32 replies to this topic

[TerryRed]

I made this reply to another thread and figured it would be better served as it's own Topic.

 

 

How Future Pinball "should" be setup with a new clean install for a cabinet:

 

-install Future Pinball from the setup file you get from the Future Pinball site

-copy your FP tables (*.fpt) to the Tables folder (NOT in their own self-named sub folders!)

-if your table needs a different version of physics (2.4,2.5,2.6,2.7, Zed, Custom, etc), then just copy the needed .XML (*.zip for Zed) to your Tables folder and rename it the same as your table

-copy any table Library files (*.fpl) to the Libraries folder

-install BAM (Better Arcade Mode), it should be in the "Future Pinball \ BAM" folder

-don't change or rename any files in BAM folder!

-you can replace the Future Pinball.exe in the "Future Pinball" folder with another version if you want. I use SLAMT1LT's version from his site as it does default to 2.7 physics and has no watermark. Keep the original for backup.

-unblock ALL *.exe and *.DLL files within Future Pinball, BAM, and Pinball X (Win 8 , Win 10)

-Future Pinball.exe and FPLoader.exe are: set to "Run as Administrator", and "disable DPI scaling"

-launch your FP tables with FPLoader.exe in the BAM folder

 

-setup Pinball X to launch FP tables with FPLoader.exe

 

 

 

 

Configure Future Pinball with these settings. This is a MUST, for complete compatibility with all tables and BAM / Cabinet use! Use these EXACT settings. (You can your change screen resolution and anti-aliasing if you want, and rotation to 0 if you have your playfield screen set to Portrait in Windows.) Also don't forget to set your Backbox resolution. FP doesn't really correctly enable vsync, so if you want you can disable that IF you enable it in your graphic card's driver settings for Future Pinball.

 

 

 

 

-make sure you have "Load Image Into Table Editor" disabled (unchecked) in the "Preferences \ Editor Options" menu. This is important as you will get crashes and other strange things happen when you launch some tables!

 

 

 

 

-when running a table from the FP Editor directly (no frontend), ALWAYS load only one table at a time, and ALWAYS close FP and re-open it after exiting a table! This won't be an issue when launching a table from a frontend like Pinball X.

 

By doing the above, you will have Pinball X use BAM to launch your FP tables, and BAM will use the appropriate physics file for your table if there is one...otherwise BAM will default to whatever the "Future Pinball.exe" uses (in my case, SLAMT1LT's 2.7 physics).

 

Then when the table loads, press "Q" and you can adjust the size, layout, render type, etc of each table to your liking. BAM is simply amazing!

 

 

BAM notes:

 

-New Renderer (Light System) is the nicest looking for lighting, etc....but is also more graphically demanding. Change to "FP Original" if a table runs slow for you

-new version of BAM fixed reflection limitations with FP, but also makes the ball look wierd with "FP Original" when in a rotated "cabinet" view. It looks fine in desktop view though.

-ambient occlusion can really kill your fps. You're probably better off disabling it.

 

=======================================

 

DOFLinx:    (Future Pinball specific stuff)

 

My setup for my cabinet with DOFLinx:

 

-install the VPX all in one installer. (Installs the B2S server and all needed files. Yes it installs Visual Pinball 10 too, but you don't have to use it. This saves you some work) 

-install DOF R3 and confirm it's working

-I install DOFLinx in the DirectOuput folder. This will allow DOFLinx to see DOFLinx.ini automatically. You can install to a different location, but you must configure DOFLinx to see where your DOFLinx.ini is located,etc...

-copy the DOFLinx.vbs file to the "Future Pinball \ Scripts" folder. Create one if doesn't exist.

-configure the DOFLinx.ini for your cabinet setup! (consult the DOFLinx guide for more info)

-unblock ALL *.exe and *.DLL files within the DirectOutput folder or wherever you installed DOFLinx (Win 8 , Win 10)

-all *.exe files are set to "Run as Administrator" within the DirectOuput folder, and all DOFLinx *.exe files as well

-I have DOFLinx always running in the background with the startup of Pinball X.  I HIGHLY recommend that you do this as it's how DOFLinx was designed to run, and it will save you alot of headaches. You have been warned!

 

=====================================

 

DOFLinx.ini  :

 

(This is updated as of version 5.0)

 

Sections of interest (in the DOFLinx.ini file) for Future Pinball tables modded to work with full cabinet support.  (Consult the DOFLinx guide to configure your entire DOFLinx.ini file! Not just these sections)

 

FP_LINK_WAIT_TIME=50000

 

- add this "FP_LINK_WAIT_TIME=50000" if it's not there. This is the max time DOFLinx tries to establish a link (FP Link) with your FP DOFLinx modded table, before it defaults to its "key to output" type function. You change the time to a higher value if your computer takes longer to load some tables.

 

FP_ATTEMPT_LINK=1

 

-this is needed if you want DOFLinx to attempt to establish the FP Link with FP DOFLinx modded tables

 

Cabinet Toys:

 

The following is your cabinet toys setup. Anything with a  #   in front of it will be ignored. Make sure you put a   #   in front of any device you don't have in your cabinet. (I don't have a shaker or gear motor)

 

Consult the DOFLinx guide for more info on how to configure this section.

 

These are the solenoids for flippers, bumpers, etc. Make sure they are configured for your particular setup, device, ports, etc. 

 

LINK_LF=101,25,8000,255
LINK_RF=102,25,8000,255
LINK_LS=103,75,1000,255
LINK_RS=104,75,1000,255
LINK_ML=105,75,1000,255
LINK_MC=106,75,1000,255
LINK_MR=107,75,1000,255
LINK_BL=108,75,1000,255
LINK_BC=106,75,1000,255
LINK_BR=110,75,1000,255

 

This is the blower fan, shaker, and gear motor. (Note, I don't have a shaker or gear motor)

 

LINK_FN=111,75,9999,255
#LINK_SH=111,75,9999,255
#LINK_GR=111,75,9999,255

 

Strobes and Beacon

 

LINK_SR=116,ON,0
LINK_BK=132,ON,0

 

Start, Launch, Fire button (you can add coin, exit, etc)

 

LINK_ST=114
LINK_LB=115
LINK_FR=113

 

RGB Flashers. These are configured with the Red port of each RGB flasher. 

 

LINK_FLOL=129
LINK_FLIL=126
LINK_FLCN=123
LINK_FLIR=120
LINK_FLOR=117

 

This section deals with RGB_OUTPUT devices. As far as Future Pinball DOFLinx modded tables are concerned, this is the RGB under cabinet lighting. Note: if you have any RGB_OUTPUT device configured the same as a RGB flasher, then the RGB flasher will be used when a FP DOFLinx modded table is launched!

 

RGB_OUTPUT=117,120,123,126,129

 

-I use my flashers for other programs, not just Future Pinball and Pinball FX2, so that's why my RGB_OUTPUTS are configured the same as my RGB flasher ports.

-RGB_STYLE, RGB_TRIGGER, RGB_MIN_TIME all effect the RGB_OUTPUT....but for FP DOFLinx modded tables this will only have any effect if the table modder chose to use these features.

 

 

All of the above cabinet toys settings are also used for the Pinball FX 2 full cabinet support features of DOFLinx as well  (correct me if I'm wrong DDH69!).

 

That about wraps it up as far as DOFLinx and Future Pinball modded tables are concerned. This doesn't cover the other sections of the DOFLinx.ini,  or all the other numerous features that DOFLinx has.... but it should help to answer A LOT of the questions I get.

Edited by TerryRed, 09 July 2017 - 09:35 AM.

[robwaade]

thanks info that will make setup easier to do

[mpriddler]

Hi guys I'm total noob here sorry. Hope you can help me. I only discovered FP fre hours ago and really keen to get playing some tables. However, each table that I try I always get script errors at the top of the screen. I do believe it has something to do with DOFlinkx. Not 100%. PLease excuse my noobiness and big hello from the UK  

[sasa12345]

Welcome

http://speak1970.wix...pinballemporium

 

Use this table without doflinx

[senseless]

Did you put the DOFLinx.vbs file that comes with the installation of DOFLinx in your Scripts directory of FP?

Edited by senseless, 07 January 2017 - 12:32 PM.

[chrisseear]

Fantastic Guide cant wait to try it out, after i get Future Pinball fully working with all toys I will move onto FX2

[nikodemus]

Thanks for the amazing guide. I tried on my existing cabinet setup. Some of the FP settings caused a crash for me but I managed to get past that. All loaded fine on the back monitor, but the resolution for the main 40inch play field I couldn't sort. The table is centred but short & narrow. Pressed q to get to the BAM settings & although I could stretch the table to fill the width, both the top & bottom had large black strips and the play field just went off screen in these areas. The tv in use is a HD but not 4K screen. This error occurred via PinballX and without.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Nick

[Koplings]

Hi there terry;  i've followed your instructions but I'm struggling

 

I can start Doflinx and it sits in the toolbar fine - when I try to start a BAM table (im using your most recent superman table) I get the following error message:

 

"unbundled exception has occurred in your application...etc

Method not found:int32

System Runtime. Interop Services. Marshal.Sizof (!!0)"

 

If I hit continue the table loads but I obviously have no force feedback effects

 

My Doflinx log says it reads Device1 PacLED, Doflinx.ini, DOF Config then stops at "Game Name = ''

[DDH69]

Hi there terry;  i've followed your instructions but I'm struggling

 

I can start Doflinx and it sits in the toolbar fine - when I try to start a BAM table (im using your most recent superman table) I get the following error message:

 

"unbundled exception has occurred in your application...etc

Method not found:int32

System Runtime. Interop Services. Marshal.Sizof (!!0)"

 

If I hit continue the table loads but I obviously have no force feedback effects

 

My Doflinx log says it reads Device1 PacLED, Doflinx.ini, DOF Config then stops at "Game Name = ''

 

Hmm, not sure if you have or two problems here.  Possibly a Future Pinball Issue and a DOFLinx issue.  Is the crash Future Pinball or DOFLinx?  Regardless we can help you resolve it.

 

Turn on DEBUG in DOFLinx (DEBUG=1 in the INI).  Start a new thread for your issue in the DOFLinx General Discussion forum posting the relevant section of your DEBUG log (ie only the test run you are doing to explain the issue), a copy of your DOFLinx.INI and anything else in your configuration you think might be relevant.  Once you do this we can get to work helping you resolve the issue(s).

[Koplings]

all fixed.  thanks everyone

Edited by Koplings, 28 January 2017 - 03:41 AM.

[jevansoh]

Hi,

 

I'm a total newb and have been trying to get BAM to work.

 

I've tried the default settings and then found this guide and copied these settings.  It doesn't seem to make a difference.

 

The tables load ok, but I only see just a part of the table, as if it is zoomed in to one part of the table by like 500% or something.

 

When I press "Q" it crashes.  Although I can't see what I'm doing, the other regular commands to insert coin, start, pull plunger, flippers, etc all seem to work fine.

 

Tables work fine when not using BAM.

 

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. 

 

This is my first post!

 

Thanks,

 

--J

[68chase]

Thanks for posting this. Just the info I was looking for.

[sasa12345]

Hi,

 

I'm a total newb and have been trying to get BAM to work.

 

I've tried the default settings and then found this guide and copied these settings.  It doesn't seem to make a difference.

 

The tables load ok, but I only see just a part of the table, as if it is zoomed in to one part of the table by like 500% or something.

 

When I press "Q" it crashes.  Although I can't see what I'm doing, the other regular commands to insert coin, start, pull plunger, flippers, etc all seem to work fine.

 

Tables work fine when not using BAM.

 

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. 

 

This is my first post!

 

Thanks,

 

--J

In BAM you have to press arcade

Do not use beta BAM,for now

Edited by sasa12345, 25 February 2017 - 11:21 AM.

[blackvulcan3]

Great resource Terry, one question before I go down the path of a clean install.

 

I had Win 7, FP ran beautifully. Did an upgrade to Win 10 on the same machine, now my backglass only wants to load on my DMD monitor in my cabinet.

 

I have always had my monitors (and still do) setup 1,3,2 as in Playfield, DMD, Backglass. For the life of me I can't understand why this is happening. Any thoughts?

[rambo3]

I have the exact same problem (Win10) with 1, 2, 3 (playfield, dmd, backglass). Can't get the backglass off screen for some reason.

EDIT: flipped screen layout to playfield, backglass, dmd which allowed me to put the freakin' backglass on the right monitor. Of course this messes up everything else. Not being able to map monitors to how they're physically built in the cab (issues with negative offsets for instance) makes working on the cab frustrating

Edited by rambo3, 12 March 2017 - 03:04 PM.

[TerryRed]

I HIGHLY recommend that you have your screens setup as 1,2,3   with playfield being 1, backglass being 2, and DMD being 3. Have them in Landscape arranged from left to right.  If you don't you will get some issues with FP and maybe other programs as well. 

[BamBam]

I made this reply to another thread and figured it would be better served as it's own Topic.

 

 

How Future Pinball "should" be setup with a new clean install for a cabinet:

 

-install Future Pinball from the setup file you get from the Future Pinball site

-copy your FP tables (*.fpt) to the Tables folder (NOT in their own self-named sub folders!)

-if your table needs a different version of physics (2.4,2.5,2.6,2.7, Zed, Custom, etc), then just copy the needed .XML (*.zip for Zed) to your Tables folder and rename it the same as your table

-copy any table Library files (*.fpl) to the Libraries folder

-install BAM (Better Arcade Mode), it should be in the "Future Pinball \ BAM" folder

-don't change or rename any files in BAM folder!

-you can replace the Future Pinball.exe in the "Future Pinball" folder with another version if you want. I use SLAMT1LT's version from his site as it does default to 2.7 physics and has no watermark. Keep the original for backup.

-unblock ALL *.exe and *.DLL files within Future Pinball, BAM, and Pinball X (Win 8 , Win 10)

-Future Pinball.exe and FPLoader.exe are set to "Run as Administrator"

-launch your FP tables with FPLoader.exe in the BAM folder

 

-setup Pinball X to launch FP tables with FPLoader.exe

 

 

Configure Future Pinball with these settings. This is a MUST, for complete compatibility with all tables and BAM / Cabinet use! Use these EXACT settings. (You can your change screen resolution and anti-aliasing if you want, and rotation to 0 if you have your playfield screen set to Portrait in Windows.) Also don't forget to set your Backbox resolution.

 

 

-make sure you have "Load Image Into Table Editor" disabled (unchecked) in the "Preferences \ Editor Options" menu. This is important as you will get crashes and other strange things happen when you launch some tables!

 

 

-when running a table from the FP Editor directly (no frontend), ALWAYS load only one table at a time, and ALWAYS close FP and re-open it after exiting a table! This won't be an issue when launching a table from a frontend like Pinball X.

 

By doing the above, you will have Pinball X use BAM to launch your FP tables, and BAM will use the appropriate physics file for your table if there is one...otherwise BAM will default to whatever the "Future Pinball.exe" uses (in my case, SLAMT1LT's 2.7 physics).

 

Then when the table loads, press "Q" and you can adjust the size, layout, render type, etc of each table to your liking. BAM is simply amazing!

 

BAM notes:

 

-New Renderer (Light System) is the nicest looking for lighting, etc....but is also more graphically demanding. Change to "FP Original" if a table runs slow for you

-new version of BAM fixed reflection limitations with FP, but also makes the ball look wierd with "FP Original" when in a rotated "cabinet" view. It looks fine in desktop view though.

-ambient occlusion can really kill your fps. You're probably better off disabling it.

 

=======================================

 

DOFLinx:    (Future Pinball specific stuff)

 

My setup for my cabinet with DOFLinx:

 

-install the VPX all in one installer. (Installs the B2S server and all needed files. Yes it installs Visual Pinball 10 too, but you don't have to use it. This saves you some work) 

-install DOF R3 and confirm it's working

-I install DOFLinx in the DirectOuput folder. This will allow DOFLinx to see DOFLinx.ini automatically. You can install to a different location, but you must configure DOFLinx to see where your DOFLinx.ini is located,etc...

-copy the DOFLinx.vbs file to the "Future Pinball \ Scripts" folder. Create one if doesn't exist.

-configure the DOFLinx.ini for your cabinet setup! (consult the DOFLinx guide for more info)

-unblock ALL *.exe and *.DLL files within the DirectOutput folder or wherever you installed DOFLinx (Win 8 , Win 10)

-all *.exe files are set to "Run as Administrator" within the DirectOuput folder, and all DOFLinx *.exe files as well

-I have DOFLinx always running in the background with the startup of Pinball X.  I HIGHLY recommend that you do this as it's how DOFLinx was designed to run, and it will save you alot of headaches. You have been warned!

 

=====================================

 

DOFLinx.ini  :

 

Sections of interest (in the DOFLinx.ini file) for Future Pinball tables modded to work with full cabinet support.  (Consult the DOFLinx guide to configure your entire DOFLinx.ini file! Not just these sections)

 

FP_LINK_WAIT_TIME=50000

 

- add this "FP_LINK_WAIT_TIME=50000" if it's not there. This is the max time DOFLinx tries to establish a link (FP Link) with your FP DOFLinx modded table, before it defaults to its "key to output" type function. You change the time to a higher value if your computer takes longer to load some tables.

 

FP_ATTEMPT_LINK=1

 

-this is needed if you want DOFLinx to attempt to establish the FP Link with FP DOFLinx modded tables

 

Cabinet Toys:

 

The following is your cabinet toys setup. Anything with a  #   in front of it will be ignored. Make sure you put a   #   in front of any device you don't have in your cabinet. (I don't have a shaker or gear motor)

 

Consult the DOFLinx guide for more info on how to configure this section.

 

These are the solenoids for flippers, bumpers, etc. Make sure they are configured for your particular setup, device, ports, etc. 

 

LINK_LF=101,25,8000
LINK_RF=102,25,8000
LINK_LS=103,75,1000
LINK_RS=104,75,1000
LINK_ML=105,75,1000
LINK_MC=106,75,1000
LINK_MR=107,75,1000
LINK_BL=108,75,1000
LINK_BC=106,75,1000
LINK_BR=110,75,1000

 

This is the blower fan, shaker, and gear motor. (Note, I don't have a shaker or gear motor)

 

LINK_FN=111,75,9999
#LINK_SH=111,75,9999
#LINK_GR=111,75,9999

 

Strobes and Beacon

 

LINK_SR=116,ON,0
LINK_BK=132,ON,0

 

Start, Launch, Fire button (you can add coin, exit, etc)

 

LINK_ST=114
LINK_LB=115
LINK_FR=113

 

RGB Flashers. These are configured with the Red port of each RGB flasher. 

 

LINK_FLOL=129
LINK_FLIL=126
LINK_FLCN=123
LINK_FLIR=120
LINK_FLOR=117

 

This section deals with RGB_OUTPUT devices. As far as Future Pinball DOFLinx modded tables are concerned, this is the RGB under cabinet lighting. Note: if you have any RGB_OUTPUT device configured the same as a RGB flasher, then the RGB flasher will be used when a FP DOFLinx modded table is launched!

 

RGB_OUTPUT=117,120,123,126,129

 

-I use my flashers for other programs, not just Future Pinball and Pinball FX2, so that's why my RGB_OUTPUTS are configured the same as my RGB flasher ports.

-RGB_STYLE, RGB_TRIGGER, RGB_MIN_TIME all effect the RGB_OUTPUT....but for FP DOFLinx modded tables this will only have any effect if the table modder chose to use these features.

 

 

All of the above cabinet toys settings are also used for the Pinball FX 2 full cabinet support features of DOFLinx as well  (correct me if I'm wrong DDH69!).

 

That about wraps it up as far as DOFLinx and Future Pinball modded tables are concerned. This doesn't cover the other sections of the DOFLinx.ini,  or all the other numerous features that DOFLinx has.... but it should help to answer A LOT of the questions I get.

 

Thank you for taking the time to clarify this Terry.

[Baronir2d2]

I am exactly with this problem below ... what to do?

 

 

Hi there terry;  i've followed your instructions but I'm struggling

 

I can start Doflinx and it sits in the toolbar fine - when I try to start a BAM table (im using your most recent superman table) I get the following error message:

 

"unbundled exception has occurred in your application...etc

Method not found:int32

System Runtime. Interop Services. Marshal.Sizof (!!0)"

 

If I hit continue the table loads but I obviously have no force feedback effects

 

My Doflinx log says it reads Device1 PacLED, Doflinx.ini, DOF Config then stops at "Game Name = ''

[DDH69]

Are you running DOFLinx V5.01?

[Baronir2d2]

4.3