835 replies to this topic

[wiesshund]

remove ALL dmddevice things you find
Yes i do mean all

Except your dmddevice.ini that is in the visual pinball\vpinmame folder

You may want to save those settings, if not throw it away also

But No dmddevice.dll .ini .log.config etc's left any place

 

 

Now, go get this zip file

dmdext-v1.9.0-x86.zip

unzip it into the vpinmame folder

 

No place else, in the visual pinball\vpinmame folder

careful not to overwrite you ini if you chose to save it

 

now go and test flexDMD in FlexDMDUI.exe

I dont think you will need to re-register it

 

PS, i do not think you should have any file named DMDSCREEN.DLL

I have no such file, and it isnt in freezys package and it is not in flexDMD's package

 

here is my vpinmame folder

 

[Outhere]

This file dmdscreen.dll is a rename of the freezy.dll
and is only needed if you have a Real Pin 2 DMD so you can use Puppacks when using Lucky1 dmddevice.dll which can only be used on Real Pin 2 DMD

-
So having freezy and the renamed file in the VPinMame folder at the same time can cause trouble

[BrandonLaw]

I assume this is NOT an issue with FlexDMD, but figured I'd post here as this only happens on FlexDMD tables with certain criteria.  I'm going to use Baby Shark table as an example, because Baby Shark is laughable (and many of my children's table are b2s-less,) but a good example of the needed criteria for repo.

 

I'll explain my setup first:  Running Popper FE.  Backglass monitor, PinDmDv3, PF monitor, and small contextual Instruction Card display I run as the 'Help' window in Popper on display 3 on my apron.  So basically, my Default Emulator setup for VPX has display '10' stay on constantly which are the IC's per table.

 

Here's where it gets funky.  If I have a table that DOESN't use FlexDMD, and I don't have a b2s for that table, I would go into  the table manager and set '2,10' to keep the .mp4 or whatever backglass, and IC alive whilst the table is played.  This works fine on any vpx/rom based output to the PinDMDv3.

 

If we introduce FlexDMD to the picture the PinDMDv3 fails to (continue to) work.  When the table is chosen via popper, you normally see the DMD turn off, and then back on with a display.  If I have a FlexDMD table, and 2,10 chosen, it will hold the DMD display for 10 seconds, even while the table is already loaded, and then conk out.  I can return to my FE no problem and DMD returns.  If I chose only '10' and exclude my third display, (Help,2) FlexDMD comes up just fine.  The table is chosen, the DMD immediately goes black, and FlexDMD appears.  

 

Basically on my kids' tables, I just run with NO IC....I mean really who needs it anyhow as they are bashing the flippers, BUT....irks me regardless.  Curious to why FlexDMD and my Help/IC display butt heads like that.  If I look in Event Viewer I see where PUPDMDcontrol fails.  

 

I've even tried to turn off the BG and leave the '2' screen only with no dice.  Same behavior.  It's only when in any case that Help screen on my third monitor is introduced that the pindmdv3 futzs out on a flexdmd table.  

 

Tried with a JP table (Space Cadet) and the DMD hoses for a few seconds then goes black.  So same flex/popper behavior on a differently scripted table.

[wiesshund]

And this only happens when launching via popper?

[BrandonLaw]

And this only happens when launching via popper?

Yep.  Flex works fine.  Popper doesn't seem to like the 'help' screen (Monitor 3) when launching a Flex table.

 

I feel there needs to be a delay when calling FlexDMD?  or maybe Forcequit Pupdmdcontrol with the launch script?  No clue.

[wiesshund]

 

And this only happens when launching via popper?

Yep.  Flex works fine.  Popper doesn't seem to like the 'help' screen (Monitor 3) when launching a Flex table.

 

I feel there needs to be a delay when calling FlexDMD?  or maybe Forcequit Pupdmdcontrol with the launch script?  No clue.

 

Not sure, i dont have PUP so it is not something i have ever run across, maybe Nailbuster might know the reason?

[BrandonLaw]

Possibly.  

[wiesshund]

Does Popper normally display something to the DMD when there is no ROM display to put on it?
In your configuration i mean?

Almost seems like it does not know to leave the DMD alone for a flexDMD table
but can maybe detect PinMAME wanting to use it?

 

Is there any kind of script command for popper to relinquish the DMD i wonder?

 

Seems there Must be some way to configure it, i would think?
Or there would be tons of threads like this?

I dont use popper or pup though, so i dont know, and PBX is as simple as checking a box to show or hide PBX dmd content

[BrandonLaw]

Popper displays all .mp4s or static images in the FE.  On a normal working table, when you start the table from the FE, the image/movie goes away immediately and after a second you see the ROM initialize.  If I have my small screen set to stay static on ANY Flex table...the movie/image on the dmd that was displaying in the FE holds until the table starts, then just blanks away to the abyss with no FlexDMD happening.  I tell the small screen to disappear, Flex starts as it should.

 

I wish there was a timer function to start flex via the table script or a kill command to just alt+f4 pupdmdcontrol via popper when a table is initialized.  

Edited by BrandonLaw, 31 August 2021 - 07:03 AM.

[wiesshund]

Popper displays all .mp4s or static images in the FE.  On a normal working table, when you start the table from the FE, the image/movie goes away immediately and after a second you see the ROM initialize.  If I have my small screen set to stay static on ANY Flex table...the movie/image on the dmd that was displaying in the FE holds until the table starts, then just blanks away to the abyss with no FlexDMD happening.  I tell the small screen to disappear, Flex starts as it should.

 

I wish there was a timer function to start flex via the table script or a kill command to just alt+f4 pupdmdcontrol via popper when a table is initialized.  

 

There is, but i do not know how to implement it in regards to popper

 

VPX uses VBS, so i can issue a taskkill command from the table script

but i need to know the exact name or process ID of what i am killing

If you can identify the pupdmdcontrol's processname you could do that easily i think

Dim oShell
Set oShell = WScript.CreateObject ("WScript.Shell")
oShell.Run "taskkill /fi ""WINDOWTITLE eq Calculator""",0,False

That may need modified to suit VPX but that is basically it

oShell.SendKeys "%{F4}"

Is alt + F4, but the window has to be active in focus, no guarantee of that

 

And there is a timer function to delay flexDMD start

but you would need to hold up everything else behind it or you would get object errors

 

run a timer, have timer count to X
After X start flexDMD and then proceed with the rest of the table.

Problem is tables are not written that way

flexDMD is one of the 1st things to start, and the tabel starts doing things that assume that flexDMD is started, like running the attract sequence

So you would have to make sure to hold all of that behind the timer i am pretty sure.
 

[BrandonLaw]

Although your fix probably works per table and brilliant...you did give me the idea to go the idiot-way, and just do it for all tables in the emulator launch scripting.  It fires right back up upon exit.

 

taskkill /f /im "PUPDMDControl.exe"

 

 

boom.done.

 

 

Thanks, Wiesshund!

 

 

(Now I can work towards this Baby-Shark high-score.  Fuck yes.)

 

 

EDIT:  Fun while it lasted, but when PDMDCTRL fires back up, it creates a focus issue and I see my taskbar.  Farts.  Probably not a hard fix, but took out the script as I need to make my kids' lunches and get the day started.  They are fine without IC's lol.

Edited by BrandonLaw, 31 August 2021 - 09:50 AM.

[wiesshund]

can you try and have the popper script minimize the dmdcontrol window?
Then it wont be dead per say, and it maybe wont cause a focus issue?

 

not sure though

 

So is PUP DMD control basically like sitting on top of the flexDMD? blanking it out?

 

do you have in dmddevice.ini for the DMD to always be on top?

 

I am sure there is some simple DOH! solution that maybe Terry or Nailbuster could offer up.

Since i dont have popper, i cant really poke anything just to see what happens

[gamemodder]

so i downloaded and installed flex dmd, It works well, but i have one problem. The dmd always resets its position and is huge. Is there a way I can move, and resize it and make it stay in the same place? I have a two screen setup. also do i need dmd device 64 for a two screen setup?

Edited by gamemodder, 04 September 2021 - 04:46 PM.

[gamemodder]

ok. So i noticed there is a white triangle in the bottom right corner of the dmd that lets me stretch it. is there a way i can save it and it stay? Also is there a way to get rid of the corner when i save it?

[gamemodder]

Am i supposed to be able to right click and save?

[wiesshund]

Yes, right click and save position, either globally or just for that game

 

corner goes away when you get your mouse off of it

[gamemodder]

when i right click nothing happens. is there something i can do to fix that? can i uninstall and reinstall to make sure that will fix it?

Edited by gamemodder, 04 September 2021 - 05:42 PM.

[wiesshund]

when i right click nothing happens. is there something i can do to fix that? can i uninstall and reinstall to make sure that will fix it?

Do you have an outdated version of freezy's DMD extensions installed?
You probably want freezy's 1.9 DMD extentions, or 1.8 at least

 

Also is the table in question a ROM driven DMD, or is it a table author created DMD?

If table author created DMD, it is possible it could be UltraDMD, and if you do not register flexDMD to take over ultraDMD it would run in UltraDMD, i dont think ultraDMD has any right click menu?

[gamemodder]

I just added freezy. and everything is registered except the dmdDevice64 and ultra dmd will not work at all anymore.

and no. all the tables are not using roms. such as deadpool.

Edited by gamemodder, 04 September 2021 - 08:20 PM.

[wiesshund]

unregister and reregister flexdmd for both flexdmd and ultradmd