49 replies to this topic

[roxy]

I am an old guy (73 years old, to be exact) in need of help updating to VP 9.9.0. I have always enjoyed pinball and computers have always frustrated me.

I am very happy with the VP tables I have on my cabinet and I don't want to mess them up in moving to the new VP 9.9.0. On the other hand, I enjoy VP and I don't want to get left behind. That's why I was excited when I read the great idea of launching different VP's using a vpexetables.txt file. This is where I need some help.

As a trial, I have placed two tables in the vpexetables.txt file in the settings section of Hyperpin as suggested on VP Forums :
MIBS
VPinball990.exe
Snow Derby
VPinball990.exe

When I run these in VP on my cabinet, with VPinball990.exe in my pinball folder, I get the same error messages as I get when I try to run it with VP915. What does this suggest to you ? Where do I go from here ? Should I just stay happy with the tables I have ? Thank you for your help. Roxy

[dark]

What is that error message?

 

Do you have DX9 (directX 9) installed?  VP9.9 needs DX9.

[roxy]

The error message is a script error - object doesn't support this property or method 'obj.IsVisble'.

I do not have DX 9 installed and, I am sorry to say, I know nothing about it.

Thank you.

[dark]

The script error "object doesn't support this property or method 'obj.IsVisble'."  is from the back glass I believe, though I've never seen it say 'obj.IsVisble'.  Someone more familar with coding than myself can probably tell you more specifically what that's about.  You may just need to change the selection to VPM,dB2S or UVP.

DirectX is the software Windows uses to handle video and graphics ie. video games.  You should be able to find a DX9 download from a Microsoft website, try doing a google search.  While some VP9.9 games will still work with DX7, many tables that use newer style flasher images with improved alpha/transparency require DX9 and the table's won't load without it or won't load properly (graphic errors/glitches).

Edited by dark, 01 February 2015 - 08:34 PM.

[BobAlbright]

I understand your frustration about computers. I know just enough to be dangerous. I tried to copy and paste the Microsoft link for you but couldn't get it to work for some reason. If you search in the forums for " getting dx9 working" you'll find the link a few posts in. It's easy. Once at he proper site just click install and it'll do its thing. It's the link I used

[mfuegemann]

Hi Roxy,

 

the mentioned error "object does not support property ..." is caused by a VP9.x table run with an older version of Visual Pinball, that is not supporting flashers. You will receive similiar errors on the use of primitives for 3D objects as these new features have been added with version 9.21 (?). Please try to run the table in question by calling the correct VPin.exe (VPin 9.9) directly. After that was successful, have a look at the script that does the EXE-management per table.

I am not sure, if You need different EXE files for VPin 9.15 files at all. They should all run fine with VPin 9.9. I only have issues with VPin 8 tables.

 

Regards

Michael

[roxy]

Until I discovered VP 2 years ago, I had never touched a Windows computer. I didn't even know what a "right click" was. Thank you for helping me out with your responses.

I am not sure what to do first. My best guess is Windows XP was installed on my cabinet's computer in 2009 by the builder with two owners before me. How can I check to see if I have DX9 installed and what version it might be ? Is it possible I do have it unbeknownst to me ? Should I first "try to run the table in question by calling the correct VPin.exe (VPin 9.9) directly." ? (Which I am not sure how to do ?)

I apologize for being so slow. Hopefully, slow and steady will win the race.

[dark]

Well there are some older 921 tables that look better when run in 9.21, there was a thread some where that had a list of 921 tables that had issues when run in 9.9, but for the most part they were simply cosmetic/graphic errors.

 

I think Michael has the right advice when instructing you to get the tables working directly through the exe before trying to run multiple exes through hyperpin.

 

No need for apologies my good sir, my old man just got on windows himself a few years ago and I don't think I could imagine him setting up VP on his own, he has enough trouble just looking up the news without getting spyware.  

 

If you look at the bottom of this page there is a link for DX9 for winXP:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/179113

 

If you already have DX9 installed (which I kind of doubt) it will just say you already have it installed when you go to install.

Edited by dark, 02 February 2015 - 03:31 AM.

[GSGregg]

roxy;

 

The XP operating system is almost as old as you and I (days short of 68), and while it 'came' with DX9, there were files that hadn't been created, and missed the OEM install. My early install of DX9, with files numbered 24-33, took place on June 17, 2007, but when Visual Pinball was ported to DX9, two required .dll files were missing, numbered 35 and 43. Not knowing about the Microsoft Download site, I hunted down the files individually; turns out that they were part of a May 17, 2014 update with files numbered 34-43 with 39 part of an earlier update. If you haven't already updated, you can check C:\WINDOWS\system32 and see how you stand. Look for d3dx9_24.dll and see what was loaded and when.

[roxy]

Based on your very clear suggestions, it seems a Direct X download is in order. It will take me a while to work through your suggestions and, when I do, I'll let you know how I made out. Meanwhile, if you have more helpful advice, please keep it coming. I need all the help I can get.

Thank you kind people for all your help.

[roxy]

First Step: I have downloaded Directx_Jun2010_redist.exe (95.6MB) and it is now on a flash drive waiting to be installed on my cabinet's computer.

Two questions: (1) Is this Directx_Jun2010_redist.exe the one I need ? (2) A window comes up "Please type the location where you want to place the extracted files." What should I enter in the window?

I was hoping I wouldn't need help on this "easy step" but I was wrong.

Thank you all.

[Outhere]

Is this Directx_Jun2010_redist.exe the one I need ? <--- I believe so

Go to your hard drive and make a new folder you can name it whatever you want then go back to installing dx9 and use the browse button to find the folder you made... After you extract the files then go to the folder you made and you should be able to install the dx9....

[allknowing2012]

Wouldnt he likely need the latest vbs scripts? Wouldnt that be the source of those specific error messages?

Getting Started tab above > Essential Files > VBScripts

[GSGregg]

The June 2010 Redistributable has not only what you need, but a whole heckuva lot more, as you might expect from 95.6 Megabytes as opposed to the 285-Kilobyte dxwebsetup.exe. For instance, it's presented in about ten languages and is intended for developers to include with their product. An amusing thing is that both packages carry the same version number (9.29.1974) and publication date (Apr 18, 2011).

 

As far as getting it onto your computer, you need someplace to 'park' the compressed (zipped) file, and that can be literally anywhere you like; on your hard drive (create folder as Outhere described) or on your desktop (again, create a new folder) or even in a folder that was made for the task (My Computer > Downloads). If you do as I did, use 'Browse' and extract the contents to C:\WINDOWS\system32 where the new/updated files can join their predecessors. I seem to recall some users wanting DX9 installed in the Visual Pinball folder also, but a single location is adequate.

 

 DX9_Files.JPG   157.4KB   3 downloads

The screenshot shows my original and updated DX9 files, as installed by the 285KB dxwebsetup.exe

which is fine with me---I was never any good with languages anyway.

 

Have fun:

 

Gregg

[roxy]

Thank you for your clear and helpful advice. You have given me the confidence to forge ahead, but, I am sorry to say, I still need more help.

I have to use the big MB, Direct X file since I don't have an internet connection to my cabinet's computer to use the Kb file.

Upon installing direct x and using VP990, I get an error "d3dx_9_35.dll was not found" when trying to start the game Snow Derby in VP. In checking the new folder that I put the Direct X in, all the files are labelled .cab and not .dll. Where do I go from here ?

Thank you

[BobAlbright]

Did you look in the system32 file like GSGregg shows above to see if it is there?

[roxy]

I don't see it or any similar ones in system 32. Do I need to extract or copy the Direct X files to the system 32 folder someway ? If so, what is the best way to go about doing that ?

Thank you.

[GSGregg]

roxy;

 

Ya got me.....I play only desktop, and so don't have any experience with .cab file extensions. You mentioned your cab comp not being online; do you have a second comp with which you could download to a disc or thumb drive, then plug that into your cab?

 

How about searching the computer? (Start > Search > For files or Folders) Type in d3dx9 dll (leaving a space allows the computer to insert whatever characters differentiate the files) and you may be surprised at how many there are. If files got misdirected, this will show you where they wound up.

 DX9 Search.JPG   175.06KB   3 downloads

This shot shows just 34 of the 75 files found (can't scroll the Paint image), but my main concern is with the group in C:\WINDOWS\system32.

 

I'm trying to resist the urge to download the big package to a new folder just to take inventory; having fun yet?

 

 

Gregg

[roxy]

I have an HP laptop that I use to download everything for VP, including the Direct X. I then transfer it to a flash drive and then to my cabinet's computer. That is done as a buffer to protect my pinball from me doing something stupid. I couldn't figure out a way to download the small Direct X file using that method so I did the big one.

I have looked at system 32 and it is not there. I have tried to search the computer for "d3dx_9_35.dll." The "d3dx_9_35.cab only shows up in the new folder (Direct X 2015) that I created to download the Direct X into. It's a .cab and not a .dll. As best I can tell, there is no "d3dx_9_35.dll" anywhere on the computer, only the .cab version.

Where do I need to get it to and how do I change it to a .dll from a .cab ?

If we solve this I am having fun. Thank you all for your help.

[Outhere]

In all those cab files you should find a file name --> DXSETUP.exe
Put the flash drive in the computer for the Pinball, Fine the folder you made (Direct X 2015)..

Double click (DXSETUP.exe)  and it should install the files in the right place