Front End Support > MaLa Frontend
Info Window for Hi Score (HiToText)
loadman:
I like where you are going with this ;)
You are doing all the homework and 'Proof of Concept' and that is great as time I am time poor.
So you do get what you pay for if you invest time in this you get paid with MaLa upgrades to support better what you want ;D'
So if you can work out what MaLa needs to do then we are half way there.
My Thoughts:
I would like to keep my development a bit Generic so it could be applied for other things.
So a definable TXT sounds OK but a extra text window would be easier/quicker for me.
I would probably think a plugin called after game quit would be nicer (even if the plug just calles a .bat file), Easy I can do that.
I really would prefer one test file to read, but a subfolder with many files works too I guess.
kernelpanic:
well, perhaps we should stop and try to define what it is we are trying to do here.
Here's where I am (currently) going -
Since each game has a hi score file - it makes sense to me to tie that to the %rom% filename. And displaying it as an available page of the MaLa info (alt key) setup seems like the ideal place to show that info. As I said in the other thread, the current hi score would not affect my choice of games so displaying that in a layout makes no sense for my needs - YMMV.
But, if we create a new page for the MaLa info construct to display hi scores, then if the %rom%.txt file exists in the Mala/scores folder, it will display - if the file does not exist, it won't.
When you play a game, a new %rom%.hi file is created/updated - my mame.bat file would create a new %rom%.txt file using the new .hi file.
Since there is no way to get a text file into the MaLa info construct, I am attempting to use ImageMagick to create a simple PNG file of the %rom%.txt contents and store it as %rom%.png in the same folder. My current issue is that my experience with ImageMagick is via PHP in a web server environment, and using it via a batch file in XP is proving to be a PITA - I keep getting some arcane error saying it's unable to get type metrics :blah: :blah: :blah:
As far I can see, there will be no real need to change MaLa - at least using my current idea.
Now, for those that want the hi score info to be pluggable into a layout, that's a diff ballgame and would likely require changes to MaLa and/or a plugin.
Anyway - I'm off for the night - will work on this again in the AM when I am fresher - and less toasty, lol :o
loadman:
OK.
Let me know if you want help.
I am keen on offering a simple solution for MaLa using HiToText somehow.
--- Quote ---Since there is no way to get a text file into the MaLa info construct,
--- End quote ---
Possibly I just need to add a new 'Type' Of Hi Scores that reads text files ???
(See Attached Pic)
headkaze:
FYI CPWizard can display HiToText output. Just have it running in the icon tray and when you run a game it will detect it running. Press 'L' and MAME is minimized and a menu is shown then select "My High Scores". CPW also supports output of other MAME related info and it's nicer to be able to bring it up while ingame rather than in the FE.
loadman:
--- Quote from: headkaze on September 08, 2010, 01:59:22 am ---FYI CPWizard can display HiToText output. Just have it running in the icon tray and when you run a game it will detect it running. Press 'L' and MAME is minimized and a menu is shown then select "My High Scores". CPW also supports output of other MAME related info and it's nicer to be able to bring it up while ingame rather than in the FE.
--- End quote ---
No question that Headkaze has a fine selection of free tools and gizmos. Highly recommended. :applaud:
But FYI I am still planning on adding a way to display within the FE (However basic that may end up)
Thanks
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