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Thanks for the link Tom! I checked the Sketchup feature set by itself, but didn't think about plugins. I'll check it out!

So... 1) has anyone found a good tool (and affordable) to modify/fix the .x files for the cabinets? 2) has anyone found a good link for .x files? 3) FYI. There are tons of Google Sketch-up free models for cabinets & consoles if someone has the proper tool flow to export to .x files...

OK... This sounds GREAT! But, I can't see any of it. I'm sure it's because I have a custom theme with a custom menu system over the top... I've updated the GameEx.ini file (cabinet3dpath) to point to the directory where I unzipped the models. I don't know what else to change to show these... I also can't find anything in the output log related to the 3d cabinets. EDIT... Got it to work... Looks great! I normally have the top level 'DisableMAME=True' and I use custom menus to catagorize my MAME games. Is there a way to get this 3D Cabinets displayed for an emulator (it is MAME) that is not set up as the global MAME? Thanks for all of the great work!

Thanks for the quick reply fRequEnCy. That would explain it (and I was trying to stretch it as well...).

I upgraded to 11.3 from 10.80 on my test machine, and now my GameExIsLoading.png is not displayed on start up... I've looked through the log, and I don't see anything regarding this not being found. Did something change? Also, my startbak.avi is no longer playing? Any ideas? I've attached my log.txt file just in case it helps. BTW. I love the transparency support in PNGs now! But now I need to go re-work my theme! Thanks for all of the great updates Tom!! log.txt

Thanks for the persistent work on GameEx!!! I'm not sure what versions I'm comparing for startup time (GameEx.ini version=10.50 in both...) I think it's 10.52 vs. 10.57. 10.52 => 20 seconds 10.57 => 11 seconds That's almost 50% improvement (on an already fast load)!

Tom, Thanks for the continued updates! I have another request for the Custom Menus. I hope this one would be easy for you to add... I would like to have a new Menu Item type that would allow for a text item to be displayed, along with its corresponding video/image, such as: item_7=34,MyMenuItemText,0,IconImageOrVideoBasename but not to do any action if this menu item is selected. Basically, I want to use it to simply display the video/image in the icon area. The main areas that I would like to use this in are: Credits image, cabinet 'making of' video... I'm sure there are other uses as well. I know that these could be placed down within Videos or Pictures, but I need them in my normal menu hierarchy. Thanks for considering this feature.

I think that is a great idea! Remember to share it here when you're done!

Yes, I plan on using EmuMovies for the game videos (and the discount is nice). But I want to animate some of my backgrounds, so I still need something to create 1600x1200 videos...

Keep cranking out the versions!!! Great work! Thanks Tom!

I'm starting to try and customize my theme with videos. I'm running GameEx at 1600x1200, so I'd like to do some of the videos at full screen resolution. My current video software only lets me go up to 1080 horizontal lines... Does anyone here creating themes have a software package that can do full 1600x1200 movies that they would recommend?

I know there are lots of threads regarding video issues... I've tried to find my solution and I'm sure I haven't looked at every post yet, but I haven't found it yet, so I figured I'd just ask... I've uninstalled my codecs, and installed the Vista Codecs from shark007.net. That got most of my videos working!!! But, I have *.mp4 files, that play correctly in VLC, play correctly once 'played' via selection, but display only black previews. I get the sound fine, but no picture. Another piece of information: If GameEx tries to play one of the MP4s for the startup video, instead of a black display (like previews), I get garbage pixels (static image)... I've tried to change the MP4 settings in the Shark Codec SW, but changing them from the default actually stopped even the sound working. There was one video post that mentioned a problem when using different resolutions... but I run both GameEx and my desktop at 1600x1200. I'm running WinXP 32-bit with an NVidia card... I know there's not much detail to go on, but does anyone else run previews of MP4s? Thanks for any help!

Not to steal this thread, but expand on Tom's response some more... How can a specify a single image for control panels? Can this be done on a per emulator level? Can you have a default control panel image that is loaded unless one matching the rom basename exists?

I would second it that Andy is very helpful! Contact him.

Yep, Custom Menus solve my issues! Thanks!

Thanks for the feedback Ben and Tom. I agree that the config tools are good. I was just doing a lot of Emulator setup, and a text editor was faster... Otherwise, I agree that I don't edit the INI manually very much. Thanks for explaining how the update is done.

Well that changes things! I misinterpreted Tom's reply to my earlier post regarding the Custom menus and custom backgrounds. I'll try that route. Thanks.

Thanks for the comment bkenobi. I am aware of the Custom Menus that Tom has added. I think they are a great idea. However, until I am able to use custom backgrounds with each menu, I'm staying with the version 4 theme. I've got too much time into my custom theme to ditch it now...

I'm not sure if this is user error and improper use of Emulator Groups, or if it is a bug... I just greatly modified my GameEx.ini file, but mostly formatting and comments. I also started adding Emulator groups, which I just have set up with 1 emulator each, just to get the Emulator on the first Menu. When I have the Emulator groups turned off, GameEx works fine. But when I set the Emulator groups Enable=true, when ever I select any game (from the Emulator group OR normal emulators), GameEx crashes. I've attached my log file and my gameex.ini. Thanks for your help! GameEx.zip Also: It may be due to me trying to use Emulator groups with only 1 emulator. I have to add the separator semicolon after my 1 emulator, otherwise it does not show up in the menu.

Thanks for the updates Tom! I don't know if this is a new issue, or the first time I've noticed... After installing the 10.08 update, my GameEx.ini was drastically changed in it's layout and comment fields I had inserted. I know it creates a backup, and I can use that, but I was curious if this was the normal behavior. This is the first time I've updated since I made a ton of formatting changes by hand in the GameEx.ini. Thanks!

The Logitech software can allow you to program the D-pad to cause Key-presses to occur when you push the D-pad. It even let's you set it differently for different executables. It should work fine for GameEx menus. The only problem I've had with it is if you want the angles (I haven't been able to get it to map 2 keys at a time). It's been a while since I tried it...

Love all of the updates Tom. But with this great new Custom Menus feature, I would request that you give us another Name/Value pair to support custom backgrounds for each menu/sub-menu. If no background is specified, default to startbak.png. For example: [ROOT] Title=Start Bg=startbak.png Item_1=-1,Games,4 ... [MENU_4] Title=Games Bg=MyGamesbak.png ... Thanks for the great work!

How do the new Custom menus work with the Custom Backgrounds for Themes? Can I have Custom Backgrounds for each Menu?

I'm sure I missed this somewhere... but here goes anyway. I know that there are other Control Panel viewers out there, and GameEx has some built in support to integrate CPwizard. But I don't want/need all of the extra features that CPwizard offers. I only want/need the View Control Panel Menu option under each game to display properly. GameEx uses the controls.ini file to display all of the MAME game button definitions, but where can I customize text LOCATIONs to match my custom panel background?

Love the Custom Menus! Thanks for all the work Tom.