Dat file instead of a map file

[starbuck]

I currently use a map fie on many of my systems. I run all my games thru CLRMamepro, which already has a dat file. No-Intro and TOSEC dats are updated while often. When a new game is added to a dat file, I have to edit the map flle to include the new games. Would it be possible to use the dat file instead of the map file. Seems like a lot of effort to update the map files when No-ibntro and TOSEC is already doing much the same thing already. If it doesn't or if it can't presently be done, would any of the other users see a need for a request. Systems like the Ninteno DS are updated almost daily at No-intro.dat.

[Draco1962]

Sounds good to me - anything to make the experience easier!

[fRequEnCy]

I currently use a map fie on many of my systems. I run all my games thru CLRMamepro, which already has a dat file. No-Intro and TOSEC dats are updated while often. When a new game is added to a dat file, I have to edit the map flle to include the new games. Would it be possible to use the dat file instead of the map file. Seems like a lot of effort to update the map files when No-ibntro and TOSEC is already doing much the same thing already. If it doesn't or if it can't presently be done, would any of the other users see a need for a request. Systems like the Ninteno DS are updated almost daily at No-intro.dat.

Anything is possible as I use the dat files to generate the map files that I share with the community. But this is really only beneficial to Arcade systems as the rom name is different from the description name. There wouldn't be a use for this at all IMO. No-Intro and TOSEC dats are different. Their rom names match their description name. So having to update the map files isn't necessary. GameEx will generate a map file based on your files. If for some reason your new games are not being listed then just delete the map file for that emulator and a new map file will be generated.

[starbuck]

Took Frequency's reply and did some testing. On a system that games are added often like Nintendo DS, the only way to update the map file is by maually deleting the map file and letting a new one be created. Maybe a way within GameEx to delete ythe current map file and generate a new one would be the way to go. Kinda like what Mame does with a new version. Also if I use merged roms. I get a large number of files in the map that are duplicates. In my list I will see the same rom listed several times, even with merge turned on. Believe this is happenng because of the different naming convictions used by No-Into. TOSEC, Goodroms and Darkwater. Manually creating the Map file fixes this problem. Only thought I have for this is to have a different map file created for each folder. (No-Intro, TOSEC etc) then some how merge these map files thru GAMEEX. Would be awsome if there was a way to show the roms you don't have in the map with a different color.

[fRequEnCy]

Took Frequency's reply and did some testing. On a system that games are added often like Nintendo DS, the only way to update the map file is by maually deleting the map file and letting a new one be created. Maybe a way within GameEx to delete ythe current map file and generate a new one would be the way to go. Kinda like what Mame does with a new version. Also if I use merged roms. I get a large number of files in the map that are duplicates. In my list I will see the same rom listed several times, even with merge turned on. Believe this is happenng because of the different naming convictions used by No-Into. TOSEC, Goodroms and Darkwater. Manually creating the Map file fixes this problem. Only thought I have for this is to have a different map file created for each folder. (No-Intro, TOSEC etc) then some how merge these map files thru GAMEEX. Would be awsome if there was a way to show the roms you don't have in the map with a different color.

Map files are cached way of storing rom list. They should update when there's a change but if not then that's when they will need to be deleted manually.

There is a way to show the roms you don't have with specified color in GameEx. And it's done within the mapfile. Tempest's Map File Magician creates map files that do this and the rest is done within GameEx.

[starbuck]

Thanks, I play with that. Sounds like it may be what I'm looking for. What tips off the map file for it to be updated. I just added 10 new roms to my NDS folder and it didn't update the map

[fRequEnCy]

Thanks, I play with that. Sounds like it may be what I'm looking for. What tips off the map file for it to be updated. I just added 10 new roms to my NDS folder and it didn't update the map

It should be updated automatically. I've seen lately that cache files have needed to be removed. I'll speak to Tom about this. In the mean time, I would just create a bat file or script something to delete these files since they will be rebuilt anyways.

[starbuck]

Thanks fRequency,

Ialso try and track down Tempest. If understand his program right,I can put in multiple directories , No=Into TOSEC, etc. and will build a merged map file from these. I then wonder if I then in the Setup Wizard use merged roms or not.