creating dat files for displaying own games information

[Amilcar]

Good day,

Presently I've got GameEx one a separate drive just running HOGames. All's good but I just want to go a bit further by displaying, year of game, developer, publisher etc. Now it only shows names.

I'm willing to fill in all that information, I just need a start on what to do. the games are in ISO format. eg: Bridge to Another World 05- Through the Looking Glass_CE.

I know Mame uses dat files for this . but I'll have to somehow create my own.

Thanks

 

[Draco1962]

This app may help you achieve your goals:

 

[Amilcar]

Thanks Draco, getting back to me.

I'm aware of the map maker but won't help. I think I may need some .dat file that can be imported into GameEx with the data that I put in.

I play No mans sky and governor of poker online, and they show up. As well as all my games. But I'd also like to add years etc. of the games I have.  At moment only showing online games. I've tried to figure out where its stored, but no luck. 

[Draco1962]

Not sure what to tell you then other than to maybe look at an existing database file for an emulator and see if you can adapt it to your needs. 

I am also thinking for the ROM name that ypu may need to reference to an .lnk file name to launch the games when you set it up.

[Amilcar]

Thanks.

looked into that, unfortunately Mame settings is the only emulator that allows you to bring in dat files.  So maybe I hit a dead end. I hope that some day it can be implemented as an option with other emulators.

Like I said, what I wanted to do is not necessary for gameplay. Just an added extra. But I'll keep trying.

Thanks.

 

[Draco1962]

An example is below:

There are free database editors that you can use to edit for your purpose to build and leverage via the emulator database selection without using dat files.

 

[Amilcar]

Thank you so much. This looks like what I needed.

I managed to find a link on this site to this browser. Just have to work on to use it but yes. Looks promising.

Once again. thanks for not giving up on me. 

While on this subject, over time I managed to ISO all my games. I've never liked thousands of files are over the drive.

I'm going to post a small video in case others are interested in doing the same thing.

Daemon tools to mount the games and Quicklaunch  plugin to dismount games,

 

[Amilcar]

Left out sound to minimize sound. Thanks Drako.

 

[Amilcar]

 

 

[Draco1962]

I am glad I didn't give up as well and hope that the solution suggested works out well for you.

Once you have your databases configured, please consider sharing on the FTP.

If you are up to the challenge, I would love to see an instruction thread from you that we can pin for your ISO creation process, database creation, Daemon Tools and Quicklaunch configurations, etc. as a reference for others! 

[Amilcar]

Ok, i'll try explain the best i can to replicate what i did.

So first I extract or install a game to a directory of choice. I use e:\game. Don't matter.
Lets use  Tearstone - Thieves of the Heart_CE as example.

Step1: I then add a Start_Game.bat file into the directory. Some games already contain that file.I usualy overwrite it with my own..

The .bat file will contain the game name. After saving I usually run Start_Game.bat to see if it works. Works Ok.then step 2

Step 2. Your choice . but I use AnyToISO to create an iso.
Now you should see your ISO. The Start_Game.bat must be inside. Important.

Step3: Just to make sure, once created I execute the iso and I know by the number of drives I have, H drive will be my BD-Rom drive. Then i execute the bat file in the virtual drive to see if it works. Why i do this this is because for some reason a few ganes don't work in iso format. If all ok use DT to eject game and remove drive.

Step4: Now I load setup Wizard. And this is where he waves his wand. Emulator setup now has all the links needed but not for executing the ISO

Step5:Select Advanced Emulator Setup. Now there you see Daemon tools launch before and Launch after has another bat filled called Start_ISO.bat. link to this file can be anywhere.

As you can see it links to the H drive to execute the Start_Game.bat which in turn runs the game.
Thats why it's important to run the ISO first to see which drive it will use, Then change letter accordingly.
So now as is should work, but i had no way to dismount the iso. So had to close GameEx and reload for next game. There had to be a better way.

So I came across topic on QuickLaunch plugin by Adultery. Saved the day

Step6: Downloaded the plugin and now had to create another bat called unmount.bat to remove game and drive so launching next game would be no problem..
This file can also be saved in any directory. I keep all three bat files in one folder..

I hope this will help does who want to work with isos. please feel free to ask if you encounter any problems

Thanks