CPWizard v0.97 Beta 1

[headkaze]

CPWizard Homepage

[headkaze]

Here is a picture of Colors.ini support and label grouping.

[Brian Hoffman]

Here is a picture of Colors.ini support and label grouping.

Headkaze,

All I can say is WOW! I'll be honest I have been playing around with it now for a few hours(The labor day weekend has kept me really busy).

My first impression was HOLY SHIT the cpanel config utility was awesome.. It reminds me alot of my IPAC cpanel utility very easy to use. I love the fact I can have direct access to my command.dat. I normally run MAME PLUS as I am able to access command.dat throught the config menu. But as a cab owner I dont want all my friend accessing the config menu to use it.. Now I dont have to

I have a feeling it will take many more hours to fully beta test this as there are so many features.

What I have noticed is when I changed my pause key in the mame config and I pause the game with the new key.. the viewer STILL WORKS!--

That is great..(Does this mean it reads the DEFAULT.CFG?..

I also pressed L that also brought up the cpanel viewer. (Im assuming because gameex uses L) When I ran through gameex and pressed L

It took my (MAME)game out of focus (ALT + TAB did bring it back your cpviewer is the one that came up). Im sure this can be fixed by changing my config.

The onscreen keyboard is beautiful! Is there anyway possable to use it outside IRC? I have a few games that I have that I wont put on my cab.. I just refuse to put a keyboard on it. This would be a great solution. Also is there a way to use CHEAT.DAT? I might be missing it as I have not gone through everything yet. This again would save me from having others go through my config menu.

One question...hehehehe... Any way to support IPAC layout files? I'm just feeling a little lazy

All in All the program is very well written and clean. I must say I enjoy it very much. I will also be donating

Im very impressed and will find myself using it quite often! I can tell you put alot of time in it and is a very welcome addition for gameex user or cab owner.

So come on guys stop by and show some love to headkaze! He contributs so much to this board and community!!!

Good Job Headkaze!!!

Brian Hoffman

[Phantom]

MAN!!! I can't win!!!

I just got a New Ipac that I need to program and I was planning on changing up my Arcades Motherboard but then you go and release this Beta!!! I've done nothing I was supposed to do, instead I've been sitting here Pausing my games all day just to play with you AWESOME PROGRAM!!!

Looks great man, I'll be shelling out a donation soon too.

Keep it up!

[Creek]

I just had a quick look at your program on my pc, it looks very promising. I'll have to try this on my Mame cab some time this week.

I noticed the program needed a newer Mame version to work. I tested it on a 0.116u4 which is the latest build of Mame32 I have installed here on my PC. The 0.95 version i mainly use on this computer, couldn't trigger the CPViewer.

I'm running version 0.106 of Mame32 on my Mame cab, which is the latest version I could find that saves highscores, so I hope CPViewer works with that.

One thing that struck me, was a feature I'd like to see. An "Always At Bottom" and "Always On Top" setting for images. I tried to design my own control panel, and had the images of buttons flicker in front and behind the background control panel randomly, when clicking different areas.

But some of the features I quickly ran through amazed me, especially the IRC feature intrigued me. Kudos for all the effort you've put into this so far.

I'll be posting feedback when I've become more familiar with it.

[stephenp1983]

I have a couple of questions for you headkaze. I am probably already answering this for myself, but do I need mame32 plus in order to use command.dat with your cpviewer, or would it work with regular mame32?

I just tried it with an older version of mame which I use on my main cabinet (v106) and couldn't get it to work. I see you mentioned to try it with a new version, so I tried it a copy of mame32 plus v118 and it seems to work with it. I was able to get the screen to come up when I pressed paused, but was unable to move through the options with my joystick, I had to use the arrows on the keyboard, and then I wasn't able to select an option with anything. Maybe I'm just tired tonight and didn't pay attention to something lol

Any chance there will ever be support for older versions of mame? I probably won't be upgrading my cabinet to anythign past 106 anytime soon. It looks really good so far, though.

[headkaze]

I have a couple of questions for you headkaze. I am probably already answering this for myself, but do I need mame32 plus in order to use command.dat with your cpviewer, or would it work with regular mame32?

I just tried it with an older version of mame which I use on my main cabinet (v106) and couldn't get it to work. I see you mentioned to try it with a new version, so I tried it a copy of mame32 plus v118 and it seems to work with it. I was able to get the screen to come up when I pressed paused, but was unable to move through the options with my joystick, I had to use the arrows on the keyboard, and then I wasn't able to select an option with anything. Maybe I'm just tired tonight and didn't pay attention to something lol

Any chance there will ever be support for older versions of mame? I probably won't be upgrading my cabinet to anythign past 106 anytime soon. It looks really good so far, though.

CPViewer should actually detect the version of Mame for you and set the correct options. Mame v108 was when the Mame output system was introduced and that is what I use to detect pause in Mame. If you use an older version of Mame you have to set the key you want for Mame to pause in the Input section under File->Options. I also assume you can't move through the options with your joystick because you havn't set your keys up in there either.

EDIT: Actually the Mame output system was added in 108 but the pause message was only added in 112u2

[stephenp1983]

CPViewer should actually detect the version of Mame for you and set the correct options. Mame v108 was when the Mame output system was introduced and that is what I use to detect pause in Mame. If you use an older version of Mame you have to set the key you want for Mame to pause in the Input section under File->Options. I also assume you can't move through the options with your joystick because you havn't set your keys up in there either.

Thanks for the quick response, I'll go try it out and see how it goes.

[Creek]

CPViewer should actually detect the version of Mame for you and set the correct options. Mame v108 was when the Mame output system was introduced and that is what I use to detect pause in Mame. If you use an older version of Mame you have to set the key you want for Mame to pause in the Input section under File->Options. I also assume you can't move through the options with your joystick because you havn't set your keys up in there either.

EDIT: Actually the Mame output system was added in 108 but the pause message was only added in 112u2

Ah, I'll certainly take some time out to play around with it on my cab.

[stephenp1983]

Still no luck getting it to come up in mame32 v106. In mame I have it setup for p to be the pause button, did you mean I needed to change something else. I looked under the cpviewer options and the only things there to change are send pause key and detect pause key.

[headkaze]

Still no luck getting it to come up in mame32 v106. In mame I have it setup for p to be the pause button, did you mean I needed to change something else. I looked under the cpviewer options and the only things there to change are send pause key and detect pause key.

You can't use the Mame output system in Mame v106, because it's not in Mame until v108 and without 112u2+ you can't use the "detect pause" either.

So you have to turn off "Use Mame output sytem" and turn off "detect pause". Go into the input options and set the "Show Key" to something (not your Mame pause key though) and also set the "Send pause key" option to true under Mame options. Hopefully that should work for you.

[Adultery]

HK:

On MAME 108u1, I can't get the game to pause when I pull up the viewer. Also, is there a way to change the buttons around to use the F-keys or is that out since MAME uses them too? I guess I was hoping CPWizard would pause MAME and ignore all commands until the wizard is minimized... Maybe I have a setting wrong or something. But there seems to be a keystroke sent to MAME as well as CPWizard.

I would also like to use a PS2 pad image for the CPViewer on my PC since the image is set up to handle the default CP, and manually moving all the buttons is bothersome. Maybe I missed the point of the extra pictures you included in the install? I'm simply toying around with it right now so I wouldn't say I've mastered this. Heh! It took me a little while to figure out I had to disable Tom's control panel before launching yours.

Lastly, is there a better way to 'shell' this? I mean, can it be setup to launch and terminate within GameEx? Otherwise it seems I lose some button functionality on my keyboard when running other things after GameEx is closed. Maybe this can be programmed as a plugin instead of an 'always on' app?

Thanks for a cool program and I can't wait to see it evolve!

[headkaze]

HK:

On MAME 108u1, I can't get the game to pause when I pull up the viewer. Also, is there a way to change the buttons around to use the F-keys or is that out since MAME uses them too? I guess I was hoping CPWizard would pause MAME and ignore all commands until the wizard is minimized... Maybe I have a setting wrong or something. But there seems to be a keystroke sent to MAME as well as CPWizard.

Since your using a newer version of Mame, you should be using the Mame Output System. This works much better than using the "Show Key". All you need to do is press Mame's pause key (usually 'p') and it will show the CPWizard. Since 118 you can't send keys to Mame anyway, so the "Send Pause" option won't work, but the "Use Mame Output System" and "Detect Pause" does work, and should be what you use.

I would also like to use a PS2 pad image for the CPViewer on my PC since the image is set up to handle the default CP, and manually moving all the buttons is bothersome. Maybe I missed the point of the extra pictures you included in the install? I'm simply toying around with it right now so I wouldn't say I've mastered this. Heh! It took me a little while to figure out I had to disable Tom's control panel before launching yours.

The best way to go about making your CP in CPWizard is to create a replica of your cab's CP then save it as something like "My CP". Then make a new CP and import "My CP", then you can add the PS2 controller. Once you have your own CP designed you can create new layouts by importing it and making changes for each emulator.

I'm going to work with Tom when CPWizard comes out of beta so it will be easier to integrate with GameEx. Hopefully Tom can make an option to use it instead of his inbuilt viewer, as well as show it before launching a game and possibly from the Game Info screen.

Lastly, is there a better way to 'shell' this? I mean, can it be setup to launch and terminate within GameEx? Otherwise it seems I lose some button functionality on my keyboard when running other things after GameEx is closed. Maybe this can be programmed as a plugin instead of an 'always on' app?

Thanks for a cool program and I can't wait to see it evolve!

There are a few things I need to clean up for it to run better outside of emulators. Basically it should not block any keys when your not running an emulator, right now I havn't done enough to remove key processing when that happens. It should be resolved in next release.

I don't really want to make this a plugin for several reasons.

1. It's not a GameEx only app

2. Plugins are a nightmare to debug

3. GameEx doesn't send me all the data I need so I have to load all the data manually anyway.

4. The archive size of CPWizard is just as big as GameEx itself (not really what you call a "plugin" size app)

In the future I might make it run as a "run once terminate" app, but I like the way it works in the background. It will mean I will have to implement alot of dynamic data loading. Might be done for a future release

Thanks for your feedback.

[LB11]

Something simple to add might be a tick box to "minimize on close"

[headkaze]

Something simple to add might be a tick box to "minimize on close"

Only problem with that is then how do you exit CPWizard? I guess I could add a context menu to the icon tray for exit (actually been meaning to do that).

Okay I've added some new features that will be out next release including artwork, manuals and operation cards for console emus (inspired by EmuMovie releases - thanks Circo!!).

Right now it's being held up because I have to make about 20 new icons for GoodName/TOSEC naming convention. I've already made the country flags, but I hate making icons. They are only 32x32 but they are hard to create. Like what symbol should I use for "overdump" hehe.

Anyway here is a screenshot of a new feature. The NFO Viewer. Okay it's pretty much useless because there are no nfo packs to be found. But I think it might add some historical value so I added it in. If anyone knows where to find nfo archives please let me know

[Stu1983]

Only problem with that is then how do you exit CPWizard? I guess I could add a context menu to the icon tray for exit (actually been meaning to do that).

Okay I've added some new features that will be out next release including artwork, manuals and operation cards for console emus (inspired by EmuMovie releases - thanks Circo!!).

Right now it's being held up because I have to make about 20 new icons for GoodName/TOSEC naming convention. I've already made the country flags, but I hate making icons. They are only 32x32 but they are hard to create. Like what symbol should I use for "overdump" hehe.

Anyway here is a screenshot of a new feature. The NFO Viewer. Okay it's pretty much useless because there are no nfo packs to be found. But I think it might add some historical value so I added it in. If anyone knows where to find nfo archives please let me know

Do you think low resolutions will be possible in the future headkaze? I'd love to use this in my cab but I don't want to loose my arcade resolutions

Stu

[headkaze]

Do you think low resolutions will be possible in the future headkaze? I'd love to use this in my cab but I don't want to loose my arcade resolutions

Stu

Yes definately, I have some code in place to handle this. I may enable it for the next release.

Can you give me a rundown on how I can test this. What options do I need to enable in Mame to have it use the custom resolutions on a per game basis? I don't have an ArcadeVGA (well I do but just not installed in a machine). I would like to get this working for next release if possible.

[Stu1983]

Yes definately, I have some code in place to handle this. I may enable it for the next release.

Can you give me a rundown on how I can test this. What options do I need to enable in Mame to have it use the custom resolutions on a per game basis? I don't have an ArcadeVGA (well I do but just not installed in a machine). I would like to get this working for next release if possible.

I'm not too sure how you can test it without an ArcadeVGA or similar, how are you going to see the output at low res? I've attached my INI folder which has all my custom generated resolutions for mame 117 but if your card can't output the resolutions or you screen can support them I don't know what advantage they'll be.

I have an idea though, I have UltraVNC installed on my cabinet and if I take control of the cabinet from my 2nd PC while playing a mame game with a low res then it will appear in a window on my 2nd PC, so even if you can see anthing on your test machine if you VNC'd to it you should probably be able to see everything from another PC

Stu

[headkaze]

Actually I know a way I can test it, just show me what a custom cfg file for a game looks like in low res and I'll change it to a res I can handle but just not my desktop resolution. Then the resolution will still change and I will make sure CPWizard can cope with it changing. All I have to do is detect the res change (already have code in place to do this) and then resize the output window for it.

But I have another question (sorry I'm a bit too lazy to investigate this myself right now), when you minimize Mame in a low res does it change back to the desktop resolution or stay in low res? In that case it's going to be even more difficult to implement this feature. But I swear I will get it working!

[Stu1983]

Actually I know a way I can test it, just show me what a custom cfg file for a game looks like in low res and I'll change it to a res I can handle but just not my desktop resolution. Then the resolution will still change and I will make sure CPWizard can cope with it changing. All I have to do is detect the res change (already have code in place to do this) and then resize the output window for it.

But I have another question (sorry I'm a bit too lazy to investigate this myself right now), when you minimize Mame in a low res does it change back to the desktop resolution or stay in low res? In that case it's going to be even more difficult to implement this feature. But I swear I will get it working!

Good thinking here's the ini for MetalSlug I had to change a few things in the MAME ini as well but I can't remember what so I've included it too

I'll check out what happens when I minimize MAME shortly

Stu

ini.zip

[Stu1983]

But I have another question (sorry I'm a bit too lazy to investigate this myself right now), when you minimize Mame in a low res does it change back to the desktop resolution or stay in low res? In that case it's going to be even more difficult to implement this feature. But I swear I will get it working!

Looks like you've got your work cut out for you headkaze, it changes back to the desktop resolution when you minimize mame then back to the low res when your restore

Stu

[headkaze]

Looks like you've got your work cut out for you headkaze, it changes back to the desktop resolution when you minimize mame then back to the low res when your restore

Stu

Damn it, that will take some more time to work out now!

Don't worry I'll figure it out Thanks for saving me time to figure that out. And the ini file will definately be a help.

[sbaby]

I'm trying cpwizard with personal layout with image of my real cab control panel.

I have noticed 2 bugs frustrating :

- When I use a Mahjong game cpwizard work fine with mahjong panel but it destroys my layout, it's not more usable and I must remake all it

- Same thing when use an other font character , boom

Help me please

[headkaze]

I'm trying cpwizard with personal layout with image of my real cab control panel.

I have noticed 2 bugs frustrating :

- When I use a Mahjong game cpwizard work fine with mahjong panel but it destroys my layout, it's not more usable and I must remake all it

- Same thing when use an other font character , boom

Help me please

I have a feeling your not saving your custom panel layout when you've finished making it. Unfortunately I havn't added in a "prompt to save" ability yet, so you have to save it manually (either using File->Save As or File->Save). Once you save it make sure your Mame layout is set to your custom one (Edit->Options->Mame Options->Mame Layout). Sorry about the frustration, the next version does have quite a few improvements. Let me know how you go.

[sbaby]

thanks headkaze

I save it manually and Mame layout is set to my custom one (Edit->Options->Mame Options->Mame Layout) but it destroys my custum.xml file