Can't get PinballX 6.03 to display Instructions Option

[Lee Stecher]

The text section in PinballX.ini is the default version after loading PinballX version 6.03 .  It shows "Instructions" as the text for the Instructions option.  The other options are also filled in as the defaults.     However, when selecting any game , the choices are:   Play Game, Information, Flyer, Favorites Add, Rate Game, Lists, Return.   Instructions is NOT listed as a choice.  Every pinball game emulator folder, ./PinballX/Media, and ./PinballX/ has a subdirectory called "Instructions" with the name of EVERY game as: name.swf, name 1.swf, name 2.swf, etc.  PinballX and the pinball game emulators (Visual Pinball, Future Pinball,  etc.) are all on my F: drive.  Everything else works.  What am I doing wrong? Thanks!

[Draco1962]

Please attach copies of your pinballx.ini and log.txt files for review for this issue.

Also, be mindful of where you are opening a thread for a prompt response as this was moved from the GameEx section of the forums.

[Mike_da_Spike]

Like @Draco1962, please attach your log files

Checking my cab , all is working fine with 6.03.
The 'Instruction' entry is (as stated in documentation) showed in the table menu and showing on thebackglass:
If I pause the game, the instructions is also available

I could reproduce this issue by 'wrecking' flash on my PC
The instructions will not be available in the menu as Flash isn't working
The log is showing 
 

06:16:38.35  18-12-2023:  PinballX Core - Version 6.03 x64
06:16:38.47  18-12-2023:  Microsoft Windows 11 Home 64-bit (32GB)
06:16:38.47  18-12-2023:  Loading Settings
06:16:38.48  18-12-2023:  Launching Startup Program: PinballX_Start.cmd
06:16:38.48  18-12-2023:  C:\Pinball\Tools\PBX Tools\StartScripts\PinballX_Start.cmd 
06:16:38.49  18-12-2023:  Initialize Component
06:16:38.51  18-12-2023:  Initialize Display
06:16:38.53  18-12-2023:  Testing Flash engine.
06:16:38.53  18-12-2023:  Error initializing flash engine.
06:16:38.53  18-12-2023:  Please try deleting flash.ocx in the installation folder and then reininstall PinballX.
06:16:38.53  18-12-2023:  You may need to change security properties on the file.

So all make sense.
No working flash, no instruction cards.

@Tom SpeirsWhen the log shows the above error for flash and I add a PNG instruction card for a specific table, it won't show the entry as well, until I fix the flash issue. Can you confirm that this should work when flash is not working, that PNG should be showed ?

 

[Lee Stecher]

My sincere thanks for responding,   Sorry, I'm not familiar with the forums.   PinballX is great!    You hit on the problem - I have no working flash - I had wrongly assumed PinballX installed it's own flash player.   What Flash player do you install - Adobe dropped it's support?  Also I just found one other issue.   VPX playfields (version 10.7.3) appear horizontal on the DMA (Monitor 3).  I attached Pinballx.ini and log.txt files.  What did I do wrong?  VPPinball995 and Future Pinball works as it should.  Thanks again!

PinballX.ini log.txt

[Mike_da_Spike]

Flash is installed via PinballX. According to your log, flash is working.

Maybe you named the files wrong. Did you download the files via game manager or Databasemanager  ? Or manually?

[Lee Stecher]

Mike, thanks for responding - you are really helping!.    I downloaded all the files manually and changed them so they have the same names.  I wrote a Python program to verify names and extensions across all the various folders and the XML files.  Based on your previous messages, I found another program had downloaded Adobe flashplayer_32_sa.exe and linked it to .swf.   I think PinballX was passing because of it.  So I uninstalled Adobe flashplayer and got the same log.txt you got.   I rebooted Windows 7 and then deleted Flash.ocx and reinstalled PinballX 6.03 - which created Flash.ocx.  However, PinballX log.txt still has "Error initializing flash engine." So, I'm still playing around to get PinballX to find Flash.ocx.  Any thoughts?

[Lee Stecher]

No matter what I tried, I couldn't get PinballX 6.03 to show Instructions as a choice.   Then I installed version 6.01 over 6.03 and "Instructions" appears as an option for all emulators when selecting a game.  The game instructions display as expected.   The instructions even display when  I reinstalled the other program (that installs Adobe flashplayer_32_sa.exe and links it to .swf files).  So, I'm mystified - but will stay on 6.01.   Thanks for your help.   I'm moving on to find out how to get Pinball 6.01 to show VPX version 10.7.3 playfields on Monitor 1.  By the way - DOF/DOFLinx, BAM, and dmdext all work as expected. 

[scutters]

6 hours ago, Lee Stecher said:

I'm moving on to find out how to get Pinball 6.01 to show VPX version 10.7.3 playfields on Monitor 1

Make sure playfield monitor is set as the primary display in windows. Also check VPX monitor options (open VPX -> preferences -> video/graphic options)

[scutters]

.. also now try PinballX v6.05 for the flash issue - see https://forums.gameex.com/forums/topic/29157-flash-not-working-on-new-installed-pc/