[RESOLVED] Can't get GGG Push/Pull Spinner to rotate, but P/P works?

[Games001]

Hello all.

After nearly 15 years since my last arcade build I am returning to BYOAC.. but my final install and issue seems to be that I can't get a GroovyGameGear TurboTwist Push/Pull Spinner to rotate, but the Push/Pull works and the Trackball attached to the same Encoder Board (TurboTwist Opti-Wiz) works fine in PC (Windows 11 Pro) and MAME (v258b_64)/Frontend (GameEx).
The Encoder Board, even with the Trackball and Left/Right Mouse clicks on the Push/Pull working, does not show up in the Device List shown in MAME Menus.
With the mouse, trackball, keyboard, and spinner's push/pull options all working fine I have to assume this is a coding or options issue.
https://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=86&products_id=311

Any thoughts of starting point and direction to go for troubleshooting?

[RandyT]

I just responded to you in email, but I'll answer here as well. 

A: You must use the Smart-X feature of the interface for the trackball if you want both controls on the same interface.  This will allow you to switch between controls you wish to use at any given moment.  You cannot use the X-Axis inputs for the trackball, as it is already used for the spinner.

If you can see the mouse cursor moving, then the hardware is working.  If you aren't seeing your optical controls in MAME, then they are not configured properly for use.  The "mouse" input must be enabled and if using the multimouse mode, the correct physical device must be mapped for use in the game.

[Games001]

I just responded to you in email, but I'll answer here as well. 

A: You must use the Smart-X feature of the interface for the trackball if you want both controls on the same interface.  This will allow you to switch between controls you wish to use at any given moment.  You cannot use the X-Axis inputs for the trackball, as it is already used for the spinner.

If you can see the mouse cursor moving, then the hardware is working.  If you aren't seeing your optical controls in MAME, then they are not configured properly for use.  The "mouse" input must be enabled and if using the multimouse mode, the correct physical device must be mapped for use in the game.

Email received and I detailed the questions you had, thank you RT.  I am beginning to think this is a question of improper mapping in GameEx (the frontend used in this build) as I have the cabinet:
1. Windows 11 Pro sees the PP Spinner and Trackball after I set them each on their own TurboTwist Encoder Board (v2 I believe)
2. MAME, when running ROMs directly, sees the PP Spinner and Trackball in the Device List and they work correctly in the various games run by this method
3. GameEx sees the PP Spinner and Trackball for use to scroll up/down through the various frontend menus, but when -running MAME through GameEx- the Device List shows no spinner or trackball and they will not map in the Config Menu of MAME.

[RandyT]

I would make sure GameEx isn't doing something which steals the mouse inputs from MAME.  It seems unlikely they would do something like that, but if the mouse devices only fail when run under the frontend, then that's a good indicator that something is wrong in that area.

[Games001]

I GOT IT!

It seems, though this is a completely fresh install on brand new hard drives, that there was a second copy of MAME v258 on each of the two drives, the primary for Windows and GameEx and on the secondary ROM/Art drive.  GameEx was attempting to run MAME from the C folder, not the Z folder where I have MAME correctly installed and configured.  This is why the frontend could not see the devices or changes as they were being mapped.
Tempest, Discs of Tron, Missile Command.. all tested, now that I have deleted the C folder of MAME and pointed GameEx directly to the correct Z folder.. all working as intended.