1.60 feature to automatically set name, year, etc

[jupiter]

1.60 release note says:

"The game list manager now allows you to select a game name description from an included pinball database and will automatically set the manufacturer, year and game type."

Thanks Tom - this is a great feature and allowed me to assign the date/type info very quickly to hundreds of tables - something I have put off for years.

There was one side affect for your info. I still use a lot of VP tables using UVP. Unfortunately because UVP uses the game description rather than name in the XML (and your utility correctly changes the desc) this stops the UVP launching until you rename the UVP and backglass PNG.

As I tested this feature on one table I was aware of the side affect so worked around it by taking the old XML file and new XML file with amended descriptions and used Ultraedit to quickly create a batch file to rename the .UVP and PNG for the 100s of files.

Maybe the game manager could offer something to rename the files where it finds a UVP, or it just captures the old name, new name in a .text file?

[Tom Speirs]

This should really require an update to UVP to use the table name (game name). Is it still in development? Ive never looked at it personally.

[jupiter]

Unfortunately it was developed a few years ago and the programmer manowar doesn't hang around anymore. It's no big deal most people new on the scene use b2s/directb2d nowadays. I just wanted to warn people.

Cheers

[Tom Speirs]

I don't even know how the app figures out how to load the XML file from PinballX to be honest but I don't think Ill do anything on my end for this right now. Its a shame as I would like to encourage good database entries as you get all the nice stuff like manufacturer logos and now ratings with 1.62 which you can automatically set from IPDB if the descriptions are correct.

Cheers.

Tom.

[jupiter]

I am glad I went through the exercise as I get all the nice pros of proper names like you said. Itb won't affect many users and for those affected creating the batch file to rename my UVPs and PNGs wasn't a big deal either. As long as people keep a copy of the old XML anyone can do the same. It helps to use a programmers editor though with column copy and a text search that can pipe all matching text to window (ie: search for <description> in old XML and new XML, copy matching lines to new file and strip out old name, new name. Use column copy paste mode to 'join' old name and new name, add a rename to start of each line.).

Thanks

[Verisutha]

I love this feature, but there is one minor thing I would love added..

I happen to name my tables the actual name of the table. When I select the table from my personal list of tables I wish it would automatically fill in the rest of the info from the database. It seems a little redundant that I then need to click the select button on the table description hit the first letter of the table then scroll through a ton of the tables to find the one with the same name it filled in from the first selection.

For example if my table is named "The Simpsons" it should find the table closest to "The Simpsons" and load the info for that table. Although I usually have the exact same name that it in the database eg. "The Simpsons (Data East 1990)" which is a 100% match in the database.

Just a suggestion.. Would save a click and a search for a table. Otherwise I like the feature.

Thanks for the great effort you put forth.