Daphne question

[se_lees]

I've looked at the Daphne tutorial, and the method works. But....would it not be fairly easy to cue DaphneLoader (wherein all the parametres set there would be used), just as GameEx cues MAME?

[Brian Hoffman]

Daphneloader just takes the options and sends/create the command line. Think of it as a frontend. Now Gameex is also a frontend, the options are specified in the configuration and the commmand line is created and sent. There is no need for a frontend to launch a frontend to launch a game.

Ranzo, put together a pretty comprehensive guide about Daphne in this thread, there are also some links to some good Daphne information.

http://www.gameex.info/forums/index.php?showtopic=8226&view=findpost&p=60311

[se_lees]

What I'm getting at is, just as MAME32 has all kinds of options in the gui part*, so that one doesn't HAVE to write cmdline options, so too does Daphneloader. MAME32 can be selected as the exe for MAME use - why not DaphneLoader for Daphne? (This 'feature' would seem to fit in with Headkaze's theme of making set-up easier.)

*I have always used MAME32 for this reason. As well, when I want to troubleshoot, I don't have to worry about reading inis or the command line (unless absolutely necessary, which it almost NEVER is). You see?

[fRequEnCy]

What I'm getting at is, just as MAME32 has all kinds of options in the gui part*, so that one doesn't HAVE to write cmdline options, so too does Daphneloader. MAME32 can be selected as the exe for MAME use - why not DaphneLoader for Daphne? (This 'feature' would seem to fit in with Headkaze's theme of making set-up easier.)

*I have always used MAME32 for this reason. As well, when I want to troubleshoot, I don't have to worry about reading inis or the command line (unless absolutely necessary, which it almost NEVER is). You see?

Well MAME32 is based off MAME which has a CLI (Command-line interface). So It can be easily used in GameEx. Now DaphneLoader is a frontend itself and wasn't designed to work with a CLI. A wrapper can be made to accomplish this pretty easily by many of our talented scripters but hasn't been done since Daphne itself has a CLI and what is used in GameEx. So not much call for writing something for it when it is already CLI friendly for GameEx to run. Daphne is an easy to use emulator IMO from using DaphneLoader to generate the command-line needed for GameEx to run in. But it can be done just hasn't really a need or much call for it.

[Brian Hoffman]

What I'm getting at is, just as MAME32 has all kinds of options in the gui part*, so that one doesn't HAVE to write cmdline options, so too does Daphneloader. MAME32 can be selected as the exe for MAME use - why not DaphneLoader for Daphne? (This 'feature' would seem to fit in with Headkaze's theme of making set-up easier.)

*I have always used MAME32 for this reason. As well, when I want to troubleshoot, I don't have to worry about reading inis or the command line (unless absolutely necessary, which it almost NEVER is). You see?

Ya I see, completely. I actually glad you mention MAME32/UI, as a (official?) derivative of mame, there is nothing it can do that command line mame cant. Regular MAME you can create a Mame.ini and edit it to manipulate resolutions, toggle off and on features, enable joypads etc.. There is also command line switches that can be run when running mame to enable these features. Like any windows application point and click is easier to use than command prompt, I can see why its so popular. It like daphne loader is a gui that manipulates the program but does not really add functionality just automate some processes. Gameex runs mame32 the same way it runs mame or any of its variations.

This is what all frontends do, automate processes, runs emulators against arguments to load a rom, go fullscreen and mount drives etc. Using a single or multiple commands, so the user presses one button and can watch the magic happen as all of a sudden their game or program is loading without having to go to numerous places or even understand how it works.

You will notice in daphne loader you can toggle off and on the ability to see the command it generates to load daphne up. Those can can copied and pasted into the gameex config and it will run the game just like you were running it from the loader, which runs Daphne by the command line.

I see you idea when you say just call Daphne loader to run the game, but you have to ask your self how it works, Even using daphne loader you still have to setup, select virtual laser disk player, point to the framefile etc. Only then can you select a game from the screen and press load game, this is without configuring the options.

Then we ask ourselves what we do once that is done, we launch the program, wait to see the screen to pick our game, scroll down the list till we find our game, then click load. That is several steps we take for granted.

In a program you would have to make it launch daphne loader, wait till it see that is has loaded by the active title window, the program would have to realize the rom you picked from the gameex list then scan the listbox for the chosen game, then it would have to select it and then choose load.

This is alot of work for a program that normally supports command line loading. Which is what gameex produces normally.

For the emulators and programs that do not support command line there have been gracious members of our forum that have developed scripts,loaders,wrappers to make it all happen.

Hope this helps

Note: I do realize there are countless unofficial mame builds that do add functionality, even then they can still function the way described above.

When you say "*I have always used MAME32 for this reason. As well, when I want to troubleshoot, I don't have to worry about reading inis or the command line (unless absolutely necessary, which it almost NEVER is). You see?"

For program authors, script/wrapper writers it is imperative to know/ understand command line. For us when it fails it IS because of the INI or command line, we understand in detail how these emulators work. Tom does too, this is why he allowed for ROM to be separate from the command line options and made the games separate from each other as they take separate options. unlike other emulators that pass only a few universal variables. You and others have much success with Gameex because it is highly polished and configurable and we have a dedicated team to make sure each and everything works or can work, one way or another.

EDIT: Haha, After my long winded post I realize Frequency has said the same thing, in much less words. I was on a roll I swear his post wasn't there when I started typing. Trying to multitask.

[fRequEnCy]

EDIT: Haha, After my long winded post I realize Frequency has said the same thing, in much less words. I was on a roll I swear his post wasn't there when I started typing. Trying to multitask.

Your post was 10 minutes later. LOL. If you were multitasking and it took 10 minutes to post then I can see that happening. Nice description though. I wouldn't have went into that much detail.

[se_lees]

I know what you're saying Brian, and "...almost NEVER..." means most end-users, but particularly me. But, I did as the tutorial instructed for Daphne via GameEx. Three issues: a. in DaphneLoader, I can select 'skip CRC checks', for example. No idea what syntax would represent this in cmd. b. for DL in DaphneLoader, I have a custom command of -fastboot. It's part of the framefile data. It doesn't seem to be working. Or it don't do much, and those other things I have selected in Loader to skip, do, and again.... and c. DLII ain't workin. I did the same for it as with the others. All the others I set up run. I tried changing the rom name used. No dice. No idea what to do without attempting some serious research.

But, all that trouble would've been avoided if what I suggested, or something similar, if feasible, had been done. I'm not complaining, merely outlining the obvious.

[se_lees]

In fact, an FE for each emulator, to tailor them, then an FE to run emulators, makes sense. You run a gui in an OS. But each application has it's own ui. Same thing. I'm actualy surprised I didn't think of it that way sooner. I haven't seen anyone else mention it.

[Brian Hoffman]

I know what you're saying Brian, and "...almost NEVER..." means most end-users, but particularly me. But, I did as the tutorial instructed for Daphne via GameEx. Three issues: a. in DaphneLoader, I can select 'skip CRC checks', for example. No idea what syntax would represent this in cmd. b. for DL in DaphneLoader, I have a custom command of -fastboot. It's part of the framefile data. It doesn't seem to be working. Or it don't do much, and those other things I have selected in Loader to skip, do, and again.... and c. DLII ain't workin. I did the same for it as with the others. All the others I set up run. I tried changing the rom name used. No dice. No idea what to do without attempting some serious research.

But, all that trouble would've been avoided if what I suggested, or something similar, if feasible, had been done. I'm not complaining, merely outlining the obvious.

A ) The command line for skipcrc is -nocrc and should be in the same place you set daphnes globaloptions in the gameex config.

B ) I have no idea why DL2 does not work for you, it works fine for me. Id check the daphnelog

C ) -fasboot does not go in the framefile, and is probably why it is not working. Only a couple games support the flag.

See the Daphne Command line options here.

https://www.daphne-emu.com/mediawiki/index.php/CmdLine

[se_lees]

Well, all the other options follow the frame file path. -fastboot is in the 'custom command line options', and is included, last in the line. Anyways, I spent a lot of time messing around with things, and I'm burnt. I'm side-lining this.

[ranzo]

I know what you're saying Brian, and "...almost NEVER..." means most end-users, but particularly me. But, I did as the tutorial instructed for Daphne via GameEx. Three issues: a. in DaphneLoader, I can select 'skip CRC checks', for example. No idea what syntax would represent this in cmd. b. for DL in DaphneLoader, I have a custom command of -fastboot. It's part of the framefile data. It doesn't seem to be working. Or it don't do much, and those other things I have selected in Loader to skip, do, and again.... and c. DLII ain't workin. I did the same for it as with the others. All the others I set up run. I tried changing the rom name used. No dice. No idea what to do without attempting some serious research.

But, all that trouble would've been avoided if what I suggested, or something similar, if feasible, had been done. I'm not complaining, merely outlining the obvious.

Did You mean this tutorial in the documentation ? : Thread : Installation Guide

Guide : Guide

There You can find the option -nocrc and You can also see an exampel of the [Daphne] section in the gamaex.ini with DL2, which also works perfect for me...

Ränzo

[se_lees]

No, the Daphne 1.0 tutorial.

Anyways, I'm a bit past my normal way in these things. I'm asking elsewhere about rectifying the matter in general.

[ranzo]

No, the Daphne 1.0 tutorial.

Anyways, I'm a bit past my normal way in these things. I'm asking elsewhere about rectifying the matter in general.

I have never heard that expression "I'm a bit past my normal way". Could someone explain me what that means ??

Ränzo

[se_lees]

Ranzo, it means I don't usually bother with things this far when they become tedious. No fault of anyone's, per se, just not set up how I'd like it.

[ranzo]

Ranzo, it means I don't usually bother with things this far when they become tedious. No fault of anyone's, per se, just not set up how I'd like it.

Hups, thanks for the information...learned something new !!

Ränzo

[se_lees]

Well, it looks like this may not happen. Oh well.