I can't get the also launch to work with pc games!

[emphatic]

I'm going crazy with setting up my PC games. I have a lot of freeware shooters from Japan that I want to play in my cabinet (pictures of it will show up as soon as it's done) and the keymapping isn't configurable ingame. I've configured AutoHotKey scripts for each game but I can't get GameEx to "also launch" them. I've tried "launch before" as well. They have the same names for example:

"68 K.lnk" (I figured shortcuts are easiest and I have a folder called "Shortcuts" for my PC games.

"68 K.exe" (this is a compiled .ahk-file that I need to "also launch"

I've tried putting the .exe-files in the same folder as my shortcuts but that didn't work.

I then tried to put them in the same folder as the game.exe with the appropriate name (68 K.exe) but that didn't work either.

The weirdest thing is that I can't see any reference to "also launch" in the GameEx .log file. I have attached both the part of the log-file that is needed to see as well as my

Oh, and I can't get "Roms in folders" to work either (for this config, haven't tried it before). Does anyone use this and confirm that it actually does work?

From log file:

22:50:36.2  2006-02-15:  Running: cmd.exe /c H: H:\Spel\PC-SPEL\CH050820\LATEST.exe
22:50:59.7  2006-02-15:  Exiting GameEx!

My Config for PC-Games:

SendKeys_25=
[Emulator_1]
Enabled=True
StartPageName=PC GAMES
TitleText=PC GAMES
StartPageLogo=
RomFilter=*.lnk
RomsInFolders=False
ROMPath=H:\Shortcuts\
SnapPath=H:\Spel\PC-SPEL\PC_SNAP_&_TITLE_SCREENS\snaps
WorkingPath=H:\Shortcuts\
MapKeys=True
WaitBeforeKeys=
SendKeys=
ReplaceDash=False
ReplaceUnder=False
Capitals=False
RemoveBrackets=False
AlsoLaunch=
ShowDesktop=False
Debug=False
MapFile=
OLDatZip=
Command=[ROMPATH]\[ROMFILE]
TitlePath=H:\Spel\PC-SPEL\PC_SNAP_&_TITLE_SCREENS\titles
BoxPath=H:\Spel\PC-SPEL\PC_SNAP_&_TITLE_SCREENS\controllers
LaunchBefore=[ROMPATH]\[ROMFILE].exe
LaunchAfter=C:\Program\Spel\GameEx\taskkill.exe /F /IM [ROMFILE].exe
CartPath=
configFile=
ExcludedFiles=
CustomBackground=bak

[Tom Speirs]

I can confirm Roms in folders is not implemented. Sorry.

[Glad you figured out the Num Lock script. So much more fun when you do it yourself]

[emphatic]

I tried the debug mode and got the idea to look at the

runitgame.bat and this is what it looks like now:

H:
CD "H:\Spel\PC-SPEL\CH050820"
H:\Shortcuts\Cho_Ren_Sya_68_K.lnk.exe
"H:\Spel\PC-SPEL\CH050820\LATEST.exe"
c:\program\spel\gameex\taskkill.exe /f /im Cho_Ren_Sya_68_K.lnk.exe

I also have learned that in order for my "[ROMPATH]\[ROMFILE].exe" to work, the .exe-file has to be called [ROMFILE].lnk.exe I don't understand why though.

What happens now is that GameEx launches the runitgame.bat but when the AutoHotKey exe's (called [ROMFILE].lnk.exe, nothing else happens until I kill it. Bah! I'm too tired to keep trying tonight. Better get some sleep.

I'm running Windows XP Home on my laptop btw if this has anything to do with it.

Emph

[mec11]

Well... if you ever get that working let me know

Currently I have my PC games set up in the other apps section. Was much easier.

[emphatic]

mec11: But when you have about 20 games, it's a lot easier and cleaner on the start page to only have a "PC Games" category instead of 20 items. And you can't add your apps to appear as favorites, can you?

I just want to be able to browse through my favorites with MAME, Dreamcast and PC games all in one big, happy family. I will do some more testing after work tonight.

Emph

[emphatic]

More testing but I'm beginning to think that GameEx isn't 100% compatible with any of my Windows installations. Maybe Swedish XP is different?

The issues I have so far:

ANY emulation that involves any mounting or other processes starting other than started "directly" by GameEx fails.

Example 1:

I've tried to use Headkaze's Chankast emu setup, but a simple mounting operation that works 100% EVERY TIME outside of GameEx now never happens. So now I have to have ALL of my cd images mounted before entering GameEx should I want to play any of them. That's a LOT of friggin' virtual devices.

Example 2 (PC game "Cho Ren Sya 68 K"):

This is what I made this thread about, PC Games listed as Emulators.

I've come as far now as to getting GameEx to "allow" my AutoHotKey script to run and then launch the corresponding game.

To get that far I had to do this incredibly complicated list of aaarrgh! (sorry) "measures":

I had to rename all files (I only did this for one test game since I'm not completely daft) per game:

Cho_Ren_Sya_68_K.exe (ahk script, must be launched by GameEx as the emu/shortcut)

Cho_Ren_Sya_68_K.exe.lnk (this is the "proper" game shortcut, launched "before") (Weird thing, I had to add the .exe to the .lnk-fle for it to work)

Cho_Ren_Sya_68_K.exe.bat (batfile that launches taskkill.exe "after" to kill the corresponding AutoHotKey script, in this case "Cho_Ren_Sya_68_K.exe")

(I tried to use the "launch after" command: taskkill /F /IM [ROMFile].exe but that never worked)

So, what happens, you ask? Well, if I choose to run the game "Cho Ren Sya 68 K" from my PC Games folder, here's what I expect to be excecuted in the following order;

Cho_Ren_Sya_68_K.exe (launch akh script)

Cho_Ren_Sya_68_K.exe.lnk (launch game)

When pressing the game thus exiting the game:

Cho_Ren_Sya_68_K.bat (closing the ahk script so that the GameEx interfaceing will work)

The .bat file won't run. So I'm confused. Is there a current "launch before/launch after" bug with the current build that I'm unaware of, or is this a system specific issue? I'm doing all the testing on my Laptop running XP Home sp2 (swedish).

I did tests on my regular computer running XP Professional sp2 with the same results, so I don't think it's a Home issue.

The config used:

[Emulator_1]
Enabled=True
StartPageName=PC GAMES
TitleText=PC GAMES
StartPageLogo=
RomFilter=*.exe
RomsInFolders=False
ROMPath=H:\Shortcuts\
SnapPath=H:\Spel\PC-SPEL\PC_SNAP_&_TITLE_SCREENS\snaps
WorkingPath=H:\Shortcuts\
MapKeys=True
WaitBeforeKeys=
SendKeys=
ReplaceDash=True
ReplaceUnder=True
Capitals=True
RemoveBrackets=True
AlsoLaunch=
ShowDesktop=False
Debug=False
MapFile=
OLDatZip=
Command=[ROMPATH]\[ROMFILE]
TitlePath=H:\Spel\PC-SPEL\PC_SNAP_&_TITLE_SCREENS\titles
BoxPath=H:\Spel\PC-SPEL\PC_SNAP_&_TITLE_SCREENS\controllers
LaunchBefore=[ROMPATH]\[ROMFILE].lnk
LaunchAfter=[ROMPATH]\[ROMFILE].bat
CartPath=
configFile=
ExcludedFiles=
CustomBackground=bak

Attached is my GameEx.ini

Please, Tom, tell me it's a bug!

Emph

GameEx.zip

[headkaze]

Sounds like your over complicating things. Personally I would do away with using lnk's if you have to do all this mounting and running Autohotkey scripts. I would just be using .bat files. Or possibly just one batch file to do it all.

For example, lets call this batch file "RunPCGame.bat". It has to do a few things to run a PC game, namely run an autohotkey file, mount an image, run the game, kill the script, unmount the image.

Okay, so here is one I'll knock up now and it will be untested, so you will have to fix up the bugs.

-- RunPCGame.bat --

@ECHO OFF

REM -- Run Autohotkey script

Start RunAHKScript.bat %1.exe

REM -- Mount the image (using DT 4+)

C:\Program Files\DAEMON Tools\daemon.exe -mount 0,%1

REM -- Wait for image to finish mounting

C:\Program Files\GameEx\Sleep.exe 5000

REM -- Run game

Start /WAIT %1.lnk

REM -- Unmount image

C:\Program Files\DAEMON Tools\daemon.exe -unmount 0

REM -- Kill Autohotkey script

taskkill /F /IM %1.exe

exit

-- End --

You need to have a separate batch file to run the Autohotkey script otherwise the batch file will wait until the script task has finished. This way it will continue running the batch file after launching the script.

-- RunAHKScript.bat --

@ECHO OFF

%1

EXIT

-- End --

The way to run this batch file would be something like..

RomFilter=*.cue;*.iso;*.cdi;*.mds;*.nrg

Command=[ROMPATH]\RunPCGame.bat [ROMPATH]\[ROMFILE]

You will need the following files for each game (the extension is the games CD image file's extension)

MyGame.iso <- Image file of game

MyGame.iso.lnk <- link to run actual game

MyGame.iso.exe <- Autohotkey script

Hope this helps

[headkaze]

I just found out that using the Start /WAIT switch with a shortcut will not always wait for the process to end properly. This means it will continue running the script unmounting the image and closing the Autohotkey script. So I have written a little program that will launch a shortcut and wait for it to finish before continuing.

Change...

Start /WAIT %1.lnk

To..

runwaitlnk %1.lnk

Download runwaitlnk.zip

[emphatic]

headkaze: A BIG thank you -> THANK YOU!

I will test this tonight after work and family matters.

Emph

[emphatic]

Testing has begun.

I've tried using these .bat files with my "problem apps" i.e. PC Games & Dreamcast games. The Dreamcast games needs to mount. None of my PC games does. Since I'm not using DaemonTools, but Alcohol 120% instead (more virtual drives), I want the Autohotkey script to send Alcohol mounting hotkeys.Btw, can .bat-files send keys by itself? This way, I wouldn't need to open any .ahk-scripts for my DC games.

This is my RunPCGame.bat:

@ECHO OFF
REM -- Run Autohotkey script
Start RunAHKScript.bat %1.exe
REM -- Wait for RunAHKscript.bat to load
C:\Program\Spel\GameEx\Sleep.exe 5000
REM -- Run game
runwaitlnk %1.lnk
REM -- Kill Autohotkey script
C:\Program\Spel\GameEx\taskkill /F /IM %1.exeexit
-- End --

This is my RunDCGame.bat:

@ECHO OFF
REM -- Run Autohotkey script
Start RunAHKScript.bat %1.exe
REM -- Wait for image to finish mounting
C:\Program\Spel\GameEx\Sleep.exe 5000
REM -- Run game
runwaitlnk %1.lnk
REM -- Kill Autohotkey script
C:\Program\Spel\GameEx\taskkill /F /IM %1.exe
exit
-- End --

This is my RunAHKScript.bat (I use identical files for both PC & DC):

@ECHO OFF
%1
EXIT
-- End --

I've tested these methods in both debug and regular mode, but they don't work for me, so if you can point to my mistakes, I'd be as happy as a pig in fresh mud.

Now I'm gonna play some games and wait for some kind soul to help me out with this.

Emph

[emphatic]

It looks like I'm a minority here with all the hassle setting up emulators that involves loading of AutoHotKey scripts or mounting of disc images and I'd like to know why, not only for me but for other that will run into the same problems.

I had an idea that I was sure was going to work but it didn't. The idea was that instead of loading a .bat file or letting GameEx handle the loading of more than one process (which NEVER works on either of my systems, WIN XP Pro SP2, WIN XP Home SP2) I would include the starting of the program in my AutoHotKey script.

Like this:

Run c:\game.exe
;Contents of Auto Hot Key script

This OF COURSE works fine OUTSIDE of GameEx but OF COURSE (by Murphy's Law) NEVER inside GameEx. When I launch the .ahk or the compiled .exe, the game.exe is launched and the keys are mapped as they should be. But WHY won't GameEx let processes start as I want them to? What is it that I'm missing?

The above statement is 100% factual. I have gotten some help from Headkaze, but I still ain't gettin' anywhere and I just don't see how I can. I'm very frustrated as you all can see by the CAPS!

Again, this is what I need to happend:

1. Start the game.ahk

2. Then start the game.exe

3. On exit (escape key) quit the game.exe and kill the game.ahk

Example 2:

1. Mount game.iso (cdi, cue, nrg, etc)

2. Launch game.exe.lnk

Both examples work outside of GameEx without errors, so my configuration must be flawless. Conclusion, GameEx is to blame.

End of story. Please help me. I need it.

Emph

[incubus158]

I have a solution for your first problem. I have created map files that pass both the folder name and the EXE to an AHK script. The script has a key event (ESC) that when escape is pressed, it kills both the application and the AHK script (which gameex is tracking).

I can post it when I get home. I thought I have posted it before, maybe you can search all my messages.

While developing the script, I had to essentially put gibberish text in between where folder "\" character would be, because gameex parses it out and attempts to just run the exe. WEIRD!

The Also launch functionality is very funky, essentially the bat file has to be in the same working path I thought. I just do not use it anymore because I was frustrated with how it worked. You definitely are not in the minority with trying to run PC games in gameex. I will release my full gameex configuration for all DOS games that will be passed into DOSBox in a few days if I can get some more work done.

[emphatic]

I have a solution for your first problem.  I have created map files that pass both the folder name and the EXE to an AHK script.  The script has a key event (ESC) that when escape is pressed, it kills both the application and the AHK script (which gameex is tracking).

I can post it when I get home.  I thought I have posted it before, maybe you can search all my messages.

While developing the script, I had to essentially put gibberish text in between where folder "\" character would be, because gameex parses it out and attempts to just run the exe.  WEIRD!

The Also launch functionality is very funky,  essentially the bat file has to be in the same working path I thought.  I just do not use it anymore because I was frustrated with how it worked.  You definitely are not in the minority with trying to run PC games in gameex.  I will release my full gameex configuration for all DOS games that will be passed into DOSBox in a few days if I can get some more work done.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

THANK YOU

Emph

[emphatic]

I have a solution for your first problem.  I have created map files that pass both the folder name and the EXE to an AHK script.  The script has a key event (ESC) that when escape is pressed, it kills both the application and the AHK script (which gameex is tracking).

I can post it when I get home.  I thought I have posted it before, maybe you can search all my messages.

While developing the script, I had to essentially put gibberish text in between where folder "\" character would be, because gameex parses it out and attempts to just run the exe.  WEIRD!

The Also launch functionality is very funky,  essentially the bat file has to be in the same working path I thought.  I just do not use it anymore because I was frustrated with how it worked.  You definitely are not in the minority with trying to run PC games in gameex.  I will release my full gameex configuration for all DOS games that will be passed into DOSBox in a few days if I can get some more work done.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Just a reminder to incubus158, please upload your map-file or whatever I need to get my games+ahk-scripts to run! Do I need any additional software for this? Like AutoIt or something?

Emph

[Tom Speirs]

Just to let you know the issue when you had a setting in quotes in the config such as "[ROMPATH]\[ROMFILE]" and the config application would remove the quotes is fixed in the latest release. It now saves the quotes.

[Tom Speirs]

Just to let you know the issue when you had a setting in quotes in the config such as "[ROMPATH]\[ROMFILE]" and the config application would remove the quotes is fixed in the latest release. It now saves the quotes.

Also dont forget the config app now supports input and export for emulators, really should be little need for manual ini editing. Also any truncation issues are fixed now, and the config app also runs must faster. In addition the emulator settings are now laid out individually for each emulator in the config app, no more 1-5 etc.

[emphatic]

Also dont forget the config app now supports input and export for emulators, really should be little need for manual ini editing. Also any truncation issues are fixed now, and the config app also runs must faster. In addition the emulator settings are now laid out individually for each emulator in the config app, no more 1-5 etc.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Great, Tom! I'll be sure to export my PC game .ini when I get it to work. If just everything would work like it should (i.e. the "launch before" and "also launch" etc) nothing really would be complicated at all. I will try setting it up this way again now that everything is saved individually and correctly.

Edit: I tried it the "real" way, with GameEx loading my compiled .ahk script with "launch before" and then the .lnk. GameEx now successfully loads the AutoHotKey .exe, and nothing else happens. I had to hit Ctrl+Alt+Delete and manually kill my script.exe.

This is at last, some progress. Or is it not? I see that incubus158 has posted his map and .exe-script, but since I don't know what to change in the script for it to work for my setup. I will do some more testing and see what I find.

Emph

[incubus158]

heres the ahk script and map file i promised. it seems pretty retarded how i did it, but during my testing gameex did parse out the folder name and tried to just run the exe name it recognized. Tom can you affirm that this does this and let me know if you ever change that logic.

MAP file:

Archon (1984)(Electronic Arts Inc)stupidgameexwillparseourforwardslashesthisisaworkaroundarchon.com|Archon (1984)(Electronic Arts Inc)

Code for EXE:

IfInString, 1,thisisawindowsonlyexe
{
StringReplace, 1, 1, thisisawindowsonlyexe,, All
StringReplace, 1, 1, )stupidgameexwillparseourforwardslashesthisisaworkaround,)\, All
Run, E:\Games\[More Great Computer Games]\%1%
}
else
{
StringReplace, 1, 1, )stupidgameexwillparseourforwardslashesthisisaworkaround,)\, All
Run, "C:\Program Files\DOSBox-0.63\dosbox.exe" -conf "C:\Program Files\DOSBox-0.63\dosbox.conf" "E:\Games\[More Great Computer Games]\%1%"
}
ESCAPE::
;this leaves the EXE running so gameex doesnt go back into the interface
Send, {ALTDOWN}{ENTER}{ALTUP}
Run, killdosbox.bat
ExitApp
return

Let me know if this helps.

[emphatic]

Okay, now I got it to work (95% sure, haven't tried it with my X-Arcade yet but the .log file tells me everything has been loaded) so my guess is, whatever was broke has been fixed. Perhaps an issue with the Configuration tool not saving everything correctly?

I tried to put the .ahk script uncompiled in "also launch" and it worked!

Ini filed is attached. PC_Games_With_AutoHotKey_Support.zip For working .ahk support (95%, when 100% it will be in user submitted ini thread also) you need the following:

A folder named "Shortcuts" or what you like to call it. In it you need two files per game:

A shortcut to your game .exe and a .ahk script (haven't tried with compiled scripts yet but it should work) with a corresponding name. Just be sure to name give it double extensions like this ".lnk.ahk" That's it.

No more hassle. I don't know if GameEx will continue to load the game is the .ahk is missing, so for games that don't need key alteration, just use a blank text file with that romame and the .ahk extension.

Edit: I noticed that in order for this to work you need to have taskkill.exe (XP Pro users have it, Home users need to google for it and change the "launch after" accordingly.

Oh, what a happy day!

Edit: No it didn't work. The log file isn't being truthful.

22:12:56.8  2006-03-02:  Running: cmd.exe /c H: H:\Spel\PC-SPEL\CH050820\LATEST.exe
22:12:58.4  2006-03-02:  Also Launching: "[rompath]\[romfile].ahk"
22:13:13.6  2006-03-02:  Exiting GameEx!
22:13:13.6  2006-03-02:  Saving Settings
22:13:13.7  2006-03-02:  Writing Game List to disk
22:13:16.3  2006-03-02:  Checking for applications to Launch On Exit

I checked in the task manager and the ahk file was never loaded.

Emph

[headkaze]

The ahk file would only launch if Tom is using "Start *" to launch it. He may not be using that method, in that case the ahk would not be executed. Try compiling the ahk script to an .exe file and trying that instead. You may need to browse to your AutoHotkey directory to find the compiler but it's in there somewhere.

[emphatic]

The ahk file would only launch if Tom is using "Start *" to launch it. He may not be using that method, in that case the ahk would not be executed. Try compiling the ahk script to an .exe file and trying that instead. You may need to browse to your AutoHotkey directory to find the compiler but it's in there somewhere.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I will try that. Btw, you do know that you can just right-click an ahk-script and choose "compile to exe", don't you? Or does the compiler work differently?

Emph