Organized Dupes (Feature Request???)

[Phantom]

I've been reading through the forum to find a solution for filtering out the Goodmerge Duplicates and I think I found it. (By using No-Intro Dat files)

My question is if there is a way to have GAMEEX make a list of the games but have the ORIGINAL game listed first but keep the hacks and others separated but still playable

ie;

The screen would look something like this

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Super Mario Bros. <-- would be the original and just click to play

Other Versions <-- This would be the subcategory with different versions of the same game

Boxart

Title

Cartart

Game Description

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I don't know if this is something that can be done in a theme (I use the VALHALLA theme) or something in the actual GAMEEX code.

I spent so much time organizing all my games that I don't want to have to permanently remove them so this would be an awesome thing to have.

Thanks in advance for the great Program, tweaks, hacks and all the rest.

[Nologic]

Well this would be a feature request as its not some thing that can be done in a theme.

You can setup filtering to hide every thing but the versions you are wanting...then of course you could setup a dup emu setup that allows hacked versions to be shown...maybe more sloppy than what you are suggesting...but very possible with the current features.

[Phantom]

I understand thanks.

Ya doubling up on the Emulators just to play crap versions doesn't sound too appealing to me so I'll just try to filter out the garbage.

I'm messing around with RomCenter 2.71 and the NO-Intro dat files.. is there a faq or "how to" on how to keep the Real Version of a game and not the others. Or whats the best way to do it for Game EX?

Thanks again

[Nologic]

I think with good sets you just set the fliter to *[!]* and every thing should turn out roses...don't quote me tho...not on my gameex system.

[Adultery]

What's the issue with GoodMerge? You just aren't feeling the way the games are displayed? Or you need help GoodMerging? Or you need help using the No-Intro DATs in clrMAMEpro? I'm not sure I follow... but I can help with all three.

[Phantom]

Nothing wrong with GoodMerge at all. I love the fact that I have every game organized in unique 7z files and saving tons of HD space.

My only problem is that in each of those 7z files there can be a ton of crap versions of a game.

For example if I want to play Super Mario Bros. I have to hunt down a list of hacks and what not just to find the real version. So I'd like to have the real version BUT not permanently delete the hacks just in case one day I feel like playing SUPER AFRO BROS.

I read about NO-INTRO but there doesn't seem to be a FOR DUMMIES guide anywhere.

[Phantom]

Ok how do I go about useing the No-Intro Dat files to clean out my roms? their forums don't really say anything.

[AngelicPenguin]

Nothing wrong with GoodMerge at all. I love the fact that I have every game organized in unique 7z files and saving tons of HD space.

My only problem is that in each of those 7z files there can be a ton of crap versions of a game.

For example if I want to play Super Mario Bros. I have to hunt down a list of hacks and what not just to find the real version. So I'd like to have the real version BUT not permanently delete the hacks just in case one day I feel like playing SUPER AFRO BROS.

I read about NO-INTRO but there doesn't seem to be a FOR DUMMIES guide anywhere.

I'd like to do this too...anyone know how?

[Adultery]

I posted a clrMAMEpro walk-thru for WinKawaks. Just substitute the WinKawaks dats with your No-Intro dats. The method is exactly the same.

Get clrMAMEpro from here. Install it. Then,

get the DAT from here. You'll also notice that several other emulators have DATs so this may come in handy again. But for now, Kawaks is what we want.

On the next page, click the link that says:

Download Kawaks dat for CMPro (197KB)

You can extract that .zip to clrMAMEpro's dat directory (wherever you installed the file to). While you're there, launch cmpro.exe

This screen comes up:

Select "Not Used/New Datfiles" and the dat should be there. Load that puppy up.

Next step...

You should see this window.

Select Default and wait a few seconds.

After that's done...

You should see something very similar to this:

Click on "Settings" and you should see this screen:

Set yours up the same way, changing the backup folder to something you can remember. You'll need about 4gb of space for backups, but you can delete them after you're sure everything was set right. Also, make sure you set a ROM path. I point mine at my MAME ROM directory. Good to go.

Next step...

Click "OK" and you're back here:

This time, I want you to select the "Rebuilder" option:

Set your "Source" path to your MAME ROM path.

Set your "Destination" path to where you want your WINKAWAKS ROM SET to be.

Make sure all your options are the same way I have them here, and click the "Advanced..." tab. This window will come up:

Set your options up the same way I have them here and close that window.

Finally, locate and click "Rebuild..." to start rebuilding and scanning your MAME set. If you have a full set, this will take some time to complete. Go do your home work, listen to music, watch some quality TV programming, etc.

Now, when you come back and it's done, head back to the "Backups" folder you specified here:

Cut and paste them back into your MAME ROM directory just in case. If they're bigger or smaller, overwrite them. However, if your settings were right you should be OK. Generally, this method isn't supposed to make any changes to the originals, but you may have checked something. Who knows. Backups are always a good idea amigo.

Next, open WinKawaks, point it at the path you just made, and kaboom! Good to go! Geek out with some brownies and Dr. Pepper.

The 'Scanner' method is the variant we use when scanning our MAME ROMs with this tool. It's a quick and easy way to keep your ROM sets updated, but it takes a little time to get comfortable with. Sometimes too many options is just too many options.

Hope that helps!