78 replies to this topic

[headkaze]

Believe it or not from the info you gave me I think I fixed the bug. Those led outputs are sent from Mame, you don't need to worry about them, nothing is done when they are sent to CPWizard and in Verbose debug mode they are outputted to the log file. But you gave me a clue because in the UltraStik plugin I don't do anything when outputs are sent. So what happened is Mame sent the outputs and the UltraStik plugin wasn't checking to see if nothing was supposed to happen. Hence the NullReference exception. It was one line of code. So please download Version 1.21 and try again.

If it fails again please edit the PlugInUltraStik.ini and uncomment out Debug=true then post PlugInUltraStik.log. Apart from that little bug it seems like it's working okay.

[Wombat]

Tried about 20 of my favourite MAME games on the weekend, including a lot with two-way movement. So far, so good.... all worked wonderfully and up/down navigation in CPWizard pause menu was possible. Thanks Headkaze!

[PimpDaddyStu]

I just finished building my new control panel with 2 ultrastiks and I thought I'd give your plugin a try but I can't seem to get it to initialize

Here's the interesting bit of the log:

15:56:26.1  28/07/2009:  Loading PlugIns
15:56:26.1  28/07/2009:  Loaded Plugin:"Cursor Hider" Version 1.01 By Stu
15:56:26.1  28/07/2009:  PlugIn: "Cursor Hider" Initialized OK
15:56:26.1  28/07/2009:  Using Plugin System Version: 1.3
15:56:26.1  28/07/2009:  Loaded Plugin:"LCD/LED Plugin" Version 2.87 By Ben Baker
15:56:27.8  28/07/2009:  PlugIn: "LCD/LED Plugin" Initialized OK
15:56:27.8  28/07/2009:  Using Plugin System Version: 1.3
15:56:27.8  28/07/2009:  Could Not Load Plugin: 8
15:56:27.8  28/07/2009:  Checking for applications to Launch On Startup

And here is the full log:

15:56:26.1  28/07/2009:  GameEx: Version 10.18: Starting Log
15:56:26.1  28/07/2009:  Operating System Platform: Win32NT
15:56:26.1  28/07/2009:  Operating System Name: Windows Vista
15:56:26.1  28/07/2009:  Operating System Version: 6.0.6001
15:56:26.1  28/07/2009:  Vista Aero NOT running
15:56:26.1  28/07/2009:  Initializing Vista volume control
15:56:26.1  28/07/2009:  Checking for versions of .net Framework installed
15:56:26.1  28/07/2009:  .net Framework 2.0 Installed
15:56:26.1  28/07/2009:  Intel® Core™2 Duo CPU E8500 @ 3.16GHz, 4094MB
15:56:26.1  28/07/2009:  3.17Ghz - 2 Cores or CPU's
15:56:26.1  28/07/2009:  Running Randomize()
15:56:26.1  28/07/2009:  Loading PlugIns
15:56:26.1  28/07/2009:  Loaded Plugin:"Cursor Hider" Version 1.01 By Stu
15:56:26.1  28/07/2009:  PlugIn: "Cursor Hider" Initialized OK
15:56:26.1  28/07/2009:  Using Plugin System Version: 1.3
15:56:26.1  28/07/2009:  Loaded Plugin:"LCD/LED Plugin" Version 2.87 By Ben Baker
15:56:27.8  28/07/2009:  PlugIn: "LCD/LED Plugin" Initialized OK
15:56:27.8  28/07/2009:  Using Plugin System Version: 1.3
15:56:27.8  28/07/2009:  Could Not Load Plugin: 8
15:56:27.8  28/07/2009:  Checking for applications to Launch On Startup
15:56:27.8  28/07/2009:  Launching and not waiting: E:\GameEx\Utilities\RunB4.bat
15:56:27.8  28/07/2009:  Running Misc startup tasks
15:56:27.8  28/07/2009:  Setting Menu types
15:56:27.8  28/07/2009:  Opening Configuration File
15:56:27.8  28/07/2009:  Getting Configuration Values
15:56:27.8  28/07/2009:  Using Theme: Future Retro v4
15:56:27.8  28/07/2009:  Checking for alternate Image Directory for Theme: Future Retro v4
15:56:27.8  28/07/2009:  Launching HideOS.exe
15:56:27.8  28/07/2009:  Initialising Video/MNG DLL's
15:56:27.9  28/07/2009:  GameEx will check for media insertion (may affect performance)
15:56:27.9  28/07/2009:  Hiding Taskbar
15:56:27.9  28/07/2009:  Is Media Center running?
15:56:27.9  28/07/2009:  Checking/Creating LCD Registry values
15:56:27.9  28/07/2009:  Check Media Center Exit/Start Mode
15:56:27.9  28/07/2009:  Media Center Mode 0
15:56:27.9  28/07/2009:  Video previews on. Warning: Only recommended on modern systems
15:56:27.9  28/07/2009:  Custom Keyboard Input enabled: Getting custom codes
15:56:27.9  28/07/2009:  Custom Game Device Input enabled: Getting custom codes
15:56:27.9  28/07/2009:  Snap Delay set to: 4
15:56:27.9  28/07/2009:  Get other settings
15:56:27.9  28/07/2009:  Mouse Input is disabled
15:56:27.9  28/07/2009:  Desktop set to Hide ICONS and set Background to Black
15:56:27.9  28/07/2009:  SlikStik support enabled
15:56:27.9  28/07/2009:  Using DirectInput for keyboard input
15:56:27.9  28/07/2009:  Start work for Form
15:56:27.9  28/07/2009:  Getting Original Screen Size
15:56:27.9  28/07/2009:  Opening Database Connection
15:56:27.9  28/07/2009:  Initializing Component
15:56:27.9  28/07/2009:  Retrieving resolution setting
15:56:27.9  28/07/2009:  MAME Path is: E:\Mame
15:56:27.9  28/07/2009:  Model 2 Path Path is: E:\Sega Model 2
15:56:27.9  28/07/2009:  Multi Core/Hyper Threading detected. Looking for emulator_multicpu.exe
15:56:27.9  28/07/2009:  Model 2 EXE file is: emulator_multicpu.exe
15:56:27.9  28/07/2009:  Model 2 emulator with command line support detected
15:56:27.9  28/07/2009:  Use Model 2 on. emulator_multicpu.exe will launch Sega Model 2 games
15:56:27.9  28/07/2009:  MAME EXE file is: mame64.exe
15:56:27.9  28/07/2009:  ROM Path is: E:\Mame\roms
15:56:27.9  28/07/2009:  Catver.ini is located at: E:\Mame\catver.ini
15:56:27.9  28/07/2009:  History.dat is located at: E:\Mame\history.dat
15:56:27.9  28/07/2009:  nplayers.ini is located at: E:\Mame\nplayers.ini
15:56:28.0  28/07/2009:  MAMEinfo.dat is located at: E:\Mame\mameinfo.dat
15:56:28.0  28/07/2009:  Loading Controls.ini map file
15:56:28.0  28/07/2009:  Snap Path is: E:\Mame\snap
15:56:28.0  28/07/2009:  AVI Snap Path is: E:\Mame\avisnap
15:56:28.0  28/07/2009:  Flyer Path is: E:\Mame\flyers
15:56:28.0  28/07/2009:  Cabinet Path is: E:\Mame\cabinets
15:56:28.0  28/07/2009:  Title Path is: E:\Mame\titles
15:56:28.0  28/07/2009:  PCB Path is: E:\Mame\pcb
15:56:28.0  28/07/2009:  Artwork Preview Path is: E:\Mame\artwork
15:56:28.0  28/07/2009:  Panel Path is: E:\Mame\cpanel
15:56:28.0  28/07/2009:  Manual Path is: E:\Mame\Manuals
15:56:28.0  28/07/2009:  Icon Path: Not Found
15:56:28.0  28/07/2009:  Marquee Path is: E:\Mame\marquees
15:56:28.0  28/07/2009:  Loading Custom Emulators
15:56:28.0  28/07/2009:  Loading Emulator 8: Nintendo GameBoy Mono & Color
15:56:28.0  28/07/2009:  Loading Emulator 9: Nintendo GameBoy Advance
15:56:28.0  28/07/2009:  Loading Emulator 11: Nintendo NES
15:56:28.0  28/07/2009:  Loading Emulator 12: Nintendo SNES
15:56:28.1  28/07/2009:  Loading Emulator 13: Nintendo N64
15:56:28.1  28/07/2009:  Loading Emulator 30: Nintendo GameBoy Advance
15:56:28.1  28/07/2009:  Loading Emulator 31: Nintendo GameBoy Mono & Color
15:56:28.1  28/07/2009:  Loading Emulator 32: Nintendo Virtual Boy
15:56:28.1  28/07/2009:  Loading Emulator 33: Nintendo NES
15:56:28.2  28/07/2009:  Loading Emulator 34: Nintendo SNES
15:56:28.2  28/07/2009:  Loading Emulator 35: Nintendo N64
15:56:28.2  28/07/2009:  Loading Emulator 36: Nintendo GameCube
15:56:28.2  28/07/2009:  Loading Emulator 40: Sega Game Gear
15:56:28.3  28/07/2009:  Loading Emulator 41: Sega Master System
15:56:28.3  28/07/2009:  Loading Emulator 42: Sega Mega Drive
15:56:28.3  28/07/2009:  Loading Emulator 43: Sega Saturn
15:56:28.3  28/07/2009:  Loading Emulator 44: Sega Dreamcast
15:56:28.4  28/07/2009:  Loading Emulator 50: Atari 5200
15:56:28.4  28/07/2009:  Loading Emulator 51: Atari 7800
15:56:28.4  28/07/2009:  Loading Emulator 52: Atari Jaguar
15:56:28.5  28/07/2009:  Loading Emulator Group 1: Sega
15:56:28.5  28/07/2009:  Loading Emulator Group 2: Nintendo
15:56:28.5  28/07/2009:  Loading Emulator Group 3: Atari
15:56:28.5  28/07/2009:  Using 3D Alpha Blended Animations. This could be slow
15:56:28.5  28/07/2009:  Using General Font: Alien League
15:56:28.5  28/07/2009:  Using Title Font: Microsoft Sans Serif
15:56:28.5  28/07/2009:  Initialising DirectDraw
15:56:28.6  28/07/2009:  Creating DirectDraw Device
15:56:28.6  28/07/2009:  Using Device: Ultimarc ArcadeVGA2
15:56:28.7  28/07/2009:  2042mb video memory available
15:56:28.7  28/07/2009:  Setting Resolution to 640x480 32 bit color
15:56:28.7  28/07/2009:  Creating DirectDraw Surfaces
15:56:28.7  28/07/2009:  Creating Primary Surface - Full Screen Mode
15:56:28.7  28/07/2009:  Creating Back Buffer
15:56:28.7  28/07/2009:  Version 2 Theme being used. Loading.
15:56:28.7  28/07/2009:  Loading Button Data
15:56:28.7  28/07/2009:  Loading Font Data
15:56:28.7  28/07/2009:  Loading Layout Data
15:56:28.7  28/07/2009:  Loading Taskbar Data
15:56:28.8  28/07/2009:  Loading graphic Surfaces
15:56:28.8  28/07/2009:  Display is running at: 640x480 32bit color, 58hz
15:56:28.8  28/07/2009:  Creating Surfaces Flags
15:56:28.8  28/07/2009:  Creating Surfaces Misc and Dialogs
15:56:28.8  28/07/2009:  Creating Surfaces Volume
15:56:28.8  28/07/2009:  Creating Surfaces Arrows
15:56:28.8  28/07/2009:  Creating Surfaces GameEXlogo Text
15:56:28.8  28/07/2009:  Creating Surfaces Toolbar
15:56:28.8  28/07/2009:  Creating Surfaces Backgrounds
15:56:28.9  28/07/2009:  Creating Surfaces Toolbar Controls
15:56:28.9  28/07/2009:  Creating Surfaces GameEx Logo
15:56:28.9  28/07/2009:  Creating Surface Unselected
15:56:28.9  28/07/2009:  Creating Surfaces Snaps
15:56:28.9  28/07/2009:  Creating Surfaces Menu and List Bars
15:56:28.9  28/07/2009:  Creating Fonts
15:56:28.9  28/07/2009:  Creating Game Font
15:56:29.0  28/07/2009:  Creating Game Font Faded
15:56:29.0  28/07/2009:  Creating Title Font
15:56:29.0  28/07/2009:  Restoring Title Font From Cache
15:56:29.1  28/07/2009:  Creating Font Black
15:56:29.1  28/07/2009:  Creating Font Black Small
15:56:29.2  28/07/2009:  Fonts Created Succesfully
15:56:29.2  28/07/2009:  2006mb video memory left available
15:56:29.2  28/07/2009:  Creating instance of global keyboard hook
15:56:29.2  28/07/2009:  Attempting to load game list
15:56:29.3  28/07/2009:  Starting GameExtender Publisher
15:56:29.3  28/07/2009:  Text/Language: English
15:56:29.3  28/07/2009:  Applying Language/Text
15:56:29.3  28/07/2009:  Initialising Bass Audio Library
15:56:29.4  28/07/2009:  MAME CMD options: 
15:56:29.4  28/07/2009:  Loading last used Game List
15:56:29.5  28/07/2009:  Loading Start Page
15:56:29.6  28/07/2009:  Setting Music Volume
15:56:29.6  28/07/2009:  Creating DirectSound Device
15:56:29.6  28/07/2009:  Trying: Primary Sound Driver
15:56:29.6  28/07/2009:  Loading Sound Files
15:56:29.6  28/07/2009:  DirectSound Device Created Successfully
15:56:29.6  28/07/2009:  Initialising DirectInput for Gamepad support
15:56:29.6  28/07/2009:  Using Device Ultimarc Ultra-Stik Player 1
15:56:29.6  28/07/2009:  Using Device Ultimarc Ultra-Stik Player 2
15:56:29.6  28/07/2009:  Initialising DirectInput for Keyboard support
15:56:29.7  28/07/2009:  Initializing MCE Remote
15:56:29.7  28/07/2009:  Playing intro sound file
15:56:29.7  28/07/2009:  Initialization OK! Starting GameEx!
15:56:29.7  28/07/2009:  Testing Main Loop Once: Processing Frame
15:56:30.0  28/07/2009:  Testing Main Loop Once: Main Loop ran successfully
15:56:51.4  28/07/2009:  Exiting GameEx!
15:56:51.4  28/07/2009:  Saving Settings
15:56:52.4  28/07/2009:  Disposing Plugins
15:56:52.4  28/07/2009:  Closing database connection
15:56:52.5  28/07/2009:  Checking for applications to Launch On Exit
15:56:52.5  28/07/2009:  Launching and waiting: E:\GameEx\Utilities\RunAfter.bat

I tried your test program from the 3rd or 4th post in this thread and it's working fine

Any ideas? I'm running Vista x64

Thanks
Stu

[headkaze]

Sorry Stu I have no idea and "Could Not Load Plugin" doesn't tell me much. I do know that it's been tested on Vista 64 before. Perhaps Tom could give us some ideas?

[TSpeirs]

Not the best error message I agree! This is actually an exception when trying to call the initializiation funtion within the plugin.

EDIT: Thats not correct, I see this is the UltraStik plugin, and not the LCD one erroring. I dont really know what is causing this. GameEx is just failing loading the DLL assembly itself. Perhaps a .net framework version issue?

[headkaze]

I just realised that I did add logging to the UltraStik plugin. Stu take a look in GameEx's PLUGINS folder for PlugInUltraStik.log and if it contains any errors that might help out.

[PimpDaddyStu]

Seemingly it hasn't even managed to create the log file before erroring

I have up to dot net 3.5 installed

Thanks
Stu

[TSpeirs]

Yes, its not getting that far. Its odd that the plugin would list in the plugin manager but not run in GameEx so it cant be .net. I suppose youve tried a reboot etc?

[PimpDaddyStu]

I hadn't tried a reboot but just done one there now but now difference

Is there supposed to be a config window for this pluggin? Although it lists in the manager when I click config nothing happens

Stu

**Update**

Just tried it on another PC and I can see the about screen after click the config button in the manager.
So what would cause that window to not appear on my cabinet pc?

Stu

[PimpDaddyStu]

Any chance I could get a look at your code headkaze so I can try work this out myself?

I really can't see what would be causing the about window not to appear, I've reinstalled dot net but hasn't made any difference

Stu

[headkaze]

All I have for the Configure method is the following

public void Configure()
{
	using(Configuration config = new Configuration())
	{
		config.ShowDialog(null);
	}
}

And the Configuration form is basically empty. There is nothing that could cause an exception there, so IMHO there is a problem instanciating the plugin, not something in the plugin itself. So I take it other plugins are running fine? Have you tried downloading the version from my website and copying it manually into GameEx's PLUGINS folder?

Attached it an x86 compiled version but it really shouldn't make a difference. My dev machine is XP 64 and it runs fine, and from memory we had the plugin tested by a few Vista 64 users.

Attached Files

•  PlugInUltraStik.zip   19.33K   2 downloads

[PimpDaddyStu]

Yeah I had already tried the one from your site but it didn't make a difference and the new one you posted above didn't help either.

It's really odd because all the other plugin config screens appear fine I even tried your rotate plugin which is your most recent, I think.

If I had your code I was going to go through commenting out section by section until I can get it to load.

My other PC is also Vista x64 and it works on it so thats not the problem.

Stu

[iano]

Are you running at 640x480 ? Maybe the low screen resolution could have something to do with the issue.

[headkaze]

PimpDaddyStu, on Jul 30 2009, 11:13 PM, said:

My other PC is also Vista x64 and it works on it so thats not the problem.

When you run the Plugin Manager, the only method invoked is "Configure" so I don't see how going through the code will help. There is nothing to comment out apart from the lines I showed you above. I can make you up a debug version with message boxes etc. but I think the plugin is failing initialization, which means it doesn't even get to call a method. What shall we try now?

[PimpDaddyStu]

headkaze, on Jul 30 2009, 05:17 PM, said:

When you run the Plugin Manager, the only method invoked is "Configure" so I don't see how going through the code will help. There is nothing to comment out apart from the lines I showed you above. I can make you up a debug version with message boxes etc. but I think the plugin is failing initialization, which means it doesn't even get to call a method. What shall we try now?

I've had bother before when I was making a plugin and it turned out it was code further on down the plugin that was causing it break.

I was goona go with the opposite approach and start by commenting out pretty much everything apart from the config button code and see if just that would work by itself, then start adding the code back in until it fails to initialise.

I am running 640x480 but I can't see this being an issue as all the other plugin about screen appear, I have a fully configured LCD/LED Plugin that was all configured at 640x480.

Stu

[headkaze]

I'm really not sure how commenting out code that doesn't get executed will help? Anyway we can give it a try, here is the plugin with everything commented out apart from the Configure method (and constructor/dispose).

I did notice a strange difference between V1.3 and V1.4 plugin's and that's in the Mame_Info struct the "ParentRom" has been removed. Not sure if that is a mistake or not, but I do remember there being some issues when the new plugin version was introduced.

Attached Files

•  PlugInUltraStik.zip   16.44K   1 downloads

[TSpeirs]

Hey Ben, as mentioned in email its been renamed to CloneOf.

Also the issue when released was an internatiolisation bug with converting a string (plugin version) to a double, as it varies depending which country your in so not really related.

I suspect the issue here is due to referencing an external lib in the plugin that stus machine dont likey.

[PimpDaddyStu]

I'm getting somewhere with this

That 'empty' plugin didn't bring up the config screen either so I decided it's definitely not the plugin, I noticed it was the last plugin in my list so I modified my cursor hider so that it was call zcursorhider so it would appear last in the list

I clicked the config beside ultrastik again but still no joy, I then clicked the config button beside my zcursorhider but instead of my config appearing, headkaze's ultrastik about screen appears

So I enabled zcursorhider and ran gameex and ultrastik plugin now works

Obviously I have some sort of corrupt file in the plugin directory that is knocking the list out of sync

Now just to work out which one

Stu

[PimpDaddyStu]

Problem solved, I just noticed that the 'Speak Game Name' plugin wasn't appearing in plugin manager even though the dll was in the folder so I removed the dll and no my list is back in sync

I think this is a minor bug Tom, the plugin isn't initialising so you're not displaying it but you must still be keeping track of it somewhere for it to knock the list out of sync

Stu