[RESOLVED] FlexDMD Tables Lose Focus

[frysauce]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone else has this issue with any VPX table running FlexDMD (any UltraDMD table, but using the newer FlexDMD dll).  I have a 2 screen setup and the backglass and DMD come up fine, but the LOADING screen stays on the playfield and I have to ALT-TAB to get it into focus. 

I installed the latest PBX version, but have tested older versions and have the same problem.  I am running in exclusive fullscreen both in PBX and VPX.  OS is Windows 8.1.  I have VPX running and "Other System" so I don't have the option to check the "Full Screen Exclusive Hack" which is only available under the single "Visual Pinball" system.  I'm not sure if that would fix it anyway.

Any help or even verifying that the issue isn't just me would be appreciated.

[Mike_da_Spike]

Can you post your pinballx log file and pinballx.ini ?

And post a screenshot of your visual pinball settings screen

[frysauce]

Thanks for your response.  I've attached the files you requested.  Since yesterday, I did more research and it looks like this is a known issue with FlexDMD and running VPX in exclusive fullscreen mode that it will lose focus.  I thought about using a script to Alt-Tab after launch, but if I Alt-Tab to bring the VPX playfield back into focus, then the DMD will go behind the backglass (even if the backglass is set NOT go move to front).

Unless PinballX can come up with some magic, I think I may be stuck.  This is likely a FlexDMD issue that can't be resolved through PinballX.

log.txt PinballX.ini

[frysauce]

Quick update.  I found that if I launch the table through PBX, then wait for the "Loading" screen to disappear, Alt-Tab to bring the playfield into focus, then hit "q,q" to quit the table (but not exit back to VPX, my exit emulator key is "e"), then launch the table (play button) again from within VPX, then everything works (playfield in focus and DMD on top of backglass).  So there may be a way around this.

This is also the same behavior if I launch the table manually from within VPX and not PBX.

Also just realized I forgot to attache my settings, so here you go.

Thanks

[scutters]

3 hours ago, frysauce said:

Since yesterday, I did more research and it looks like this is a known issue with FlexDMD and running VPX in exclusive fullscreen mode that it will lose focus. 

I suspect you're right, maybe it's a flexdmd on win8 thing?.. i've used flex with win10 and win11 without issues.

3 hours ago, frysauce said:

I thought about using a script to Alt-Tab after launch, but if I Alt-Tab to bring the VPX playfield back into focus, then the DMD will go behind the backglass (even if the backglass is set NOT go move to front).

Not sure, but flexdmd uses freezy's dmddevice and that does have a stayontop option in dmddevice.ini that may mean the backglass wouldn't come to the front.

The only other option i can think of from a PinballX angle is to move the ultra/flexdmd tables into their own system in PinballX and add -DisableTrueFullscreen to the launch parameters for visual pinball (assuming running in non exclusive fullscreen for VPX doesn't destroy performance for you), but the real fix will need one or all of the flex/freezy/vpx devs to look at it.

[frysauce]

4 hours ago, scutters said:

I suspect you're right, maybe it's a flexdmd on win8 thing?.. i've used flex with win10 and win11 without issues.

Not sure, but flexdmd uses freezy's dmddevice and that does have a stayontop option in dmddevice.ini that may mean the backglass wouldn't come to the front.

The only other option i can think of from a PinballX angle is to move the ultra/flexdmd tables into their own system in PinballX and add -DisableTrueFullscreen to the launch parameters for visual pinball (assuming running in non exclusive fullscreen for VPX doesn't destroy performance for you), but the real fix will need one or all of the flex/freezy/vpx devs to look at it.

I did check the dmddevice.ini and I do have that set to stayontop = true.  I also tried turning it off, but it didn't affect it. 

I like your idea with the -DisableTrueFullscreen.  I didn't know that was an option.  It will likely kill my performance though, but it won't hurt to try.  Thanks for the tips.

[Mike_da_Spike]

Did you also use the latest backglass server files? It waa released a couple of weeks ago.

And did you modify freezy's dll in the flexdmd folder and not in pinmamw folder ?

(Option to upgrade your OS as well?)

[Draco1962]

18 minutes ago, Mike_da_Spike said:

(Option to upgrade your OS as well?)

Instructions here for upgrading from Win 7 & 8 to 10 for free:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnet.com/google-amp/news/still-running-windows-7-time-is-running-out-to-upgrade-to-windows-10-what-to-know/

[frysauce]

On 4/21/2022 at 7:24 PM, Mike_da_Spike said:

Did you also use the latest backglass server files? It waa released a couple of weeks ago.

And did you modify freezy's dll in the flexdmd folder and not in pinmamw folder ?

(Option to upgrade your OS as well?)

Upgrading B2S server worked!  You da man... Glad I didn't have to rant about how far superior Windows 8.1 is... Thanks for your help!

Also, I just tried out your DB Manager and wow, I have been missing out.  First thing I noticed was it loaded my XML in seconds (400+tables)!  If that was all it did I would be happy.  Then it showed me I had obsolete tables in there (which I knew, but didn't want to manually find them all) and deleted those.  You can add alternate emulator right there... filter tables by disabled, etc.  Man, this is great... Quick question though, it says you can use mega for table media?  How do I do this?  Are there some mega links I can put in there?  I know this is off-topic...

Anyway, thanks again!

[Mike_da_Spike]

13 minutes ago, frysauce said:

Quick question though, it says you can use mega for table media?  How do I do this?  Are there some mega links I can put in there?  I know this is off-topic...

Yes. There are some mega links. Not sure if they are in the manual, but definitely are in our support thread (see the 'user project' section and mostly on top). To be honnest, I prefer the gameex ftp. It cost you some money, but thats for maintaining all the gameex servers. Lot of media on it, with some space for yourself

15 minutes ago, frysauce said:

Man, this is great...

Off course it is..scutters and I created it. 

17 minutes ago, frysauce said:

it showed me I had obsolete tables in there (which I knew, but didn't want to manually find them all) and deleted those

Yes. You can select all the entries  and delete them as bulk. You can choose to delete media as well.

With the audit media, you can also check if there is unused media that can be deleted. Can save some kb/mb or even gb's

19 minutes ago, frysauce said:

First thing I noticed was it loaded my XML in seconds (400+tables)!

You must have a slow system. My xml's are loaded in ms. 

 Tom did a good job with game list manager, but Scutters and I missed some functionality and created this tool. Just to make all easy (and fast)

You will see huge different if you use zen fx3 database file

25 minutes ago, frysauce said:

Anyway, thanks again!

No problem. Glad you like it. And if you have a functionality that we can add. Just let us know 

[frysauce]

7 minutes ago, Mike_da_Spike said:

No problem. Glad you like it. And if you have a functionality that we can add. Just let us know 

Again, I know this is the wrong thread for this, but while you asked... It looks like it only creates videos for new tables.  I like to use images (smaller, faster, don't need blinky lights).  So adding a "take image" option for backglass and playfield is about all I see so far that could make this any better.  Nice work guys.

[jimmay3]

I have similar issue with Kiss (Stern 2015) table that uses FlexDMD.

When I run it from VPX7 alone, all is good; but with run via PinballX, I lose foucs from the playfield, thus can not use the start, coin and flipper buttons until I alt-tab to the playfield window.

I am a few versions behind, but everytime I upgrade that is some other issue that pops up.

Is the lastest version pf pbx stable?

log.txt PinballX.ini

[Mike_da_Spike]

I'm running(always) latest version of pbx and dont have aby issues with it (never had issues when upgrading, besode the upgrsde from .net4 to .net core).

Did you try to set VP in force exclusive mode ?

[jimmay3]

Mike_da_Spike,

Checked the exclusive box under vpx video preferences and all fixed...  Thanks...

Noticed only a few avg frames lost per sec, any other losses or improvements running exclusive?

Any other settings I sould consider changing?

[Mike_da_Spike]

Settings depends on your system/monitor/GPU as well.
These are my settings, and I don't have frame drops (but recently upgraded my PC and monitor in the cab)
All tables runs at 164 fps

[jimmay3]

I need to upgrade my GPU, my old 750 runs good, but prob can not crank it up like yours is...

Thanks again...  I think you helped me with the Shuffle Alley too...

I did upgrade, all seems good, except the menu volumes, posted a note about it.

[scutters]

5 hours ago, jimmay3 said:

Any other settings I sould consider changing?

The 'general' recommendation in VPX is to set the FPS Limiter and Max pre-rendered frames both set to 1.  And as you're on win10 i don't think the Disable Desktop Composition flag will do anything for you so can be unchecked.  Suck it and see with those settings though, you can always change back.

 

[jimmay3]

9 hours ago, scutters said:

14 hours ago, jimmay3 said:

Any other settings I sould consider changing?

The 'general' recommendation in VPX is to set the FPS Limiter and Max pre-rendered frames both set to 1.  And as you're on win10 i don't think the Disable Desktop Composition flag will do anything for you so can be unchecked.  Suck it and see with those settings though, you can always change back.

Made the above changes (FPS Limiter and Max pre-rendered frames both set to 1 and Disablde Desktop Composition).

I checked a few game frame rates prior to changes and rates varied from 125-280, after changes they all were pretty close to 60 fps.

I didn't notice any change in game play, so is it better to have the slower frame rates, cause my main pf tv is only 60 hz?  Was I just over driving the GPU to make excessive frames that were wasted?  Not sure how it all works...

Thanks...

[scutters]

1 hour ago, jimmay3 said:

I checked a few game frame rates prior to changes and rates varied from 125-280, after changes they all were pretty close to 60 fps.

I didn't notice any change in game play, so is it better to have the slower frame rates, cause my main pf tv is only 60 hz?  Was I just over driving the GPU to make excessive frames that were wasted?  Not sure how it all works...

If by turning vsync on (fps limiter = 1) and you have no noticeable difference in gameplay then i'd leave it on so FPS matches refresh rate - your GPU will do less work, and will help avoid screen tearing. Turn it back to off (0) if you're testing what FPS you can get on some tables with your hardware for benchmarking if you want to see the impact of other settings or new hardware etc

edit - a bit more info in the link in @Draco1962's post here https://forums.gameex.com/forums/topic/24940-frame-rate-fps-vs-refresh-rate-hz/

 

[Draco1962]

If your monitor is only capable of x fps, then you are likely correct.

[jimmay3]

Thanks, good info...

[Mike_da_Spike]

If you can affort it, I would highly recommend to use a monitor with at least 100hz (and freesync/gsync).

It is a world of difference playing pinball on a monitor with 100+ hz.

I switch from a samsung 4k tv (59.9 hz) to a lc qhd at 165hz.

Although my resolution is lower, the screen is much better, brighter and faster response.