see if the ports work. The LEDs are wired so a low (0v)on the ports will light them.

 

"Outhere" has been helping me. I've made a tiny bit of progress. 

I have remarked out the line (LoadScript("ledcontrol.vbs) in the Core.vbs script that can cause issues.

 

Now it still looks like the issue is with the DOF configuration - or lack thereof.

 

When I opened the B2S settings and clicked on the plugin settings I saw an error with the DOF

It stated the DOF plugin was disabled due to an exception.

"DOF has encountered an exception. Inner exception, object reference not set...."

Then with the table still loaded (Creature from the black lagoon) I opened the DOF settings and saw a ton of problems.

 

I have attached a screenshot of the DOF window. It stated:

No Table Set

No Table ROM found

No Global configuration found

No Table configuration found

No cabinet configuration found

 

That can't be good.

 

I have the DOF configuration file in the tables\plugins\OutputDirect\config folder. 

 

But I still don't understand the role of Global Config, Table Config, Cabinet Config? AHHHHHHH!

 

Gee, I just got my I-PAC from Ultimarc tonight and literally had it configured and running in 15 minutes. Why is the LEDwiz so hard 

Attached Files

•  DOF.jpg   124.82KB   13 downloads

Edited by snafu, 21 October 2014 - 02:23 AM.

[arngrim]

you just need a globalconfig, use globalconfigeditor to create it and put right params from the gui
make sure you run the latest b2s.server and only one instance is present on your pc

[snafu]

I am unable to save a global config file. No matter what, when I try to save it I get an error stating "The data specified for the Global Configuration contains some invalid data"

 

I am very limited to what I can edit in the Global Configuration. Initially the editor has blank data. I am able to change the LEDwiz number from blank to 1. On that same line I pointed the "LED Filename" to the DirectOutputConfig.ini file I generated from the DOF site. But when I try to save the Global File I get the above error. In the same window, if I go to the tabs labeled Cabinet or Table Configuration I am unable to change anything there. 

 

So, what I'm facing here is the inability to even generate a Global Configuration file. I have no idea what it is referring to when it states it contains invalid data. I can't even enable the logging option to help in troubleshooting in DOF because it won't let me save the config. Frustrating, to say the least.

 

I am positive I only have 1 copy of the B2Server, which is located in the "tables" folder. 

 

I really appreciate everyone's help. 

 

Can someone state what fields I need to change in the Global Configurator? Because except for the LEDwiz number option, I am unable to edit anything else.

Edited by snafu, 21 October 2014 - 04:42 PM.