Creating custom lists from table data

[805gadgetman]

Hi all,

I am using the PinballX Database Manager to configure the tables in my PinballX setup. In going through and editing the table details, such as theme, type, # of players etc., I do not see how those field entries can be utilized as a selection to sort tables within PinballX. Is it possible to have lists that sort by these fields? If so, how can it be done? Hopefully it doesn't involve manually setting up individual xml databases.

Also, when using the default list, I see the typical selections for Stern, Williams etc. How can you setup a list for the smaller table manufacturers?

Looking forward to your replies.

Rob

[scutters]

You don't need to create custom databases via xml anymore  (although that method will still work), the new way is filtered lists - these are just ini files created in the database folder with a format like this for an 'Originals' list;

[Filter]
Comment
Year_from=0
Manufacturer=*Original*
Category
Description
Author
Theme
System=Visual Pinball X
Year_to=0
File

As you're using Database Manager that can create these files for you by using the Advanced Search screen and then creating filters. Have a look at the pdf that came with database manager and find the 'Create Filters' section, that should give you all the information you need (if not let us know).

By the way, what version of Pinballx are you running? You may need to update for filtered lists to work, i thought the default manufacturer lists were removed around the same time as filtered lists were added. 

[Quadrasputnik]

I'd like some help with Custom Lists, too. I mainly just want to sort all of my Tables by Year of Release, and maybe Month, too, but I don't know where to start, or what the difference is between Groups & Lists in the Games Manager. I only seem to be able to add whole Lists, not specific Tables of those Lists.

Can you help me out, scutters? I feel a little stumped over here. I use a Desktop, by the way. No cabinets involved.

 

[scutters]

2 hours ago, Quadrasputnik said:

I'd like some help with Custom Lists, too. I mainly just want to sort all of my Tables by Year of Release, and maybe Month, too, but I don't know where to start, or what the difference is between Groups & Lists in the Games Manager. I only seem to be able to add whole Lists, not specific Tables of those Lists.

Can you help me out, scutters? I feel a little stumped over here. I use a Desktop, by the way. No cabinets involved.

 

I don't think you want lists or groups (of lists), these are just subsets of your tables. It sounds like you just want to change the order of tables in the wheel?. As far as i know PinballX only sorts table alphabetically on the game description field, so i suppose you could prefix the table descriptions with a 'yyyymm' type text format. It wouldn't look pretty in the additional detail text area of PinballX, but you can hide that box in settings.

[Quadrasputnik]

How would I hide that box with the Year & Month, exactly? As in, not making the first part of the Table Description appear before the Name of the Table. I've already filled in the Year box for almost all of my Tables. Do I just keep it like that?

 

[scutters]

To hide additional detail;

This means that the manufacturer etc that is normally in that box will not visible. I assume you are using wheel images, so game name is not a problem as that will be in the wheel image.

Having the year entered in the year field won't matter, so leave it. If you later want to have lists by decades etc that field can be used so will be useful then.

** If you want the Additional Detail box to be visible but without the year prefix added as part of the game description then my suggestion won't work for you **

[Quadrasputnik]

I'm sadly not really using Wheel Images, although if there is a pack containing hundreds of them, I'll gladly download that.

Do I need to input anything specific in the Table Description? Something like '200001' in one quote before the name ('198303 Q*Bert Quest, '198110' Black Hole, etc.) or something else to have the Tables sorted by Year & Month?

 

[Draco1962]

3 minutes ago, Quadrasputnik said:

I'm sadly not really using Wheel Images, although if there is a pack containing hundreds of them, I'll gladly download that.

Do I need to input anything specific in the Table Description? Something like '200001' in one quote before the name ('198303 Q*Bert Quest, '198110' Black Hole, etc.) or something else to have the Tables sorted by Year & Month?

 

If you sign up for a 1 year GameEx Pass or Lifetime GameEx membership, you'll instantly have access to hundreds of wheel images (and more user sourced content) via the Forum Downloads and PinballX FTP site.  

[scutters]

27 minutes ago, Quadrasputnik said:

Do I need to input anything specific in the Table Description? Something like '200001' in one quote before the name ('198303 Q*Bert Quest, '198110' Black Hole, etc.) or something else to have the Tables sorted by Year & Month?

 

Yep, that should work.. I wouldn't use the quotes but you can try it with them, you could probably have a space between the month and year too if you wanted. And if you don't mind having that text displayed as part of the game description you could leave the Additionol Detail area visible too.

 

 

[Quadrasputnik]

4 hours ago, scutters said:

Yep, that should work.. I wouldn't use the quotes but you can try it with them, you could probably have a space between the month and year too if you wanted. And if you don't mind having that text displayed as part of the game description you could leave the Additionol Detail area visible too.

 

 

I actually don't want the Year and Month to be in the Table Description. Having the numbers show up in the Frontend, I mean. I can definitely try a few things, though, but I'll tell when it doesn't work.

Wait, Additional Detail? But doesn't the Year box not allow spaces or numbers like 03?

[scutters]

I think you can put pretty much anything in the Year box. But the table sorting in PinballX is by the Game Description field, so that is what you'd need to prefix with the yyyy mm type format. Having the year in the year box as well won't make a difference.

I think you're stuck if you don't want the year in the game description.

[Quadrasputnik]

Then it looks like I have to manually make groups and lists and fill each one out individually after all... this is going to take yet another month. I tried putting the Year in the Description with one Quote symbol on each side, and it's still displayed on the Table Name.

Also, Pinball X is starting to act a weird when I tried to test it. The Frontend sees all of the button presses as being constantly held down when I just press it like normal, meaning I can't make precise selections in the menus. Also, when I tried to start Harlem Globetrotters on Tour, the Table doesn't show up, only the Numeric Display, and when I quit, Pinball X seemingly started itself up twice. I accidentally loaded 2001 while Harlem Globetrotters on Tour was still active.

 

Edited January 27, 2021 by Quadrasputnik
Extending

[scutters]

18 minutes ago, Quadrasputnik said:

Then it looks like I have to manually make groups and lists and fill each one out individually after all... this is going to take yet another month. I tried putting the Year in the Description with one Quote symbol on each side, and it's still displayed on the Table Name.

PinballX Database Manager can help with the filtered list creation if you want lists by decades etc (which would use the year field), see 2nd post in this thread. If all you want is lists by decades you can probably do it in less than 30mins. And yes, i didn't think you'd be able to hide the yyyy prefix if added to the game description field, sorry if i gave the impression you could.

21 minutes ago, Quadrasputnik said:

Also, Pinball X is starting to act a weird when I tried to test it. The Frontend sees all of the button presses as being constantly held down when I just press it like normal, meaning I can't make precise selections in the menus. Also, when I tried to start Harlem Globetrotters on Tour, the Table doesn't show up, only the Numeric Display, and when I quit, Pinball X seemingly started itself up twice. I accidentally loaded 2001 while Harlem Globetrotters on Tour was still active.

Did you start PinballX twice when testing?... weird things happen if two instances are running. If you're sure you only started it once and the problem continues after a reboot then please raise that as a new issue (and attach you log and config files). Thanks

[fluffhead35]

So I am using Pinball Database Manager and PinballX.  I have been trying to create custom lists/filters with the .ini files.  The filters create the ini file and they show up in the Lists screen.  The issue is that when I click on the new filter it just shows all the tables and does not seem to be applying the database filter.  I just updated pinballx from a old version that had the default filters installed to the latest release where I see that these default filters were removed and this is the new way to get it working.  If I need to post this in a new thread, please let me konw.

[Mike_da_Spike]

Can you make a copy of your database directory and post it here ? So we can simulated your problem ?

Also add your pinballx.ini 

[fluffhead35]

Just now, Mike_da_Spike said:

Can you make a copy of your database directory and post it here ? So we can simulated your problem ?

Also add your pinballx.ini 

This will not be necessary, as I was just in the process of replying to my original issue with the fact that I fixed it.

What happened was I had created two simple lists using the PinballX GameManager.  These two files gave me the issue I described above.  To fix the issue is opened up the Pinball Database Manager and then selected my 80's list.  The fields showed up correctly but when I clicked on search nothing was filtered.  I then clicked on the reset button while editing the 80's list reentered the date fields and clicked on search and tables were filtered.  I saved this and now PinballX currently is filtering out the tables as expected.

If you would like I can try and recreate the ini file that causes issues, save it off, then create one that works, and we can do a diff between the two to see what was causing the issue.

[Mike_da_Spike]

In databasemanager, we try to create the filters as : what you see is what you get.

With other words: in advanced search, you make a search, if that is saved as a filter, Databasemanager should show only the tables that you will see in PBX

[fluffhead35]

Thanks the databasemanager is just a amazing tool.