greatflash

Sorry for the delay, [email protected] ALSO, **********Fanfare please********** This is a Tutorial for anyone wishing to create DB's for the wonderful GameEx. This was knock up in a few hours and may be missing information. HK please have a look at it and check all is ok, if so - is it worth adding it to the first entry or will it be missed? Who knows.... GameEx_Database_Manager_Tutorial.pdf

PS. Kept a log on the Colecovision DB, it took 14.5 hours to complete

I must admit that I do like that idea. It is always nice to have as much general information on a game or system available from within GameEx rather than recourse to a web browser. Sometimes you find a game you like and would love to know more. This can only be a good thing - how you would choose to implement it, i am not sure. Without getting told off (though I am sure i will), getting the game info (DB's) working fully in Gameex is something I would like to see first. From that working basis, other things could be added with ease (ish). Also... (god, here I go), having the option to add image paths to an individual emulator would also aid to this enlightenment of information . I personally have mag reviews, game maps, mag adverts, etc named for each game (as much as possible) that would be great to have the option to view from within GameEx. These I have started uploading to Emumovies. Oh well - now working on a Tutorial (Starter edition ) for the database manager in the hope others may see it is not too bad and join the project.. No harm trying...

Dum, dum, dum, dum, Another one bites the dust, dum, dum..... Ok, here is a DB for the Colecovision. This one contains all games from 3 DATS expanded fully. Every game has year, publisher, and description. This must be the most complete list of Colecovision games available. 3 of the release years have been found within the rom file itself as not displayed during play (no other site shows these years). The only modification to the DB over the previous DB's is an entry in genre for "Demo". This had to be added as the list contains demos that are not games, ie. graphical and aural. This will be a nice list for when the DB's go live... Intellivision next - after i do a Tutorial All the best to fellow GameEx lads and lasses. Strike me please HK HK: "[Console] Coleco Vision v1.031 (Flash)" received

I will have a Tutorial done by the weekend - HA, your are a marked man now

I will see what i can do in the next few days... I am very busy at the moment, but will see what i can to.

I didn't... Not really... Well, perhaps a little... A little fraction, a smidgeon, a wee bit...

Bugger me! You like a suggestion of mine... I can't wait to tell the wife.. Will have to go in the garden and dig her up first though Implementing it would need some good testing before released though.. There is a chance it could mess other matches (can't really see how though?).. Best get back to work! ps. if it helps, while typing i read the message using a billy connelly voice!

I would not have thought it would have stripped the version number in this instance? "xxx_v100", I could understand it if the version was bracketed, other than that; what would be the point of stripping it if it is an integral part of the filename? Anyway, the problem is that it does not find a match at all, only the first as stated in the original post. This is strange? Also, A thought! If the db's that you are trying to match to return the names with the () text removed, would it not be better to just match as much as the DB gives you rather than gameex removing data? I.e. [file] Pillowfighter (1983) == [db] Pillowfighter. So, if the DB only contains Pillowfighter, match with the first file that has this name! seeing as this match only needs to be done when reading a db, this would make it more versitile. So, if there was more data in the DB file, then Gameex could use this to further the match, making a hit of the first complete match. but [file] Pillowfighter (1983) == [db] Pillowfighter (1983). would also match then you could allow multiple versions of a rom and also strict matching for Gamebase64 and Spectrum roms. Gamebase64 example [file] Pillowfighter (111) <> [db] Pillowfighter (391). [file] Pillowfighter (111) == [db] Pillowfighter (111). [file] Pillowfighter (111) <> [db] Pillowfighter (883). Hope you follow, being an programmer i tend to write in the way i think! I have re-posted the DB, I had posted an earlier one in a post that you may have missed "Future pinball - doing the do for fp" that I could really use your comments on, so please visit it and catch up! pretty please. The suggestions I have made, i believe are VERY important to make the DB's perfect. To get a 100% match and also the correct dislayed name is what the DB's are really all about. What is the point of a perfect DB if GameEx does not manage them correctly so that data polled from them is either missed or incorrect? Sorry to get on my high horse, but blame HK for letting me on this project. He pulled me in with offers of fame and fortune. Feel a bit of a gullable tit now! _PC__Future_Pinball.zip

You did not say what format the videos are in, but this is a codec issue. Download the ffdshow pack linked from this site and install.. Hopefully this will sort it out for ya.

Sorry Tom.. Think i have found another error in the DB file matching while playing with a list (see topic) for Future Pinball. Files like this:- Kiss_V110.fpt KOD_V100.fpt MagicCity_V100.fpt RoyalFlush_V1.00.fpt fail to match with the db, even though the goodname is exactly the same (except for the .fpt extension removed) What is really strange is that the first occurence of a filename matching this format is matched??? but ALL subsequent ones are not. the first file is:- Airport_v100.fpt I have gone through the entire DB of 120 tables and these are the only ones that fail. I have included the DB cache file to see if that help??? Could this be related to the "..." eof problem? EMU_48.7z

Tom, Is there any chance of a Beta GameEx executable release like you did before for the original change for the PUBLISHER field in the new DB's. I could really do with a release that can use the DB's Name as a display option. The modification should be really easy to implement. All it needs is an option in the EMU ini to enable "GameEx naming convention" (functional only when a DB is used). When set to true (off by default) instead of displaying the filename found in the list, display the NAME field from the DB cache. If there is no match found in the DB for the file - use the filename as before. The Snaps would need to still use the standard matching format (goodtools, Tosec, No-intro, File) just as before, so no change there. The only other modifications needed is to disregard "Remove text in brackets", "Emulator - Game sorting" to NO CHANGE, and to sort the list using the NAME field. So, can I please ask "Pretty Please", I have no cherries to put on top, would a prune be ok? I will of course post before and after images to show the improvement it makes to a host of emulators, and am confident this would be a feature that would be much used.

The FPT file contains Table name (not always helpful) Version Author Rule Set And Short Description This is in the header along with settings for high scores, balls, fpram etc. I really don't think there is anything to be gained by writing a program to do this as a lot table creators dont fill all this in correctly. It is not too hard to enter them manually. It took me an hour or so to enter the data into the xml for 60 or so tables. But, this is all pointless without the mighty TOM allowing us to use the name field. At the moment my FP setup looks a real mess because of the FPT default filenames. The NAME field contains them all written nice and tidy..

Here is a post of an early XML version of the database. This is missing quite a few descriptions, but has all known years and publishers entered. That is all, just a starter for a FP db set. _PC__Future_Pinball_v1.005__Flash_.zip

HK - Have edited the editor to add future pinball to the list. Can't get the MDB to convert for some reason? So have started a nice clean XML one with proper descriptions retyped from the original flyers (when found).

Was talking to HK about a DB for Future Pinball, so decided to start one as a test. I have uploaded a test DB for both HK and Tom to look at. The Descriptions are not complete as I cannot put End-of-line and para breaks in easily in Access (how I missed your code HK). This db is really to show the need for an option to use the "NAME" field of the db as a display of the game/pintables name in the Gameex displayed list. Future pinball has no syntax to keep all names of .fpt's neat and tidy, though there is usually only one or 2 names for a single table. An example is "FPCE3kv1_1.ftp" this is "Close Encounters of the Third Kind". There is only one file to download currently with this name (though there are 2 blank fields in the db for others), so; by retaining the original downloaded filenames of the Future Pinball tables the DB will match them and show Publisher, Year, etc. I have used the "Category" field to relate to whether the table is Recreated or Original. At the moment, selecting Close Encounters in a Gameex list will only display "FPCE3kv1_1.ftp" unless Tom can give us the option to use the DB's Name field as a display name. Both I and HK would love to see this option added to the already great features of GameEx. In fact we have started a petition and after only 2 weeks of getting signatures - we have already got 2 Anyway, please feel free to take a look at the DB. Download a few FPT's (IRPinball a-f) and see what you think? The DB covers IRPINBAL A-F, Rooneys tables, and a few others. All the best! (PS. See Tom, I take these DB's VERY seriously :) ) Future_Pinball_FLASH__beta_.1_.rar

I blame MS totally - don't you worry. I even rang Bill Gates up, and he said that it was all his fault and that he was really sorry. I felt insulted when he tried to offer me money as a recompense for my troubles and had to turn him down. Then I went on the Microsoft website to add a written complaint for others and spotted a Paypal donate button, and the rest is history The sod has a personal wealh of 25 Billion AND 25 dollars now

oh no!!!! - Quick, try and wash it off with some Bleach!!!

I was thinking the same thing yesterday. In fact, sometimes gameex itself stops responding and Vista decides it is time I should close it. I ended up extracting all the ISO's for the Dreamcast and lost 51 gigs of space

If off - Fuzzy search If on - Exact match What I was trying to illustrate was that a fuzzy search is not an exact science. There is a compromise between being to exact and missing lots of matches and to be too loose and matching too many wrongly. The problem with romsets is the amount of extra details (V1, (U), [joystick], by b. nailspoon, (JUE), (UE) etc) and there may be a middle ground for some sets, and the fuzzy search may need to be tighter for others. So, it is a case of getting the best match between your artwork and roms, regardless of match method. There will always be some that will mis-match unless the files are exactly the same, then the match would be perfect regardless of strict or fuzzy matching.

Gameex will match mostly. It does have problems with repeated characters though. also with names like "Sonic" and "Sonic 2" as roms, It will match "Sonic 2" with "Sonic" as a video unless the video and the rom have the same name including the brackets. The problem also happens with roman numerals unless the files match exactly. so "xx I" "xx II" and "xx III" would match with "xx I" as a video. Im not sure how the matching of filenames works in the DB's, They seem to match the info displayed correctly with the rom. Seeing as snaps use a fuzzy match and the DB's use a strict match. I do not know if tom uses (or can) the match in the DB to relate to the snap? Perhaps there is a future solution to be found there? Failing that, you have only a handfull of options. Rename the snaps by removing the bracketed text ("better file rename" is a good option for this) if the snaps would then 100% match the 7z filenames? Or, extract your 7z archives back to individual roms. Sorry I could not be more help (the magic wand needs new batteries )

Gameex is not just for Christmas and it makes me happy to donate if something tickles my fancy, as it were. I know what you mean, Programming something is also a pleasure (and hard work at times - esp. when you have that niggling bug that won't allow you to shut off and SLEEP). Doing the DB's is also hard work, but a pleasure when you finally finish one. I have spent a long time just going through the rom list in gameex to see all the info come up with the game.. Sad aren't I? But, GameEx is your little baby, and he (she?) is growing up fast. But, without trying to tell you how to bring up your children - I do think it is about time your wee child learnt to talk proper like what I does. (if you get my analogy). (Does Analogy really have anal in it?) Again, thanks for all the hard pleasure. (hold on - that didn't sound right either!)

No it isnt HK, but... remember - that was what you planned it for all along I agree, In doing the DB's (working on several at once at the mo), I have found lots that will benefit from using the name field. Not just the conversions of "Temple of Doom - Part 1" to "Temple of Doom: Part 1" but things like "100%", full quotes, ?, etc. It definately would make a rom list look soo much better. Also some Dats do not even follow there own naming conventions, and in doing so have games in a series in different possitions alphabetically due to them being named differently, and not just with the "The, xxx" "xxx, The" issues. Thanks for your support. And you are correct that I would like to see the DB's as complete and correct as can be possible. I just wish I had more time to work on them... But I will continue as best I can.. PS... Having withdrawls from pressing that donate button..

Ok.. In that case, I will work my little fingers to the bone to get these db's done. When they are done, I take it with the output from HK's DB program will then work ok for paragraphs? I.e. does it work ok using paragraphs on the new db's? I seriously would like the option of "GameEx Name" (ps. there is a trademark on that <snigger>) as an output format, so insted of using the name of the file as a display, use the 'name' from the DB (not good, no-intro, or Tosec). This would be so helpfull for LOTS of romsets. Quite a few TOSEC's are misnamed resulting in a muddled list "freestyle scooter", "razor freestyle scooter", etc. I undersand that some people do like to have the () displayed, but they could then leave the option turned off. As I say, it would be nice to make use of the option, specially as the data is already present in the db's to do this (good fore-thought HK) Anyway, im running on again.. See what happens when I dont let it out often enough :) Good news on a new update again Tom.

Cheers Tom.. Noticed you have added the new DB's to the Distro (Dreamcast is also ready) are there any to the handling of the DB's? I.e. The problem with "..." in the end of a rom filename (db entry) ("Nights into dreams...") Paragraph support in DB descriptions. The use of the Gameex DB "Name" field as an option for game displayed name in the list. Problems with control characters in the description field (i.e. &) I know these are all related to the new DB structures (but this is the area that i have been puting the effort into ). I am as always excited at the release of a new build of GameEx but at work still for quite a few more hours so will not be able to have a play until i get home