GBA Database

[scooter]

Iâ??ve created a custom map file and emu database based on Pocketheavenâ??s GBA Release list, but GameEx doesnâ??t seem to be reading the database. Each game in the Pocketheaven GBA Release list starts with a number (XXXX -), and I donâ??t want to see these numbers in GameEx.

First, I created a custom map file to remove the numbers â?? this works fine (see attached). Next, I created a custom database with goodname, genre, year, developer, description, name and numplayers. I set the emu to read from the db in the configuration settings, and the db looks good, but GameEx is not seeing/reading it. What â??goodnameâ? should be shown for each record in the db â?? the actual file name, the goodname shown in the map file, or something else? Did I miss something? Thanks.

PocketHavenGBA.zip

[Adultery]

I'm pretty sure the DB relies on the original file name. If you're not named using GoodName format, then GameEx won't be able to find the exact DB info you're looking to use. Easiest way is to run GoodTools (GoodGBA) on your ROMs. Release numbers don't really do anyone any good anyhow.

Hope that helps!

[hansolo77]

Hey Adultery... Are you using the GoodGBA name for you GBA's? Since they're still releasing games for it, I was going to hold off on renaming. Is this a good idea or should I go ahead and rename and merge?

[Adultery]

I'm using GoodName, but not merging for that very reason. I can't stand the numbers thing so I had to rename them so I could find what I wanted to play, and I have them zipped in *.7z ultra compression. As you said, it's best to wait until a more complete GoodGBA comes out before you merge them.

[hansolo77]

Ok so you just have 2XXX files still. That how I have it, only I haven't renamed them yet. How does that tool work? I've only just begun dabbling in the whole GoodTools. Do I need to find an updated name DB everytime there's a new game released?

[Adultery]

Unfortunately the last update was quite some time ago (as you mentioned GoodGBA probably won't receive an update until production stops) so I just keep any ROMs I have outside of the main GBA folder I use. I then change them before I compress them...

ie 1853 - Racing Gears Advance (E) becomes Racing Gears Advance (E)

If they're needing redumps or what have you I'll wait and let GoodGBA sort them out once a more complete version is released. Then I can pull up a miss list to tell me what I need to get to fill my set.

[scooter]

Thanks Adultery... I renamed the older ROMs with GoodGBA, then used the names generated by the MAP file to fill in the "GoodName" column of the database. Since GoodGBA has not been updated in a while, for newer ROMs, I'll just remove "XXXX - " from the file name, keep them in another folder (as you said above). Then, what the MAP file generates for the new ROMs, I'll match that to my DB file... should work, right?

[scooter]

So I tried my previous post and it did not work. The database file was not pulled correctly into GameEx. I can't seem to figure out what to do. Any help would be appreciated.

Maybe someone (or Tom) can describe how the actual file name, filtered name in GamEx, names in the MAP file, and the Name (or GoodName) column in the DB file all work together -- or in my case, don't.

Thanks.