[PLUGIN] PinballX Random Table Launcher

[scutters]

This plugin allows random tables to be launched from PinballX by using a random table entry added to any system where you want it (one random table launch entry per system). When that table is selected in the wheel a random table for that system will be  launched.

Instructions

For any system where you want a Random Table launch option;

1/ Create a dummy table file record in the tables folder for systems that use table folders (Future Pinball, Visual Pinball etc). The file can be an empty text file;

• Right click in the tables folder and add a new text document

• Rename the file to whatever you want, but make sure you change the file extension to match that of the table files for that system (.fpt, .vpx etc);

 

2/ Add a dummy table record in PinballX Game Manager or Database Manager;

• Use the dummy table file created above. In database manger;

 

• enter a suitable game description (this need to be the same for all random entries you are creating in each system i.e. use the same description in FP as VPX etc). Other fields can be left blank (Type, Year, IPDB data etc)

3/ Extract the PBXRandomTable.dll file (from the zip attachment at the bottom of this post) into your PinballX\Plugins folder (unblock the file if required - https://www.limilabs.com/blog/unblock-dll-file)

4/ Using PluginManager (in PinballX folder)

• Select the Random Table Selector plugin row and click Configure
• Change the Game Description box to match the (exactly) the game description / display name entered above. 

• The filter at the bottom right of the screen can also be changed to limit the tables that will be launched randomly based on PinballX star ratings, by default any enabled table for that system could be launched.
• Save & Exit the configuration screen

5/ In Plugin Manager tick the box on the left of 'Random Table Selector' to enable it.

The plugin should now be enabled and when you next launch PinballX and you should have a wheel entry to launch a random table. You can add media as required in Game Manager / PinballX Database Manager as you do for any other table entry (i use this video for backglass and rotated for playfield, you'll need to make your own wheel image(s))

Notes

AlternateEXE flag - if you use this flag in PinballX then tables using it will be ignored by the plugin (from v1.1)
Statistics & HiScores - As PinballX stores this information based on the table name selected on launch, when launching a random table the data will be updated against the random table name - the data that for the table that is actually launched will not be updated. Hi score data for the actual table will refresh when it is next launched directly but the statistics (total played time etc) will remain against the random table entry.

Also, please note that as this plugin changes the launch command used by PinballX the information shown in the PinballX log for launches will be incorrect. Refer to the log file for this plugin instead. To avoid confusion please do not launch a random table and attach that log file if reporting a general issue with PinballX.

Issues

I only use Visual Pinball X as a system but I have no reason to think the plugin won't work with other systems in PinballX, please let me know if not (but i'll probably need your help to fix it!). Please attach the PinballX.ini & Log.txt files as well as the plugins PBXRandomTable.ini & PBXRandomTable_log.txt files from the plugins folder along with a description of the problem, i may also request a copy of your database xml file to help replicate the issue.

Thanks

Thanks to Tom Speirs and Adultery for PinballX and the plugin template, and Mike da Spike for some testing once again.

 

Changes

27/06/21    V1.0.0    Initial release

17/07/21    V1.0.1    Small change for Application Menu events

10/08/21    V1.1.0   Tables using alternateexe flag are now ignored by the plugin (so won't be launched as the random table)

13/03/22    V1.1.1   Fixes xml read issue for .net core (PinballX V5.39 and later)

 

 

PBXRandomTable V1_1_1.zip

Edited March 13, 2022 by scutters
V1.1.1

[Tom Speirs]

Thanks buddy. I feel incredibly grateful for all your guys work and support and for a change I'm also feeling glad to be English!

[Mike_da_Spike]

1 hour ago, Tom Speirs said:

and for a change I'm also feeling glad to be English!

• Hide Tom Speirs's signature
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Well, you should as you are going to be European football champion this year !

 

[Tom Speirs]

Your too kind

I can't say it would not be nice though.

[scutters]

14 hours ago, Tom Speirs said:

Thanks buddy. I feel incredibly grateful for all your guys work and support and for a change I'm also feeling glad to be English!

Thanks Tom. It's bit of a mystery to me why more plugins haven't been made for PinballX, but as i like doing a bit of code here and there it's my pleasure 

Lets enjoy the football while we can!

[scutters]

Attachment updated in first post.

Small change for better handling of application menu launches (from PinballX 5.15)

[scutters]

Attachment updated in first post.

Small change to ignore tables using the alternateexe flag (i could maybe have coded round the use of the alternate exe but this works better for me on my setup)

[tligu]

This is great !!!
Thanks.
How can I add FX3 tables to this feature, I got all the Vpx tables, but miss FX3 in random mode

Tligu

[Mike_da_Spike]

5 hours ago, tligu said:

This is great !!!
Thanks.
How can I add FX3 tables to this feature, I got all the Vpx tables, but miss FX3 in random mode

Tligu

Didn't test it yet, and not at the cab,but the idea will be something like this:

Fx3 has lso a "table" directory where all the files and tables exitst .

In that directory,  add the text file as @scuttersmention, but with extension of fx3 tables (is that pxp ?)

Add the random table to your xml file with your favorite editor

Think that should work

Edit: not to steal this post, but I have created an api launcher that can do the same, but instead of having a "table entry", you can have them in your menu option.

 

[scutters]

Thanks Mike 

@tligu as you're a gameex member you can also use Mike's API Launcher to launch a random table (from any system) from a menu option in PinballX rather than a wheel location as he mentions in his thread hijack . The plugin will work for non subscribers too, so you have a couple of options. If you get FX3 working with the plugin trying the above (it may even work for FX3 without the dummy table,  so with just the game entry [make sure you use the same random table display name]), or need more help please post back and let us know.

 

[Mike_da_Spike]

I created the file in the steam directory, because of the next nice feature in databasemanager :

Start Databasemanager and if you have FX3 from steam  bought, it will directly add the new table (if you set this up in the settings)

Just rename it to Random Table and you are good (and set some media of course

 

and according the log :

Also see the FX3  post for databasemanager:

 

 

[tligu]

Thanks All

But I hoped I could get a group with both VPX and FX3 tables together in a mix, so there is only 1 "random table" that includes both worlds :-)
If I make a random table in VPX the VPX tables is working fine. but then none of the FX3 tables are show.

I am kind of a noob, so Databasemanager  fucked it all up.

I like Gamemanager, cause I know how if works :-)

 

Hope it makes sense
Tligu

[Mike_da_Spike]

1 hour ago, tligu said:

I am kind of a noob, so Databasemanager  fucked it all up.

Scutters and I know how Databasemanager is working and it will not fuck up your setup. But not sure what you mean that it 'fucked it all up'. 

1 hour ago, tligu said:

But I hoped I could get a group with both VPX and FX3 tables together in a mix, so there is only 1 "random table" that includes both worlds :-)

If you only have vpx and fx3, it is possible to randomize a table from all systems

If you want to randomize only 2 only out of more systems, it will be hard and needs code adjustment

 

[scutters]

1 hour ago, tligu said:

But I hoped I could get a group with both VPX and FX3 tables together in a mix, so there is only 1 "random table" that includes both worlds :-)
If I make a random table in VPX the VPX tables is working fine. but then none of the FX3 tables are show.

Yep, the plugin allows for a random table launch by system (not across all systems).  If you want a random table launch from any system then as a gameex member you can use the API Launcher (assuming you cab is online), Mike has added fairy in depth instructions on how that works along with some good examples in the notes of its download page.

1 hour ago, tligu said:

I am kind of a noob, so Databasemanager  fucked it all up.

If you let us know what went wrong we can help! (but please post in the database manager support thread for that). Always happy to hear of suggestions for improvements of usability for Database Manager, as we wrote it and know how it works we might be guilty of overlooking some things a noob might run into.

 

Edit - Mike just beat me to the reply!  

[Mike_da_Spike]

3 hours ago, scutters said:

Edit - Mike just beat me to the reply!  

I can't beat you with pinball, so most do it with replies 

[scutters]

V1.1.1 release and updated in first post (small fix for PinballX .net core compatibility)