23 replies to this topic

[kcarruthers]

Been updating my tables with color DMDs, with VNI and PAL files in the altcolor folder. However, many of the new color DMD's are uploaded as .PAC files on Vpinuniverse. I can't figure out where I'm supposed to put these in order to get the color DMD working. I seemingly can't find anything online either, whenever I google "Visual Pinball .pac files" it just redirects me to a Pac Man table. Can anyone help me out?

[m693663]

There is a tutorial on VPUniverse - Instructions for setting up the DMD extensions and colored ROMs (English / German) - Visual Pinball - How Tos & Wikis - Virtual Pinball Universe (vpuniverse.com)

[clemon79]

Unfortunately, that tutorial just says "go get lucky1's replacement dmddevice.dll and you're good to go," and that's not quite the case. For me, if I do that, the DMD doesn't render anymore.

 

I've managed to get .pal/.vni combos working, so that's great, but I'm still having problems if something comes as an .fsq (allegedly Freezy's still supposed to work, but it doesn't) and .pac's don't do anything at all, pretty clearly because I've got the wrong dmddevice.dll in there and the right one is breaking.

[wiesshund]

Unfortunately, that tutorial just says "go get lucky1's replacement dmddevice.dll and you're good to go," and that's not quite the case. For me, if I do that, the DMD doesn't render anymore.

 

I've managed to get .pal/.vni combos working, so that's great, but I'm still having problems if something comes as an .fsq (allegedly Freezy's still supposed to work, but it doesn't) and .pac's don't do anything at all, pretty clearly because I've got the wrong dmddevice.dll in there and the right one is breaking.

 

Re-read the tutorial
It goes into much greater detail than just "get lucky1's dll and your good to go"
I would suggest re-reading it and following it step by step to the letter

[CDRZ]

Thanks for linking to the guide. Very informative.

[RomKnight]

I've read that link and a bunch of others and for some reason .pac files just don't work. I do not have a real pin2dmd mind you, but I was sure .pac files were working before via flexdmd.

 

I already went back and forth between freezy's and lucky's .dll's a few times (32 and 64bit), re-registered them via flexDMD and nothing.

 

Serum and .pal/.vin work without issues so what could have I done wrong or misread?

[Bosco]

The PAC files work just like the PAL  files in the same directory make sure your folder is the same name as the tables rom and also make sure all your vpinmame is up to date. If you have a PAC and A PAL for the same table onlu use 1 at a time put the other in a second folder for storage.

[RomKnight]

I was sure I've read .pac and .pal can coexist and that I just had to rename <name>.pac to be PinTWODMD.pac

It seems to be working now anyway.

Thanks

Edited by RomKnight, 03 April 2023 - 11:24 AM.

[L0deRunR]

...

Edited by L0deRunR, 04 April 2023 - 10:18 PM.

[ElBurro]

Is it possible to use both .pac and .pal at the same time ?
I mean can we use the Freezy version of the dll and the Lucky ?

[wiesshund]

Is it possible to use both .pac and .pal at the same time ?
I mean can we use the Freezy version of the dll and the Lucky ?

No, i am pretty sure you can only use one DLL or the other.

 

Did Lucky drop support for PAL/VNI colorations?
I am not really sure as i dont use his monetized nonsense

[sundogak]

Is it possible to use both .pac and .pal at the same time ?
I mean can we use the Freezy version of the dll and the Lucky ?

For the moment it is complicated. However, Freezy is working on plugin modification that will allow for all the formats to coexist. Until then this is the situation:

 

1. Freezy DLL.  Works with PAL, Serum (CRZ) color files.  Freezy's files at his github link.  
2. Lucky DLL and CRZ plugin setup.  Works with PAL, Serum (CRZ), and PAC.  Find the files needed in Lucky's first post on the VPU site.  The DLL will prefer a PAC file if there is a PAL in same folder.  But I find best to only keep one format to avoid issues.  These files are only temporary until Freezy gets his plugin updated.  You also have to be careful to not have any hidden files in the altcolor folder or it can cause issues with the CRZ plugin resulting in no color with CRZ format files.  
3. Do not intermix #1 and #2 DLL files, some of which have same names. Stick with one or the other or will have issues. Also, make backup of your files if you have working setup before replacing in case have to revert. 

[wiesshund]

I'm not envisioning Freezy supporting PAC
For one it is monetized, secondly i think it is closed source (otherwise kinda hard to monetize), third i don't think lucky1 would be terribly thrilled?

[sundogak]

I'm not envisioning Freezy supporting PAC
For one it is monetized, secondly i think it is closed source (otherwise kinda hard to monetize), third i don't think lucky1 would be terribly thrilled?

See his thread(s) at VPU site. He is making a plugin to offload the PAC code portion and resolve the issues between the two coders with GPL. His recent update was it was in progress but VPE was taking priority. 

 

Edit: multiple threads back and forth and many pages long going into the issues you mentioned but at least at this point (and can always change) they seem to have come to an idea of how to resolve coding wise to make both less unhappy. As of May 19th comment:  

 

 

There has also been progress on porting lucky1 plugin system for PAC, but I'm not quite done with it, so that's probably for the next release.

Edited by sundogak, 10 June 2023 - 02:15 AM.

[SmilesLikeJoker]

I'm not envisioning Freezy supporting PAC
For one it is monetized, secondly i think it is closed source (otherwise kinda hard to monetize), third i don't think lucky1 would be terribly thrilled?

They've come to an agreement of sorts.  Freezy is working to support it in his own way.  Lucky1 is supporting.

Edited by SmilesLikeJoker, 10 June 2023 - 02:13 AM.

[wiesshund]

Interesting, we will see how that goes i guess.

[2huwman]

Is there any way to convert from pac to pal/vin? I have the same issue as others further up the thread where pal/vin work fine with freezy's installed, but when i try to install lucky1's stuff, pac files wont work - just get a blank screen. 

 

might be best just to wait for freezy to do his update. 

 

EDIT: figured it out - my mistake was that i was renaming the .pac files to Pin'2'DMD.pac rather than leaving the name as it was when i downloaded them!

 

EDIT 2: another reason for my blank DMD might have been that the DMD was reverting to its original position (i.e. beneath the playfield!) which was why I couldn't see it!

Edited by 2huwman, 10 June 2023 - 10:16 AM.

[sundogak]

Is there any way to convert from pac to pal/vin? I have the same issue as others further up the thread where pal/vin work fine with freezy's installed, but when i try to install lucky1's stuff, pac files wont work - just get a blank screen. 

 

might be best just to wait for freezy to do his update. 

 

EDIT: figured it out - my mistake was that i was renaming the .pac files to Pin'2'DMD.pac rather than leaving the name as it was when i downloaded them!

 

EDIT 2: another reason for my blank DMD might have been that the DMD was reverting to its original position (i.e. beneath the playfield!) which was why I couldn't see it!

Glad you got it working.  The naming of the *.pac file doesn't matter as long as extension is retained, unlike with prior PAL files.  The Lucky DLL looks for PAC extension and if not there goes to a PAL format if present. Also on the conversion question, no you cannot convert in that the author of the color files has to generate the format exported. Plus PAC files are copy protected encrypted by design which is one of the reasons the CRZ serum open source format came to be. 

Edited by sundogak, 10 June 2023 - 11:38 PM.

[strells]

Yeah file naming does not matter for .pac or .crz.

[wiesshund]

Interesting, we will see how that goes i guess.

 

Apparently less than interesting