Mini Monitor to display game button configs

[markronz]

Have there been any projects where people use a small display, maybe something similar to the one I have linked below, to display the button assignments for each game?   Like through using CPViewer?

http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/usb-gadgets/c609/

I would think that it would be reasonably easy to do.  I'd imagine that you'd have to maybe export all the jpgs of the controls through CPViewer.  But then I'm not sure how you'd get it to display on the other small screen when the game launches.

Any one have any idea how one would do this?  Or if it's been done before, a link to the project?

Thanks!

[Beretta]

can not help you on links but yes i believe there have been others that have done this, so im 99% sure it's possible.
have you tried searching here? or maybe google.. i know this has come up before.

the price ain't cheap.. for 99 or a little more i can get a much larger screen.. granted im not sure where you would FIT a much larger screen though.

[Ginsu Victim]

Did it here, but I never got around to writing the instructions. I used Irfanview to display the images
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=90725.0

[markronz]

Great!  Thank you very much.   I was not having any luck searching.  I've seen many people ask about it, but Ginsu's the first one where I've seen it working!   

If I ever save up enough money, I'll have to check out Irfanview some more!!

[Ginsu Victim]

Luckily Irfanview is a free program. What frontend do you use? I used Mamewah, which is running pre-emulator command lines to load up each image. I made the CP images using CPwizard.

I'll have my friend send me a copy of the INI file from Mamewah, since I forgot the exact command line arguments.

[markronz]

Yeah, I love it when a useful program is actually free!    I exported my CP images as well, and have them display when I pause the game, but yeah, I'd like them on an external monitor as I play instead...  Not so much for me, but for my unexperienced visitors...

I use Mala.  I know that it has command line options you can configure in there for launching games as well.   So I would suspect that I'd be able to do the same thing in there as you did with Mamewah.   So if you can get a copy of that INI file, or how you did that end of things, that would be a big help!

Oh, and if you have an extra hundred bucks lying around for my little monitor, I'll take that too!

[Ginsu Victim]

I'll have him email that INI to me. Another thing I used Irfanview for was cropping all the images to fit in the displayed area better. It has great batch conversion functions.

[Ginsu Victim]

Set Irfanview to resize the image to window and make sure the window takes up the area you need it to fill and that it remembers the size (not sure which options these are, as I don't have the program in front of me)

To load the images using Mamewah (not sure about other frontends):

pre_emulator_app_commandlines    C:\Progra~1\IrfanView\i_view32.exe d:\instcard\[name].png {nowait}

For the post_emulator_app_commandlines, make a file (mine is backgrnd.png) that it can switch back to when you exit back to your frontend.

[markronz]

Most excellent!   Thanks for your help!

Still waiting for you to send me that $100 so I can buy the monitor right now, but I guess I won't hold my breath.

 

[Ginsu Victim]

Check the couch cushions.

[markronz]

Checked the couches already, it appears they've already been cleaned out by the wife!   

Anyway, Ginsu, I do have one last question for you if you don't mind...

It looks like you went with the Mimo Mini Usb Monitor, the kind that's available here:
http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/usb-gadgets/bfa3/

I was just wondering if that monitor powers on automatically when you turn your machine on?   I just don't want to hit the power button every time, or find some other work around for how to power this thing on.    So does it come on when the computer comes on or what?

Thanks!

[Ginsu Victim]

If you'll check the link to the thread in my first reply, you'll see that I used a regular 15" dell monitor (I had to resize my images to fit the opening and made irfanview keep the window the same size and location). As long as it was left on when the cab is powered off (via power strip), it will come back on when everything is turned back on.

[WhereEaglesDare]

I think this may need to stickied.  or at least added to the FAQ.

[Ginsu Victim]

Nah, not enough info. I didn't exactly document this while doing it. Plus, not many people do this.

[markronz]

Oops, I see now that was ccarlesco who used the Mimo in your original post.  I will have to check with him to see how that powers on then.
Anyway, thanks again Ginsu!   If I ever get this working, I will post my how-to on how I did it!

[Ginsu Victim]

Let me know if you have any questions.

One thing I did with the images of the CP was to keep everything close together, show only player one's controls (because you don't need to see both), and I used the batch crop in Irfanview to process all the images to fit my display the best possible.

[shateredsoul]

thanks for this useful link to your thread markronz, would love to hear about what you end up doing.. I'm still trying to get cpviewer to export my control pannel correctly.. I can make it export but can't figure out anymore.  I'll probably start a thread for help, but I think the whole community would benefit if you two could document as much as you can about this, I see it asked a lot

*edit* I just found out that some of the lillyput screen looks don't power on automatically, abut apparently newer.. models can be programmed to do. I'm not sure if this applies to the one you're considering, but it still may be useful

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/lcd-display/49378-auto-power-619-lilliput-programing-guide-9.html

[Jakobud]

I think this may need to stickied.  or at least added to the FAQ.

Or add it to the wiki since that's why its there..........

[Dazz]

I have a 7" USB LCD in my cabinet.  I'm using the DoubleSight DS-70U.  It's more expensive than most, but it used USB to both connect to the PC and also for power.  The screen has good viewing angles and is perfect for displaying additional game info. 

I haven't gotten around to setting displaying controls up yet, but will once my pinball cab is done. 

[markronz]

Thanks for the info Dazz.  It's nice to know of another monitor option out there that works.
Does that monitor turn on when the main computer turns on?   I just don't want to hit the power button every time to turn on the screen.  I want it to power on when the machine is turned on, or remain turned on once the device regains power.   It appears to be a normal monitor type device, so I assume it will stay on, as desired, but I just want to check for sure.


Also, in case anyone is interested in the monitor options I've found so far, here's my list...

Lilliput Mini USB Monitor
7" screen.  USB powered, no additional power source
$100 at ThinkGeek
I emailed ThinkGeek and confirmed that if left on, this monitor will turn on when the machine it's hooked up to is turned on.
http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/usb-gadgets/c609/action/21381cf/

Mimo Mini USB Monitor
7" screen.  USB powered, no additional power source
$130 at ThinkGeek
Unconfirmed yet if will power on with the machine its hooked up to.  (I suspect it will)
http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/usb-gadgets/bfa3/

DoubleSight DS-70U Black 7" 30ms LCD Portable & Stand Removable Monitor 375
7" screen.  USB powered, no additional power source
$115 at NewEgg
Unconfirmed yet if will power on with the machine its hooked up to.  (I suspect it will)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824185013&cm_re=7_monitor-_-24-185-013-_-Product

"Super" Dual-Input 7" In-Car TFT LCD Monitor with Remote Controller and Mount
7" screen.  External power brick needed (but provided).  RCA video hookups.  Would need an adapter if your pc does not have a RCA out.
$71 at DealExtreme
Unconfirmed yet if it has an has an automatic power on feature when power is restored to the device.  I kind of doubt that it will...
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.23080

Once I save up some money (whenever that might happen) I will let everyone know how this turns out, and will try to document what I did to make it work...