197 replies to this topic

[DDH69]

I let Google help me about pacfix.exe.  You may want to have a read of this thread.  Sounds to me like there was a bug / oversight in DOF R2 with PacLED64 and its fixed in DOF R3.  Given you've just gone through the pain of loading R3, Pacfix may now be redundant.  Ultimately you need to make that decision, but based on what I've read, I would run without PacFix.exe now that you've got R3.

 

If you drop the use of Pacfix.exe then your Launch After problem is also solved.  If you want to keep it, let me know and we can modify the SampleMsgScript.vbs that ships with DOFLinx to send the message you need to DOFlinx and also run PacFix.exe.  Essentially make PinballX Launch After run a script that does both.

 

As for DOFLinx with VP.  You are correct DOFLinx will add flipper solenoid feedback via keyboard key monitoring and some under cabinet lighting.  This is controlled using the flag files for tables that do not currently have DOF, usually older VP9 tables.  Its not full DOF with VP9 non-DOFed tables, just an easy way to get some feedback without getting into changing the table scripting.

[jevansoh]

Thanks for your time and effort.

 

I will read the thread but if you don't think I need it, I'll go ahead and follow the DofLinx guide and see if I can get some basic functionality going with VP9 tables that don't have DofLinx.

 

I'll let  you know how it goes.

 

Thanks,

 

--J

[jevansoh]

Well, I ran into my first snag.  The guide says to set the run before to DofLinxMSG.exe and that file just doesn't exist in the R3 setup / directoutput directory you set up for me.

 

Where do I get that file?

[DDH69]

Well, I ran into my first snag.  The guide says to set the run before to DofLinxMSG.exe and that file just doesn't exist in the R3 setup / directoutput directory you set up for me.

 

Where do I get that file?

 

I noticed it missing last night when I was logged on.  It must have got deleted in error at some stage.  Just unpack it again from the DOFLinx.zip download.

[jevansoh]

Can you give me the proper link?  You mentioned before I didn't have the latest or correct version so I don't trust myself to get the right one.

[DDH69]

Can you give me the proper link?  You mentioned before I didn't have the latest or correct version so I don't trust myself to get the right one.

 

That was DOF R3, not DOFLinx.  Just use the current DOFLinx download on this site.

[jevansoh]

Ok, I downloaded the DofLinxmsg.exe and put it in the directoutput directory.  I then followed the guide and made my pinballx setup look just like the screenshots.  I tested Black Sabbath and it doesn't work.

 

What am I missing?  There isn't much to do so I don't know what it could be.

[DDH69]

I don't know, need more detail.

 

As a first step - 

Clear the DOFLinx log file

Do a sample run

Post the DOFLinx log file

[jevansoh]

Do I need debug on for this?

[DDH69]

Do I need debug on for this?

 

Yes, edit the DOFLinx.INI and change the current DEBUG=0 to be DEBUG=1

[jevansoh]

12-Aug-17 04:47:19.418 - DOF Linx for Pinball Emulators - DOFLinx by DDH69
12-Aug-17 04:47:19.448 - Starting up - version 5.01
12-Aug-17 04:47:19.548 - 1 Pinscape device(s) found
12-Aug-17 04:47:19.558 - DOFLinx device: 1 Initializing as Pinscape #1 with name=Pinscape Controller
12-Aug-17 04:47:19.638 - DOFLinx device:1 Pinscape setup with 14 outputs
12-Aug-17 04:47:19.688 - 0 LEDWiz device(s) found
12-Aug-17 04:47:19.688 - 0 FTDI (Sainsmart) device(s) found
12-Aug-17 04:47:19.688 - DOFLinx device: 2 Initialising as PacLed64 #1
12-Aug-17 04:47:19.728 - DOFLinx device:2 PacLed64 setup with 64 outputs
12-Aug-17 04:47:19.748 - Reading DOFLinx.INI startup config file details
12-Aug-17 04:47:19.768 - Reading DOF config file
12-Aug-17 04:47:41.273 - Processing incoming message - GAME_FLAG_FILE=â€C:\Program,Files,(x86)\Visual,Pinball\Tables\Sabbath70s_VP912FS.vpt
12-Aug-17 04:47:41.304 - Processing parameter 'GAME_FLAG_FILE' with data 'â€C:\Program,Files,(x86)\Visual,Pinball\Tables\Sabbath70s_VP912FS.vpt' in real-time
12-Aug-17 04:48:27.040 - Processing incoming message - GAME_FLAG_FILE=
12-Aug-17 04:48:27.041 - Processing parameter 'GAME_FLAG_FILE' with data '' in real-time
 

[DDH69]

OK, do you see those strange characters in front of the flag file name, they are very likely to be the problem.  Not sure how they have got there.  They seem to have been passed in from the Launch Before command.  In addition the file name has not been "quoted", this has resulted in commas being placed within it where there were spaces.

 

It may all be as simple as you missing the "double quotes" in the Launch Before Parameters.  Have a look at that.

 

I'm off to the pub now (early night off support being Saturday  ), I'll check in in the morning to see how you got on.

[jevansoh]

Have fun!

[jevansoh]

Well, I was missing a " at the very end, but it's still not working.

 

Here's the latest log.

 

12-Aug-17 04:58:55.640 - DOF Linx for Pinball Emulators - DOFLinx by DDH69
12-Aug-17 04:58:55.670 - Starting up - version 5.01
12-Aug-17 04:58:55.770 - 1 Pinscape device(s) found
12-Aug-17 04:58:55.770 - DOFLinx device: 1 Initializing as Pinscape #1 with name=Pinscape Controller
12-Aug-17 04:58:55.850 - DOFLinx device:1 Pinscape setup with 14 outputs
12-Aug-17 04:58:55.900 - 0 LEDWiz device(s) found
12-Aug-17 04:58:55.910 - 0 FTDI (Sainsmart) device(s) found
12-Aug-17 04:58:55.910 - DOFLinx device: 2 Initialising as PacLed64 #1
12-Aug-17 04:58:55.950 - DOFLinx device:2 PacLed64 setup with 64 outputs
12-Aug-17 04:58:55.960 - Reading DOFLinx.INI startup config file details
12-Aug-17 04:58:55.980 - Reading DOF config file
12-Aug-17 04:59:16.597 - Processing incoming message - GAME_FLAG_FILE=â€C:\Program,Files,(x86)\Visual,Pinball\Tables\Sabbath70s_VP912FS.vpt
12-Aug-17 04:59:16.630 - Processing parameter 'GAME_FLAG_FILE' with data 'â€C:\Program,Files,(x86)\Visual,Pinball\Tables\Sabbath70s_VP912FS.vpt' in real-time

I'm confused about the tablefile.  I don't have any of those because I thought the whole point of DofLinx for visual pinball was for tables without Dof built in.  There are no parameters set up to use Black Sabbath table for instance so I don't have any files, such as a tablefile.

 

What am I missing here?

Do I have to create a special file for each and every table?  That would be very tedious in deed.

[DDH69]

I still suspect you do not have the Launch Before Parameters correct.  Have you got both "double quotes" ?  I still see commas inserted int he path name indicating to me that its not quoted coming from PInballX.  From the guide post:

4.1 Setup your front-end (ie PinballX) ‘Launch Before’ to message the TABLEFILE to DOFLinx, ie DOFLinxMsg GAME_FLAG_FILE=”[TABLEPATH]\[TABLEFILE]”

Can you post a screen shot of your PinballX Visual Pinball setup page like I have in the guide.

 

With regard to the table file name / method - you don't edit any files, you simply place a 'flag' file in the VP\tables folder with the same name as the table with no DOF.  There is a sample file zipped with DOFLinx, you simply copy that.  Again from the guide post;

 

4.3 For the table that you want some flipper force feedback and RGB active for (TABLEFILE.vpt) copy C:\DirectOutput\DOFLinxDownload\SampleGameFlagFile.DOFLinx to C:\VP\Tables\TABLEFILE.DOFLinx
Note: TABLEFILE is the first part of the file name of the VP9 table, and if you use it B2S file

So for your table testing above you just need a file called Sabbath70s_VP912FS.DOFLinx in your vp\tables folder.  The content is not relevant, in fact I use empty files, so zero size, as is the example shipped.

[jevansoh]

Ok, but that means I have to make a file for each table.  I wish there was a way to generate them automatically.  Could that be my problem, because I haven't done that.

 

I don't know how to do a screenshot, but I will go and copy from PinballX and paste here.

 

c:\directoutput

doflinxmsg.exe

GAME_FLAG_FILE=”[TABLEPATH]\[TABLEFILE]”

 

Those three lines were copied directly from the PinballX setup.

 

I don't have a flagfile yet, so that could be the problem.  That will be very tedious to set up for each table.  Can you think of any way to generate those automatically for all the tables I have in my directory?  I wonder if there is a batch utility or something that could do it??

 

Thanks,

 

--J

[DDH69]

You need to be selective about the flag files.  You only want them for the tables without DOF, there are not that many ...... I'm sure you'll make it 

 

There is still something wrong with the Launch Before Parameters.  This is shown by the log file having commas , in the path where there should be spaces.  You may need a slightly different Launch Before Parameter than the guide.  The different thing with your setup is that VP has been installed in a path with spaces in the name, I hate spaces in a path or file name, it generally causes some sort of issue when parsing parameters and quoting.

 

You are going to need to try a couple of things around these spaces.  You will know when the spaces issue is fixed because in your log file instead of 

C:\Program,Files,(x86)\Visual,Pinball\Tables\Sabbath70s_VP912FS.vp

you will have

C:\Program Files (x86)\Visual Pinball\Tables\Sabbath70s_VP912FS.vp

without commas

 

I'm not sure how to send "double quotes" from PinballX, which is what you need here as the parameter going to DOFLinxMsg needs double quotes to be seen as one message.  The first set (current setup) of a single set of double quotes is being interpreted by PinballX.  You need it to interpret one set and send another set.  The usual way to do this is to quote the quotes.  In a trial and error sense, keep adding double quotes until you get the outcome you want.

 

So the process:

1. Add another set of double quotes

2. clear the DOFLinx.LOG

3. Do a test

4. Review the log for a GAME_FLAG_FILE with spaces not commas - when you get this = success, then its time to add the actual flag files themselves

5. Repeat from 1 if #4 is unsuccessful.

Going past 6 sets of double quotes would make no sense, so a maximum of 5 tests.

 

The first test will look like ......

GAME_FLAG_FILE="”[TABLEPATH]\[TABLEFILE]”"

[jevansoh]

Ok, I'll try it and report back...

Edited by jevansoh, 13 August 2017 - 01:16 AM.

[jevansoh]

Here's what two quotes looks like.  Should I go for three?

 

12-Aug-17 21:42:54.887 - Shutting down
12-Aug-17 21:42:54.911 - Program close
12-Aug-17 21:43:09.383 - DOF Linx for Pinball Emulators - DOFLinx by DDH69
12-Aug-17 21:43:09.393 - Starting up - version 5.01
12-Aug-17 21:43:09.519 - 1 Pinscape device(s) found
12-Aug-17 21:43:09.519 - DOFLinx device: 1 Initializing as Pinscape #1 with name=Pinscape Controller
12-Aug-17 21:43:09.531 - DOFLinx device:1 Pinscape setup with 14 outputs
12-Aug-17 21:43:09.571 - 0 LEDWiz device(s) found
12-Aug-17 21:43:09.573 - 0 FTDI (Sainsmart) device(s) found
12-Aug-17 21:43:09.573 - DOFLinx device: 2 Initialising as PacLed64 #1
12-Aug-17 21:43:09.597 - DOFLinx device:2 PacLed64 setup with 64 outputs
12-Aug-17 21:43:09.599 - Reading DOFLinx.INI startup config file details
12-Aug-17 21:43:09.609 - Reading DOF config file
12-Aug-17 21:43:28.497 - Processing incoming message - GAME_FLAG_FILE=â€C:\Program Files (x86)\Visual Pinball\Tables\Sabbath70s_VP912FS.vptâ€
12-Aug-17 21:43:28.510 - Processing parameter 'GAME_FLAG_FILE' with data 'â€C:\Program Files (x86)\Visual Pinball\Tables\Sabbath70s_VP912FS.vptâ€' in real-time
12-Aug-17 21:44:32.893 - Processing incoming message - GAME_FLAG_FILE=
12-Aug-17 21:44:32.895 - Processing parameter 'GAME_FLAG_FILE' with data '' in real-time

Here's three...

 

12-Aug-17 23:00:02.611 - Shutting down
12-Aug-17 23:00:02.633 - Program close
12-Aug-17 23:00:53.436 - DOF Linx for Pinball Emulators - DOFLinx by DDH69
12-Aug-17 23:00:53.476 - Starting up - version 5.01
12-Aug-17 23:00:53.576 - 1 Pinscape device(s) found
12-Aug-17 23:00:53.576 - DOFLinx device: 1 Initializing as Pinscape #1 with name=Pinscape Controller
12-Aug-17 23:00:53.666 - DOFLinx device:1 Pinscape setup with 14 outputs
12-Aug-17 23:00:53.716 - 0 LEDWiz device(s) found
12-Aug-17 23:00:53.716 - 0 FTDI (Sainsmart) device(s) found
12-Aug-17 23:00:53.716 - DOFLinx device: 2 Initialising as PacLed64 #1
12-Aug-17 23:00:53.756 - DOFLinx device:2 PacLed64 setup with 64 outputs
12-Aug-17 23:00:53.766 - Reading DOFLinx.INI startup config file details
12-Aug-17 23:00:53.786 - Reading DOF config file
12-Aug-17 23:01:41.728 - Processing incoming message - GAME_FLAG_FILE=â€C:\Program,Files,(x86)\Visual,Pinball\Tables\Sabbath70s_VP912FS.vptâ€
12-Aug-17 23:01:41.766 - Processing parameter 'GAME_FLAG_FILE' with data 'â€C:\Program,Files,(x86)\Visual,Pinball\Tables\Sabbath70s_VP912FS.vptâ€' in real-time
12-Aug-17 23:02:05.236 - Processing incoming message - GAME_FLAG_FILE=
12-Aug-17 23:02:05.239 - Processing parameter 'GAME_FLAG_FILE' with data '' in real-time
 

Here's 4...

 

12-Aug-17 23:04:11.897 - Shutting down
12-Aug-17 23:04:11.916 - Program close
12-Aug-17 23:05:32.138 - DOF Linx for Pinball Emulators - DOFLinx by DDH69
12-Aug-17 23:05:32.178 - Starting up - version 5.01
12-Aug-17 23:05:32.278 - 1 Pinscape device(s) found
12-Aug-17 23:05:32.278 - DOFLinx device: 1 Initializing as Pinscape #1 with name=Pinscape Controller
12-Aug-17 23:05:32.358 - DOFLinx device:1 Pinscape setup with 14 outputs
12-Aug-17 23:05:32.408 - 0 LEDWiz device(s) found
12-Aug-17 23:05:32.408 - 0 FTDI (Sainsmart) device(s) found
12-Aug-17 23:05:32.408 - DOFLinx device: 2 Initialising as PacLed64 #1
12-Aug-17 23:05:32.448 - DOFLinx device:2 PacLed64 setup with 64 outputs
12-Aug-17 23:05:32.468 - Reading DOFLinx.INI startup config file details
12-Aug-17 23:05:32.488 - Reading DOF config file
12-Aug-17 23:05:53.416 - Shutting down
12-Aug-17 23:05:53.431 - Program close
12-Aug-17 23:06:26.590 - DOF Linx for Pinball Emulators - DOFLinx by DDH69
12-Aug-17 23:06:26.620 - Starting up - version 5.01
12-Aug-17 23:06:26.730 - 1 Pinscape device(s) found
12-Aug-17 23:06:26.730 - DOFLinx device: 1 Initializing as Pinscape #1 with name=Pinscape Controller
12-Aug-17 23:06:26.810 - DOFLinx device:1 Pinscape setup with 14 outputs
12-Aug-17 23:06:26.860 - 0 LEDWiz device(s) found
12-Aug-17 23:06:26.860 - 0 FTDI (Sainsmart) device(s) found
12-Aug-17 23:06:26.860 - DOFLinx device: 2 Initialising as PacLed64 #1
12-Aug-17 23:06:26.900 - DOFLinx device:2 PacLed64 setup with 64 outputs
12-Aug-17 23:06:26.920 - Reading DOFLinx.INI startup config file details
12-Aug-17 23:06:26.940 - Reading DOF config file
12-Aug-17 23:06:39.871 - Processing incoming message - GAME_FLAG_FILE=â€"C:\Program Files (x86)\Visual Pinball\Tables\Sabbath70s_VP912FS.vptâ€"
12-Aug-17 23:06:39.903 - Processing parameter 'GAME_FLAG_FILE' with data 'â€"C:\Program Files (x86)\Visual Pinball\Tables\Sabbath70s_VP912FS.vptâ€"' in real-time
12-Aug-17 23:07:03.077 - Processing incoming message - GAME_FLAG_FILE=
12-Aug-17 23:07:03.079 - Processing parameter 'GAME_FLAG_FILE' with data '' in real-time
 

There's no difference, so I'm going to stop here unless told otherwise.  I don't think 5 will make a difference.  I'll try it if told to, though.

[DDH69]

There is a difference, look carefully.  As I said, it was a matter of getting the commas, in the file name to be spaces.  Your 2 and 4 quote examples have spaces while your 1 and 3 have commas.

 

For the moment leave it with two ""double quotes".

 

The other thing that is odd is the additional characters at the beginning and end.  I don't know where they are coming from.  I'm sitting by my cabinet at the moment, I'll see if I can fake this situation and experiment.