setting a game to boot in zinc instad of mame

[opm881]

Ok, i have my game ex all set up so that it boots games in zinc instead of mame where appropriate, but for some reason it is still booting ehrgiez in mame instead of zinc. I know it works in zinc, i checked out the game list for zinc and its in there. Any ideas? Just that it runs crazy slow in mame and should run faster in zinc(had this issue with tekken, the running slow, and in zinc it runs 100% speed)

[lingpanda]

  opm881 said:

Ok, i have my game ex all set up so that it boots games in zinc instead of mame where appropriate, but for some reason it is still booting ehrgiez in mame instead of zinc. I know it works in zinc, i checked out the game list for zinc and its in there. Any ideas? Just that it runs crazy slow in mame and should run faster in zinc(had this issue with tekken, the running slow, and in zinc it runs 100% speed)

I had this same issue with Tekken 3. It will not run through Zinc. None ever posted.

[opm881]

gah. I wish i knew where in the game ex files it had the list of games that boot in zinc instead of mame

[Tempest]

You could use bkenobi's Mame_Loader:

http://www.gameex.info/forums/index.php?ac...;f=2&t=6665

Basically you can use any emulator to run certain games instead of mame. It's pretty straight forward, but if you need help modifying it, just post again, and I'll give you a hand.

[opm881]

um, your link is to reply to this thread

[Tempest]

  opm881 said:

um, your link is to reply to this thread

Sorry, try this one...

http://www.gameex.info/forums/index.php?sh...amp;#entry36769

[opm881]

so basically that intercepts the command from gameex to launch a rom file in what ever emulator it is set to instead of the default. That should work, just dont get how to customise it. Had a read through and i dont get it :S bit tired though so yea

[Tempest]

Maybe this will help:

; This script will take a MAME command line arguments (the rom name, rom path, etc.)

; and check to see if it needs to be run in a special version of MAME. If so, it will

; launch the rom in that version and wait for MAME to exit. At that point, it

; will kill the script.

#NoTrayIcon

#SingleInstance ignore

MAME_Analog_Path := "C:\Emu\MAME-rotary\mameanalogXP.exe" Set your zinc path

MAME_Path := "C:\Emu\MAME\MAME.exe" set your mame path

Loop, %0%; For each parameter:

{

if A_Index = 1

{

RomName := %A_Index%

}

else if A_Index > 1

{

param := %A_Index%; Fetch the contents of the variable whose name is contained in A_Index.

Arguments = %Arguments% %param%

}

}

; Run in MAME Analog+?

Loop, read, C:\Emu\MAME\Rotary.txt The list of roms you want to run in zinc, without the extensions

{

If RomName = %A_LoopReadLine%

{

run %MAME_Analog_Path% %RomName% %Arguments%,,,MAME_PID

WinWait, ahk_pid %MAME_PID%

WinWaitClose;Wait until MAME is exited

ExitApp

}

}

; Run in standard MAME

run %MAME_Path% %RomName% %Arguments%,,,MAME_PID

WinWait, ahk_pid %MAME_PID%

WinWaitClose;Wait until MAME is exited

As an example,this is what the text file for mjolnir would look like:

  Quote

acedrvrw

victlapw

aircombu

airco22b

alpinerc

cybrcomm

cybrcycc

cybsled

driveyes

gp500

propcycl

raveracw

ridgerac

ridgera2

solvalou

starblad

timecrsa

timecrs2

winrun91

winrun

You will need to compile the script. If you need more info, let me know.

[opm881]

that is alot of help, just cant compile :S

; This script will take a MAME command line arguments (the rom name, rom path, etc.)
; and check to see if it needs to be run in a special version of MAME. If so, it will
; launch the rom in that version and wait for MAME to exit. At that point, it
; will kill the script.


#NoTrayIcon
#SingleInstance ignore


MAME_Analog_Path := "C:\Emulators\ZiNc\ZiNc.exe"
MAME_Path := "C:\Emulators\Mame32\mame.exe" 

Loop, %0%; For each parameter:
{
if A_Index = 1
{
RomName := %A_Index%
}
else if A_Index > 1
{
param := %A_Index%; Fetch the contents of the variable whose name is contained in A_Index.
Arguments = %Arguments% %param%
}
}

; Run in MAME Analog+?
Loop, read, C:\Emulators\Mame32\zinc.txt
{

If RomName = %A_LoopReadLine%
{
run %MAME_Analog_Path% %RomName% %Arguments%,,,MAME_PID
WinWait, ahk_pid %MAME_PID%
WinWaitClose;Wait until MAME is exited

ExitApp
}
}


; Run in standard MAME
run %MAME_Path% %RomName% %Arguments%,,,MAME_PID
WinWait, ahk_pid %MAME_PID%
WinWaitClose;Wait until MAME is exited

thats what it will be

[Tempest]

Compiling is easy, I was just too tired last night to go into it...

Download Auto Hot Key, and install it.

Run Notepad - Start menu >Programs > Accessories > Notepad

Copy the text from the code window and paste it into Notepad.

In Notepad, goto File > Save as

Save the file in this format: Name of the script.ahk (Name doesn't matter, but the extension must be .ahk)

Goto the file Name of the script.ahk and right click on it. Choose "Compile"

That's all there is to it. You will end up with two files, one called Name of the script.ahk, and another called Name of the script.exe

I cut this from Bkenobi's Mame Loader thread:

  Quote

I just wanted to bump this to let everyone know that this WORKS GREAT!!!

If you want to use more than one emulator for the MAME rom set, you can do it nice and clean now! So here's what you do:

1) Set up the emulators you want to use.

2) Create a list of all the roms you want to use with that emulator (Rotary.txt, Guns.txt, Raine.txt, etc.).

3) Edit the MAME_Loader.ahk file to set the correct path for your emulator(s). If you have more than one, you will need to copy the loop used to check the game list file and create more path and exe variables. Compile the loader and store it in the same directory with the rom filter files you created in step 2.

4) Enable and set up AdvancedMAME in GameEx to point to the MAME_Loader.exe.

5) That's it!

This is a basic script, but if you have a question, I can try to answer. If it's very complicated, I may need help from one of the more advanced programmers here...

So in step 3, you'll want to put Name of the script.exe into the same folder as your zinc list, in your case: C:\Emulators\Mame32\

Step 4, goto Advanced Mame Settings, and enter this information:

Use Advanced Mame > Yes

Advanced Mame Path > Path to Name of the script.exe (C:\Emulators\Mame32\)

Advanced Mame EXE > Name of the script.exe

That should be it, let us know if it works or not, depending on what your Zinc Options need to be, it may not... If not the script can be modified.

BTW: I did compile the script for you...

opm881.zip

[opm881]

--new edit--

Ok, got past that problem. Now the problem is it doesnt seem to be booting zinc at all. It boots straight into mame. i put the rom name(ehrgeiz) into the zinc.txt list but nothing.

--edit--

It had an error but I seem to have fixed it by putting the comments on their own lines instead of at the end of the lines of code. Now the problem is when i try and compile it says

"error: Error opening the destination file"

Does this mean i have to install the compile program on my mame box and compile it on there?

--original--

thanks heaps. Should be able to get this all working now

[bkenobi]

Just a note: If you want to test the MAME_Loader script, you can open a command prompt and test from there. Instead of running "mame.exe ehrgeiz", run "mame_loader.exe ehrgeiz". If it works there, then incorporate it into GameEx. Trying to debug too many things at once can be troublesome at best.

[opm881]

i double clicked on the mame_loader exe outside of mame and its like it didnt read the text file. Even when i scrolled to ehrgeiz it didnt work

[Tempest]

  opm881 said:

--new edit--

Ok, got past that problem. Now the problem is it doesnt seem to be booting zinc at all. It boots straight into mame. i put the rom name(ehrgeiz) into the zinc.txt list but nothing.

This Topic will show a little bit about how to trouble shoot using runlastgame.bat (#4 at the bottom of the page)

http://www.gameex.info/forums/index.php?showtopic=6451

If you can't work it out, run a Zinc game in Gameex, then post the contents of runitgame.bat

  Quote

--edit--

It had an error but I seem to have fixed it by putting the comments on their own lines instead of at the end of the lines of code. Now the problem is when i try and compile it says

"error: Error opening the destination file"

Does this mean i have to install the compile program on my mame box and compile it on there?

Usually that means that you have a copy of the script that you are trying to compile running. Check for an icon in the tool tray. It can also be a permission issue, vista gives me problems (Sometimes) when compiling. And no, you only have to have a copy of AHK on the computer that you are compiling on. The .exe should run fine on any computer.

Edit: I see Bkenobi has this line in the script "#NoTrayIcon" put a ; infront of it to ignore it > ;#NoTrayIcon

  Quote

--original--

thanks heaps. Should be able to get this all working now

Don't thank us, until it actually works!

[opm881]

sorry its taken so long to reply. Been a bit busy.

Here is the runitgame.bat

@ECHO OFF

C:

CD "C:\Emulators\ZiNc"

ZiNc.exe 45 --roms-directory="C:\Emulators\Mame32\roms" --renderer=.\renderer.znc

and the log:

18:13:12.8 12/4/2008: Running: cmd.exe /c C: C:\Emulators\ZiNc\ZiNc.exe 45 --roms-directory=C:\Emulators\Mame32\roms --renderer=.\renderer.znc

18:13:44.3 12/4/2008: Exiting GameEx!

18:13:44.3 12/4/2008: Saving Settings

18:13:46.1 12/4/2008: Disposing Plugins

18:13:46.1 12/4/2008: Closing database connection

18:13:46.2 12/4/2008: Checking for applications to Launch On Exit

[Tempest]

Editing....

[Tempest]

First, it looks like you have Zinc enabled in GameEX, if you do, turn it off.

I forgot that Zinc uses numbers to load Games... I modified the script: (I didn't test it, but it should work)

 
; This script will take a MAME command line arguments (the rom name, rom path, etc.)
; and check to see if it needs to be run in a special version of MAME. If so, it will
; launch the rom in that version and wait for MAME to exit. At that point, it
; will kill the script.


#NoTrayIcon
#SingleInstance ignore


Zinc_Path := "C:\Emulators\ZiNc\ZiNc.exe"
Zinc_Options := "--roms-directory=C:\Emulators\Mame32\roms --renderer=.\renderer.znc"
MAME_Path := "C:\Emulators\Mame32\mame.exe" 

Loop, %0%; For each parameter:
  {
    if A_Index = 1
       RomName := %A_Index%

    else if A_Index > 1
      {
        param := %A_Index% ; Fetch the contents of the variable whose name is contained in A_Index.
        Arguments = %Arguments% %param%
      }
  }

; Run in Zinc
Loop, read, C:\Emulators\Mame32\zinc.txt
  {
    IfInString, A_LoopReadLine, %RomName%
      {
        RomName := A_Index
        Break
        Run %Zinc_Path% %RomName% %Zinc_Options%,,,Zinc_PID
        WinWait, ahk_pid %Zinc_PID%
        WinWaitClose ;Wait until Zinc is exited
        ExitApp
      }
  }

; Run in standard MAME
Run %MAME_Path% %RomName% %Arguments%,,,MAME_PID
WinWait, ahk_pid %MAME_PID%
WinWaitClose ;Wait until MAME is exited

In the .7z file is a Zinc.txt file that should be placed in: C:\Emulators\Mame32\

You'll want to put Zinc_Loader.exe into the same folder as your zinc list: C:\Emulators\Mame32\

Goto Advanced Mame Settings, and enter this information:

Use Advanced Mame > Yes

Advanced Mame Path > C:\Emulators\Mame32\

Advanced Mame EXE > Zinc_Loader.exe

Don't forget to turn of the builtin support for Zinc, in GameEx!

Zinc_Loader.7z

[opm881]

kk, but wont that mean if i have model 2 running model 2 wont run if this program organizes all the rom loading? or will it still run?

[bkenobi]

The origitnal MAME_Loader script will launch any time GameEx tries to launch a game through MAME. In the case of Model2, GameEx will use the other emulator and won't call MAME. As a result, those games should be unaffected.

[opm881]

--edit--

Ok, new problem. Now when i try to run ehrgeiz(and this isnt specific to a set, made sure that game ex isnt filtering either set until this is working) it runs as if there isnt a rom file. So i select the game, go to play it, game ex minimises in an attempt to run zinc, but then just comes back up

--original--

awesome. So this should only affect mame when it attempts to call a game that is meant to run in zinc. Thanks so much. Going to go test it now

[Tempest]

I'm not sure what this means:

  Quote

(and this isnt specific to a set, made sure that game ex isnt filtering either set until this is working)

Ok, a couple of stupid questions (sorry, but I have to ask!)

Can you run a game in zinc without GameEx?

Zinc was working in GameEx before?

What happens when you run Run Last Game.bat?

Please post the contents of Run Last Game.bat.

Post your GameEx.ini as well. (You can just zip them both up and post them if you want)

If everything looks good on your end, I will install Zinc, and give it a try.

[opm881]

Can you run a game in zinc without GameEx? Yes i can

Zinc was working in GameEx before? Yes, and still is. Just isnt working for erhgeiz and tekken 3(but i can get over tekken3)

What happens when you run Run Last Game.bat? right here:

@ECHO OFF

C:
CD "C:\Emulators\Mame32"
Zinc_Loader.exe ehrgeiza -device_video_output fullscreen -quiet -dir_rom "C:\Emulators\Mame32\roms"

What that quoted text means was there are two different sets for ehrgeiz. ver 2 and ver 3. I tried both

[bkenobi]

Tempest, did you make a lookup for the rom name in your script? I didn't review it line-for-line, but if it's sending the rom name, it won't work. I saw you mentioned that, so I'm assuming that isn't an issue...

If it's only a couple games that aren't loading correctly, why not just trap those specific games with MAME_Loader and have it send the specific game number it needs with the zinc command line? For instance, check for "ehrgeiza" and if present, use "40" for the rom name instead of the game.

[opm881]

thats what i would like to do but i dont know how

[Brian Hoffman]

  opm881 said:

thats what i would like to do but i dont know how

Read this. This explains how to set it up in gameex as its own emulator. The Important thing is that the attached file includes everythin youneed to get the emu going (execpt roms) put it in your mame directory. To get it working in MAME game menu simply enable it in gameex and point to the path where you put zinc (hopefully in the mame dir as it uses mame roms) Then update your game list

http://www.gameex.info/forums/index.php?sh...t=0&p=34965