[RESOLVED] Tables load in Visual pinball but not in PinballX

[Deadbolt Don]

Hello I have not touched my cabinet in over a year and trying to get back into it now that I upgraded my video card.  
I am using PinballX upgraded to current version and also database manager.   I am getting back into the swing of things for adding/removing tables through database manager.   I have  bunch of tables that don't work for some reason or another.  So I am downloading new versions and I open it first using file explorer or visual Pinball 10.xx.  then go into the database manager and add the new table/search for media and then hit play table.  Then I check my PinballX to be sure it all looks good.  

I am running into a few table that will load and play fine in visual pinball but in pinballX environments will not load the table.  It starts to then drops of right away and goes back to the front end or database manager.   
Cactus Canyon is one of the tables that I cannot get to work.  Any ideas what can cause this? 

[Draco1962]

Hi, please attach copies of your pinballx.ini and log.txt files (no copy & paste) in reply to this thread from right after the launch error with Cactus Canyon.

Thanks!

[Deadbolt Don]

Well that is weird, I woke up the cabinet and the playfield moved to the backglass etc.  Fixed that and tried to get cactus canyon to crash and it actually loaded the game, But it plays the loading table video and then backglass and DMD/rom load  My playfield goes black and I need to alt/tab to go back to the visual pinball screen and the playfield is there and game will play.  
Other tables will load fine.
I ran into some other issue and didn't get the files I will mess with it some more in the next day or two and see what I can get to fail again there were a few.  

 

[Tom Speirs]

if you are getting a black screen, try setting full screen windowed setting in PinballX (not vpx).

[Mike_da_Spike]

On 11/21/2025 at 1:10 AM, Deadbolt Don said:

It starts to then drops of right away and goes back to the front end or database manager.   

That is mostly a misconfiguration of your table parameter or an incorrect setting to monitor.

Please attach your PinballX log.txt and config file. Try to reproduce the issue and upload that specific log file.

 

[Draco1962]

Until we can look at the requested log and config files, we will not be able to do more than guess which is wasteful of your time and ours.

[Deadbolt Don]

Sorry I haven't been able to get the table to fail the way that I originally mentioned.  Cactus canyon loads but the table doesn't show unless I alt/tab over to it.  My full screen windowed was checked already.  This is the 2 files after that happens.   

log.txt PinballX.ini

[scutters]

So the issue now is that the table doesn't have focus after launch?

If that's correct do you have VPX video preferences set to 'exclusive fullscreen' (that normally helps for focus issues)

[Deadbolt Don]

Yes I guess that would be a focus issue.   VPX is set to exclusive fullscreen.  So far it happens on every version of cactus canyon I have tried.  And other tables load right to the playfield.  

 

[scutters]

13 hours ago, Deadbolt Don said:

Yes I guess that would be a focus issue.   VPX is set to exclusive fullscreen.  So far it happens on every version of cactus canyon I have tried.  And other tables load right to the playfield.  

 

Strange. Nothing different in the log for that table, i'd understand if VPX had an error but then you'd see a message box instead.

Do you have the Quicklaunch plugin configured to do anything with VPX on table launches? (might be worth disabling it in plugin manager to test).

It might also be worth trying @Mike_da_Spike's focus tool to make sure VPX is always in front (see [RESOLVED] After exit a table, PinballX does not close VPX reliable - Page 2 - General - Spesoft Forums / https://github.com/MikedaSpike/Bring-VP-to-Front/releases/tag/V1.1.0)

 

[Mike_da_Spike]

Did you try to set PinballX to fullscreen windowed, as Tom mentioned?

According to the log, windowed is set to false.

And only cactus canon? And that file is not set to use p-roc? 

[Deadbolt Don]

11 hours ago, scutters said:

Strange. Nothing different in the log for that table, i'd understand if VPX had an error but then you'd see a message box instead.

Do you have the Quicklaunch plugin configured to do anything with VPX on table launches? (might be worth disabling it in plugin manager to test).

It might also be worth trying @Mike_da_Spike's focus tool to make sure VPX is always in front (see [RESOLVED] After exit a table, PinballX does not close VPX reliable - Page 2 - General - Spesoft Forums / https://github.com/MikedaSpike/Bring-VP-to-Front/releases/tag/V1.1.0)

 

I don't see any processes set up with quick launch,  I tried disabling it and no change.  I just tried the bringvptofront  tool.  It appears to do nothing as I understand it should, but no icon in the taskbar shows up.  Has not made a difference yet either.
 

10 hours ago, Mike_da_Spike said:

Did you try to set PinballX to fullscreen windowed, as Tom mentioned?

According to the log, windowed is set to false.

And only cactus canon? And that file is not set to use p-roc? 

"Window/fullscreen" is set to full screen,  "windowed" was set to no I think.  I did try changing it to yes and no change.  If I changed the windowed/fullscreen option to windowed it opens in a small window with all 3 screens on the playfield monitor. 
I am out of date and forgotten almost everything about my cabinet.  I don't know anything about p-roc but I did a quick search and cactus canyon continued seems toi be one of the tables that needs it.  I will need to look into it more.

There may be other tables but I haven't got past the "c"s yet.  I buggered up my foot and standing at the cabinet is hard to do right now, can only do it in short sessions.

[Tom Speirs]

I feel your pain. I can only use an arcade cabinet for about 20 minutes before my back gets uncomfortable!

PS: Try AnyDesk.

[scutters]

9 hours ago, Deadbolt Don said:

I just tried the bringvptofront  tool.  It appears to do nothing as I understand it should, but no icon in the taskbar shows up.  Has not made a difference yet either.

Sorry, can't help much with that as i've never had to use it.

 

Can you let us know what version of Visual Pinball you're using (C:\Visual Pinball\VPinballX.exe) - a screenshot of the Help->About screen will do, and what version of the table file C:\Visual Pinball\Tables\Cactus Canyon (Bally 1998).vpx is? (that might be harder to work out, but is it by VPW or an earlier version, or different author).

I haven't been able to reproduce cactus canyon opening behind pinballx so maybe it's a VPX10.8 table you're trying to open in 10.7 or something, or you're using an old 10.8 beta (but i'm just guessing)

 

[Deadbolt Don]

Thanks guys I will look into it tonight a little more.  
What cactus canyon table are you  all using? Where can I find it?  I would attempt to try that version if it is working for you.

[Mike_da_Spike]

2 hours ago, Deadbolt Don said:

Thanks guys I will look into it tonight a little more.  
What cactus canyon table are you  all using? Where can I find it?  I would attempt to try that version if it is working for you.

I use the vpw version, which can be set to CCC as well. For VR, this gives me always a bad focus and even the BVTF (Bring VPX To Front), wil not help. Even outside PinballX

See https://virtualpinballspreadsheet.github.io/games?game=vZDUDUii 

I will check tomorrow if the 'flat' version will work directly for me

[scutters]

8 hours ago, Deadbolt Don said:

What cactus canyon table are you  all using? Where can I find it?  I would attempt to try that version if it is working for you.

The file i have is from Sept 2022 VPW version 1.1 (117,560kb), Cactus Canyon (& Continued) (Bally 1998) VPW Mod - VPX - Pinball Tables - Virtual Pinball Universe. I open it with VPX 10.7.

 

[Deadbolt Don]

2 hours ago, scutters said:

The file i have is from Sept 2022 VPW version 1.1 (117,560kb), Cactus Canyon (& Continued) (Bally 1998) VPW Mod - VPX - Pinball Tables - Virtual Pinball Universe. I open it with VPX 10.7.

 

This is one of the files I am trying to get working.  I am running VPX 10.8 final though.  Does that table require the p-roc installed?  Maybe that is the issue.
This will not focus directly in VPX either not just pinballX.

Edit:  Just used older VPX10-7 exe to run this table and it worked as it should!!!  How do I get PinballX to use the 10-7 exe file for this table? 

[scutters]

10 hours ago, Deadbolt Don said:

Edit:  Just used older VPX10-7 exe to run this table and it worked as it should!!!  How do I get PinballX to use the 10-7 exe file for this table? 

You can use 'alternate exe' for individual tables. You can set that in Database Manager, select the table and it's top middle on the screen.

If i get chance i'll try CC with 10.8 later.

Edit - CC works from PinballX for me (with focus) if i use VPX 10.8 too. Weird, not sure what's happening on your system 😕

10 hours ago, Deadbolt Don said:

Does that table require the p-roc installed?  Maybe that is the issue.

Only if you want to run it as cactus canyon continued (via a table script option). It's two tables in one really, using rom for CC or proc for CCC.

[Deadbolt Don]

Thanks I was looking for the alternate exe put completely missed it. 
That worked for every version I have of VPX CC table! 
I will have to look into the CCC version I seen a video and it looks like it plays very well!   But because I am a gluten for punishment my cabinet is going to be down for at least a few days,  I just bought a 4k 43" tv that I need to see if I can fit in my cabinet.  On paper it is 4.6mm larger than width inside the  cabinet...
It is more of a test than anything.  May need to figure out a way to shave the MDF 5mm not sure a hand plane will work and router is messy not looking to take cabinet completely apart either. 
Just thought of this as typing - don't know where the remote sensor is located may be next hurdle.  Wish me luck   

[Mike_da_Spike]

For me the 43" was 1.5 cm larger, so it won't fit at all. I'll hope it fits for you !
Btw if you want to run CCC , you need a seperate installation with VP 10.7 . VP 10.7 minimum will work as well. 
10.8 the function of the controller, and will be fixed when newer version will be released

Good luck !. My monitor is powering on automatically when it gets power.

[scutters]

8 hours ago, Deadbolt Don said:

Just thought of this as typing - don't know where the remote sensor is located may be next hurdle

I use a USB IR remote extender/repeater with the receiver on the front of the cab to control stuff where the IR receiver is hidden from line of sight.

Good luck with the new screen!