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Tom, Great product! On the issue... I used the "Cancel" function of MAME to exit back to GameEx from Q-Bert (4-way diag). I used the "ShellOnExit" to set the joystick map to a 4-Way for menu navigation. I would immediately exit GameEx and launch UltraMap to validate the current loaded map and it was never set to what I had listed for "ShellOnExit". I did check the paths, command line, etc., both in the Config GUI and the GameEx.ini file, but a second set of eyes would be good. Thank you.

Headkaze, Thank you for the link. I downloaded the plugin and it was a SNAP to install. I am having some issues with my diagonal maps which I noted to the author at the link you provided. I am in a quandary right now.... Choice A -- Manually setup GameEx and call pre-execution / post-execution scripts to establish proper maps on joysticks.... There were two little issues with GameEx that I posted (one here) that is preventing me from accomplishing this 100%. Choice B -- Use UltraStik Plugin (preferred method) Here I am not able to use diagonal maps properly (posted this as well). I am almost there and would appreciate any assistance (I believe all reported issues are being worked) or advice you could provide. If "Sit Tight... there will be fixes..." is the answer... I am happy with this as well. Thanks. -Alan Y.

I downloaded it and I am looking into it. I will close this thread out with my results... hopefully very successful! Thanks! -Alan Y.

Brian, "ShellBeforeLaunch" and "ShellOnExit" are GameEx functions. They are used to launch commands before MAME starts and after MAME exits. 2nd Screen of the Advanced MAME setup section. I use these to flash a map to my joystick. This allows me to dynamically set my joystick to 2-way(up/down), 2-way(left/right), 4-way, 4-way diagonals, 8-way, analog, etc. for each game I start.... so I do not need a dozen physical joysticks. I have actually mapped the MAME "Cancel" function to Joystick1 Button8. This works just fine. -Alan Y.

I am using GameEx ver. 8.88 When using the [CONTROL] function of "ShellBeforeLaunch", I am getting an incorrect code. I am trying to launch the games 1941, 1942, 1943 which are all "8-way" joysticks. When I launch the game and set an incorrect map for my joystick, the errorlog (debuging technique) shows a control code of '4'. This sets the joystick map to a 4-way. The 8-Way control code should be '3' based on the data in the controlmap.csv file. I also checked the controls.ini file and all of these games are set to "8-way". Please advise. Thank you. -Alan Y.

I have GameEx ver. 8.88 When a MAME game is selected, I use "ShellBeforeLaunch" to flash my Ultimarc UltraStik 360 Joystick to the appropriate mode using the [CONTROL] function of GameEx to call the correct map. This seems to be working GREAT! Then, when I exit MAME by the only way I can (MAME Cancel Function called with [Esc]) I am promptly returned to GameEx. I have the option "ShellOnExit" set to flash my joystick back to a 4-Way mode. "ShellOnExit" never gets called. I have verified this by putting a bad joystick map in place and checking the errorlog and also checking the current joystick map after a MAME and GameEx exit. The joystick map is always set to the last game I played. Please advise. Thank you. -Alan Y.

No sir. I saved off the original. Thanks. -Alan Y.

I read the other post about modifying the custominput.ini file.... I did a lot of that. Apparently when the custominput.ini file is parsed, GameEx is looking for fields in a certain place. I Added, Removed and Changed this information. I unfortunately do not have a joypad... just many arcade joysticks, buttons and controllers. -Alan Y.

I used the "Home" function from the keyboard area.... so I added, changed the order and deleted the items I did not want. I thought I read this thread and it was updated or resolved. I could be wrong. I am going to replace the file to its original state, turn off the joystick controls and try to Auto Hotkey program to accomplish my tasks. It might take me a day or two, but I will post my results for closure. I am still extremely impressed and happy with GameEx. I work for a SW company... I know the woes of SW! This is only one small unique configuration that isn't working as I "would like". So no worries. Thanks. -Alan Y.

Brian, I do realize that in custominput.ini 0=Button1, 1=Button2, 2=Button3. What I just tried / verified (they are all on their own line like in the file I attached previously)... Select=0, Back=1, Home=2 Select and Home do NOT work, Back=1 (my previous e-mail was incorrect) Select=1, Back=2, Home=0 Select, Back and Home work fine. Select=2, Back=0, Home=1 This is where the mapping changes... (after GameEx launches) Home=0, Back=N/A, Select=2 Back does NOT work on any button up to 15. It looks like Home has to equal "0" in ALL cases and in some, Home gets re-mapped to "0". Please advise. Thank you. -Alan Y

Brian, Excellent! I did not know it was a 3rd party product. I will go through it thoroughly! It appears to accomplish what I am looking for. If I run into trouble, I will reach out... Thanks! I will take my enhancement requests to the other venue. Thank you. -Alan Y

Brian, Thank you for responding. So there is a limited set (for now) of what can be changed in the custominput.ini. This should be "ok", but it would be nice to have some of the other capabilities so I do not have to use all kinds of [shift] / [Ctrl] key combinations to access Volume (up / down) or Game Information. I have game info turned off, but would like to be able to access it easily to read periodically. Most likely, I will have to wire up a microprocessor relay to switch the multi-button combination. I would like to be able to set this in the custominput.ini. Ok, now about the "Auto Hot Keys" script.... I was not able to find any documentation on the GameEx site referencing this. Can you provide me with a link to read about this or an example of this AHK script so I can work on it. My intent is to understand 100% how I can use and interface with GameEx in my cabinet so I can make any mods / tweaks if needed. I do appreciate you offering to author the script for me... I would like a little knowledge / direction so I can work it out. Lastly, the mapping / numbers do not change in the custominput.ini file, the results when I try to use the mappings in GameEx do. I have tried to set "Select", "Back" and "Home" using numbers from 0-6 (buttons 1-7) and the mappings change with somewhat unpredictable results. I think that either GameEx is not interperting the mappings correctly, or is not passing the correct codes to my UltraStik. I am willing to work with you to troubleshoot this to fix this issue. I really believe something is not working 100% correct here. Would you like me to take this item up on a different forum ?? I attached a zip file with a small screenshot from Windows, Control Pannel, Game Controllers. I pressed button 1 and took a screenshot. I want to show you what I have and that my button 1 is working properly (brighter red). I also enclosed my custominput.ini file. The joystick mapping does work, but like I mentioned, I am NOT able to get the following to work: Select=0. Thank you. -Alan Y. screenshot_and_custominput.zip

Brian, zip file attachments... noted. Thanks. Issue #2... I am sorry I do not think I was clear.... the UltraStik 360 has its own button mappings. I am not using the I-PAC or its capabilities in this dicussion. The UltraStik attaches via a USB cable and provides a native buttons 1-8 and by holding 8, you can get 9-15. These are the buttons I am trying to program. I have looked into the scan codes and that is what I used to set the [Keyboard] section of my custominput.ini file. I have successfully set the buttons I mentioned in custominput.ini, but they very unpredictable results and some of the numbers change from what I put in the custominput.ini file. I would like someone to address this issue. I would also like someone to respond about item #1... regarding the Documentation and not showing all the control functions in the custominput.ini file. I have not been able to find this information in the FAQ section... this is why I am reaching out to the good people in this forum. Thank you for your response. -Alan Y.

All, I have evaluated many mame front ends for my cabinet and have decided on GameEx for its features and ease of use. I have a couple questions and comments regarding customized controls and a possible bug. I have the following setup: HW - HP Vectra VL420 w/1 Intel 2GHz CPU, 512 MB RAM, 1 SCSI boot drive, 1 ATA drive, Ultimarc Arcade VGA AGP video card OS - Windows 2000 SP-4 U2, all .net updates, Direct-X and updates.... latest sw and drivers from "Windows Update" GameEx - 8.88 registered mame - .116 command line Game Controls - 2-Ultimarc UltraStik 360 joysticks, Ultimarc I-PAC, and Opti-PAC controllers 1. I have read the Documentation on "Default Keys and Controls" and it lists ~35 items to control GameEx. When I view the custominput.ini file, it shows only a few for [Keyboard] and even less for [Joystick]. Where can I find the full list of controls and their syntax to use in custominput.ini ?? 2. With my UltraStiks attached, I tried to set the following to use Joystick buttons 1,2 and 3: Select=0 Back=1 Home=2 When I do this, none of the buttons work at all (1-15). I tried many combinations and the button numbers and assignments seem to move around. Under NO circumstance can I assign Select=Joystick 1 Button 1 (tried 0, 1, etc.) I am successfully using the following config, although I would really like Select to equal Joystick 1 Button 1: Select=1 Back=2 Home=0 I enclosed my custominput.ini file for scrutiny. It would not let me send and ini... so I renamed to .txt. I have Keyboard and Joystick Custom Controls turned on (set to YES) as well. Have I overlooked something / am I doing something wrong?? Is this a bug?? Overall, I am very happy with the product and it's capabilities. I am still muddling my way around the interface a bit. If at all possible, I would like to see a little better streamlined / user friendly configuration tool. Maybe Detect Game controllers and keyboards and allow a graphical interface to 'click' on the item and assign it to a GameEx Control... for us idiots. Thank you. -Alan Y. custominput.txt