ZINC + Xpadder

[alexdog69]

I'd like to use Xpadder to map my Ultimarc U360's to the keyboard for use with Zinc.

How can I run scripts at start up/shut down of ZINC when it's running in GameEx's "mame substitute" mode?

Has anyone done this? Can they share what they have done? Is there a tutorial/howto somewhere?

[Nologic]

Actually this was some thing I've been planning on doing for a while...just been putting it off like so many other things.

Tho not with the U360 in mind...but would still be the same in the end.

So maybe I'll get my hands dirty today.

[bkenobi]

There's a plugin for the U360 available for GameEx. I don't have the U360, so I don't really know what it can do (perhaps nothing wrt Zinc), but I suggest checking it out!

[alexdog69]

well the U360 plugin seems to work great for changing the mode of the U360 per game.....................

but,

the thing with ZINC is.. there is a plugin by someone named...hrm... winterblast? that adds gamepad support to zinc. well, it works great for some games. but some games don't work at all with this.

so, this leaves the keyboard input as the 'works in all scenarios' solution still. seeing as how gameex likes to automagically download, install, configure and integrate zinc into the main mame list ... such that zinc is using the mame keys ...

i would hope that i could map my U360s (which could be interchangeable with any gamepad/pc joystick for this situation)... using xpadder to the standard mame keys.

i think i just need to create a mame key profile for xpadder using the main 2 sticks .. and another one with 'null' mappings .. and load these on start/exit of zinc using a batch file.

where can i 'hook' the zinc start/end? it doesnt seem to be handled quite like the other emus.

[headkaze]

If we can find the plugin author he should be able to add support for Zinc. The plugin's recieve the name of the Emulator from GameEx, so the plugin probably ignores anything other than "Mame". It would need to accept "Zinc" like it does Mame.

[alexdog69]

i dont need anything specific to U360 and i dont need any plug in mods. I just need to know how to get Xpadder to remap a gamepad for use with Zinc ... specific to GameEx.

[alexdog69]

i dont need anything specific to U360 and i dont need any plug in mods. I just need to know how to get Xpadder to remap a gamepad for use with Zinc ... specific to GameEx.

hmm sorry if this was not clear or sounded weird what i am saying is just .. is there a way i can link a batch file or something similar only to ZINC loading and unloading, when used as a 'mame substitute' integrated into gameex's normal mame game list ?

same with model 2 emu when used in the same way.

it wasnt obvious to me how to specify startup/shutdown for these but maybe its a no brainer and i just need to poke around more...maybe in advanced config under the numbered emulator group settings?

[headkaze]

No I don't think there is a LaunchBefore/LaunchAfter for Zinc or Model 2 when using the built in method of launching them. The only way I could think of doing it would be to write a simple plugin that launches whatever you need before and after. Or write a loader called Zinc.exe that launches what you need before then launches the real Zinc. If your not a programmer I believe AutoHotkey or AutoIt sort of programs could be used to write a simple wrapper to do this.

[Nologic]

Yeah it can be done with AutoIt...and I'm working on it now...just trying to make sure every thing is clean and simple...not rewriting this again.

[alexdog69]

any progress ?

also, anyone know what MAME version ZINC expects the ROM formats to match ?

also ---- it also sounds like the infamous/evil "mame plus plus" may be a way around this

the one found here

http://ddememame.hp.infoseek.co.jp/

i think this one is with kaillera

http://ddememame.hp.infoseek.co.jp/mameppk...119-20070917.7z

and i think this one is without

http://ddememame.hp.infoseek.co.jp/neocpsm...119-20070917.7z

but i dont speak japanese so im not sure

[alexdog69]

ahh it sounds like this is what u are doing here eh?

http://www.gameex.info/forums/index.php?showtopic=4509

[Nologic]

Yeah thats part of the over all work...looking to address as many concerns as possible...and make things as simple as possible.

Anyways I'm fairly close...not a lot of code really...more just rethinking and refactoring what and how things should be done.

This will in some ways spill over into other loaders...ideally for the better.

[Nologic]

Okay this isn't fully complete...mainly need to rape Adultery's setup as I think he use's more common button bindings....also this is in dire need of instructions.

That said make sure you have the Xpadder registry entries done like whats discussed in that thread above.

Make sure to edit the files in the "Config" folder as needed...I may have some very wacked out settings...that may not play nice with your system...namely resolution as mine is rather high.

Some highlights of whats been done so far....well Zinc can now use OpenGL & remain GX friendly..with out showing the desktop. Additionally you can now update your Mame list at will...hehe as its no longer required to swap the loader out for the actual emulator executable...as what had to be done in the past. Theres other small things I'm sure I forgot about...but those are the main things...which where a big pain in the ass prior.

Oh you'll likely need to edit the Xpadder profiles...as they where done with a Logitech gamepad in mind....pressing down on the right analog stick will return the user to GX....tho this isn't ideal...ideal would be to mimic GX's typical Escape Button Combo but I have yet to mimic it...so...blah.

Anyways I'm starting to run out of love for this project since its taken so long...to produce jack and shit.

I'll try to get instructions up tomorrow...but maybe slow...hehe as I've said there has been some love lost here.

Update

Loader can now be found in User Submitted Configs and Databases thread here