77 replies to this topic

[digitalarts]

Hi jarr3,

 

ok, i did a short test of new function.

examples:

 

set path in screenres.txt to "c:\frame\frame_{name}.png"

have one "frame_.png" as default. 

-> all b2s (with background=visible a.k.a. "Small Button") are ok, showing this default bezel. OK

 

have one "frame_Silverball Mania.png" as bezel for especially this one table

-> b2s for this table shows the dedicated bezel. OK

 

have one "frame_1980.png" which should be used as bezel for all 1980 tables  (just for testing...)

edited the path line in screenres.txt to "c:\frame\frame_{year}.png"

-> all 1980's b2s showing this dedicated bezel, all others showing the default bezel. OK

 

BUT:

how can I modify the path so that this can be combined? 

all 1980's should use the "_1980.png"

Silverball Mania should use "_Silverball Mania.png"

all other should use "_.png" as default

 

I know i could use single [tablename].res, but this new (and powerful) function in b2s-server should make these single .res files obsolete, or not ?

 

Do you have any hint ?

[jarr3]

Hi jarr3,

 

ok, i did a short test of new function.

examples:

 

set path in screenres.txt to "c:\frame\frame_{name}.png"

have one "frame_.png" as default. 

-> all b2s (with background=visible a.k.a. "Small Button") are ok, showing this default bezel. OK

 

have one "frame_Silverball Mania.png" as bezel for especially this one table

-> b2s for this table shows the dedicated bezel. OK

 

have one "frame_1980.png" which should be used as bezel for all 1980 tables  (just for testing...)

edited the path line in screenres.txt to "c:\frame\frame_{year}.png"

-> all 1980's b2s showing this dedicated bezel, all others showing the default bezel. OK

 

BUT:

how can I modify the path so that this can be combined? 

all 1980's should use the "_1980.png"

Silverball Mania should use "_Silverball Mania.png"

all other should use "_.png" as default

 

I know i could use single [tablename].res, but this new (and powerful) function in b2s-server should make these single .res files obsolete, or not ?

 

Do you have any hint ?

 

I have been thinking about something similar myself, but if would allow for any combination of keys in the background path and also want all combinations to work, they would have to be tested through as a permutation.

What if we would go through all keys [tablename, name,manufactor,year, extra] (replacing all others with nothing) and take the first found?

 

Then you could have "c:\frame\frame_{tablename}{name}{year}.png" as your string and depending on which background is found first, will be taken.

I would not go the route and combine many of them at once... though {tablename} will be the full name "name (manufactor year) extra"

 

What do you think? you can try out the regular expression here but you will notice it's not 100% yet...

Edited by jarr3, 24 May 2023 - 05:56 PM.

[digitalarts]

I tried "c:\frame\frame_{name}{year}.png" as path, of course.
But this didn't work.
No one of the dedicated PNG was found/used, but the default.
Your idea with the permutations could work, but I think you have to include/program this in a new version (2.0.4 ?)
For practicability I would only use {name} and {manufactor}, with these maybe almost all "small" b2s should can be addressed...

Edited by digitalarts, 24 May 2023 - 07:37 PM.

[jarr3]

I tried "c:\frame\frame_{name}{year}.png" as path, of course.
But this didn't work.
No one of the dedicated PNG was found/used, but the default.
Your idea with the permutations could work, but I think you have to include/program this in a new version (2.0.4 ?)
For practicability I would only use {name} and {manufactor}, with these maybe almost all "small" b2s should can be addressed...

Yes currently only one of the keys per path is usable. Will fix that next. But we stay with 2.0.3 until solved.


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[jarr3]

Hi,

 

did a small change: it will try to replace all these placeholder names (tablename, gamename, name, manufactor, year, extra) ONE at a time in this order and replacing all others with blank.

 

so now it should be possible to add a path like this:

 

D:\vPinball\B2SServer\Backgrounds\SpikeGrillNoBackglass {tablename}{name}{manufactor}{year}{extra}.png

 

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

Additionally two hardcoded placeholders are used: {tablename}="Blood Machines (VPW 2022) V1.21" and {gamename}="the rom name"

 

which means it could find 

 

D:\vPinball\B2SServer\Backgrounds\SpikeGrillNoBackglass Blood Machines (VPW 2022) V1.21.png  or

D:\vPinball\B2SServer\Backgrounds\SpikeGrillNoBackglass Blood Machines.png  or

D:\vPinball\B2SServer\Backgrounds\SpikeGrillNoBackglass VPW.png  or

D:\vPinball\B2SServer\Backgrounds\SpikeGrillNoBackglass 2022.png  and so on.

 

First found, first taken!

 

BUT it will NOT do all permutations combining more than one placeholder!

Edited by jarr3, 27 May 2023 - 09:44 AM.

[jarr3]

FYI Miguel Molinari @Migs has a Google Drive with his FULL DMD Grill pictures opened to the public.

 

For example for Blood Machines:

 BloodMachines.png   568.49KB   8 downloads

Edited by jarr3, 29 May 2023 - 07:07 AM.

[digitalarts]

Hi jarr3,

 

just want to report - newest beta is working very well with the path "c:\frame\Frame_{tablename}{name}{manufactor}{year}{extra}.png"

when no specific background file is given, all tables (with "small button") use the default .png

given background file with specific tablename - table b2s use it

given background file with specific table year - table b2s use it

 

So for me this is finished ;-)

now I can seach/create nice backgrounds...

[jarr3]

Thanks, will close the issue once my cold is gone


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[wrd1972]

Hey guys. I just now ran across this thread, and I assume its intended to test new B2S features. I would like to respectfully ask if the following new functionality might be doable for this, or possibly a future new release. Maybe what I want is now available in one form or another now, but I would like to simply ask in order to see. I also need to preface by saying I really dont know the "sausage making" that goes into B2S, so hopefully I dont come across as overly stupid.

 

Is it possible to make the B2s backglasses more "modular" kind of how Freezys DMD works? The problem I have with current B2S images is with the wide variation of bezel images that I see at the bottom of my B2S backglasses. Some of these bezels are higher quality than others plus there is a wide variety of dimensions being used too. I would really like to have the best bezel image available and have it sized to what works best for my backglass monitor. BTW, I span my B2S backglasses across two mintors in my backbox which allows me to have a very accurately scaled appearance.

 

 

Ideally, I would love to be able to select the following Generic bezels that show the DMD outline and speakers:

-Stern bezel

-Williams Bezel from WPC era

-Bally Bezel from WPC era

 

...and be able to size these bezels (using click and drag just like freezys DMD) to the best fitting dimensions for my backglass monitor. It would also be nice to take a table unique bezel like Funhouse or Bride of Pinbot and be able to size these bezels (using click and drag just like freezys DMD) to the best fitting dimensions for my backglass monitor.

 

 

So considering the paradigm above, could the backglass image also be resized (using click and drag just like freezys DMD) to the best fitting dimensions for my backglass monitor?

 

In other words, can the backglass image and the bezel be independently selectable and re-sizable to what works best for me? If this were possible, then I would not be limited by the 2-screen, 3-screen B2S files that we currently use which included pre-defined images and image sizing.

 

Lastly, if the B2S in general were more modular, the everybody could tune and tweak it to their needs without having to rely on pre-configured and somewhat inflexible B2S files. Does this make any sense?

 

Thanks.

Edited by wrd1972, 30 May 2023 - 04:28 PM.

[digitalarts]

A lot of b2s files include a separate image for DMD screen in 4:1 proportion. You can show or hide them in settings of B2S-Server. A lot of newer b2s have this included DMD screen in "full resolution" a.k.a. 16:9 proportion.
If b2s backglass image is in 4:3 or sometimes 1:1 proportion, mostly older EM tables, and you don't take care, the image will be stretched on a 16:9 backglass display. Especially for this the formerly "small button" function was created, in newer B2S-Server this is "Background" = visible. The dimensions/positions are set in screenres.txt.
You can also set a 'bezel' for this EM b2s, which fills the black sides.
Of course you can set another kind of 'bezel' with different screenres.txt where the image is not left/right of backglass image, but as image left/right of DMD. Just look few posts above, user @migs did a lot of this kind of speaker grill images
Edit: and with Freezy's DMD you also can add frames and even overlay glass effects to DMD screen.

Edited by digitalarts, 30 May 2023 - 05:07 PM.

[wiesshund]

 

 

 

 

 

Those two things as you are calling them are only one thing, only one image.
And only one display window.

Grills are all in various sizes etc, because the artists/authors made them that way.
Many B2S files, the grill doesn't even exist, as in it is not defined, you may see it visually, but it doesn't exist. (Annoying on a 3 screen cab as you cant even hide the grill)
If it doesn't exist, then the app couldn't manipulate it anyways.

[wrd1972]

Thats correct.

 

But question is, is it possible to break those two objects (boxed in yellow) into two individual items so they can be selected and resized based on ones needs? Again, this would work very similar to how the freezy DMD works. Using his DMD, I can select the frame I want from numerous available selections, and resize the DMD to the exact size that best suits my needs. Since the freezy DMD is so modular, it like wont need as many fixes and enhancements going forward. It can simply be tuned to everyone's individual needs or wants.

 

I understand that the "App" would likely require an architectural change, but making things more modular can help to reduce the need to revise things going forward, and would allow folks to customize things much better than what is available now.

 

So is this potentially possible? Does anyone else see the value in this, or am I misguided in my wants.

Of course I could revise the existing B2S files to add in the best looking bezel, and size it to my personal needs, but that would take forever to do and would be difficult and time consuming. But if I could simply choose a bezel image that works best, and resize it like I can do the DMD, then I would get the final product of the highest quality form my setup. Not trying to belabor this. Just trying to explain it in a way that comes across as understandable as possible.

[wiesshund]

not just b2s server, b2s editor as well, and then most likely all pre-existing directb2s files would need redone.

 

Why dont you hide the grills (on the b2s's where the grill is actually defined, you will need to edit the ones where the grill is not)
and use the new functionality Jar added to display the grill of your choosing?

 

The grills inside the b2s's themselves are all over the place
the DMD windows are not even standardized half the time.
Some are 4.1, many are just some arbitrary size, many are supper long and skinny.

 

Mind you for a table with a grill that is using flexDMD or Freezys
you dont need B2S's help.

Get the 3 screen B2S or if one doesnt exist, hide or scrap the grill from the existing.
Put the grill as the DMD frame, save it as a style.
Like Williams / Bally, Stern Data East, etc.

 

If you can cover an entire display in a DMD frame, doing just a grill would be even easier

[wrd1972]

Thanks for the reply. I will digest this and see if it does what I need.

[jarr3]

Thanks for the reply. I will digest this and see if it does what I need.

Hi, if you look a couple of pages back we have added a feature which let’s you use the background „small“ feature and it automatically chooses the right picture depending on the manufactor , tablename or whatever you make available.

This together with the right click select the right res file feature should make it all possible.

I would very much have fancy moving windows and all kind of things added, but then we need more devs to support it.

I do my best in adding what I think make sense without huge effort. I do not know how long B2S will still stay, when VPE is coming around the corner. Maybe it’s time to integrate it completely?


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[digitalarts]

Oh, I hope very long, because it's the 'man in the middle' for DOF plugin

[wiesshund]

 

I do my best in adding what I think make sense without huge effort. I do not know how long B2S will still stay, when VPE is coming around the corner. Maybe it’s time to integrate it completely?

 

 

I dont know if i would say VPE is around the corner, nor would i say VPX will just get abandoned.

 

As far as backglasses being integrated into VPX
I have mentioned it to Vbousquet, he has some ideas on it, as vpx could spawn multiple windows
and one of said windows could display backglass parts.

Mind you i said he had some ideas, just rough general thoughts on what he might look at to accomplish it
He said nothing about having the time anytime soon.

And it would be a major feature coding project in itself.

B2S would still be needed for a good while
NOBODY is going to rush out and mod 87,000 tables to integrate backglasses in them.

Im not sure VPE can import a directB2S?
And i know that i wont be running out to redownload stuff that i am perfectly happy with in VPX.

Plus, we do have a lot of people who still run VP9, because in many parts of the world, the difference between a computer that can run VP9 well
and one that can run VPX sorta OK is like the cost of food for a year.
So they will still be using B2S server.

[remdwaas1986]

Totally agree what you say wiesshund, thats why i wanted to test vpw on low end hardware and go from there, but because it is still in development the focus is there not on right away, theyjust try it to make it work first.

I also said this that there are ao many people that don't have the hardware for this. Also it works quite different it is not a single exe file anymore. I hope it will get simplified in the future only time will say so.