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HTML5 FrontEnd
OxACE:
I'm looking forward to seeing more of your work on this. I'd love to see your code and might be able to help with cross platform work.
arximidis:
Ok, I have finally uploaded the official first version of HTMLFrontEnd
I haven't write a tutorial yet.
However, I am posting some basic stuff and notes
Download the zip file from this link (http://users.ntua.gr/dpiperid/MyWebPage/Catalog/games/HTMLFrontEndEN.htm) and unpack it somewhere. No installation is required
--- Quote ---Inside you will found two exe programs, a settings.ini file and a directory with the name "default" (this is where all the html/css/javascript code lies).
You run the app HTMLFrontEnd.exe (which is the browser). This application is embedding internet explorer and gives you access to the low level functions. For security reasons it blocks navigation to the internet (however it is possible to run javascript code downloaded from the internet, so be carefull. It's better to run javascript only locally, to have access to the code)
Note: Ignore the file kbrdController.exe (at least for now). This is a program that communicates with the buildin keyboard controller/interface of my arcade machine. If you use a keyboard or a third party interface (e.g. like ipac) you don't need kbrdController.exe (however you don't need to delete it)
--- End quote ---
Open settings.ini file and read the comments. They will quide you for the supported settings. Don't forget to change the path to MAME in the ALLOWED PROGRAMS section
Don't forget to change the variable MAME_ROMS in the file main.html (= under the default directory), to the path of your mame roms. It's about line 45 of the code (use the format you see it in the code, using \\ instead of \)
Inside the directory default\emulators\MAME\snaps you can copy all your game snaps
Inside the directory default\emulators\MAME\videos you can copy all your game videos
Usage:
LEFT/RIGHT arrow keys navigate to emulators. ENTER shows the rom list of the selected emulator
UP/DOWN arrrow keys navigate to roms. ENTER starts the selected rom
BACKSPACE closes rom list
ESC terminates the program
Notes
* You will notice that when you run the app the mouse moves to the upper left corner. This is not a bug. It is made on purpose to ensure your html code will have keyboard focus. This will change in the future
* You can run the code inside internet explorer but you will not have access to the low level functions (run the emulators, reboot, shutdown etc)
* I have included a small gamelist (default\emulators\MAME\gamelist.xml) for the tests. Replace it with the gamelist_full.xml (in the same directory) for a more complete list
(Attention: The first time you load the full list it will take some time because is "enormous". After the first load, then it will load fast)
If you want a more updated list, extract from mame.exe with the following command:
mame -listxml >gamelist.xml
and overwrite the old list
My default html theme is made for a resolution 640x480, because I am using a televison in my arcade machine. If you have greater resolution, the main window will be smaller
Here is a video showing HTMLFrontEnd in action on my arcade machine
P.S. Please report any suggestions or bugs you find in the program. If someone updates the code, if you like, you can send it back to me. I will add it to the next version, publishing his/her name too
The best way to edit the files is by using programmers notepad (http://www.pnotepad.org/) or notepad++ (http://notepad-plus-plus.org/)
Thank you!
UFO:
Well, that's my Sunday sorted!
Downloaded -- I'll let you know arximidis, but from the video, it looks fantastic in its simplicity...
arximidis:
--- Quote from: UFO on August 11, 2013, 06:05:36 am ---Well, that's my Sunday sorted!
Downloaded -- I'll let you know arximidis, but from the video, it looks fantastic in its simplicity...
--- End quote ---
Thanks! I will wait for your feedback
404:
I'm packed with work for the next few days but i will test it out before this upcoming week is over. video looks very promising. :)