Creek

Just wanted to say great job Brian. It's awesome to see your tireless appetite for helping others. I think I speak for all of us, when I say it's greatly appreciated.

Hmm.. I experienced the same freezing of Mame videos, I just figured it was because I just copied over the newest set of EmuMovies from Circo, and I may have som codec issues, so I went back to the old set I had, and that runs smooth.

Also, I found this guide very useful. http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Hiding_Windows

Certainly. 05:31:00.0 09-09-2007: GameEx: Version 8.88: Starting Log 05:31:00.0 09-09-2007: Operating System Platform: Win32NT 05:31:00.0 09-09-2007: Operating System Name: Windows XP 05:31:00.0 09-09-2007: Operating System Version: 5.1.2600 05:31:00.0 09-09-2007: Checking for versions of .net Framework installed 05:31:00.0 09-09-2007: .net Framework 1.1 Installed 05:31:00.0 09-09-2007: .net Framework 2.0 Installed 05:31:00.0 09-09-2007: Intel® Pentium® 4 CPU 2.00GHz, 767MB 05:31:00.0 09-09-2007: 1,99Ghz 05:31:00.0 09-09-2007: Running Randomize() 05:31:00.0 09-09-2007: Loading PlugIns 05:31:00.0 09-09-2007: Checking for applications to Launch On Startup 05:31:00.0 09-09-2007: Running Misc startup tasks 05:31:00.0 09-09-2007: Setting Menu types 05:31:00.0 09-09-2007: Opening Configuration File 05:31:00.0 09-09-2007: Getting Configuration Values 05:31:00.0 09-09-2007: Using Theme: Default - Dark Gloss 05:31:00.0 09-09-2007: Checking for alternate Image Directory for Theme: Default - Dark Gloss 05:31:00.1 09-09-2007: Launching HideOS.exe 05:31:00.1 09-09-2007: Initialising Video/MNG DLL's 05:31:00.1 09-09-2007: Hiding Taskbar 05:31:00.1 09-09-2007: Is Media Center running? 05:31:00.1 09-09-2007: Checking/Creating LCD Registry values 05:31:00.1 09-09-2007: Check Media Center Exit/Start Mode 05:31:00.1 09-09-2007: Media Center Mode 0 05:31:00.1 09-09-2007: Video previews on. Warning: Only recommended on modern systems 05:31:00.2 09-09-2007: Snap Delay set to: 2 05:31:00.2 09-09-2007: Get other settings 05:31:00.2 09-09-2007: Mouse Input is disabled 05:31:00.2 09-09-2007: SlikStik support enabled 05:31:00.2 09-09-2007: Start work for Form 05:31:00.2 09-09-2007: Getting Original Screen Size 05:31:00.2 09-09-2007: Opening Database Connection 05:31:00.5 09-09-2007: Initializing Component 05:31:00.6 09-09-2007: Retrieving resolution setting 05:31:00.6 09-09-2007: Creating Radio Station Genres 05:31:00.7 09-09-2007: Succesfully created station genres 05:31:00.7 09-09-2007: MAME Path is: C:\Arkade\Emulatorer\MAME\MAME v106 05:31:00.7 09-09-2007: daphne Path is: F:\@Arkade2\@Emulatorer\Daphne\Daphne_v0.99.7 05:31:00.7 09-09-2007: daphne EXE file is: Daphne.exe 05:31:00.8 09-09-2007: Use daphne on. Daphne.exe will launch games 05:31:00.8 09-09-2007: MAME EXE file is: mame.exe 05:31:00.8 09-09-2007: ROM Path is: C:\Arkade\Emulatorer\MAME\roms 05:31:00.8 09-09-2007: Catver.ini Not Found 05:31:00.8 09-09-2007: History.dat Not Found 05:31:00.8 09-09-2007: nplayers.ini Not Found 05:31:00.8 09-09-2007: MAMEinfo.dat Not Found 05:31:00.8 09-09-2007: Loading Controls.ini map file 05:31:00.8 09-09-2007: Snap Path is: F:\@Arkade2\@Emulatorer\MAME\Snaps 05:31:00.8 09-09-2007: AVI Snap Path is: F:\@Arkade2\@Emulatorer\MAME\Snaps 05:31:00.8 09-09-2007: Flyer Path is: C:\Arkade\Emulatorer\MAME\flyers 05:31:00.8 09-09-2007: Cabinet Path is: C:\Arkade\Emulatorer\MAME\cabinets 05:31:00.8 09-09-2007: Title Path is: C:\Arkade\Emulatorer\MAME\titles 05:31:00.8 09-09-2007: PCB Path: Not Found 05:31:00.8 09-09-2007: Artwork Preview Path: Not Found 05:31:00.8 09-09-2007: Panel Path is: C:\Arkade\Emulatorer\MAME\cpanel 05:31:00.8 09-09-2007: Manual Path: Not Found 05:31:00.8 09-09-2007: Icon Path: Not Found 05:31:00.8 09-09-2007: Marquee Path is: C:\Arkade\Emulatorer\MAME\marquees 05:31:00.9 09-09-2007: Loading Custom Emulators 05:31:00.9 09-09-2007: Loading Emulator 1: Pinball (Future Pinball) 05:31:00.9 09-09-2007: Loading Emulator 2: Pinball (Visual Pinball) 05:31:01.0 09-09-2007: Loading Emulator 3: Nintendo 64 05:31:01.0 09-09-2007: Loading Emulator 4: Super Nintendo 05:31:01.1 09-09-2007: Loading Emulator 5: Nintendo Entertainment System 05:31:01.1 09-09-2007: Loading Emulator 6: Sega Mega Drive 05:31:01.2 09-09-2007: Loading Emulator 7: Sega Master System 05:31:01.2 09-09-2007: Loading Emulator 8: NEC PC Engine 05:31:01.3 09-09-2007: Loading Emulator 9: NEC PC Engine CD 05:31:01.4 09-09-2007: Loading Emulator 10: Commodore Amiga 05:31:01.4 09-09-2007: Loading Emulator 11: Gameboy Advance 05:31:01.5 09-09-2007: Loading Emulator 12: Gameboy 05:31:01.9 09-09-2007: Using 3D Alpha Blended Animations. This could be slow 05:31:01.9 09-09-2007: Using General Font: Trebuchet MS 05:31:01.9 09-09-2007: Using Title Font: Trebuchet MS 05:31:01.9 09-09-2007: Attempting to load game list 05:31:02.2 09-09-2007: Initialising DirectDraw 05:31:02.3 09-09-2007: Creating DirectDraw Device 05:31:02.3 09-09-2007: Using Device: Primær skærmdriver 05:31:02.5 09-09-2007: 125mb video memory available 05:31:02.6 09-09-2007: Setting Resolution to 800x600 16 bit color 05:31:02.6 09-09-2007: Creating DirectDraw Surfaces 05:31:02.6 09-09-2007: Creating Primary Surface - Full Screen Mode 05:31:02.7 09-09-2007: Creating Back Buffer 05:31:02.7 09-09-2007: Loading graphic Surfaces 05:31:02.8 09-09-2007: Display is running at: 800x600 16bit color, 60hz 05:31:02.8 09-09-2007: Creating Surfaces Misc and Dialogs 05:31:02.8 09-09-2007: Creating Surfaces Volume 05:31:02.8 09-09-2007: Creating Surfaces Arrows 05:31:02.9 09-09-2007: Creating Surfaces GameEXlogo Text 05:31:02.9 09-09-2007: Creating Surfaces Toolbar 05:31:02.9 09-09-2007: Creating Surfaces Backgrounds 05:31:03.1 09-09-2007: Creating Surfaces Toolbar Controls 05:31:03.1 09-09-2007: Creating Surfaces GameEx Logo 05:31:03.1 09-09-2007: Creating Surfaces Home & Exit 05:31:03.1 09-09-2007: Creating Surfaces Snaps 05:31:03.1 09-09-2007: Creating Surfaces Menu and List Bars 05:31:03.2 09-09-2007: Creating Fonts 05:31:03.2 09-09-2007: Creating Menu Font 05:31:03.3 09-09-2007: Restoring Menu Font From Cache 05:31:03.3 09-09-2007: Creating Game Font 05:31:03.4 09-09-2007: Creating Font Black 05:31:03.6 09-09-2007: Creating Font Black Small 05:31:03.8 09-09-2007: Creating Game Font Faded 05:31:03.9 09-09-2007: Creating Title Font 05:31:03.9 09-09-2007: Restoring Title Font From Cache 05:31:04.0 09-09-2007: Fonts Created Succesfully 05:31:04.0 09-09-2007: 103mb video memory left available 05:31:04.0 09-09-2007: Creating instance of global keyboard hook 05:31:04.0 09-09-2007: Text/Language: Danish 05:31:04.0 09-09-2007: Applying Language/Text 05:31:04.0 09-09-2007: Initialising Bass Audio Library 05:31:04.3 09-09-2007: MAME CMD options: -triplebuffer -nowindow -joy 05:31:04.3 09-09-2007: Loading last used Game List 05:31:04.3 09-09-2007: Loading Start Page 05:31:04.3 09-09-2007: Setting Music Volume 05:31:04.3 09-09-2007: Cannot Load Play List. Check Path and filename 05:31:04.3 09-09-2007: Creating DirectSound Device 05:31:04.4 09-09-2007: Trying: Primær lyddriver 05:31:04.4 09-09-2007: Loading Sound Files 05:31:04.4 09-09-2007: DirectSound Device Created Successfully 05:31:04.4 09-09-2007: Gamepad/Joystick disabled 05:31:04.4 09-09-2007: Initialising DirectInput for Keyboard support 05:31:04.5 09-09-2007: Playing Startup Video 05:31:07.5 09-09-2007: Playing intro sound file 05:31:07.5 09-09-2007: Initializing MCE Remote 05:31:07.5 09-09-2007: Initialization OK! Starting GameEx! 05:31:07.5 09-09-2007: Testing Main Loop Once: Processing Frame 05:31:08.1 09-09-2007: Testing Main Loop Once: Main Loop ran successfully 05:31:40.7 09-09-2007: Exiting GameEx! 05:31:40.7 09-09-2007: Saving Settings 05:31:41.9 09-09-2007: Disposing Plugins 05:31:41.9 09-09-2007: Closing database connection 05:31:41.9 09-09-2007: Checking for applications to Launch On Exit I'll investigate further, as the problem seems to be at my end.

I just updated GameEx to v8.88, and still have problems with the picture slideshow (worked in v8.78 and earlier). I can open an image one at a time, and browse through them manually. Its just the automated slideshow, where nothing happens. Following is a screenshot of the image folder, and one where the slideshow hangs and never starts. Here's the last couple of lines from the log. The only thing I did, was to go directly into the image folder, and trying to start a slideshow. Not sure if GameEx normally logs the image/slideshow feature, but here it is: 02:28:25.8 09-09-2007: Initialization OK! Starting GameEx! 02:28:25.8 09-09-2007: Testing Main Loop Once: Processing Frame 02:28:26.5 09-09-2007: Testing Main Loop Once: Main Loop ran successfully 02:32:20.1 09-09-2007: Exiting GameEx! 02:32:20.1 09-09-2007: Saving Settings 02:32:22.2 09-09-2007: Disposing Plugins 02:32:22.2 09-09-2007: Closing database connection 02:32:22.2 09-09-2007: Checking for applications to Launch On Exit

For me with v0.106 excluding CHD's, it takes about 20-25 minutes with pretty much everything filtered and with catver.ini, history.dat and what not.

Well in my case, I have all my roms and emulator stuff placed on a server (only accessable when I take the PC out of my MAME cab to update the software), mapped via a network drive. To me it made sense, but I guess its not a feature that's generally needed, as most people just have the floppies placed locally. In that case a "delete option" would probably be more widely useable, and I could certainly live with that .

Dang.. I only see one feature missing. The option of copying the floppies used for the UAE configs over in a seperate folder (requires the floppy path's in the configs to be written with the rom destination folder). That way you can save a lot of harddrive space, as the TOSEC set is at about 25 gigs I believe. A buddy of mine and I created a simple script earlier this week, that created a config and copied the floppies over to a seperate folder, also for the TOSEC collection. Though in the current version, only games with a single floppy gets configured. But it is evident, that it saves loads of vital space. Please let me know if you plan on implementing the "copy" feature, as I won't bother my friend to continue work on our script. Also, with that feature, TosecStractor would be a more fitting name for the program.

I found this on a google search. Found here

Oh! I'll definately try that, thanks. You just made my day jombee. I don't know how Mame32FX could have slipped under my radar.

I made its acquaintance some time ago, when we had it installed on 10 of our PC's in the PC club where I'm chairman of the board. The member who was responsible for installing it, forgot the password to the control console, rendering the PC's pretty much useless. Other than that, it was a pretty effective program. So a reminder to those of you who choose to buy it.. don't ever forget the password.

Oh! I'll definately try that, thanks.

An upcoming search feature got me thinking. Here's a couple of ideas I think would be cool. I took a random screenshot from the homepage, depicting the default theme. So idea number 2 looks a little misplaced, but its just to visualize my idea. 1: A "Search" button next to the "Home" and "Exit" buttons would give access to the search feature on every page of GameEx. 2: When typing the text criteria with a control panel, the alphabet is shown as pictured. Left, right and Enter navigates. Some sort of autocompletion would be awesome, but maybe a little too ambitious? I assume you got a lot of ideas yourself Tom, so merely see these as (ingenious) suggestions. Admittedly, I don't know if this is even possible with V2 themes.

I noticed that the Pictures slideshow no longer works, after an update from 8.78 -> 8.84. I'll admit I didn't investigate it further, as we were busy gaming on the cab all night. I'll see if I get a chance to check it out this weekend.

I wonder if an anti-virus or firewall program is at fault. If you have any set up, try disabling it momentarily. The log does say its an erroneous SQL argument, but having done some things with Access databases myself, I know it can be difficult sometimes to pinpoint the actual problem. I also have a suspicion it could be a question of rights. Are you logged into windows with an administrator account? If not, try that. Just a couple of ideas that may be worth trying.

Beautiful. Great job.

You can uninstall "Microsoft .NET Framework" v1.1 and v2.0 in "Add/Remove Programs" and get them again via Windows Update.

I'm running mame v0.106, and the only cause for that is, that it is the latest mame build I've found to support saved highscores, which I can't live without. I'm considering setting up an additional MAME emulator, which I'll continually update to the latest version and on that have roms from version 0.106 and up.

Wow, how could i have missed this tool. It's absolutely essential for setting up Visual Pinball and Future Pinball in a front end. I just accidentally stumped upon it through a search for something else. How about a link on GameEx.net under "Wrappers and Utils"? It not only saved me loads of time sorting/copying, it also motivated me to figure out the problems I had setting FP and VP up in GameEx. So as of now, FP and VP both run smooth and the tool is processing the last folder with tables for VP. Can't wait to get them running on my cab. A couple of tiny requests, if you decide on adding more to it. 1. Save paths: Saving the paths and settings in an ini for next time you run the program. 2. Add ".vbs;" to "Also copy", as for example Black Knight 2000 has a couple of script files in its folder, and doesn't work without it.

I'm with the other guys. V3 themes sounds awesome, but a search option is marginally more awesome.

I just updated from 8.78 to 8.83 earlier this evening, so my update process doesn't even keep up with the new releases. That's awesome. Keep it up.

Updated danish translation. Danish_v8.83.zip

Yeah, I got an Ipac too. Although, I had to remap the P1 Start+P2 Start shiftmapping in the ipac tool, because we all too often accidentally exited games in buttonsmashers, such as shoot'em'ups, where you die all the time. But autohotkey is certainly the way to go, if you don't want to waste any space for an escape button.

Great idea. CONTROLS: Custom made 4 player controlpanel, powered by an I-Pac4. DISPLAY: 29" Sony WEGA TV Nvidia Geforce 5900XT SYSTEM: Windows XP SP2, 512mb of RAM, Intel Pentium 4 2GHz, 160gb HD. Modified boot screen with Bootskin and a MAME theme. THEME Default - Dark Gloss. MAME SETUP Version: HoffMame v0.119 (Sexual Chocolate Edition) DATs catver.ini, hiscore.dat, history.dat, mameinfo.dat, Nplayers.ini Other: Circo's EmuMovies Video Snaps, Other screenshots, artwork, etc. EMULATORS Laserdisc (Daphne v0.99.7) Nintendo 64 (Project 64 v1.6) Super Nintendo (ZSNES v1.42) Nintendo Entertainment System (JNes v0.6) Gameboy Advance, Color, Mono (VisualBoyAdvance v1.8.0b3) Sega Master System, Mega Drive (Kega Fusion v3.51) NEC TurboGrafX-16 / PC Engine + PC Engine CD (Magic Engine v1.0) Future Pinball v1.6b + Visual Pinball v7 (Used Headkaze's PleasureExtractor tool for sorting tables for both emulators) Commodore Amiga (WinUAE v1.4.2) Created a custom made utillity with a buddy of mine, for creating config files from the GameBase Amiga set. PM me if you want it. PLANNED EMULATORS Commodore 64, Vic-20. Atari 2600, 5200, 7800, Jaguar, Lynx. Vectrex, Colecovision Intellivision

Great to see the dedication you've put into this project. One of the things that makes GameEx so great, in my eyes, are the huge amount of customizable features it holds, while still keeping it easy to setup. Many of the features I now take for granted, I would have never thought of myself. So happy birthday GameEx, and may there be many more.