Problem starting epsxe with epsexecutor

[stigt]

Hi all,

I am trying to get epsxe to work with Gameex. Because different playstation games need different configurations (and even different versions of epsxe) in order to run, I use the frontend epsxecutor. With this program you can create a separate shortcut for each game, starting epsxe with the right configuration and correct version of epsxe. If you activate this shortcut the emulation starts immediately without interference of a GUI of any kind.

What I tried to do is this: I made shortcuts for all my games (naming them exactly like the game) and placed them in one folder. This is also the ROM-folder for Gameex playstation games.

In the command line I just put "[ROMPATH]\[ROMFILE]"

When I try to load the game from Gameex it start allright, but only for a second before switching back to Gameex. When I exit Gameex the game I started is still running.

From what I have read in this forum I think I need to make a .bat file or a wrapper from which the shortcut is launched. However I have no idea how this should be done. Is there anybody who can help me with this?

Thanks in advance for your help.

EDIT: I already tried the runwaitlnk.exe and keymonitor.exe solutions, but both were not working for me.

Arjen

This is my config file

[Emulator_15]Enabled=True

STARTPAGENAME=Sony Playstation

TITLETEXT=Sony Playstation

StartPageLogo=psx

ROMFilter=

RomsInFolders=False

RomPath=C:\Emulation\Playstation\Epsxecutor Fastlinks

SnapPath=

TitlePath=

BoxPath=

CartPath=

WorkingPath=C:\Emulation\Playstation\ePSXe\Version 1.6.0

MapKeys=True

WaitBeforeKeys=

SendKeys=

ReplaceDash=True

ReplaceUnder=False

Capitals=False

RemoveBrackets=True

ShowDesktop=True

Debug=False

MAPFile=

AlsoLaunch=

Command="[ROMPATH]\[ROMFILE]"

[bkenobi]

My first blush is that you are running a file that closes after it launches your emulator. In that case, GameEx will see the first program end and not realize that there is still another program (the emulator) that is still going. Your overall goal is to have GameEx realize that it is till running until you close the emulator.

I would be more helpful if I fully understood what your specific config is. Perhaps one of the other guys can help out solving the problem...

[Nologic]

bkenobi your correct in your assumption...anyways I'll get something put together later today for you that should do the trick.

[stigt]

Hi guys, thanks for thinking along with me. From what I read about this subject on this forum I agree that the problem is that Gameex launches the frontend, the frontend launches the emulator and closes, at which point Gameex takes over the control again. In another thread the solution seemed to be in a little application named keymonitor.exe, but it didn't work for me.

Thanks Nologic for trying to solve this problem for me.

Regards,

Arjen

[Nologic]

Removed see further down the page.

[stigt]

Hi Nologic, thanks for the time you're investing in this problem. I haven't got your solution to work. The config won't mount the image file with daemon tools. I checked and double checked that all the file paths are correct. what happens is this: gameex switches to Epsexecutor_Loader.exe, daemon tools starts but doesn't mount the file. Then Epsxecutor starts, but gives understandably a black screen.

Despite all your effort, your solution has a couple of problems:

- In order for most games to run correctly, I use Nooby's CDR plugin for running image files, I never use a virtual CD drive for epsxe, games such as tomb raider only give correct audio tracks with nooby.

- With your application, you can only specify one emulator path. However for some games you need to run version 1.5.2 (Chrono Trigger), and for other versions you need to run version 1.6.0. With the epsxecutor shortlinks you can bypass this problem by letting the link refer to either the 1.6.0 or the 1.5.2 folder. With your application it automatically runs from within the epsxe folder, so no choice is possible.

What would solve my problem is an application that would launch an (epsxecutor).lnk file as a rom, and then waits until the emulator quits. (I think Gameex only keeps an eye on the first application it starts, so in this solution it wouldn't matter that epsxecutor quits, because the original application that launched the link is still running)

I hoped that a small application named runwaitlnk.zip, which I noticed in another thread on this forum would do exactly this, but so far I had no success with that. Maybe you can take a look at the code and make it work? I attached it to this message.

Thanks again for all your time and effort. I really hope that I can make this work, because epsxe is the "last of the Mohicans" of the non-working emulators with gameex.

Regards,

Arjen

runwaitlnk.zip

[Nologic]

Well there was a second update....that you didn't grab I managed not to pass the right info to the loader...as noted above.

Give me some details about command line usage for epsxecutor...including what your links look like.

Also export your epsxecutor settings to a reg file so I can browse that as well.

Hehe the more info I have the faster and more clean I can do things with out stumbling around in the dark hoping to get things right.

[stigt]

Hi Nologic, I attached my epsxecutor registry info to this message. If you have epsxecutor installed it imports all the settings automatically.

If you need more info please let me know.

Regards,

Arjen

ePSXeCutor.zip

[Nologic]

Thanks I'll take a look.

I have one way more or less figured out...but its rather ugly...trying to think of a better way of going about things to where its less of a headache to get things up and running.

[stigt]

I'm taking a wild shot here, but is it difficult to implement an option in Gameex where you switch off the function whereby gameex is checking if the emulator quits, and replace this by some kind of keystroke to switch back? This would solve a lot of trouble.

So you start epsexecutor and it quits, but epsxe starts. You switch back to gameex as soon as you press F12 for example.

Is that an option?

[bkenobi]

I'm not sure adding a feature to disable the check for the program ending would be a positive. The iterations that Nologic and you have been going through are basically just to make things work seamlessly. If you just want it to work (but look ugly), you don't need all of the scripting here.

Changing things to the other method might seem easier, but you would probably still have to have a bit of script to get things working seamlessly anyway. It might be interesting if it were possible to tell GameEx what executable to watch though...

[Nologic]

This should do the bulk of what you want...still haven't added a way to run two different builds of ePSXe...I'll look into finishing that off tomorrow.

Extract the attached folder to "C:\Emulation\"

Copy "[Console] Sony Playstation (ePSXe).ini" from "C:\Emulation\Playstation\Support\Import\" to "C:\Program Files\GameEx\CONFIG\EMULATORS\IMPORT-EXPORT\"

Copy all the "[Mapping Off] Exit *.ini" from "C:\Emulation\Playstation\Support\Import\" to "C:\Program Files\GameEx\CONFIG\EMULATORS\"

Fire up "Advanced Configuration"

Press "Next Page" till you come to your PlayStation listing then click that button

From the drop down menu for "Import Emulator:" select "[Console] Sony Playstation (ePSXe)"

Press the "Import" button

Press "OK" on the overwrite dialog box

Correct directory pathing if required (shouldn't be for you)

Press "Save"

Press "Exit"

Important Notes:

The "Rom Path" should actually be the folder where the CD images are...not using shortcut links any more. smile.gif

Make sure all your ePSXeCutor profiles match the name of the CD image it for...minus file extension of course.

Oh when using the Emu pressing the Dpad to the upper left and pressing buttons 4, 5 & 6 all at the same time will exit the emu.

[stigt]

Hi Nologic, I get this error when using your configuration (see attached screenshot). Do you know what causes this?

Again, I really appreciate all the work and time you put into my issue..

Regards,

Arjen

[Nologic]

Doh! screw up on my part...redownload the file.

[stigt]

FANTASTIC!!

Thanks a million Nologic, it now runs like it should, all games start beautifully with their own epsxecutor configurations. I am a very happy man.

You are indeed a GameEx Guru like it says in your signature

(looking forward to your solution for different epsxe versions, that would make it all PERFECT.......right now I solved it by making separate configurations for version 1.6.0 and 1.5.2 in GameEx, not so pretty, but works OK)

Regards,

Arjen

[Nologic]

Your welcome...oh and don't let that bit under my avatar fool you...I screw up plenty as you've seen thus far.

So far the actual cleanest way for different ePSXe executables is to use Delta as the mini FE instead of ePSXecutor.

Tho honestly I don't know how many games are required to run on an older build...or how many older builds are required.

I know Delta handles 1 older with ease...past that it's likely an issue just like ePSXecutor.

So if its only 1 older build being used and only a handful of games...its a non issue really...I'm just looking at the fact there where 1200 games for the US alone.

Well I'm thinking on it...but the more input I get from you and others the easier it is for me to decide the correct way to go about things.