User created menu items?

[bkenobi]

Is it possible to create new menu items in the game details screen (presumably via a plugin)? I read that the built in control panel viewer is not configurable in any way, and I would like to have a custom viewer. My thought was that I could add either Johnny5 or CPV2 under each MAME game via a plugin, but I don't know if plugins can be used in this fashion. Perhaps this could be a feature request to allow for adding of programs in the game details screen? Thoughts?

[headkaze]

There is a Control Panel editor in the Theme Editor, but Tom hasn't got around to adding support for it yet. Not sure when that will happen.

As for having Johnny5 or CPV2 running as a plugin, it is certainly possible. I might see if Tom has the new CP Viewer on the adjenda or I may write a plugin if and when I get time.

Might be worth a feature request?

[bkenobi]

I will add it to the feature request list then. Thanks for the quick reply.

Btw, what are the limitations on the plugin system? What things can/can't you do? I don't have experience with C# and very little VB.NET, so I haven't taken the time to try anything with the plugin system. Is this kind of thing possible just with plugins, or would extra hooks be needed in GameEx to add items in different menus?

One other thing I was thinking about was whether it would be possible to do a custom ordering of the menus using a flat menu (or not for that matter). I have an instruction card (via CPV2) that shows what buttons do what, but it appears at the end of the list with all of the other applications. Is there any way to reorder it so it's #1, say?

[headkaze]

Have you checked out the built in CP viewer in GameEx? When you view game info you can view the CP with button labels, you just can't modify it to the layout of your own CP (yet).

Changing the menu order is not possible AFAIK, that is something that may change in the future though. The plugin system wouldn't allow you to add items in different menu's but Tom is thinking about adding a module type plugin where you can write your own jukebox or whatever.

[bkenobi]

Yeah, I had the built in CP viewer turned on for a while, but it doesn't represent my button configuration. I searched the forums and found it wasn't configurable at this point in time. If it were, I wouldn't have any need for an external application. If the configuration utility is in the works, then I can wait. Thanks for the info!