93 replies to this topic

[Gilrock]

Ok I had to sign up at that website to get that table and inspect the script.  Basically you need to undo everything you did.  That table script already had a "Table1_Exit" subroutine so you can't add a second override of that function.  The existing "Table1_Exit" function already has a "ExitUltraDMD" function call so it shouldn't need any changes.  And every "If / Else" statement must terminate with an "End If" so it looks like you deleted a couple of the "End If's" so make sure to fix that when you restore it or just reinstall the table.

By the way that website is one of the coolest I've seen.  The way they have that interactive virtual arcade room to download all the pieces you need for a table is awesome. And they provide an installer that places the table and db2s files for you. 

[Thalamus]

Ok. Well. I did the shortcut version of telling you how to do this. So here we go. Ninuzzu and Tom is top notch authors. They have already made some code that is run on exit.
So. What you really should do first is. Search the table for <tablename>_exit routine. In this case you find that it is added already starting on line 265.

Sub Table1_Exit()
If B2SOn Then Controller.Stop
ExitUltraDMD
SaveHighScores
SaveValue cGameName, "Volume", 100*optMusicVolume
End Sub

You don't have to be an expert to see that save highscore and other things. If you where to add the code I told you in the end. This table would not save any highscores anymore.
Not what we wanted

They also call ExitUltraDMD - so it seems they have made their own sub routine for the stuff that we are trying to do.
Since it isn't directly in the script file itself. It has to be included from somewhere else. Since I'm a VP nerd I know that Ninuzzu added Ultra_Options not that long time ago to VP.
( One of the reasons to stay updated is that scripts can get updated - doesn't happen every day, but still)

So, in this case we would have to open the UltraDMD_Options.vbs in scripts folder and see what is done in the sub named ExitUltraDMD.

Function ExitUltraDMD
On Error Resume Next
If UltraDMD.IsRendering Then UltraDMD.CancelRendering
If Error.Number<>0 Then UltraDMD = Null:Exit Function
Dim WshShell:Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
WshShell.RegWrite "HKCU\Software\UltraDMD\color",DMDOldColor,"REG_SZ"
WshShell.RegWrite "HKCU\Software\UltraDMD\fullcolor",DMDOldFullColor,"REG_SZ"
UltraDMD = Null
End Function

To me it seems they are stopping UltraDMD and writing to registry. So, basically what we where trying to do in the first place.

So, you are saying that this table doesn't close UltraDMD on exit ? Is that when you load it normally or is that via a frontend ? or maybe both ?

IF however - when you search through a ultradmd table, and the <tablename>_exit routine isn't available in beforehand. My suggestion should still apply.


Btw. My table has originally 5521 lines. And the last line is 'End Sub'. You seem to have deleted some text in your attempt to implement what I told you.
You should make sure that you add empty line on 5522 and then use the code I provided.

Hope this makes sense.

[Gilrock]

@Thalamus:  Thanks!!! I finally got the pindmd3 working!

 

Here's everything I did wrong so you can skip to next paragraph for correct steps:  I deleted my XDMD folder and reinstalled the all-in-one VPX installer then the 10.5 beta files.  Then I copied the dmdext 1.7.1 stuff into the vpinmame folder.  Then after I still didn't have it working I went back to you're earlier post where you were asking me why I was mentioning the pinDMD.dll file.  So it took me 2 more tries of doing it wrong.  First I made a copy of the XDMD folder and then I copied all your stuff in and fixed my COM port assignment.  It fails at the UltraDMD.IsRendering call due to server timeout.  Then second try I deleted everything from the folder and then copied your stuff in and fixed COM assigments in ini files.  Tried to run then realized darn there's no exe.  So I copied in the UltraDMD.exe and it's config file.  Still failed.

 

So I came back to the forum and read your post once again and noticed you said only remove the DLLs.  So the steps that worked:

1) Make a copy of the XDMD folder so you have "XDMD - Copy" for a backup.

2) In the XDMD folder sort by filetype and deleted all DLL files.

3) Copy all files from the XDMD.zip file provided by Thalamus.

4) Edit the dmddevice.ini and pinDMD.ini files to fix the COM port only if yours is not COM3.  Mine was COM4.

5) Windows 10 users:  Make sure all files are unblocked.  Here's my method:

     a) Hold down shift and right-click in an open area in explorer.

     b) Select "Open PowerShell window here"

     c) type this command and hit enter:  gci "C:\Visual Pinball\XDMD" |Unblock-File

     d) Adjust that path if needed but that will unblock all files in that folder.  I use this alot but keep in mind it doesn't recurse subfolders.

 

And if I remembered this right that's it.  You should be able to start Visual Pinball and run an UltraDMD table.

[Johngreve]

Thalamus wrote:
So, you are saying that this table doesn't close UltraDMD on exit ? Is that when you load it normally or is that via a frontend ? or maybe both ?


No.....The table closes UltraDMD just fine when I exit it.....that isnt the problem.....maybe I wasnt very clear the first time around so Ill explain whats happening in more detail. Im sorry if you misunderstood me originally. I do appreciate your detailed explanation and I would sure like to learn more, I can sure see the value in that.

Basically, I can load and play the tables just fine....I can play them all day with no problem....UltraDMD works just great....I love it.

If I load the table and dont play it for a minute or two...Ill call that attract mode...... I get a script error that says that UltraDMD has stopped rendering or it cant find the server....something to that effect. Then of course I have to exit the table and reload it to play again to clear the script error. If I load the table and play it immediately everything plays just great....UltraDMD is rocking and rolling in all its glory on the pinDMD3. I can play the table all day long with no issues.....once the game ends and now its back in attract mode again....if I wait just a minute or two once again I get the script error mentioned above. So the bottom line is that this happens when your not actively interacting with the table by playing it. And this happens on all my UltraDMD tables......and it only began acting this way after I upgraded my pindmd2 to my pinDMD3. If it did happen prior I never noticed it.
The attached photo shows the script error. If I close out of that error another script error pops up.

Ok I had to sign up at that website to get that table and inspect the script.  Basically you need to undo everything you did.  That table script already had a "Table1_Exit" subroutine so you can't add a second override of that function.  The existing "Table1_Exit" function already has a "ExitUltraDMD" function call so it shouldn't need any changes.  And every "If / Else" statement must terminate with an "End If" so it looks like you deleted a couple of the "End If's" so make sure to fix that when you restore it or just reinstall the table.
By the way that website is one of the coolest I've seen.  The way they have that interactive virtual arcade room to download all the pieces you need for a table is awesome. And they provide an installer that places the table and db2s files for you.

Yeah....there are some really amazing tables available for download on that site.....get them all......like Thalamus said Tom and Ninuzzu do top notch work......Like I said get them all!

Attached Files

•  17D18A1A-9F2A-42BA-9F3C-A4620B5B0ADA.jpeg   178.06KB   2 downloads

Edited by Johngreve, 11 July 2018 - 01:46 AM.

[Gilrock]

@Johngreve:  You're not kidding.  I downloaded some tables and very good stuff.  At first I thought me I've already got Attack from Mars.  But I saw so many comments I tried it out and wow there is some awesome detail work on that table.  But I did run into trouble on some tables.  To get the flippers working in AFM I had to download the latest r4550 SAM build.  But later I downloaded Monster Bash and Indiana Jones and both tables were having flipper sticking issues for me so I'm not sure if the flipper fix I did for AFM broke the other 2 tables.  Wondering if anyone else runs these and do they run different versions of VPX for some of these tables.

[Thalamus]

@gilrock : You haven't updated you VP far enough it seems. Or have *.vbs laying around outside your script folder that blocks the updated ones.

 

@john : Uh. Now I understand. I'm not a huge fan of originals with a few exceptions. I haven't installed the Stranger Things II yet. I play Serious Sam regularly and I love also Mad Scientist. I don't think I ever have left these tables alone enough time to go into attract mode. For me there is always something else on the schedule if I'm in front of my cab. Tweaks or another game to be played. I seldom leave the cab running. It might just be that you've discovered a new bug.

[Johngreve]

@Johngreve:  You're not kidding.  I downloaded some tables and very good stuff.  At first I thought me I've already got Attack from Mars.  But I saw so many comments I tried it out and wow there is some awesome detail work on that table.  But I did run into trouble on some tables.  To get the flippers working in AFM I had to download the latest r4550 SAM build.  But later I downloaded Monster Bash and Indiana Jones and both tables were having flipper sticking issues for me so I'm not sure if the flipper fix I did for AFM broke the other 2 tables.  Wondering if anyone else runs these and do they run different versions of VPX for some of these tables.

That AFM table is brand new as of last weekend.....I cant run it yet ....I have to upgrade my computer to get that to run for me.

 

The sticky flipper issues you mention happen to me once in a while too....usually exiting the table and reloading it cures that. Dont worry, you didnt break anything with the new SAM build. Try the new Data East Star Wars....simply spectacular!!! oh and Cactus Canyon Continued is way cool too.

[psmiraglia]

Thalamus, I don't know what you do to your files, but it is magic :-)

Just like a year back I fixed my UltraDMD issues with your DLLs, this time I took dmddevice, xdmd, xdmddevice, and pindmd DLLs from your PBX folder (which have the same date, time and size as the ones I have) dropped them in my PBX folder, and now my pindmdv3 works again in PBX :-)

 

thanks (again)

[Johngreve]

@gilrock : You haven't updated you VP far enough it seems. Or have *.vbs laying around outside your script folder that blocks the updated ones.
 
@john : Uh. Now I understand. I'm not a huge fan of originals with a few exceptions. I haven't installed the Stranger Things II yet. I play Serious Sam regularly and I love also Mad Scientist. I don't think I ever have left these tables alone enough time to go into attract mode. For me there is always something else on the schedule if I'm in front of my cab. Tweaks or another game to be played. I seldom leave the cab running. It might just be that you've discovered a new bug.

Thalamus...Stranger Things And Champions League even though they are originals..... they are so good....so creative and clever that you really need to play them.....I admit that I don’t know much about this hobby yet.....but I do know you will fall in love with these tables too.And thanks for your continued help and advice!

[Thalamus]

Ah. I forgot to include Champions League in the list. I've played it - but, like most originals, I found it plays a bit too easy. Diablo is another great table if only it was a bit more challenging. To easy to get extra balls and other rewards. Serious sam and Mad scientist is just the opposite. Requires a lot of work

 

@psmiraglia : Oh, well. Happy to help. I have learned a few things from you too ;-)

[Gilrock]

I just installed VPX 10.4 from scratch and then copied over the latest stuff from 10.5 beta as of yesterday.  Are you actually running those particular tables with the latest 10.5 stuff?  Because the newer tables all seem fine its tables that were listed a little older having flipper issues.  The SAM build 3.1 beta that fixed the AFM flippers is only vpinmame.dll there were no VBS files involved.

[STV]

 

 

 had a dropbox link to an UltraDMD setup file because the main website link is broken.  

 

Can you share the dropbox link? 

 

Here's the one I found...like I said mine still isn't quite working so not sure you want to install that version:

 

https://www.vpforums...=39760&p=401058

 

 

 

I'll chime in here with my UltraDMD install experience although I'm using an LCD, no pindmd3 hardware. 

 

Windows 10 fresh build.  Install 10.4, install the latest 10.5 beta bits.  UDMD not working.   New freezy 1.7.1, latest 3.1 vpinmame install and latest SAM build update 4550.  

 

Then I needed to install the ultradmdsetup.msi that outhere provided. (THANKS)  And that's it, UDMD worked after running that MSI.   I changed the install location to c:\visual pinball\XDMD.  

[Gilrock]

@STV:  I think the key there was you have "no pindmd3 hardware" cause I tried those steps before getting the magic files from Thalamus.  When I ran that MSI it never allowed me to change the install location.  Doesn't matter now though I got it going.  Seems strange that UltraDMD website has a lot of really nice info and then all the download links are broken.

[Thalamus]

@gilrock : Can you describe flipper issues a bit better ? These are not tables you run for the first time - is it ... or more correctly. Tables that run roms you've never played before ? If it is, then the answer is that first time a table is run it doesn't have default values for a lot of things and the table will often have flipper issues. Just exit and run it again and you're be fine from then on. It is more of a rom/vpm issue than table. You can have two different tables, both sharing the same rom. The first table started will be weird. From then on non of them are.

Edited by Thalamus, 11 July 2018 - 03:29 PM.

[Gilrock]

Yes it was the first time trying the tables.  I didn't try a second time because it didn't appear to work.  I can give that a try tonight.  The issue would be I press say the right flipper and the flipper would stay stuck in the up position but I could hear my solenoid release when I let go of the button.  Then I'd tap the button a couple times and the flipper would finally return but then get stuck again the next time I activated it.

 

Edit:  And when I say solenoid I mean the contactors....When I read what I said it sounded like I was talking about a real table.

Edited by Gilrock, 11 July 2018 - 03:47 PM.

[Thalamus]

Then I'm confident you find them to play great now

[Gilrock]

Ok I'll find out later....maybe you're right the first time it runs the table it executes that line of code "set flippers_broken = false"....lol.

[Gilrock]

Then I'm confident you find them to play great now

 

Yep the flippers are fine the second time I started those tables.  But then I made the mistake of trying to launch an UltraDMD table and now it broke again and I didn't change a darn thing.  All I've done is add new tables.  This stuff is just getting to be a pain.

[STV]

Which UltraDMD table?    check the script.   Some tables had hardcoded UDMD x and y placements in the script that shipped with the vpx file.   You launch the table and it overwrites your DMD registry files and BAM no UltraDMD.  Or more literally UDMD on some x and y placement that you cannot see.  Find those offensive lines in the script and comment 'em out.  

And then regedit the proper values back in.  [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\UltraDMD]

[Gilrock]

It was the same tables that worked a day earlier and I don't use a virtual DMD so placement x/y doesn't matter.  Its the UltraDMD.IsRendering issue.  Its starts up and renders the UltraDMD logo but then the rendering call fails.  If that UltraDMD code is not open source then I might just have to go write something myself.