DOFLinx has the ability to run a settings pop up menu. It is not used for changing DOFLinx settings, rather it is for you to create your own settings and then using this menu to control them just like a real pinball cabinet uses for its ROM settings. This is really an adventure for those who want more advanced cabinet control.
There is one special setting that can be added. That setting is to turn on / off DOFLinx’s night mode. Night mode is when DOFLinx suppresses all noise making devices to keep others in the house happy while you are playing pinball during those really early / late hours.
From the DOFLinx settings pop up menu you can control anything that you are able to turn on / off via one of your output controllers. In my cabinet I have it setup to allow me turn on / off my under cabinet lighting, all of my flashers and my addressable LEDs, three separate controls.
The popup menu can contain whatever message and options you like. It will look something like the sample below and is usually placed on your DMD screen, but can pop up on any screen – just in case you have a real DMD! The window is simple dragged, resized and left where you need it. The position is saved in the registry each time its closed meaning its right where you left it when you pop it up the next time.
The menu is triggered by any key combination you like. You simply setup the list of keys that need to be pressed at the same time to bring up the menu. In my case I’ve made it so that I hold in both flipper and both magna save keys all at the same time (L-Shift, R-Shift, L-Ctrl, R-Ctrl). The parameter in the DOFLinx.INI file for this is:
SETTING_ACTIVATE=A0,A1,A2,A3
In a similar way you then setup the keys for navigation, making changes and exiting the menu. Keys used to trigger the menu can be reused as they are only pressed one at a time when in the menu.
SETTING_UP=A0 SETTING_DOWN=A1 SETTING_CHANGE=31 SETTING_EXIT=32
The control is achieved very simply. At its simplest DOFLinx is setup to control a currently unused port on your output device (device / port) to drive a relay or an opto coupled MOSFET. If a single port and relay is used then the setting will be reset every time DOF stops / starts. This can become annoying as DOF actually resets each time it is opened by an application, that means the relay will reset. To overcome this, you use a latching circuit so that one signal causes it to turn on and another causes it to be turned off. Using a latching circuit with your relay ensures that regardless of software resets your device remains on / off just as you wanted. The DOFLinx settings menu works with this by allowing one device / port to turn the relay on and another device / port to turn it off.
The current state of all settings can optionally be stored in the registry so that your cabinet resumes with the same settings as when you turned off. In addition to this you can also set a default for each setting. Having a default is particularly useful if you don’t save your settings upon exit, that way you get to set your start up behaviour.
Below is an image of the standard wiring from Pinscape for RGB LED lighting via a booster board. Then below that is the modified circuit with a control relay inserted. The control relay is controlled from DOFLinx via the settings pop up menu.
If you want to use a latching circuit then the wiring will look more like this.
The latching circuit I have used is this one.
Below is the section of the DOFLinx.INI I use to control my cabinet. It triggers the menu using L-Shift, R-Shift, L-Ctrl, R-Ctrl, up is L-Shift, down is R-Shift, making the change 0 (zero) for change, Esc for exit. The SETTING_MESAGE appears on the screen so you remember what buttons to press. A series of SETTING= parameters are the actual settings themselves. There is no limit to the number of settings, the menu will simply scroll.
SETTING_ACTIVATE=A0,A1,A2,A3 SETTING_UP=A0 SETTING_DOWN=A1 SETTING_CHANGE=31 SETTING_EXIT=32 SETTING_MESSAGE=L Flipper = Up, R Flipper = Down, Start = Change, EB = Exit SETTING=UnderCab,115,Under cabinet lighting disabled,Off,Y,114,150 SETTING=Flashers,117,Flashers Enabled,On,Y,116,50 SETTING=Addressable,119,Addressable LEDs Enabled,On,Y,118,50 SETTING=NIGHT,,Night Mode,Off,Y
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