Losing window focus from Emulator to GameEx

[Brenry]

I've been spending the last few days trying to figure this out. I cant seem to find the thread now, but I could only find one other person ask about this issue. Scouring through forums, google, and the dev site (which nobody touches on front ends).

* EDIT * here's the thread http://www.gameex.info/forums/index.php?showtopic=7301

and the advice offered was:

Use an advanced config and have it watch for the no$zoomer process so that GameEx doesn't steal focus.

The only topics I could find on gameex site about "losing focus" was usually about video and movie files, or mame. Is there something I am missing? I have looked all through the advanced config of gameex and dont see anything about it.

To refresh what is happening. Gameex loads a program (NO$Zoomer) to increase the screen size for nintendo ds, which then redirects the rom request to the emulator program. Essentially it is closing at the same time so GameEx says I need some attention. So the FE comes back up while the emulator is running in the background. I can alt-tab back, but that defeats the arcade experience on my cabinet.

Another issue I am running into, when I'm done playing the game and press ESC. I get this popup:

X

This application has requested the Runtime to terminate it in an unusual way.

Please contact the application's support team for more information.

This does not happen when I do not use the Front End. I also remember someone suggesting removing the $ from the filename as it adds a hidden space, but that doesn't seem to help. Also in the emulator there is an option for remain full screen, but that does not help, as windows forcefully hands me an alt-tab.

In the thread about where people post the emulators they use, NO$GBA is the preferred one, and would really love to see how people have theirs setup.

[Lawrence]

Go into advanced emulator config.

Click on the tab "Process Wait"

For Process 1 double click to the right of it then click again then select your No$Zoomer file.

For Process 2 do the same but select No$Gba.

Click file and save as and give it whatever name you like.

Go into the Gameex advanced config, and select the file you just made under advanced emulator config. No$zoomer and No$Gba should work after that.

[Brenry]

Thanks! I never knew about that sub application, or the directory that had all the sample configs. Unfortunately there's not a preconfig of NO$GBA in that directory.

That tackled my windows focus issue, and now I know where my crash windows are coming from is this close process section. Still messing with it. In the advanced config editor if I change ESC to %{F4} to send an alt-f4, that removes my crash window .... but it only closes the zoomer process, goes back to GameEx, but the NO$GBA emulator is still running in the background. Leaving me with this new error

Nocash GBA Emulator has stopped working

A problem caused the program to stop working correctly. Windows will close the program and notify you if a solution is available.

I tried unclicking [ ] Map Back and [ ] Map Escape, that still gets me the errors. This emulator basically has two windows running. If you alt-tab you can see videos running in both screens. One is the full screen video, the other is the emulator itself in its small window'd application. I can only seem to get one process closed before exiting back to the FE.

Can someone shed some more light?

[Lawrence]

Here's the contents of my No$Zoomer.Ini

[General]

Enabled=True

MapBack=False

MapEscape=True

KeysToSendOnExit=

EmuWaitForKeys=True

Process1=NO$Zoomer

Process2=NO$GBA

Process3=

Process4=

[JoyMapping]

JoyMappingEnabled=False

Left=

Up=

Right=

Down=

Button1=

Button2=

Button3=

Button4=

Button5=

Button6=

Button7=

Button8=

Button9=

Button10=

Button11=

Button12=

Button13=

Button14=

Button15=

Button16=

[GamePadExit]

MapGamePadExit=True

Left=True

Up=True

Right=

Down=

Button1=

Button2=

Button3=

Button4=True

Button5=True

Button6=True

Button7=

Button8=

Button9=

Button10=

Button11=

Button12=

Button13=

Button14=

Button15=

Button16=

[MouseMapping]

MouseMappingEnabled=False

MouseSpeed=0

[blockKeys]

Enabled=False

BlockKey_1=1

BlockKey_2=2

BlockKey_3=4

BlockKey_4=

BlockKey_5=

[KeyboardReMap]

Enabled=False

Remap_1_From_VK=

Remap_1_To_VK=

Remap_2_From_VK=

Remap_2_To_VK=

Remap_3_From_VK=

Remap_3_To_VK=

Remap_4_From_VK=

Remap_4_To_VK=

Remap_5_From_VK=

Remap_5_To_VK=

Remap_6_From_VK=

Remap_6_To_VK=

Remap_7_From_VK=

Remap_7_To_VK=

Remap_8_From_VK=

Remap_8_To_VK=

Remap_9_From_VK=

Remap_9_To_VK=

Remap_10_From_VK=

Remap_10_To_VK=

Remap_11_From_VK=

Remap_11_To_VK=

Remap_12_From_VK=

Remap_12_To_VK=

Remap_13_From_VK=

Remap_13_To_VK=

Remap_14_From_VK=

Remap_14_To_VK=

Remap_15_From_VK=

Remap_15_To_VK=

Remap_16_From_VK=

Remap_16_To_VK=

Remap_17_From_VK=

Remap_17_To_VK=

Remap_18_From_VK=

Remap_18_To_VK=

Remap_19_From_VK=

Remap_19_To_VK=

Remap_20_From_VK=

Remap_20_To_VK=

Remap_21_From_VK=

Remap_21_To_VK=

Remap_22_From_VK=

Remap_22_To_VK=

Remap_23_From_VK=

Remap_23_To_VK=

Remap_24_From_VK=

Remap_24_To_VK=

Remap_25_From_VK=

Remap_25_To_VK=

Remap_26_From_VK=

Remap_26_To_VK=

Remap_27_From_VK=

Remap_27_To_VK=

Remap_28_From_VK=

Remap_28_To_VK=

Remap_29_From_VK=

Remap_29_To_VK=

Remap_30_From_VK=

Remap_30_To_VK=

Remap_31_From_VK=

Remap_31_To_VK=

Remap_32_From_VK=

Remap_32_To_VK=

I hope that helps. It runs sweet on my cab with this.

[Edit: Just to clarify -- this is a No$Zoomer.Ini for the Advanced Emulator Config, not No$Zoomer itself]

[Brenry]

Made a fresh install directory of NO$Zoomer and NO$GBA. changed the .ini to reflect file names without the $ in them. Also tried other emulators like Desemu as well as Myzoomer. Performance and quality was way better with the NO$ ones, and especially nice that NO$Zoom has the built in Noise Suppression which I map to another button on my control panel.

The crashes dont happen with Myzoomer, so it's narrowed down to NO$Zoomer. Could you paste your GameEx configuration for your emulator? The one above is for the advanced config program.

[Lawrence]

Sure thing. Unfortunately, I just came home from the shop and won't be back in until Tuesday, so I'll send you the config then.

[Brenry]

Windows focus issue was resolved ... still having problems with crash windows after exiting game. Does not pop up crash window if I do not have FE load the rom, but instead just load NOZoomer.exe via FE, and select game in the emulator.

GameEx config

[Emulator_17]
Enabled=True
STARTPAGENAME=Nintendo DS
TITLETEXT=Nintendo DS
StartPageLogo=[HandHeld] Nintendo DS
ROMFilter=
RomPath=E:\Arcade\Console\ROMS\Nintendo DS
RomsInFolders=
SnapPath=
TitlePath=
BoxPath=
CartPath=
ManualPath=
ControlPanelPath=
InstructionsPath=
WorkingPath=E:\Arcade\Console\Emulators\Nintendo DS\NOZoomer
MapKeys=True
WaitBeforeKeys=
SendKeys=
ReplaceDash=True
ReplaceUnder=True
Capitals=True
RemoveBrackets=True
ShowDesktop=True
Debug=False
MAPFile=
AlsoLaunch=
Command=NOZoomer.exe "[ROMPath]\[RomFile]"
LaunchBefore=
LaunchAfter=
configFile=Nintendo DS
ExcludedFiles=
CustomBackground=
PlayMusic=False
DontShowInfo=
PlaySelectionMusic=False
SelectionMusicFolder=
PCGame=False
DATABASE=[Handheld] Nintendo DS
UseDbName=
GamesIn7Zips=True
MergeSets=
PlayInScreenSaver=False
ShowMostPlayed=True
RandomMostPlayed=True
CDCheck=False
CDCheckFile=
CustomArtName1=
CustomArtPath1=
CustomArtName2=
CustomArtPath2=
CustomArtName3=
CustomArtPath3=
[GENERAL]
DumbyValue=

Advanced Config

[General]
Enabled=True
MapBack=False
MapEscape=False
KeysToSendOnExit=
EmuWaitForKeys=True
Process1=NOZoomer
Process2=NO$GBA
Process3=
Process4=
[JoyMapping]
JoyMappingEnabled=False
Left=
Up=
Right=
Down=
Button1=
Button2=
Button3=
Button4=
Button5=
Button6=
Button7=
Button8=
Button9=
Button10=
Button11=
Button12=
Button13=
Button14=
Button15=
Button16=
[GamePadExit]
MapGamePadExit=True
Left=True
Up=True
Right=
Down=
Button1=
Button2=
Button3=
Button4=True
Button5=True
Button6=True
Button7=
Button8=
Button9=
Button10=
Button11=
Button12=
Button13=
Button14=
Button15=
Button16=
[MouseMapping]
MouseMappingEnabled=False
MouseSpeed=0
[BlockKeys]
Enabled=False
BlockKey_1=1
BlockKey_2=2
BlockKey_3=4
BlockKey_4=
BlockKey_5=
[KeyboardReMap]
Enabled=False
Remap_1_From_VK=
blah blah blah

NO$ZOOMER.cfg

[NO$ZOOMER]
CursorPath=.\Stylus.cur
PluginPath=.\Plugins
UseRomIcon=1
UsePkunzip=0
UseCrypt=1
UsePatch=1
CheatDelayTime=2
Language=English (Felix_Leonhart)
ExePath=E:\Arcade\Console\Emulators\Nintendo DS\NO$GBA.EXE
PosX=415
PosY=50
Zoom=1.5000
Asynchronous=0
FilterIndex=4
ExecFullscreen=1
Filter=1
Separator=0
SeparatorSize=100
ThickFrame=1
Rendering=1
FrontWindow=0
LastRomPath=E:\Arcade\Console\ROMS\Nintendo DS\Mario and Luigi - Partners in Time.zip

NO$GBA.cfg

;no$gba 2.6 generated config file - do not edit

GBA Mode == VGA (poppy bright)
NDS Mode == Nintendo DS (normal 4MB)
Emulation Speed, LCD Refresh == -Realtime, Auto
Reset/Startup Entrypoint == -Start Cartridge directly
Topmost Display Lines == -Display Normal
Sound Output Mode == Digital Stereo
Sound Desired Sample Rate == -High (44kHz) (best)
Video Output == 24bit True Color
Emulate BIOS Functions == By real GBA.ROM (accurate)
Solar Sensor Level == 100 Watts
GBA Cartridge Backup Media == -Auto
NDS-Cartridge Backup Media == -Auto
Multiboot Port == -None/Disabled
Multiboot Completion == -Auto-close Upload Box
Multiboot Normal/BurstDelays == -Fast/Fast (best)
Game Screen Filter == None (fast)
Decompressed Help File == Delete after Usage
Create Game Window at == Upper/right of Debug Window
Game Screen Sizing == Strict
IIgame_size == normal
Number of Emulated Gameboys == -Single Machine
Link Gamepaks == Master only (Single Gamepak)
Link Cable Type == -Automatic
Performance Indicator == -Show Timing only if <>100%
Autosave Options == -Nope
Load ROM-Images to == -All machines

Joypad Button A == 1
Joypad Button B == 2
Joypad Select == 3
Joypad Start == 4
Joypad Button L == 5
Joypad Button R == 6
Joypad Button X == 7
Joypad Button Y == 8
SNESpad Adapter == -None/Disabled (fast)
SNESpad Button A == -Button A
SNESpad Button B == -Button B
SNESpad Button X == -Button X
SNESpad Button Y == -Button Y
Mouse Control Mode == -Free Move (right button=on)
Joysticks/Gamepads == -Enabled

SAV/SNA File Format == Compressed
IIautoRun == yes
Firmware Boot == Manual
3D Renderer == nocash
IIsnd == stereo
IIreg == show
IIcrk == show

gdb_xsiz == 00000000
gdb_ysiz == 00000000
cht_xsiz == 00000000
cht_ysiz == 00000000
Game_xloc == 0000001E
Game_yloc == 0000001E
Game_xsiz == 000109D9
Game_ysiz == 000109CC

KEYB_1 == 48504B4D2A2C2D021D593839
KEYB_2 == A1A9A4A65253517526135959
KEYB_3 == 595959595959590259595959
KEYB_4 == 595959595959590359595959
KEYB_5 == 595959595959590459595959
KEYB_6 == 595959595959590559595959
KEYB_7 == 595959595959590659595959
KEYB_8 == 595959595959590759595959
KEYB_9 == 595959595959590859595959
KEYB_A == 595959595959590959595959
KEYB_B == 595959595959590A59595959
KEYB_C == 595959595959590B59595959

GIFname == NO$GBA.GIF

At this point I am really stumped. Only other variation I have tried is changing the emu also to NOGBA from NO$GBA, as well as .cfg references. This is another fresh install.. currently emu and zoomer are in separate directories (as they are very messy)... but have had them lumped in together as well. I have tried remapping ESC from cancel and tried %{F4} with mapping, but I think I am trying to over complicate things.

[Brenry]

Whoot! Found out what the problem was creating the c++ crashes.

Embedded in the many shortcut menus in NO$Zoomer is the Exit Program command... Not to be confused with the menu for NO$GBA. It is set to have Alt-X exit out, and is unmappable in the No$Zoomer (it will escape out of the menu if you try to map to ESC).

A simple addition in the GameEx Advanced Config to %{X} did the trick

Edited August 21, 2012 by Draco1962
This thread is now closed. If the problem re-occurs, please start a new thread.