11 replies to this topic

[doomeniko]

Hello, I am using DOFLinx for Pinball M tables and it triggers most of the stuff I need except for one annoying detail: My RGB Undercab Complex MX is not lit. 

What I have tried: 

1) add a SUP.ini but I can't seem to find the right DOF command, even when I use the tools provided by Terry and his DOF effects ROM from the Dof Config Tool. Since he doesn't use Undercab MX on that ROM, I copy/pasted the commands from the RGB Undercab section to the MX section but to no avail.

 

Even lighting my undercab in white with a simple E42 command doesn't work but I am probably missing other parameters. I am using FF_DOF=E42,-1 and nothing happens.

 

2) I tried to modify the DoFlinx.ini file directly but I have a dude and a teensy and I don't find the device for my Teensy, I only have the dude on device 1. I also think, that doesn't handle MX commands anyway, and only RGB commands so I dropped that option.

How could I simply turn ON my RGB undercab complex MX in a fixed white color (to start with something simple) when I launch a pinball M table with popper? the SUP file is recognized and reads without error when I check the log. I only need a simple color on per table to make my day. I feel I'm close but still missing an essential step.

Thank you.

Edited by doomeniko, 15 March 2026 - 11:04 AM.

[DDH69]

OK, so, welcome with your first post here.

 

You have picked on a topic that I have been intending to get around to for some time but never have.  For some reason your post today has inspired me, so let's make it work!  I will write this post so that you, and anyone else we link in that wants to play along can test this.

 

Firstly, one of the reasons I've never made this work is that I've never got around to adding undercab MX, I have undercab RGB.  My next cabinet will have undercan MX, so lets get this working ready for that 

 

There are two parts needed here, some new DOF ROM commands to display the undercab MX and LINX (Pinball M) and FX (Pinball FX) files for the respective table.  So I've added the ROM commands to the doflinx ROM which runs all the Pinball M tables and many of the FX tables.  I will start with a LINX file for Pinball M Wrath of the Elder Gods.

 

1. I have updated the doflinx ROM.  Go to the DOF config tool, check that its above version 5300, then download and install a new configuration for yourself.

2. Unzip and install the attached LINX file

 

This should start a slow 50% loaded turquoise twinkling effect at game start and stop on exit

 

Try it out, report back.

 

 

Attached Files

•  M_WrathElderGods.zip   1.33KB   4 downloads

[doomeniko]

Oh wow, I am humbled that you took time and effort to answer this! Even though it's my first post I'm really appreciative of all the work you have done for the community so far. So thanks a lot! I am currently traveling but will test this later this week and report on the results.

[doomeniko]

Ok so there is progress but it's not there yet. When the table launches, my undercab flashes once very briefly with the right blue color then nothing else happens.

 

The debug log shows that the parameter FF_DOF=E335,-1 is processed without error.

 

EDIT : if I remove
 

[SHUTDOWN]

FF_DOF=E335,0

 

from the .linx file then it works perfectly and it also shuts off when I exit the table. Yay! that's great. Thank you.

Edited by doomeniko, 18 March 2026 - 09:56 PM.

[DDH69]

Let me have a look, sounds like we're close.

[DDH69]

OK, I think this has shown up a bug for LINX based tables.  Working on it now.

[DDH69]

So I've found the issue and done a fix.  I believe the fix is good, but ultimately without undercab addressable LEDs cannot be 100% sure.

 

I can see how your work around of removing the [SHUTDOWN] section made this work temporarily.

 

I have attached a new beta version which will run in DEBUG mode and should resolve the issue with the [SHUTDOWN] section in place as it should be.  If you could find time to save your current DOFLinx.exe , place this beta version in its place, revert to the test LINX file with the [SHUTDOWN] section and test that would be great.  If for some reason it does not work, send me your DOFLinx.LOG file.

 

Once tested, revert back to the original DOFLinx.exe .  If all is well I will do a v9.12 release version and start some updates to the various LINX and FX files.

Attached Files

•  DOFLinx_v912_b1.zip   501.73KB   1 downloads

[doomeniko]

Thanks a lot for the update. It works as intended!

EDIT: Since I get to talk to you directly, I have another question that is related. I have a few original VPX tables with no RGB undercab complex MX either. They don't use the dof config tool and handle DOF directly in their script. I was wondering if I could use DOFLinx with those tables as a way to trigger missing effects through the generic DOFlinx rom? Switch my undercab on when the table doesn't do it through its script for example?

One of the latest example is the recent LOST IN SPACE modded table (comic-book version) from Dr. Jones. When I look at the script, I don't see anything regarding the original lostspc rom so adding undercab MX effects to that rom in the DOF config tool doesn't have any impact on the game.

Should I start a new thread about this? Or is it a flat no go?

Edited by doomeniko, 20 March 2026 - 05:59 PM.

[DDH69]

Great.  I will make some updates to the PinballM table files (.LINX) file soon and ad them to the standard distribution (and post here for you to try!)  I will then get into the Pinball FX tables, these will take a bit longer as they use a variety of ROMs, not just "doflinx".  Do you have Pinball FX as well?

 

To you VPX question.  I am unfamiliar with tables that do not use ROMs, so am going ahead assuming you are correct on this.  Ultimately you could test this by turning on DOF debugging in the XML file and then look at the log after playing the table in question.

 

I have thoughts, but this is theory only ....

 

1. If the table uses a ROM, then add your MX undercab code to your personal version and use a code ie E50, S20, T4 that the table already has and calls early, ie a flipper, launch switch, etc.  That will start your MX LEDs and provided you use code like I have in the doflinx ROM, it will run until you quit the table.

 

2. Via DOFLinx you could use FF_ROM=doflinx to load the DOFLinx ROM then call FF_DOF=E336,-1 (or whatever colour you want from the range I've setup.  This will load the doflinx ROM and start a display.  When the table finished FF_DOF=E336,0 to stop it.  You can send these commands via a supplementary INI file or on the command line, both with DOFLinxMsg  - you can try this with no table running just from a command prompt and watching the DOFLinx log roll up the screen.  If it works you will just need to trigger run before and run after batch files from your menu system.  Let me know if you need more help on this.

[doomeniko]

Thanks, I will try both your suggestions and report asap.

I was even thinking about creating a bunch of .bat files with different colors that I could trigger manually with a push of a button in case the undercab complex MX is off. I'd assign these to the stream deck since I use that device in my cab anyway. Could this be possible with your second point? Would try this as well.

***EDIT: THIS WORKS FOR ORIGINAL TABLES THAT DON'T USE A ROM***

And yes, I also use FX and FX3. Some roms already had undercab complex MX so I used that code and tweaked the colors for a few other tables that didn't have anything and it worked. I don't remember if I copy pasted the RGB undercab line to the RGB undercab MX to achieve this. I did it a while back. Some tables don't have a ROM so I guess I could modify the .FX file the same way you did it with the .LINX you sent me?

Thanks!

Edited by doomeniko, 21 March 2026 - 10:59 PM.

[DDH69]

You can have a batch file run DOFLinxMsg to send messages for the ROM and ROM item, or your batch file can send the commands directly to the DOFLinx pipe.  There is an example of this in the DOFLinx Zip.

 

I will get working on the FX tables soon.  I will do the ones using the doflinx ROM first, then those with the older fx2_ based ROMs which may break your workaround eventually.

 

I've attached a full set of Pinball M LINX files.  Just replace the ones you have.  These are now the default files.

Attached Files

•  PinballM.zip   14.6KB   4 downloads

[doomeniko]

Amazing. Thanks for your work and reactivity!