Hiding Emulators in MaLa ?

[mike boss]

I don't know if I'm wording this correctly so I'm sorry for a lack of clarity.
I've got my PC set up with MAME + MaLa + and multiple emulators.
However some emulators I have not yet refind and I have minor issues.
I'd like to "hide" these emulators so when in MaLa I scroll my emulators they (and the gamelist to go with them) does not show up. I dont want to fully remove the emulator and the set up (as all my hot keys, etc are set up). Simply want it to be that when I navigate my list I dont see certain emulators.

Does this make sense?

I'm @ work now and not infront of my PC so I dont know if this is something easy I'm simply forgetting.

thanks

[Gray_Area]

Far as I know, not possible. If they're entered, they're in.

[thaddeussmith]

or tell anyone that isn't you to not play those emulators for now... seems like a non-issue for an in-home private setup with only a handful of players

[mike boss]

I like the idea that when any user (as few as that may be) hops on the machine they get a perfect gaming experience. I want everything to run smooth and work, but good point mentioned, it is indeed a home use machine, and one can simply skip the emulator.
Not as polished as I would like....but none the less a simple fix !

[thaddeussmith]

from your description, it's not permanent .. eventually they will be fixed. so i'd just say stop wasting effort trying to hide them and use it on making them work. and if it's going to be that long, pull them out of mala entirely.

[Malenko]

have 2 Mala folders, one thats finished with allt he stuff thats just fine and a second one with all the stuff your working on. Have the first one run by default, and run the second when you need to tweak? just spitballin ideas

[mike boss]

@ Malenko ,

I like that idea....I think that is what I'd do.
It makes sense and its EASY ! I like EASY !

My biggests issues are some emulators don't let you modify the controls to match that of MAME.
That being important as I'm using an Ipac.

Second big issue is Dreamcast emulation.
NullDC seems to work good for me, but I'm yet to find the time to test all my CDI files.
(*** however I will !! And I'll remove the ones that don't work)

Demul is not launching the games period. I believe this to be a script issue.
So this I need to work on.
With the mouse contained in the cabinet I don't want people launching games and system getting hung up !

[wolfsoft]

I like the idea of hiding emus too :-)
Hope it will find its way into 1.8 release...

[TopJimmyCooks]

on the different keystrokes required for a different emulator  - with an ipac, can you set up a batch file to reprogram the encoder via winipac for the other emulator when the game is called, then reprogram back to mame (and mala) keystrokes on exit?  in effect a wrapper? 

I know you're probably using Mala Tree and I don't know how to hide branches on the tree like you're referring to.  I would just save a different version of mala with a different tree without those emulators. 

for example, I have a version of mala I run that has some things I hide from casual users - like a full mame gamelist, etc with no audio, video, or intro video, for troubleshooting/maintenance purposes. For guests I would just run a different version that doesn't allow switching to those gamelists and with the bling turned on.  Sometimes I just go to options and change/delete the keystrokes that let you switch gamelists, leaving them stuck on the gamelist I want them to use.  for example, on my non tree layout, up and down scrolls the list while left and right change lists or emulator/lists.  I.e. there is a list that is just daphne games.  I just turn off the left arrow and right arrow in mala and they're just scrolling one list.

[mike boss]

I tried to use the MALA Tree before, but had a hard time setting it up.
I have my custom designed menu that you navigate with the joystick.
Each emulator has its : ALL GAMES - FAVORITES - MOST PLAYED lists.
When you hold one button + joystick you switch emulators.
I've modified my menu so that I know have text to indicate LIST NAME + EMULATROR NAME.
As mentioned prior I'd like a graphic element, but the text will have to do for now.

With this being the 1st time I've done a set up of this nature I did have some issues.
Not so much MALA issues, more emulator issues. Like some emulators not letting you map the keys. So as is some emulators in my set up are not "ready."

Over and above that I still have some issues with Dreamcast emulation. I need to work on some scrips (my buddy sent me a sample script as I have no idea what I'm doing).
However for me the reality is I wont play most of these games, I just want em ! (If that makes sense). With that said I decided it was not worth holding up the project and I should do the install.

So that lead me to the idea of hiding the emulator, or removing it from play without deleting the entire set up. I agree this would be a cool feature.

For now since most people will be playing that machine with me around it was ok to simply advise them to skip such emulators.

Off topic - my recent string of arcade bad luck has to end !
Purchased an iPac of a local forum member years ago...........didn't test, it doesnt work !
Bought a used LCD monitor .........didn't test..........it doesnt work ! This however will be exchanged ! THANK GOSH !
Bought a smart strip.........................doesn't work ! Has warranty, so I can swap that tonight.
I just want this machine to be awesome !