1630 replies to this topic

[bpjacobsen]

working with someone in FB on this. apparently the db files are different from vpx so I jacked something up. May have to let pby create a new db file for me.

[bpjacobsen]

just an FYI, I decided to trash my db file for FP and start loading them one by one via PBY. It's best to let the system handle the xml stuff. I only have a handful of tables in FP anyway. So far so good. Only thing I'm still finding is on aliens legacy (slamt1lt table) the dmd wants to load in the background but this had not happened on any other tables yet so it's a bit odd. If anyone has insight, let me know.

[topper2k]

Does anyone know if there's a way to modify PinballY categories directly via a text editor?

I've got a bunch of tables I want to apply several categories to. The PBY interface wasn't designed for that kind of bulk editing. It'd be much easier if I could update this directly in a text file.

I looked in the XML for each pinball system and did not see any reference to categories there. I also looked in the settings txt file, also no luck.

Anyone know where that data is stored?

[mjr]

I personally wouldn't try to hand-edit the category information, since the storage format is tricky.  If you're really determined to go that route, you should be able to piece together the details from the Files & Folders chapter in the help, particularly the bit on categories in the XML Files section, and the Game Statistics section.

 

But what I'd recommend instead is using Javascript.  Javascript can change a game's categories like this:

 

<game>.update({ categories: ['Drama', 'Comedy', 'Tragedy']});

 

There are lots of ways you could use that, but if the root of what you want to do is to create a text file by hand with a list of games and categories to assign, you could use Javascript to read the file and assign the categories.  You can access text files using the Windows Scripting object FileSystemObject:

 

// see https://docs.microso...textfile-method

let fs = createAutomationObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject");

let stream = fs.OpenTextFile("MyCategoryList.txt");

while (!stream.AtEndOfStream) {

   let txt = stream.ReadLine();

   // process the text using normal Javascript string handling

}

[bpjacobsen]

I discovered a problem. If I record fx3 videos with PBY and hold the flipper (to prevent too much an animation when recording the  playfield) this seem to cause some sort of hijacking of my keyboard/pincab button controls and I am forced to reboot my pc to get it back. Sticky keys is turned off. What the hay is causing this? Also, has anyone figure out a way to prevent the animations on the playfield in fx3 for recording so it doesn't jump around? It always wants to zoom in the launch area. I prefer vpx style where I have to  put a coin in. anyway to turn off so it does not prompt me everytime to continue and all that crap?

Edited by bpjacobsen, 13 December 2020 - 05:29 PM.

[bpjacobsen]

Has anyone been able to figure out the proper command for FP to launch future dmd AND use the custom colors by table? The following is for pbx for this purpose but does not work for pby since the setup differs:

 

If you launch futureDMD at table launch and exit at table exit

 

 "%emuPath%\FutureDMD.exe" close=1 table="%tableName%",,hide UseErrorLevel

 

LaunchBeforeEnabled=True

LaunchBeforeWorkingPath= C:\emulators\Future Pinball

LaunchBeforeExecutable=FutureDMD.exe

LaunchBeforeParameters=table="[TABLEFILE]" close=1

 

as you can see, this allows future dmd to know what table is being launched so it can pull in the custom color. Right now, I have pby set as follows per someone else:

 

[NOWAIT TERMINATE]c:\pinball\future pinball\futuredmd.exe

 

but this just runs future dmd with default orange color. Not sure how to translate the above to work for PBY.

[wiesshund]

Has anyone been able to figure out the proper command for FP to launch future dmd AND use the custom colors by table? The following is for pbx for this purpose but does not work for pby since the setup differs:

 

If you launch futureDMD at table launch and exit at table exit

 

 "%emuPath%\FutureDMD.exe" close=1 table="%tableName%",,hide UseErrorLevel

 

LaunchBeforeEnabled=True

LaunchBeforeWorkingPath= C:\emulators\Future Pinball

LaunchBeforeExecutable=FutureDMD.exe

LaunchBeforeParameters=table="[TABLEFILE]" close=1

 

as you can see, this allows future dmd to know what table is being launched so it can pull in the custom color. Right now, I have pby set as follows per someone else:

 

[NOWAIT TERMINATE]c:\pinball\future pinball\futuredmd.exe

 

but this just runs future dmd with default orange color. Not sure how to translate the above to work for PBY.

 

because you are not telling it what table is running, like the example info above shows you to.
FutureDMD has no idea what table you are running

[bpjacobsen]

unfortunately the above does not work in pby.

[wiesshund]

unfortunately the above does not work in pby.

 

it does work

 

your command line you are posting is wrong

[bpjacobsen]

 

unfortunately the above does not work in pby.

 

it does work

 

your command line you are posting is wrong

 

Do you have custom future dmd colors working in pby? Can you please post a screenshot of your setup? What you posted is for pbx and does not seem to fit within the setup of pby. Sorry, I'm just not following where your suggested settings fits within the scope of the pby settings screen for FP. Call me stupid or whatever but it's not sinking in for me.

 

If I put your suggested parameters in the parameters field in pby for Future Pinball, it just gets stuck and just says running and never loads. I assumed the following should be put in the parameters section?

 

 "%emuPath%\FutureDMD.exe" close=1 table="%tableName%",,hide UseErrorLevel

 

if so, then where does all this stuff go?

 

LaunchBeforeEnabled=True

LaunchBeforeWorkingPath= C:\emulators\Future Pinball

LaunchBeforeExecutable=FutureDMD.exe

LaunchBeforeParameters=table="[TABLEFILE]" close=1

 

These are pbx settings, not pby. That's all that I"m drivin at. lol

[wiesshund]

it's the same info for PBY

dont know how to better explain it to you

[bpjacobsen]

OK, let's look at this from a side by side comparison perspective. See attached fp settings in pby vs pbx. in PBY, there is no "LaunchBefore" parameters. it's run before 1 and 2, and run after 1 and 2 but they work differently from pbx. and if I throw your parameters suggestion into pby parameters field, it doesn't load. Let's just say the wording is entirely different and I"m pretty sure the functionality differs too. If you don't have this working in pby, that's fine, no worries, I appreaciate all the help you have given. I will figure this out sooner or later.

Attached Files

•  fp settings in pby.png   27.99KB   3 downloads
•  pbx fp settings.png   28.9KB   3 downloads

[wiesshund]

You do not have it correct in either screen shot, not for PBX and not for PBY

you are doing it wrong, you arent even using the information given.

 

[bpjacobsen]

I tried your settings (other than specific to where my stuff is) and I"m closer but it won't load the table. It loads the future dmd with the custom color but on my playfield and it just shows a gray playfield and won't load the table. 

Attached Files

•  fp settings in pby.png   22.81KB   1 downloads

[wiesshund]

For FP i am using

 /STAYINRAM /open "[TABLEPATH]\[TABLEFILE]" /play /exit /arcaderender,, HIDE

 

you could try adding NOWAIT to the futureDMD line, in case it is waiting on it, though it should not be

and does not sound like it is

[bpjacobsen]

I enabled the table launch log and tried launching with and without having .fpt in the table name in the futuredmd.ini file but got the same results and same log messages as follows:

 

Tuesday, December 15, 2020, 10:15:51 AM: Session started

PinballY 1.0.0 (Release), build 9375 (x64, 20200723-1914)

 

Table launch: Aliens Legacy, table file Aliens Legacy, system Future Pinball

+ launch: full table path C:\Pinball\Future Pinball\Tables\Aliens Legacy

+ table launch: table file C:\Pinball\Future Pinball\Tables\Aliens Legacy doesn't exist; try adding extension -> C:\Pinball\Future Pinball\Tables\Aliens Legacy.fpt

+ table launch: file + extension (C:\Pinball\Future Pinball\Tables\Aliens Legacy.fpt) exists, using it

+ RunBeforePre (initial pre-launch command):

> C:\Pinball\Future Pinball\futureDMD.exe table="[TABLEFILE]" Close=1

+ RunBeforePre (initial pre-launch command): waiting for command to finish

+ RunBeforePre (initial pre-launch command): command interrupted by Exit Game event

 

Table launch: Aliens Legacy, table file Aliens Legacy, system Future Pinball

+ launch: full table path C:\Pinball\Future Pinball\Tables\Aliens Legacy

+ table launch: table file C:\Pinball\Future Pinball\Tables\Aliens Legacy doesn't exist; try adding extension -> C:\Pinball\Future Pinball\Tables\Aliens Legacy.fpt

+ table launch: file + extension (C:\Pinball\Future Pinball\Tables\Aliens Legacy.fpt) exists, using it

+ RunBeforePre (initial pre-launch command):

> C:\Pinball\Future Pinball\futureDMD.exe table="[TABLEFILE]" Close=1

+ RunBeforePre (initial pre-launch command): waiting for command to finish

+ RunBeforePre (initial pre-launch command): command interrupted by Exit Game event

 

If I add .fpt in the futuredmd.ini file then it does not pull the green dmd so we know .fpt in the table name there will not work. I just can't seem to put my finger on why it won't load the table. If I remove the run before command suggested, it runs fine but without the dmd. I attached a screenshot of what my playfield looks like when it tries to load. I feel like we are right there but there is something else amiss.

By the way I tried NOWAIT but NOLUCK. lol

Attached Files

•  playfield.png   3.5KB   0 downloads

Edited by bpjacobsen, 15 December 2020 - 03:42 PM.

[wiesshund]

well for the FP launch arg you could do

/STAYINRAM /open "[TABLEPATH]\[TABLEFILE].fpt" /play /exit /arcaderender,, HIDE

 

that should result in it sending fploader.exe /open c:\future pinball\tables\Aliens Legacy.fpt /play /exit /arcaderenderer,, HIDE

 

which will satisfy the fpt complaint, though that is probably not the issue

 

 

Now, you are not having futureDMD start with windows are you?
cause if you are, then you dont want to use futuredmd.exe, you would use FutureDMD_Relay.exe for your run before

[bpjacobsen]

well for the FP launch arg you could do

/STAYINRAM /open "[TABLEPATH]\[TABLEFILE].fpt" /play /exit /arcaderender,, HIDE

 

that should result in it sending fploader.exe /open c:\future pinball\tables\Aliens Legacy.fpt /play /exit /arcaderenderer,, HIDE

 

which will satisfy the fpt complaint, though that is probably not the issue

 

 

Now, you are not having futureDMD start with windows are you?
cause if you are, then you dont want to use futuredmd.exe, you would use FutureDMD_Relay.exe for your run before

I assume you mean enter /STAYINRAM /open "[TABLEPATH]\[TABLEFILE].fpt" /play /exit /arcaderender,, HIDE in thot e parameters field correct? I do have that in there. But when I have this in run before 1 field, the dmd loads in the playfield and does not pull in the specified position, and the table never loads: C:\Pinball\Future Pinball\futureDMD.exe table="[TABLEFILE]" Close=1. If I remove this it runs the default dmd color/position correctly. Hmm

[wiesshund]

see what it does if you remove close=1?

 

If you remove the table= part then it will only do the default, since it has no idea which table config to run

[wiesshund]

ok experiment time

 

what if you launch futureDMD externally, from a shortcut
tell it the table name in the shortcut

"c:\futureDMD\futureDMD.exe"  table=aliens legacy 

then launch the table from pinballY and temporarily take out the whole run before part

 

Does table run then? or does it do the same thing?

 

If it does the same thing, see what it does if you run futureDMD from that shortcut
and then run future pinball directly from BAM and pick the aliens table and start it?

Also

Tell me if it works if you launch futureDMD, from the shortcut

AFTER the FP starts?