77 replies to this topic

[jarr3]

Another round of beta testing for 2.0.1 coming!

 

 

https://github.com/v...ckglass/actions

 

Small changelist so far:

 

 

- The B2SWindowPunch feature can be controlled through a registry setting "Software\B2S\B2SWindowPunchActive" = "1"/"0"  The default is B2SWindowPunch OFF!

- All registry settings are available under Settings->More...

- B2SBackglassServerRegisterApp can be run from CMD and have a parameter /Silent added, to hide ALL window prompts. For 🪩Installer

- The "BackglassMonitorType" can be controlled through b2s_screenresidentifier. (##, =## or @##)

- "Empty" Plugins/64 folders added to the distribution zip

Edited by jarr3, 27 March 2023 - 06:50 PM.

[Mike DA Spike]

For me b2sserver is finnaly working andcrunning from a directory that I wanted.
Thanks to Jarr3 for his patience with me.
2.0.1 will register the files and can work for vpx x86 and vpx x64, from the directory i wanted.
Hope it will work forvthe rest as well who ended up to put all in the tables directory

[jarr3]

There is a new 2.0.1 build coming up... it will complain when trying to register or when starting the B2S Server like this if the B2STableSettings has a problem
 

 ReadingCorruptSettingsOrTable.png   6.58KB   6 downloads

 

I have also added that a corrupt directB2S file (which is also XML files) will also complain

 ReadingCorruptTable.png   7.27KB   6 downloads

Edited by jarr3, 02 April 2023 - 01:46 PM.

[jarr3]

2.0.1 is officially released: https://www.vpforums...&showfile=12553

[bbddpp]

Thanks guys for all your effforts on this amazing software and this addictive hobby.

 

Having a weird issue running 2.0.2 where games are loading FullDMD B2S files just fine, however, the FullDMD inside is not displaying.  Here's my screenres.txt:

 

3840

2160

1920

1080

2

0

0

1928

1086

1914

0

0

0

0

1920

1080

 

Standard 3 screen setup with a 1920x1080 LCD for FullDMD in addition to a 1920x1080 monitor and 4k playfield.

 

So after successfully using Popper to download FullDMD media for some tables, I discovered the world of B2S files with FullDMD included.  At first I was just trying to get B2SDMD working for Bride of Pinbot but ended up down this rabbit hole.

 

I re-ran the setup for screenres and confirmed all 3 screens are in the right place (so the fullDMD screen is not behind my backglass or anything), I always get backglass but only just the DMD device itself and never the FullDMD image part of the B2S.  I assume this is the special sauce I want but can't seem to figure out how to show it?  Running via popper I see its FullDMD media just fine but the screen is empty via a direct launch from VPX.

 

Anyway, running the 64 bit upgrade using all the steps, hopefully did not miss anything, was careful but mistakes can happen.

[Tesla]

 

Having a weird issue running 2.0.2 where games are loading FullDMD B2S files just fine, however, the FullDMD inside is not displaying.  Here's my screenres.txt:

 

 

 

Looks strange. I wonder why 1920, 1080 is at the bottom?

 

Here is mine for 3 screens. 

 

# 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)

# Playfield Screen resolution width/height

1080

1920

# Backglass Screen resolution width/height 

1920

1080

# Backglass Display Devicename screen number. This cabinet wants 1 here.

1

# X/Y position for the backglass relative to the upper left corner of the selected screen 

# Position of Backglass start (840=1920-1080)

1080

840

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

1280

800

# X/Y position of the DMD area relative to the upper left corner of the backglass screen

# For Full-Screen B2S-DMD Visible, try 1920,280 here (280=1080-800)

1920

280

# Y-flip, flips the LED display upside down

0

# Backglass X/Y position when StartBackground is active, relative to upper left corner of the selected screen

0

0

# Backglass width/height when StartBackground is active

0

0

Edited by Tesla, 20 April 2023 - 01:16 AM.

[bbddpp]

Hmm maybe I just need to re-install b2s and see what's going on.  If I just click a directb2s file I should see both the blackglass and fullDMD (AKA "background") images on my 2 screens even without loading a table right? 

 

I'm seeing only one image on the backglass no matter what I do and there's no FullDMD image hidden behind it or anything.  It's like it's not even part of the file at all but I've tested with several and they all do the same thing.

 

There may be a bigger issue at play here as I attempted to load my Bride of Pinbot B2S and I swear earlier I at least got the BS2DMD to display and now it's not showing that or the FullDMD - But I'm still learning, maybe they are mutally exclusive and a directb2s file only can have one or the other optionally, never both.  Still learning.

 

I also maybe found a bug but I realize 64 bit isn't yet widely tested or supported, though I am just doing the basics when I click the B2S file on its own which I figure precludes anything else that might be getting in the way.

 

I wonder if my weird screen configuration is screwing up the screenres reader somehow.

Edited by bbddpp, 20 April 2023 - 03:27 AM.

[jarr3]

Another round of beta testing for 2.0.3 coming up!

 

A small feature request which might not be for everyone:

 

In B2SBackglassServerEXE For activated background pictures, it is possible to enter a path with placeholders for "keys" in the table name.

 

  The keys are extracted using regular expressions (currently hardcoded)      e.g. From a table name "Blood Machines (VPW 2022) V1.21" it would extract as "{name} ({manufactor} {year}) {extra}"   

 

So if the background picture path is entered like "c:\vPinball\B2SServer\backgrounds\Grill{manufactor}.png" in the res file, it will be replaced with "c:\vPinball\B2SServer\backgrounds\GrillVPW.png"

 

If no keys can be extracted from the table name, all combinations {name}, {year}... are replaced with an empty string and would become "c:\vPinball\B2SServer\backgrounds\Grill.png" in the example above.

 

This way only one res file is needed for many tables, but can have certain design or logos depending on the manufactor, name or even year.  (and gamename = rom and tablename is available as well)

 

UPDATE: if the background picture cannot be found after key replacement, (you do not have GrillVPW.png) it will do another round replacing ALL keys with empty string and use Grill.png instead.

Edited by jarr3, 08 May 2023 - 05:29 AM.

[digitalarts]

Great idea, jarr3!
Will try out next week

[Slydog43]

This sounds great, are you saying that I can have a default grill.png to be used with a b2s if non is supplied with b2s?

[wiesshund]

This sounds great, are you saying that I can have a default grill.png to be used with a b2s if non is supplied with b2s?

i would think the directb2s file still needs a defined grill area?

[jarr3]

This sounds great, are you saying that I can have a default grill.png to be used with a b2s if non is supplied with b2s?

The background feature (used to be called the "small" button) was initially a idea to solve backglasses which had a different aspect ratio than your screen.

If this is the case you can add a picture (or just leave the picture path empty to get a black background) to fill out the areas left and right. See https://www.nailbust...ension_location

or the video in the wiki here: https://github.com/v...iki/Backgrounds

 

 

But the feature can be used for more things than this. Since it is just adding a png or jpg picture behind the backglass, it can be put underneath as a grill, see https://github.com/v...Screen-examples

 

 

So if I take the res file from the link above:

# V2.0.0-c311a21
# File is saved with B2S_ScreenResIdentifier release 2.0.0 adding the first line means it will not flip the Backglass & Background size and position
# Playfield Screen resolution width/height
1920
1080
# width/height of the Backglass
1280
655
# Define Backglass using the screen index (=x) -> **It is always the second screen from left**
=2
# Backglass x/y position relative to the upper left corner Of the screen selected
0
0
# width/height Of the B2S (or Full) DMD area In pixels
676
320
# X/Y position Of the DMD area relative To the upper left corner of the backglass screen
303
681
# Y-flip, flips the LED display upside down
0
# X/Y position of the background
0
655
# width/height of the background
1280
369
# path to the background image (C:\path\Frame)
C:\Visual Pinball\B2SServer\Backgrounds\SpikeTypeGrill{manufactor}.png

and change the last line to include the "key" from the table, it will now use SpikeTypeGrillStern.png, SpikeTypeGrillBally.png, SpikeTypeGrillWilliams.png depending on the table using the res file. And ONLY if the SpikeTypeGrillNamed.png is found, otherwise it will search for SpikeTypeGrill.png instead. And of course this could be adopted to a 3 screen setup where the grill is replaced with the full DMD picture for all tables not yet remade by @Hauntfreaks to include the full DMD.

Edited by jarr3, 09 May 2023 - 04:57 AM.

[Slydog43]

Great stuff, thanks.  I will see if I can adopt this to putting up a full screen DMD if non is supplies with b2s.  (I will make a collage of pinball manufactures I think)

[digitalarts]

hi jarr3,

sorry, but perhaps i'm to dumb to download 2.0.3... have an account at github, but can't find any download in actions.

can you give a hint?

[Mike DA Spike]

hi jarr3,
sorry, but perhaps i'm to dumb to download 2.0.3... have an account at github, but can't find any download in actions.
can you give a hint?

Try this https://github.com/v...runs/4911745834

[jarr3]

 

hi jarr3,
sorry, but perhaps i'm to dumb to download 2.0.3... have an account at github, but can't find any download in actions.
can you give a hint?

Try this https://github.com/v...runs/4911745834

 

 

Mike DA Spike is very much correct. The first change for 2.0.3 is only one commit. Gives those who reported or requested the change, to test and comment before final release.

Though it is summer time... so there will not be much changes coming for a while...    

[digitalarts]

Of course, but I want to test especially this new feature :
Different 'bezels' for my 4:3 b2s on 16:9 backglass display, with help of last line in screenres.txt and key-name...
Thanks to Mike for pointing me to the right download direction

[jarr3]

Of course, but I want to test especially this new feature :
Different 'bezels' for my 4:3 b2s on 16:9 backglass display, with help of last line in screenres.txt and key-name...
Thanks to Mike for pointing me to the right download direction

Great, because that is the only change currently.


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[digitalarts]

Hi jarr3,

can you list all available expressions ?

Are these the only ones ? 

{name}

{manufactor}

{year})

{extra}

 

And how are they recognized? With space, or _ , or (  ,  or something else ?

[jarr3]

Hi jarr3,
can you list all available expressions ?
Are these the only ones ? 
{name}
{manufactor}
{year})
{extra}
 
And how are they recognized? With space, or _ , or (  ,  or something else ?

I am not at home right now. But currently there is a hardcoded regular expression which tries to extract exactly these as you mentioned from a table filename like:

name (manufactor year) extra.vpx

Really useful as I see it is only name and manufactor? What do you think?

We might have to tweak the regex to do better extraction. We‘ll see.


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