New MALA user, a few questions on faults I'm getting

[chucklepie]

Hello,
I'm running MALA 1.74 and it's all configured and running properly but I have two questions regarding MAME (that's all I've configured so far):

1. Sometimes when I quit out of a game and it returns back to the MALA front-end (I'm using the default layout) the backdrop, etc is displayed but the list of games is not showing. However they are there and working because I can move and start one up, i.e. as if the font has been lost. The only way I've found to get the list of games back on the screen is to press quit then cancel it and the list appears again. Any idea?

2. Some of my games I'm missing roms (or other errors) but with MALA I cannot see the error as the command window is closed immediately. I know I could run  it outside of MALA but it would be nice to just see the error. Is it possible to do this?

Thanks.

[elshiftos]

I'm no expert but I'll give my thoughts.

1. Sounds like it might be a graphics driver issue, or you could try editing the font in the standard layout or downloading another one to see if that fixes the problem.

2. Not sure if you can audit roms in Mala so I would just run them directly from Mame to see the error message. FWIW I got around the issue of missing files by using Mame 0.146 and a known working 0.146 rom set from one of the well known 'suppliers'.

[chucklepie]

No, there seems to be two faults but related to Mala's png library. I think it just needs updating and at the minute png is useless in Mala and jpg should be used.

Also, there may be a fault with the tree view mode of Mala. There must be a bug in the code knowing when the flag stating if the main image (the image used for displaying alternate images when you move between menu options) needs refreshing when you exit a menu and return to the top level menu. This only happens with png images though.

I've messaged the two people who now 'own' the code to see if I can get my hands on the code or to make it open source but I've had no reply.

[Wade007]

Another possible solution regarding your issues:

1) Make sure you are using a system font that set up correctly within both Windows and Mala. There might be a font conflict. I don't see how it could be a background png vs jpeg issue with the text. Use only system fonts for your Mala menus. Triple check the color of the font as well to work with your layout.

2) All rom/game editting really should be done outside of Mala, in my opinion. Audit your rom collection first and refine your final lists using a rom management or sorting program like RomLister. Once you have a perfect list of working roms  you can create lists that will work perfectly within Mala. Mala is not set up to show you all the bugs and missing components. Its a front-end, not a back-end program. You could also use something like MAMEUI to test your roms. This program would be a good hybrid between a true frontend and a commmand line interface. It should give you the error window messages clearly.

[EssexMame]

Try the Beta version - 1.745 - I had a few focus issues with Mala 1.74 which have cleared up since I upgraded to the Beta version.

[chucklepie]

Cheers, never noticed a 1.75. I'll try it out.

My only problem now and I can't figure out what is causing it is if I'm in a game list now and again (so it must be a combination of buttons) I get a message box trying to open a jpg screenshot of the game and I've no idea where it's coming from.

Any idea?

[EssexMame]

It's 1.74.5 (called 1.745 I think). Its a bETA version available on the download page http://www.malafe.net/files/download/MaLa1745.zip

I don't know about the screenshot popup - and I do that occasionally also. There is a key press in Mala I expect that shows info on the game in the list - screenshot etc. when available.

[chucklepie]

Curiously though the popups only happen inside my GBA menu (I'm in treeview) - I have other menus with no screenshots on games and it doesn't happen there.

btw, tried 1.75 not sure if it's fixed it but you need to be running 1.74 as well as 1.75 crashes the gui a lot when you go into configuration settings - e.g. try and click 'config' for MAME and it aborts out.