13 replies to this topic

[mshaker]

Hi All; 

 

I just noticed the DOFLinx option in Pinball FX. I've done some reading, but I still have some questions. 
 

1) Am I correct that DOF and DOFLinx are separate applications and that installing DOFLinx will not affect my VPX (64 bit) + DOF installation?

 

2) I see a bunch of references to MAME. Are these references to the O.G. MAME, not VPinMame? 

 

3) Can I now launch Pinball FX Tables with DOFLinx from PinballX? 

 

Your help in eliminating my ignorance is greatly appreciated!

 

    - Mark

[mshaker]

Yeah. I know. RTFM.  I finally found the FM, and am more confused than ever.  

 

I'll experiment...

 

   - Mark

[DDH69]

Hi All; 

 

I just noticed the DOFLinx option in Pinball FX. I've done some reading, but I still have some questions. 
 

1) Am I correct that DOF and DOFLinx are separate applications and that installing DOFLinx will not affect my VPX (64 bit) + DOF installation?

 

2) I see a bunch of references to MAME. Are these references to the O.G. MAME, not VPinMame? 

 

3) Can I now launch Pinball FX Tables with DOFLinx from PinballX? 

 

Your help in eliminating my ignorance is greatly appreciated!

 

    - Mark

 

1. Yes and correct

2. MAME is about arcade MAME, ie Glalage, QBert, Space Invaders, etc

3. DOFLinx provides a link from PinballFX to your cabinet toys, ie solenoids, lighting, surround sound force feedback, etc.

[mshaker]

@DDH69; 

 

Thank you! 

 

I did get everything working. I first read the Quicker Start Guide and watched Terry Red's Video.

 

After I got it working, I read the full Guide for a better understanding. 

 

If you don't mind a couple follow-up questions: 

 

1) Are there any sources of alternate .FX and .FX3 files outside of the DofLinx Installation Package?

 

2) Is Nudge Button detection working in FX3?

 

I see NudgeLeft, NudgeRight and NudgeForward in the FX3 configuration files. However, Nudge never activates my shaker, and there is no record of Nudge button presses in the DofLinx Debug Window. I also tried substituting Nudge_Left, Nudge_Right and Nudge_Forward with the same results. However, if I change the Nudge commands to Flipper commands, my shaker motor activates with every flipper press. 

 

Thanks again! 

 

   - Mark

[DDH69]

@DDH69; 

 

Thank you! 

 

I did get everything working. I first read the Quicker Start Guide and watched Terry Red's Video.

 

After I got it working, I read the full Guide for a better understanding. 

 

If you don't mind a couple follow-up questions: 

 

1) Are there any sources of alternate .FX and .FX3 files outside of the DofLinx Installation Package?

 

2) Is Nudge Button detection working in FX3?

 

I see NudgeLeft, NudgeRight and NudgeForward in the FX3 configuration files. However, Nudge never activates my shaker, and there is no record of Nudge button presses in the DofLinx Debug Window. I also tried substituting Nudge_Left, Nudge_Right and Nudge_Forward with the same results. However, if I change the Nudge commands to Flipper commands, my shaker motor activates with every flipper press. 

 

Thanks again! 

 

   - Mark

 

1. Not that I am aware of.  I wouldn't expect alternate sets to be required, its more likely that people will adjust the FX files for slightly different actions.

2. Yes, same setup as FX3.  Remember to change your nudge keys in the FX setup.

 

The names are different between FX3 and FX.

[Garyl38]

Just wondering? I know FX is being worked on first, but will there be a lot of work required to get Pinball M working? Or does it work the same as FX? Similar way of setting up?

Thanks

[DDH69]

Just wondering? I know FX is being worked on first, but will there be a lot of work required to get Pinball M working? Or does it work the same as FX? Similar way of setting up?

Thanks

 

Pinball M is a separate product from Zen.  I have done no work, nor had any discussion with Zen about Pinball M as yet.

[mshaker]

@DDH69; 

 

Thanks again! I greatly appreciate the info you provided and for sharing your work with us. 

 

I get the feeling that FX sends a notice to DOFLinx when the nudge button is pressed, but DOFLinx just uses the direct keypress to detect FX3 nudge button presses.
(I deliberately had not configured my buttons in doflink.ini, yet DOFLinx detects nudges for FX, but not for FX3.)

 

I'm not specifically interested in nudge feedback. I'm just getting a feel for how things work and that provided an easy way to test DOFLink's operation.

 

   - Mark

[DDH69]

@DDH69; 

 

Thanks again! I greatly appreciate the info you provided and for sharing your work with us. 

 

I get the feeling that FX sends a notice to DOFLinx when the nudge button is pressed, but DOFLinx just uses the direct keypress to detect FX3 nudge button presses.
(I deliberately had not configured my buttons in doflink.ini, yet DOFLinx detects nudges for FX, but not for FX3.)

 

I'm not specifically interested in nudge feedback. I'm just getting a feel for how things work and that provided an easy way to test DOFLink's operation.

 

   - Mark

 

Essentially yes.  In more detail;

 

PinballFX

DOFLinx receives all events from PinballFX via a DLL that I wrote and Zen kindly integrated with.  So real time interprocess event handling.  Freezy provided moral and technical support.  These events essentially the game ID selected, flipper, nudge, in play, in lane at menu, and dependent on the table a bunch of other events.  We're all still working out some of the table events.
DOFLinx sends key strokes for nudge, and at present unsuccessfully, plunger.

 

PinballFX3

DOFLinx monitors the memory of the running process for changes and generates its own triggers for this for table events and flipper.
DOFLinx sends key strokes for nudge, and plunger (for some as yet unknown reason, plunger has stopped working.

 

Nudge and plunger are slight exceptions to the logic.

 

So the logic of FX3 is that no nudge event is received, DOFLinx only knows that its sending a key stroke to initiate nudge.  As such, DOFLinx runs its nudge actions knowing, that all working well, a nudge will occur.  If this was done with PinballFX then you'd get the nudge action trigger twice, once on sending the nudge keystroke and the second because a nude event is received, hence for PinballFX its send key, wait for event, run action.  For FX3 its send key, run action.

[mshaker]

@DDH69; 

 

Sorry to bother you again, but you keep making the mistake of being helpful! 

 

I'm good with all the human readable stuff in the .FX and .FX3 files. 

 

Is there any public documentation on the FX3 memory mapped stuff?

 

I tried decoding the Base64 lines into several common character sets, but got nothing readable, so I assume it's just HEX. 

 

Thanks again! 

 

   - Mark

[DDH69]

@DDH69; 

 

Sorry to bother you again, but you keep making the mistake of being helpful! 

 

I'm good with all the human readable stuff in the .FX and .FX3 files. 

 

Is there any public documentation on the FX3 memory mapped stuff?

 

I tried decoding the Base64 lines into several common character sets, but got nothing readable, so I assume it's just HEX. 

 

Thanks again! 

 

   - Mark

 

 

No there is not.  What are you trying to achieve?  Commands can be added in plain text to the FX3 files, happy to help. 

[mshaker]

@DDH69; 

 

My only DOF Devices are a Knocker, Shaker and Fire Button Lamp. 

 

Mostly I just want to add or adjust shaker effects. 

 

Ex: On A-Force: 

      FX3: Hitting Titanium Man has no effect. 

      FX:   Hitting Titanium Man causes the shaker to activate for 4 or 5 seconds.

 

     In both cases. I would like the shaker to activate for maybe .5 seconds.

 

   - Mark

Edited by mshaker, 06 June 2024 - 12:13 AM.

[DDH69]

@DDH69; 

 

My only DOF Devices are a Knocker, Shaker and Fire Button Lamp. 

 

Mostly I just want to add or adjust shaker effects. 

 

Ex: On A-Force: 

      FX3: Hitting Titanium Man has no effect. 

      FX:   Hitting Titanium Man causes the shaker to activate for 4 or 5 seconds.

 

     In both cases. I would like the shaker to activate for maybe .5 seconds.

 

   - Mark

 

Probably not quite as simple as you would like.  Let me explain.

 

For PinballFX there is no event / action for the shaker in A-Force except for NUDGE.  The only logical way that you can get a shaker in FX is that the table i sending a NUDGE event, which some tables do.

 

In FX3 I can't see any event for TItanium Man, there is a "sensor_hole_titanium" , you could try attaching a shaker event to that and see if it give the action you want.  To do this add this to the bottom of the MarvelsWomenofPowerAForce.FX file

 

sensor_hole_titanium|ON|FF_Dev DV_SH,2000

 

Each change you want to do may or may not have an appropriate event.

[mshaker]

@DDH69; 

 

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and time. 

 

I will continue to experiment and tweak what I can. I'll also look forward to any future releases of DOFLinx and DOFLinx Configuration Files! 

 

   - Mark