Please help with setting up videos in Mala

[OpFlash]

Hello there trying to set up videos in mala.  I have searched the forums and have tried several things but just cant get videos to display in mala.
Currently using Retro GUI layout in mala 1.74
Have xvid codec installed.
Have avi video snaps from emumovies.

From this point this is where i am struggling.
I have created a folder named videos that i placed in the mala folder and also the mame folder.  I have tried
linking the folders under the options settings in mala and I get nothing.  Im stuck and would really
appreciate some help.  Sorry I know im a noob but ive tried and just cant get it to work.

[loadman]

Does that MaLa layout have Video Windows?

Did you check the Video can play?

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=107768.msg1143112#msg1143112


Have you had a look at the logs?

Enable logs to debug mode in credits /logs tab .  File is mala.exe.log

[OpFlash]

thanks for the response.  Ok the mala layout is a layout available from the mala website.  It is the layout called Retro GUI there is a window in it that i believe would work with videos.  I have seen this layout using videos on you tube.  The layout was used in a video by Johns Arcade and it showed this layout with vids.

Ok the videos play using the windows media and I downloaded the mala video tester and tested some videos and they work just fine.

I will look into looking at the logs today.

[OpFlash]

Let me clarify that the videos work in the mala video viewer but not when i have mala running.  I enabled logs to debug mode in the credits/logs tab.  Im not sure where to go from there I did notice that when i launched mala it said that performance could be slower becuase debug mode was on so I assume that its set correctly in the options.  Could this be an issue of rom name vs video name.  I notice that the rom and video name are the same but in mala the extra information such as (japan) or (revision A) are listed after the rom name.  Any other input.  Where should the videos be placed exactly?  Im wondering if this could be the issue. 
thanks

[OpFlash]

I would also like to add that I have working picture snaps that appear in the window in the retro gui layout.  Its just when i try to link the folder for the videos in mala options that they do not appear in the layout.

[Celsius]

Did you check in malalayout.exe if the option for videos (under Objects) is active

[loadman]

Ok

You didn't read my post fully, I think that is possibly why you ate having trouble? Read all the options fully.

The log file is Mala.exe.log

Possibly this fe is not for you 

I could spoon feed you the answer but I fear that you will stumble at the next hurdle if you can't get your head around this Part

No offense , Mala is not for everyone 

[OpFlash]

Did you check in malalayout.exe if the option for videos (under Objects) is active.

This seems to be what the problem was.  I opened the mll file in the layout editor and noticed that video was not checked i then checked it dragged and resized the video box in the window saved then relaunched and the videos displayed.  thanks alot for your help.

[OpFlash]

Ok

You didn't read my post fully, I think that is possibly why you ate having trouble? Read all the options fully.

The log file is Mala.exe.log

Possibly this fe is not for you  

I could spoon feed you the answer but I fear that you will stumble at the next hurdle if you can't get your head around this Part

No offense , Mala is not for everyone  

Loadman with all due respect.  I did read the the post I was looking for the file that you stated mala.exe.log  this file is not in there with the mala folders.  I finally found the file under mala.exe and its a text file.  I was looking for the file with the .log on it. yes mala may be new to me but its very discouraging to hear your comments.  In my opinion there seems to be a few handful of people that are very knowledgable about mame front ends etc and I understand that this didnt come overnight and alot of work and effort has gone into this.  Im sure many people have spent many hard hrs setting up mame front ends etc.  I am not looking to have answers spoon fed to me I am just looking for a little help from the experts.  We all have to start somewhere.  It is also not always easy to throw yourself out there with what appear to be "stupid" questions to people that are very knowledgeable on a particular subject for fear of how those questions may be responded to. I simply felt that I was asking for help from the best people and the best forum out there.  

[loadman]

Well you obviously have taken offense anyway.   Not my intention.

A general tip for this forum. Hit the 'Quote' button rather than just 'reply' and it will copy the previous post in the reply and put the quote in a quote box. The copy and paste of the quote you did made it unclear at a glance what you were saying and what you were quoting. I have fixed up yiur last couple of posts  

I am more than happy to help users as this forum history will prove.  Most support posts are from users that have really hit a roadblock with a reasonable amount of windows knowledge. I am not talking about MAME or any other specific arcade EMU skills here. The option to enable videos is in MaLa? If you can't find it and make it work (when the codec is obviously working in windows) MaLa isn't for you, as you won't be able to find other basic stuff IMHO in future and these posts will continue.

I finally found the file under mala.exe and its a text file.

This statement has proven my point to some degree, that some basic windows knowledge is lacking and hence possibly this FE is going to be a struggle for you.

The file is 'mala.exe.log'.

Your windows folder options must me set to hide file extensions.  

To see the full file name (of any file) you can either:

1) Have a look at the file in properties / details

2) Change your folder options not to hide extensions

Refer

Sorry if I am coming across as a bit harsh but I have limited time to support in this forum. I rely on other users to help. They very often do answer,  but most don't appear to jump on newbie post where they don't seem to have made a reasonable attempt to find the answer themselves or is clear that they might be biting something bigger than they can chew.  

No doubt you will again take offense to this, I am just trying to prevent us both some pain  

But you could prove me wrong  ..Go for it but please search / test a bit more before you post.  

Yes MaLa, could be made more intuitive I guess, But you get what you pay for ;-)  This is a part time project.

[OpFlash]

Thanks for the reply im not offended.  I just dont give up easily I understand that there will be alot of work on my end.  I am and will take the time to learn as much as I can.  I am not a windows power user but I am very good with the hardware aspect of pc's.  I just need to be pointed in the right direction. I understand that it could be frustrating for you if you have to explain a windows setting that i dont understand before you can move on to the actual question at hand but I do thank you for your time I have owned a few arcades over the years and have done a few things like cap kits etc with success.  The frontend thing is very new to me.  I understand that people may not always have time to help out but I truly appreciate your help and this forum.  No hard feelings ;0  I will keep chugging along and get this front end configured and running smoothly.
Thanks again

[Celsius]

It's not a hard FE to figure out, but sometimes help is indeed welcome. You'll probably find most answers in Mala Wiki (check loadman's signature ), that's how I started, and by searching this forum (and ofc the "how to" guide by unclet). If you still stumble upon probs...feel free to ask

[OpFlash]

I have been doing lots of research and will continue to work on getting everything setup nicely. 

[loadman]

 

[OpFlash]

I also have a question with videos / pictures in layouts.  Ive seen layouts where a picture snap is displayed for a few seconds and then the video snap takes over.  Now this i have seen is being done in the same preview box.  I am wondering how this is set up is this something done in the layout editor or is this a definable. Cant seem to figure this out yet.

[nick3092]

I accomplished this by using the layout editor to put the video on top of the snap. I maybe see the snap for 1-2 seconds when a video exists. If there is no video, then I see the snap.

[loadman]

I accomplished this by using the layout editor to put the video on top of the snap. I maybe see the snap for 1-2 seconds when a video exists. If there is no video, then I see the snap.

You can also set an extra video delay if you want

[Celsius]

As Nick said, put your video frame on top of the snaps frame in the layout editor and then there's an option in mala (in GUI -> options -> Pictures and Video -> Video display delay)

[OpFlash]

sonds good at work now but will try it later. 

[OpFlash]

Oh yeah! got the pictures and videos up and running and they look great.  thanks for the help.  think ive got the video /pic situation solved for now.  thanks alot!