Home Page Forums MAME MAME Fixed software lists

Not really necessary (unless for frontends or rom tools), but since the field is defined in the .xml file I guessed it should be present in -listsoftware output.

I think Duke added the description to the list struct, so it possible to output it now. I never needed it for the core functionality so I wasn't storing it in memory.

As you may all already saw there is now software list support done in UI, it is still quite preliminary, but it works now.

In list all software items from all lists for specific driver will be shown with details. Thing is that with clicking on specific item driver will start that software. For not there is no auditing and listing only available games, but it is planned.

Please suggest how can we improve it, and/or feel free to update code.

the way it works is quite useful, but in my opinion is not optimal.

take e.g. atomeb and smssdisp: they have multiple cartslots and each slot can load a software list item, while in the current implementation only the first slot can be used.

while this can be fine with smssdisp (mainly because the display unit does not really work), in atomeb it is quite important to load multiple expansions.

a possible solution would be to somehow link the Software tab to the Mount/Unmount functionality of the Device View tab: sort of
having three options, "Mount from path", "Mount from list", "Unmount"

This would also allow to only show the items with the proper interface expected by that specific slot (if I put an entry in snes.xml with interface="gameboy_cart", command line MESS would simply not load it, while I think MESSUI would currently list it in the Software Tab).

Additionally, this might also solve the huge slowdown when scrolling up/down through e.g. Game Boy consoles (since every time the whole list has to be parsed)

Glad to see the software tab is hooked up and working.

One little problem however. I have the new software directory's sitting under a directory called software like this: -

c:\mess\software\32x\

I prefer this than placing the software directory's in the rom folder like this :-

c:\mess\roms\32x\

Here is the problem. I have the rompath set up in the mess.ini file and can run the software from the picker tab.

I can't do this from the software tab unless i put the software directory's (32x, aes, etc...) in the rom folder. It's as if the software tab is not seeing the rom path in th mess.ini file. The rompath is set like this: -

rompath roms;c:\mess\software

Is there some way i can point the software tab to my prefered directory structure.

k1w1

it should work fine if you add the second rompath in the general Directory properties of MESSUI (here it worked perfectly). I guess MESSUI only reads the rompath from its ini file and not from the main mess.ini. not sure if this is by design or a mistake, though.

Thanks again etabeta.

I think i have defined the problem a little more.

I have all of the cartridge software for all of the systems covered with the xml's. These have been verified with clrmamepro.

It appears only a few sytems can run from the software tab. Some of these are: -

advision
aes
arcadia
pce

to name a few. Most others just report "not found", systems like: -

snes
gameboy
jaguar

One of the strange thing is that although pce runs it's complete software list, it's subsystems sgx & tg16 don't run theirs.

I can't figure out why this is happening. They run from the picker tab.

OK i have just dropped jaguar into my roms directory and it is now recognised by the software tab.

So even though i have the rompaths setup correctly only some systems run from my software directory and others like jaguar have to be placed in my roms directory.

I'm confused!

k1w1

Hang on, even more confusing is that jaguarcd loads and runs the jaguar software list from my software directory, but not jaguar.

nope. they all load fine here from the secondary path: jaguar, tg16, pce, gameboy and snes.

check that you have the right rompath in Options->Directories and/or try to delete any jaguar.ini (and snes.ini, etc.) old file which might conflict with the new one

Thats got it, I have erased all the files in the INI directory, and things are working as they should.

Thanks

Struggling here with these software lists etc

a couple of questions

1.am I right in thinking the Software list will check your (roms/tapes/disc's etc) and add info against the ones that match MESS's internal list (if that's correct then cool )

and this will be shown in the PICKER (its working already and is fine )


2.What is the Software Tab for and how do I get it to display anything (I was reading K1W1's post's above but I still don't get it )


3.How do I get a software list into clrmamepro
please supply idiot guide as I only use the GUI so if I have to use CMD prompts what exactly do I type (don't use *typenewnamegamehere* ) as I will type typenewnamegamehere :0

4.If I get a software list into clrmamepro will it then rebuild aes roms that will load in mess I have some but mess won't see them.

sorry for being a thicky on this....

be patient with me.

ASH2