MessUI Software Lists

[julepe]

Hi Robert,

 

this is what I wrote before:

 

1. I have noticed that there is a trouble, in MessUI, with the software lists of some systems which are downward compatible (MSX systems, ...) or have different interfaces to load games (cass, carts, flops...). There are duplicated names of games (the same software set name for cart, cass or flop and for MSX1/MSX2) and MessUI only shows one of them on Software tab.

2. Besides, I consider that it would be nice to have an easy-to-access round buttons, in (System Menu Bar)/Devices/Cassettes(Floppys), for selecting tape/disc 1, 2 ,3 ,4, ..., just reading the XML for every set as it's possible in MESS/File Manager. Please, see the image. I've retouched a picture adding what I'm talking about.

 

I'm going to try to explain it better although English is not my native language:

 

1. When you have a system that can loads apps/games from different software lists, MESSUI only shows one (e.g. see the image for cpc464 system, there are the same software names for cpc_cass and for cpc_flop and the Software List Tab on MESSUI doesn't list both games. Even worse on MSX systems, MSX2 is downward compatible so it can play msx1_cass, msx1_cart, msx1_flop, msx2_cass, msx2_cart, msx2_flop). To solve it I think you must distinguish between the same names from all the software lists that a system can loads.

 

 

2. Programing isn't one of my skills but the same way MESSUI reads the *.xml to display the software list and I can play a game double clicking a name I think it's possible the implementation of choosing cass/flop 1,2,3,4, .. MAME supports that function in FILE MANAGER so I guess it's possible, writing the code is another matter.

I hope you can understand it now.

 

 

A new issue, for me, has come out with the new version 0.162 but I think it's a problem in the source code of MAME (tried mame64.exe from mamedev, my compilation and mess64.exe from here, and messui64 fails too because it doesn't show the snaps of MSX2 systems). When I try lo load the software lists of any MSX2 system, MAME and MESS forces close itself (it was OK in 0.161)

I've been looking into this issue and the problem is msx2_flop.xml, using the one of 0.161 it works perfectly.

Error found. "towercab" entry in msx2_flop.xml is lack of datas according to softwarelist.dtd, deleting this entry the emulator works well.

Edited May 31, 2015 by julepe

[Robert]

Hi,

 

Thanks for all the info, sorry you had such trouble getting registered.

 

I will look into all you've said and will get back to you.

[Robert]

The problem with duplicates missing from the software list has been fixed.

[Robert]

The problem in the msx2_flop.xml has been fixed, thanks for finding the problem.

[julepe]

Wow, very fast!! You are actually a mameaholic. Thanks for your hard work!

Something that you could add, in the 0.163 release, is a new field to the "Software list" tab. Now, there are Name, List, Description, Year and Publisher. The one I'm talking about is a very important info to load the software. "Usage" from the entry "<info name="usage" value="Load with BLOAD"CAS:",R"/>".

As well, I've been thinking of my proposal about the round buttons for selecting the cass/flop number. I don't know if you will try to implement it but my conclusion is that it's not the best way; there is software which has up to cass50 (flop53). So, I think that it's better a pull-down menu. The example picture is from airborne (cpc_cass), it doesn't have the info "Side A;B;C;D" but that info exists in other software. It's from the entry
<part name="cass1" interface="msx_cass">
<feature name="part_id" value="Side A"/> and MAME displays it like "Cass1 (Side A)"

 

 

Thanks again.

[Robert]

I really don't know about that cassette stuff at this stage. Need to think it over.

 

For the usage field, I had looked at this previously, but found it's a core problem. It might be able to be worked around, but I'm not sure.

[julepe]

Well, it's not only a cassette stuff, floppy too. But, no matter; we can always use the common MAME menu pushing TAB key.

 

For the usage field, I asked you about it because I've seen it in other frontends (q___, M____); I'm not going to mention them here.

[Robert]

The "Usage" field has been added into the software list.

[julepe]

Thanks and sorry for bothering you a little much.

[Robert]

I tried loading 'airborne' into the cpc464, but a few seconds into the first tape, it says it has run out of memory. Due to unfamiliarity with the system, I was not able to get it to work.

 

EDIT: Asked around, seems I had to use RUN"" to make it load, which it did. However it froze at the "Select your mission" screen, so looks like it's broken anyway.

[julepe]

I took "airborne" just as example to show what I was talking about.