Multiple Installs

[one2three]

Hey all,

First off, just want to say that GameEx is what I have been searching for (off n on) for over 5 years. Thanks Tom and the community for all your hard work!

OK so here's my question: I was wondering if it is possible to have multiple installs or something on one machine. I currently have GameEx installed in my cab running XP Home ed. I just received the reg key from Tom and will be installing the updating to the latest version and registering shortly. This current install is setup with theme, emu list, game list, filters, etc for kids to use. Now I would also like to have a separate "setup" for Me with a different theme, filters, setting, etc. for myself on the same machine.

Is this possible in any way? Any ideas would be helpful. The only thing I can think of is to run the install in two different locations, but haven't had time to try. Would this work or would there be registry issues?

[one2three]

So I just noticed that there is a new version (7.50). In reading Tom's news page he says:

"Coming soon is search functionality and a new additional theme/interface style."

I'm thinking that this may be what I was looking for. Sorry for not looking deeper before posting.

It just goes to show that with GameEx all you have to do is Ask, and yee shall receive!

God I love this place!

[headkaze]

There is no built in functionality to have two different versions running on the same PC. You could try and make a copy of the entire GameEx folder ie "Program Files\GameEx" and copy it to "Program Files\GameEx(2)" or something. See if they both run without conflict, it probably will work.

Secondly, another alternative would be to have a batch file that launches GameEx and copies over the different GameEx.ini file each version of GameEx.

So it would work like this

1. Setup GameEx the way you want, backup GameEx.ini to GameEx1.ini

2. Setup GameEx the way you want again for second version, backup GameEx.ini to GameEx2.ini

Have two batch files in the GameEx folder..

-- RunMe1.bat --

@ECHO OFF
copy /y CONFIG\GameEx1.ini CONFIG\GameEx.ini
start GameEx.exe

-- RunMe2.bat --

@ECHO OFF
copy /y CONFIG\GameEx2.ini CONFIG\GameEx.ini
start GameEx.exe

[one2three]

Thanks headkaze! It sounds like the batch files idea should work, I try it tonight. I like the idea of no extra install, should be cleaner this way.

[one2three]

There is no built in functionality to have two different versions running on the same PC. You could try and make a copy of the entire GameEx folder ie "Program Files\GameEx" and copy it to "Program Files\GameEx(2)" or something. See if they both run without conflict, it probably will work.

Secondly, another alternative would be to have a batch file that launches GameEx and copies over the different GameEx.ini file each version of GameEx.

So it would work like this

1. Setup GameEx the way you want, backup GameEx.ini to GameEx1.ini

2. Setup GameEx the way you want again for second version, backup GameEx.ini to GameEx2.ini

Have two batch files in the GameEx folder..

-- RunMe1.bat --

@ECHO OFF
copy /y CONFIG\GameEx1.ini CONFIG\GameEx.ini
start GameEx.exe

-- RunMe2.bat --

@ECHO OFF
copy /y CONFIG\GameEx2.ini CONFIG\GameEx.ini
start GameEx.exe

So I tried the batch files as recommended, but added game list assuming that I would need to for different filters, etc.

here's what I have..

-- RunMe1.bat --

@ECHO OFF
copy /y CONFIG\GameEx1.ini CONFIG\GameEx.ini
copy /y DATA\gamelist1.txt DATA\gamelist.txt
start GameEx.exe

-- RunMe2.bat --

@ECHO OFF
copy /y CONFIG\GameEx2.ini CONFIG\GameEx.ini
copy /y DATA\gamelist2.txt DATA\gamelist.txt
start GameEx.exe

The only issue I've found is the background doesn't change. Option "1" is using Future Retro and option "2" is using acidbrain's. I ran option 2 then ran option 1 all icons, buttons, etc came over, however the background was from option 2.

Not sure if the explanation makes any sense. I will try some more testing tonight when I get home. In the meantime if anyone has any ideas, I would greatly appreciate them.

[emphatic]

Excuse me, but wouldn't it be easier just to have one installation and two different shortcuts using the built in command line support for loading .ini files that GameEx already has? It's all in the "Docs" page on gameex.net...

Example:

Config GameEx like you want the "first" instant to work, then copy GameEx.ini and rename it as GameEx.1.ini

Then reconfig GameEx and copy the start menu item for GameEx and add the command line for loading GameEx.1.ini .

Emph

[one2three]

Excuse me, but wouldn't it be easier just to have one installation and two different shortcuts using the built in command line support for loading .ini files that GameEx already has? It's all in the "Docs" page on gameex.net...

Emph

Thanks Emph, that makes sense. Must have skipped over that in the faqs. Sounds similar to what headkaze was explaining, just a little cleaner. Is there commancd line support for different gamelists?

I'm still concerned about the background, maybe I just missed something in the different setups. Hmmm... wonder if maybe it is a "use custom backgrounds" selection????

Anyway, I think I'm on the right track, I'll keep playing with it. THANKS!

[headkaze]

Excuse me, but wouldn't it be easier just to have one installation and two different shortcuts using the built in command line support for loading .ini files that GameEx already has? It's all in the "Docs" page on gameex.net...

Example:

Config GameEx like you want the "first" instant to work, then copy GameEx.ini and rename it as GameEx.1.ini

Then reconfig GameEx and copy the start menu item for GameEx and add the command line for loading GameEx.1.ini .

Emph

I never knew that, thanks for pointing that one out