Adding apps/programs to Pinball X menu

[Dave777]

Hi,

I have an interest to run dwjukebox inside the Pinball X menu.

All I need help with is can PinballX be made to run .exe program like the tables in the main menu?

As you scroll through tables, it would be good to have a feature to also have apps and programs as well

[Mike_da_Spike]

You can add a new system with the exe.

Add 1 "table" that is a fake entry and that will launch your exe

[Dave777]

Im already using Visual pinbal and have set up VPX on 'other'.

You may have to spell this out a bit better

[Dave777]

can you please show how to add new system with exe

[Mike_da_Spike]

Don't have a pc here (only cell phone), but under "others" you can setup 40 different systems.

Just create a new system, create a table in the system , and it will just launch your exe file

[Dave777]

Oh so I can have more than the one VPX system i created.

I understand the folder setting, the exe setting but what about the other settings? Table path? Launch before? Launch after?

[Mike_da_Spike]

Table path is normally where you have your sub files, but you don't  need that.

Same as you dont need to launch with [Tablefile].

This should work if your exe file uses parameters to directly launch a table (or music file in your case), so you set all the music in pbx.

Launch before and after is optional if you want to start extra programs (can be anything. I use it to start batch files to set resolution of tv and monitor, launch dmdext for example etc)

[Tom Speirs]

PinballX already allows custom EXE systems too it is just only in Touch-Play right now. The above will work but I will get a new release with it shortly.

[Mike_da_Spike]

19 minutes ago, Tom Speirs said:

PinballX already allows custom EXE systems too it is just only in Touch-Play right now. The above will work but I will get a new release with it shortly.

Your a busy man Tom

Soo many good programs and you maintain  and update them all.

Thanks!

[Dave777]

Thanks gents, I have the jukebox app working and launching. I also have a nice playfied vid and audio running when I rotate the menu to 'Jukebox'.

One thing. How can I force the application to the backglass monitor? Tried win Shift right but it kinda stuffs up. The app also seems to launch in full screen so i cant drag it to back glass.

I tried the Process to monitor but might not realy understand how that works.

I will try looking through the apps setup ini, it seems to have lost of configurable things there. Unless you guys have an easlier option?

 

[Draco1962]

Here are a few suggested threads:

 

 

[Mike_da_Spike]

Positioning of an application to a monitor is hard if it doesn't have a window model, because most apps want to start on the monitor that is set to default.

I didn't run in this before, but what you can try is this (not sure if PinballX will like it):

There is a tool called dc2.exe

This tool can export the configuration of your monitor. Make an export of your setup how you set it up now. Call this for example default.xml

1) Within windows disable your playfield, so your only monitor will be your backglass. With dc2.exe export this as backglassonly.xml. in your system setting set the launch before option to launch dc2.exe with your backglassonly.xml and launch after with default.xml (with wait on exit)

Or

2) Within windows set your backglass monitor to default (instead of your playfield). With dc2.exe export this as backglassasprimary.xml. in your system setting set the launch before option to launch dc2.exe with your backglassasprimary.xml and launch after with default.xml (with wait on exit)

These are 2 optione that popups in my mind (I use dc2 as well for setting display settings)

For exact command line paramaters of dc2.exe (and download) check google.

I hope this helps and works for you.

 

[PcTeknic]

I already mentioned on some occasion that in my opinion, it would be great to implement these options in PinballX:

1- In the systems have a box like in HyperSpin, in the "Executable" style. If this box is checked, it is executed directly from the systems menu, without having to read a database that only contains one table, as with Pro-Pinball, Pinball Wicked or SlamIt Pinball. If not checked, it goes on to read the database.

This would be great not only for those single table systems, but also for those who want to set up Pinball FX2, Pinball FX3, Pinball Arcade or Zaccaria in direct run and select the table already in game, avoiding having to constantly update averages.

And I remember that it is an option, that you can mark or not mark, to suit each one.

2- Include preconfigured PC GAMES System. This would allow to enable this system and simply put the Direct Access.lnk in the folder that is specified as the path of the tables

NOTE: For Steam games, I don't know if a Steam Games system could be made, in which PinballX would take the <rom> ID of APP </rom> or <steamid> ID of APP </steamid> tag for execution.

Again I remember that they are options, that you use if you want.

-----------------------------------------------------

Ya comenté en alguna ocasión que a mi parecer, sería genial implementar en PinballX estas opciones:

1- En los sistemas tener una casilla como en HyperSpin, al estilo "Ejecutable". SI esta casilla se marca, se ejecuta directamente desde el menú de sistemas, sin tener que pasar a leer una database que solamente contiene una mesa, como sucede con Pro-Pinball, Pinball Wicked o SlamIt Pinball. Si no se marca, pasa a leer la database.

Esto sería genial no solo para esos sistemas de una sola mesa, sino también para quienes quieran configurar Pinball FX2, Pinball FX3, Pinball Arcade o Zaccaria en ejecución directa y seleccionar la mesa ya en el juego, evitando tener que actualizar medias constantemente.

Y recuerdo que es una opción, que puede marcar o no marcar, a gusto de cada uno.

2- Incluir Sistema PC GAMES preconfigurado. Esto permitiría habilitar este sistema y simplemente meter los Acceso Directo.lnk en la carpeta que se especifique como ruta de las mesas

NOTA: Para los juegos de Steam no se si se podría hacer un sistema Steam Games, en el que PinballX tomase la etiqueta <rom>ID of APP</rom> o <steamid>ID of APP</steamid> para la ejecución.

Nuevamente recuerdo que son opciones, que uno usa si quiere.

[Mike_da_Spike]

For steam, you can alway make the 'table' name the appid of steam and launch it with the command : steam.exe -applaunch [tablefile]

Nice suggestion @PcTeknic! but not sure if 40 systems is enough then. I prefer to create 1 system called "pc games" and use all different exe for it. (Not sure if alternateexe will work)

But your idea is also great!

[joyrider3774]

just like to mention that you can create 1 system linking to an exe and in your table database you can use alternateexe to add other programs if you like to keep them in one list. But that trick will only work if the exe's don't require any extra parameters and you just need to launch them

edit: i also know of an other trick that might work where you use cmd.exe as your main exectuable and the exe files (including extention) as database entries and you give the tablename as parameter to cmd /c (did not look it up but think it was /c to run something) and it will launch the table (exe file) listed but you need to have all your exe's in same folder with both systems 

[Dave777]

I guess at the moment I'm very happy that this dwjukebox launches with pinball x menu. Its just that it is launching to the playfield screen and not the back glass. Tried playing with some of the tricks suggested but too difficult and didn't work.

I am wondering if I made the back glass the main display. Do people do that? I have tried in past and it screws around with vpx and all sorts of monitor issues.

[Mike_da_Spike]

30 minutes ago, Dave777 said:

I am wondering if I made the back glass the main display. Do people do that? I have tried in past and it screws around with vpx and all sorts of monitor issues.

As I mention before. Make your backglass your main screen during launch of your jukebox and on exit reverse it back.

See some posts back

[Draco1962]

59 minutes ago, Dave777 said:

I guess at the moment I'm very happy that this dwjukebox launches with pinball x menu. Its just that it is launching to the playfield screen and not the back glass. Tried playing with some of the tricks suggested but too difficult and didn't work.

I am wondering if I made the back glass the main display. Do people do that? I have tried in past and it screws around with vpx and all sorts of monitor issues.

I also linked you to a post from randr that speaks directly to opening DWJukebox on the backglass and setting up videos or snaps on the playfield. Just ignore his references to LEDBlinky and you should be good.

[Dave777]

On 9/12/2020 at 1:09 PM, Mike_da_Spike said:

Positioning of an application to a monitor is hard if it doesn't have a window model, because most apps want to start on the monitor that is set to default.

I didn't run in this before, but what you can try is this (not sure if PinballX will like it):

There is a tool called dc2.exe

This tool can export the configuration of your monitor. Make an export of your setup how you set it up now. Call this for example default.xml

1) Within windows disable your playfield, so your only monitor will be your backglass. With dc2.exe export this as backglassonly.xml. in your system setting set the launch before option to launch dc2.exe with your backglassonly.xml and launch after with default.xml (with wait on exit)

Or

2) Within windows set your backglass monitor to default (instead of your playfield). With dc2.exe export this as backglassasprimary.xml. in your system setting set the launch before option to launch dc2.exe with your backglassasprimary.xml and launch after with default.xml (with wait on exit)

These are 2 optione that popups in my mind (I use dc2 as well for setting display settings)

For exact command line paramaters of dc2.exe (and download) check google.

I hope this helps and works for you.

 

I just keep getting this with dc2:

[Mike_da_Spike]

Yes. You need to paramaterize it.

Not sure, but export maybe -create and to load a created file -configure

[Dave777]

Hey I am just one step away from getting this right.

Any ideas how in the executable section of this system I can get it to lauch a shortcut instead of the actual .exe?

I have created a shortcut which launches the .exe and a .cfg file. My jukebox program launches beautifully to second monitor when i directly click a this shortcut. I need this system setup to launch the shortcut only.

When i search the files, find the sortcut it always uses the .exe.

I have been going with this idea in this forum thread: http://vpuniverse.com/forums/files/file/2111-pinjukelaunch-moves-dwjukebox-to-backglass/

 

 

[Mike_da_Spike]

I should never try to launch a shortcut (lnk file) from another program.

A short normally has the program (exe file) , paramaters (optional) and an icon.

Exe file and parameters can be set in pinballx

What's the part that you use a shortcut for ?

[Dave777]

The shortcut launches the .exe and a .cfg file.

The .cfg has info in it that launches the jukebox exe called wincab.exe and sets if about which display to open the app on

[Mike_da_Spike]

How do you set the shortcut to use the cfg ?

[Dave777]

I just got the PinJukeLaunch file as perinstruction and right click create shortcut.

Teaxt was added to the Target "launcg _juke.cfg". This must bring the .cfg file into play i guess.