MAME Movie Maker released

[Silver]

Another quick update - It looks like the "No audio" issue is in fact due to the Trim command in the avs file.

video1=ImageSource ("snap\zoo%05d.png", 0, 3245, 60.000000)
audio1=WavSource("zookeep.wav")
AudioDub(video1,audio1)
Trim(video1,509,0)

Produces no audio output, but:

video1=ImageSource ("snap\zoo%05d.png", 0, 3245, 60.000000)
audio1=WavSource("zookeep.wav")
AudioDub(video1,audio1)
Trim(509,0)

works just fine, with audio nice and synced.

[Minwah]

video1=ImageSource ("snap\zoo%05d.png", 0, 3245, 60.000000)
audio1=WavSource("zookeep.wav")
AudioDub(video1,audio1)
Trim(509,0)

works just fine, with audio nice and synced.

I agree

[BuZz880]

What I like best about the program is the speed at which it works.

Absolutely, and this will be particularly nice if and when a FE developer or other developer chooses to integrate it for generation of on-the-fly lists.  Not that this couldn't be done as an external app - wouldn't it be cool if I could hit a button and quickly create a game list  that matches the category of the highlighted game?  Getting close with Minwah's new commandline [category] argument assuming it could be passed to listgen and a mame-99.lst could be updated by an external app with mamewah running for those times you really feel like playing Horse Racing games or something. 

For now though, once all the sql's are worked out speed is no longer an issue really since I only need to run it when MAME is updated.  In the past I was able to create the lists I wanted using catver.ini; the main MAMEWAH mame-0.lst and a hideous Excel spreadsheet to put the games I wanted into the MAMEWAH format - but the process was so cumbersome I had to basically relearn it everytime I went through so yours is a huge step in the right direction IMO; of course it helps that though I lack programming skills somewhere along the way I did develop competence with BAT files (my bat file renames stuff like trackball.sql and newadded.sql to filter.sql and then copies output.txt to my mamewah files directory as 1-mame-x.lst) and SQL and now I await a new MAME version just so I can update my gamelists

[Buddabing]

What I like best about the program is the speed at which it works.

Absolutely, and this will be particularly nice if and when a FE developer or other developer chooses to integrate it for generation of on-the-fly lists.

[Silver]

RE: Missile command ffvfw problem.

This is an error thrown up by the size of the video.

Missile command is 256x231. Lots of codecs seems to hate this - ffvfw, DivX, Xvid, Intel Indeo, Ligos.....

Its quite odd as 256x230 and 256x232 all work perfectly. It could be a Vdub issue although I doubt it as the error is returned by the codec. Again, easily solved by adding a video filter (resize to 256x230).


I would recommend people hang on for a short while on trying out the video generator. I'm going to email new script files to Buddabing which resolve all the issues so far mentioned, along with some other ones that have cropped up (different games spit out different Wavfiles - mono/stero and 11025Khz up to 44100Khz), remove the need for avisynth and add Xvid support.

[BuZz880]

You know you can specify the output file, it doesn't have to be output.txt?

Absolutely.

But since the only way I see to specify the name of the output file is within listgen.ini I would still end up having to maintain a bunch of listgen.ini files (one for each name) so I think the way I am doing it is easier.

Ideally something like:

listgen.exe -filter xxxxx.sql >mame-x.lst

would be nice.  If there were a way to throw a variable in there that would be even better.  Something like:

listgen -filter xxxxx.sql > mame-x.lst /v1 shooter

of course within my xxxx.sql I would then specify catver_category = v1 to be replaced by the variable.  I guess this is what you were trying to stay away from with the sql files in the first place but since the variable could be anything the user wants and applied to any category in any of the catver, nplayer or gameplay.ini files it doesn't violate your primary goal I think of making this app extremely flexible.

[Buddabing]

You know you can specify the output file, it doesn't have to be output.txt?

Absolutely.

But since the only way I see to specify the name of the output file is within listgen.ini I would still end up having to maintain a bunch of listgen.ini files (one for each name) so I think the way I am doing it is easier.

Ideally something like:

listgen.exe -filter xxxxx.sql >mame-x.lst

would be nice.

[Buddabing]

RE: Missile command ffvfw problem.

This is an error thrown up by the size of the video.

Missile command is 256x231. Lots of codecs seems to hate this - ffvfw, DivX, Xvid, Intel Indeo, Ligos.....

Its quite odd as 256x230 and 256x232 all work perfectly. It could be a Vdub issue although I doubt it as the error is returned by the codec. Again, easily solved by adding a video filter (resize to 256x230).


I would recommend people hang on for a short while on trying out the video generator. I'm going to email new script files to Buddabing which resolve all the issues so far mentioned, along with some other ones that have cropped up (different games spit out different Wavfiles - mono/stero and 11025Khz up to 44100Khz), remove the need for avisynth and add Xvid support.

The missile command problem is why I added the cinepak codec support.

I've added a -virtualdub option to MAME. 0 will be 1.6.2 and 1 will be 1.5.10. I tested it and it produces videos with audio for both versions of virtualdub.

MAME 0.90 has just been released so I get to port everything over to the new patch when this is done.

If you want to add stuff for stereo and various sampling rates that's fine, but it should be added to the Vdub script if at all possible, I don't want to add zillions of MAME options.

[Silver]

If you want to add stuff for stereo and various sampling rates that's fine, but it should be added to the Vdub script if at all possible, I don't want to add zillions of MAME options.

Goodwork on the updates. I've just emailed you a new Vdub script that deals with the audio stuff and more. 

Note that if we go with this (dropping avisynth, using Vdub 1.6.2) you may want to ditch 1.5.10 as they are quite different now. 1.6.2 seems quite robust - I have so far been unable to break it.

[BuZz880]

Ok, I ran Movie Maker last night using the same sql I used for my mamewah game lists.

Like others I did not manage to record any sound.

Overall I was impressed with the loop detection.  I was also surprised to learn how many games have useless attract modes but thats another story.

I am providing this info constructively; many of the games that failed sucked and should be removed from my selects anyway but I thought it might be worthwhile letting you know what I found.

The first batch was lightgun.  The others are still running because the process hung up on revx until this am; I don't think that was directly related to movie maker I think maybe revx.zip is corrupt but can't test it right now. 

Interestingly term2 (Midway like revx) recorded the same bios screen for 3 mins.

Other games that seem to stick on bios or other unchanging screens are:
gollygho
sgunner
sgunner2
showdown
sshooter
triplhunt
tshoot

None of the exidy lightgun games worked (ie stuck on bios screens) including:
claypign
combat
cracksht
crossbow
whodunit
chiller, etc.


The following had this error and no video:

IMAGEREADER: images must have identical heights; this error is seen in the avi itself.

cryptklr
carnevil

these are both CHD games so that must be related somehow.

[Silver]

As mentioned above, the No audio issue is known and resolved - but you'll need to wait for BuddaBing to release a new version.

Your loop detection info is interesting though.

Overall I was impressed with the loop detection.

[Buddabing]

All-righty!

I've made some significant changes in this project which hopefully will simplify things somewhat.

1 - I've updated ListGen with the bugfixes and parameter addition from this thread. Besides MAMEWah, it also supports 3DArcade (not tested 100%). It also will generate plain text game lists, a list of rom names, and a batch file suitable for creating movies.

2 - AviSynth is no longer required.

3 - Support for VirtualDub version 1.5.x is now deprecated and will be removed. Please update to 1.6.2.

4 - Audio "works on my machine". Silver had given me some parameters for the VirtualDub script file for the audio, but they didn't work on my machine. We should look at tweaking it.

5 - The funky size of the Missile Command screen causing VirtualDub to abort has been addressed.

6 - XVID is now supported with -movievideo 3.

7 - There is no source code with this release, I will release source when I release version 0.90.

Try running Zookeeper as a test case, and please post back any problems.

Regards,
Buddabing

[BuZz880]

zookeep.avi for me comes to 246mb; I guess I'll look around the virtual dub docs and see what i'm doing wrong.

[Buddabing]

zookeep.avi for me comes to 246mb; I guess I'll look around the virtual dub docs and see what i'm doing wrong.

That tells me your compression is turned off or not working. Try -movievideo 1 or 2.

[Silver]

The default option in mame.ini is now movievideo 3. This selects XVID compression - so you will need to install the Xvid codec or choose one of the other codecs. If VirtualDub can not find the codec specified, it defaults to uncompressed - ie MASSIVE files. It will probably be only 2-3megs with Xvid.

Personally, I recommend using Xvid. Its open source and extremely high quality, and fast, IMHO.

You can download the codec for Windows here:

http://www.xvidmovies.com/codec/

Loads more Xvid info/source code here:

http://www.xvid.org/

[BuZz880]

The default option in mame.ini is now movievideo 3. This selects XVID compression - so you will need to install the Xvid codec or choose one of the other codecs. If VirtualDub can not find the codec specified, it defaults to uncompressed - ie MASSIVE files. It will probably be only 2-3megs with Xvid.

Personally, I recommend using Xvid. Its open source and extremely high quality, and fast, IMHO.

You can download the codec for Windows here:

http://www.xvidmovies.com/codec/

Loads more Xvid info/source code here:

http://www.xvid.org/

k, I get it now.  On movievideo 2 it comes down to 2.8 and looks/sounds great.  Trying with xVid now.

[sWampy]

C:\mame>copy /Y dummyvdb.txt pacman.vdb
The system cannot find the file specified.


Where do I get a dummyvdb.txt, and do I need it?


When I run listgen, I end up with an empty listgen.tmp and results.tmp, and a makemovies.bat that looks like the one below.   I've changed all the ini's to point to the correct directories I think.

copy /Y controls.png controls00.png
copy /Y controls.png controls01.png
del controls00.png
del controls01.png


PS did this thing delete my snap directory?

[Buddabing]

C:\mame>copy /Y dummyvdb.txt pacman.vdb
The system cannot find the file specified.


Where do I get a dummyvdb.txt, and do I need it?


When I run listgen, I end up with an empty listgen.tmp and results.tmp, and a makemovies.bat that looks like the one below.   I've changed all the ini's to point to the correct directories I think.

copy /Y controls.png controls00.png
copy /Y controls.png controls01.png
del controls00.png
del controls01.png

I made the dummyvdb.txt so that the batch process doesn't stop if there is a problem loading the roms or creating the png snapshots. Either copy an existing .vdb file to dummyvdb.txt or delete those steps.

The same thing goes for the copy /Y controls.png. The dummy vdb file causes VirtualDub to make a two-frame movie from those two pngs.

It's not necessary at all.

[sWampy]

If I turn on verbose mode, in listgen, I get what's below, but an almost empty makemovies.bat.  I get tons and tons of the rom name not found in rom trees.  listgen.tmp and result.tmp end up empty.


rom name bangbead not found in rom tree
rom name nitd not found in rom tree
rom name zupapa not found in rom tree
rom name sengoku3 not found in rom tree
Writing intermediate file listgen.tmp
Reading intermediate file into filter database
create temporary table gamedata (  romname varchar[12] unique primary key,  full_desc varchar[64],  stripped_desc varchar[64] key,  year varchar[4],  manufacturer varchar[80],  screen varchar[24],  orientation varchar[24],  color varchar[24],  status varchar[24],   sound varchar[24],   control varchar[36],  width integer,  height integer,   isclone integer,  aspectx integer,  aspecty integer,  players integer,  buttons integer,  coins integer,   sourcefile varchar[24],  cloneof varchar[12],  romof varchar[12],  catver_category varchar[48],  catver_veradded varchar[48],  nplayers_category varchar[32],  gameplay_category varchar[32],  gameplay_layout varchar[32],  gameplay_mnop integer,  gameplay_nosp integer,  refresh varchar[32],  channels varchar[8]  service varchar[8],  tilt varchar[8]  );
copy gamedata from 'listgen.tmp' using delimiters '|';
Filtering database into result.tmp
Writing game list to makemovies.bat

[Buddabing]

If I turn on verbose mode, in listgen, I get what's below, but an almost empty makemovies.bat.  I get tons and tons of the rom name not found in rom trees.  listgen.tmp and result.tmp end up empty.


rom name bangbead not found in rom tree
rom name nitd not found in rom tree
rom name zupapa not found in rom tree
rom name sengoku3 not found in rom tree
Writing intermediate file listgen.tmp
Reading intermediate file into filter database
create temporary table gamedata (  romname varchar[12] unique primary key,  full_desc varchar[64],  stripped_desc varchar[64] key,  year varchar[4],  manufacturer varchar[80],  screen varchar[24],  orientation varchar[24],  color varchar[24],  status varchar[24],   sound varchar[24],   control varchar[36],  width integer,  height integer,   isclone integer,  aspectx integer,  aspecty integer,  players integer,  buttons integer,  coins integer,   sourcefile varchar[24],  cloneof varchar[12],  romof varchar[12],  catver_category varchar[48],  catver_veradded varchar[48],  nplayers_category varchar[32],  gameplay_category varchar[32],  gameplay_layout varchar[32],  gameplay_mnop integer,  gameplay_nosp integer,  refresh varchar[32],  channels varchar[8]  service varchar[8],  tilt varchar[8]  );
copy gamedata from 'listgen.tmp' using delimiters '|';
Filtering database into result.tmp
Writing game list to makemovies.bat

Your listgen.ini needs to be edited so that it knows where MAME is and where your ROMS are.

Optionally, if ListGen knows where MAME is, you can change the audit_roms parameter to 0.

[sWampy]

I've changed the paths for roms and mame in listgen.ini, and tried audit_roms 0 and 1.   I get the output below from listgen. 


Calling MAME to get version
MAME version is 0.890000
Calling MAME to build XML game info
Scanning XML game info
parse error, unexpected LT
Processing catver.ini
Processing nplayers.ini
Processing gameplay.ini
Writing intermediate file listgen.tmp
Reading intermediate file into filter database
Filtering database into result.tmp
Writing game list to makemovies.bat


Here is my listgen.ini

rompath c:\mame\roms
mamepath c:\mame
frontend moviebatch
verbose 0
silent 0
audit_roms 0
use_clones 1
unique 1
us_version_priority 0
world_version_priority 0
strip_description 1
japan_version_priority -1
reuse_listxml_data 1
output makemovies.bat


I've tried every combination of c:\mame\roms, c:\mame\roms\, .\roms, .\roms\  I could think of with no luck. ;-/

[Buddabing]

I've changed the paths for roms and mame in listgen.ini, and tried audit_roms 0 and 1.   I get the output below from listgen. 


Calling MAME to get version
MAME version is 0.890000
Calling MAME to build XML game info
Scanning XML game info
parse error, unexpected LT
Processing catver.ini
Processing nplayers.ini
Processing gameplay.ini
Writing intermediate file listgen.tmp
Reading intermediate file into filter database
Filtering database into result.tmp
Writing game list to makemovies.bat


Here is my listgen.ini

rompath c:\mame\roms
mamepath c:\mame
frontend moviebatch
verbose 0
silent 0
audit_roms 0
use_clones 1
unique 1
us_version_priority 0
world_version_priority 0
strip_description 1
japan_version_priority -1
reuse_listxml_data 1
output makemovies.bat


I've tried every combination of c:\mame\roms, c:\mame\roms\, .\roms, .\roms\  I could think of with no luck. ;-/

That's interesting.

What is the size of listxml.txt? I get 22,421,287 bytes.

What happens when you do a mame -listxml and compare the existing output to that?

Try doing a mame -listxml > listxml.txt, then running listgen again. This will create the listxml.txt separately, and you should get the 22 megabyte file. Make sure reuse_listxml_data is set to 1 in your listgen.ini.

I thought MAME always output 8-bit ASCII characters. Do you live in a place that doesn't have standard characters?

The "unexpected LT" is a parser error. The XML parser is getting a less than (LT) where it shouldn't.

Weird.

[Silver]

I know mame can ouput UTF-8 (or was it -16?) as I spent ages a few months back scratching my head why mame would produce 22meg xml on one pc but 28meg xml on another and it turned out to be the encoding. I'm trying to remember what the cause was.... I know one PC was Win2K the other XP, but don't think that was the difference....

Sorry not to be more helpful!

[sWampy]

01/05/2005  10:27 PM        38,273,304 listxml.txt

Wierd, I remember something now that you mention it about xp, and this is actually mce2005 default encoding as unicode from an xml class I took last year, I'll have to look through my notes to see how to change that, but that must be what's going on.  Or maybe there is a convertor.   Loading it in notepad and saving it as ascii didn't help. ;-/   Oh, well I have to run off to work, I'll play more tonight.

I've changed the paths for roms and mame in listgen.ini, and tried audit_roms 0 and 1.   I get the output below from listgen. 


Calling MAME to get version
MAME version is 0.890000
Calling MAME to build XML game info
Scanning XML game info
parse error, unexpected LT
Processing catver.ini
Processing nplayers.ini
Processing gameplay.ini
Writing intermediate file listgen.tmp
Reading intermediate file into filter database
Filtering database into result.tmp
Writing game list to makemovies.bat


Here is my listgen.ini

rompath c:\mame\roms
mamepath c:\mame
frontend moviebatch
verbose 0
silent 0
audit_roms 0
use_clones 1
unique 1
us_version_priority 0
world_version_priority 0
strip_description 1
japan_version_priority -1
reuse_listxml_data 1
output makemovies.bat


I've tried every combination of c:\mame\roms, c:\mame\roms\, .\roms, .\roms\  I could think of with no luck. ;-/

That's interesting.

What is the size of listxml.txt? I get 22,421,287 bytes.

What happens when you do a mame -listxml and compare the existing output to that?

Try doing a mame -listxml > listxml.txt, then running listgen again. This will create the listxml.txt separately, and you should get the 22 megabyte file. Make sure reuse_listxml_data is set to 1 in your listgen.ini.

I thought MAME always output 8-bit ASCII characters. Do you live in a place that doesn't have standard characters?

The "unexpected LT" is a parser error. The XML parser is getting a less than (LT) where it shouldn't.

Weird.

[Buddabing]

01/05/2005  10:27 PM        38,273,304 listxml.txt

Wierd, I remember something now that you mention it about xp, and this is actually mce2005 default encoding as unicode from an xml class I took last year, I'll have to look through my notes to see how to change that, but that must be what's going on.  Or maybe there is a convertor.   Loading it in notepad and saving it as ascii didn't help. ;-/   Oh, well I have to run off to work, I'll play more tonight.

Okay, post back the first few lines of the xml file.

[sWampy]

Well I'm at work on a windows xp service pack 2 machine, and get the same error, but the file created here is 37,219,827 bytes.   You can download the whole file at www.landoncrews.com/listxml.zip, but I'll post the first few lines below.  I don't know what a good one should look like, guess I'll have to find a win2k machine somewhere, or try in on one of my linux boxes.

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!DOCTYPE mame [
<!ELEMENT mame (game+)>
   <!ELEMENT game (description, year?, manufacturer, history?, biosset*, rom*, disk*, sample*, chip*, video?, sound?, input?, dipswitch*, driver?)>
      <!ATTLIST game name CDATA #REQUIRED>
      <!ATTLIST game sourcefile CDATA #IMPLIED>
      <!ATTLIST game runnable (yes|no) "yes">
      <!ATTLIST game cloneof CDATA #IMPLIED>
      <!ATTLIST game romof CDATA #IMPLIED>
      <!ATTLIST game sampleof CDATA #IMPLIED>
      <!ELEMENT description (#PCDATA)>
      <!ELEMENT year (#PCDATA)>
      <!ELEMENT manufacturer (#PCDATA)>
      <!ELEMENT history (#PCDATA)>
      <!ELEMENT biosset EMPTY>
         <!ATTLIST biosset name CDATA #REQUIRED>
         <!ATTLIST biosset description CDATA #REQUIRED>
         <!ATTLIST biosset default (yes|no) "no">
      <!ELEMENT rom EMPTY>
         <!ATTLIST rom name CDATA #REQUIRED>
         <!ATTLIST rom bios CDATA #IMPLIED>
         <!ATTLIST rom size CDATA #REQUIRED>
         <!ATTLIST rom crc CDATA #IMPLIED>
         <!ATTLIST rom md5 CDATA #IMPLIED>
         <!ATTLIST rom sha1 CDATA #IMPLIED>
         <!ATTLIST rom merge CDATA #IMPLIED>
         <!ATTLIST rom region CDATA #IMPLIED>
         <!ATTLIST rom offset CDATA #IMPLIED>
         <!ATTLIST rom status (baddump|nodump|good) "good">
         <!ATTLIST rom dispose (yes|no) "no">
         <!ATTLIST rom soundonly (yes|no) "no">
      <!ELEMENT disk EMPTY>
         <!ATTLIST disk name CDATA #REQUIRED>
         <!ATTLIST disk md5 CDATA #IMPLIED>
         <!ATTLIST disk sha1 CDATA #IMPLIED>
         <!ATTLIST disk region CDATA #IMPLIED>
         <!ATTLIST disk index CDATA #IMPLIED>
      <!ELEMENT sample EMPTY>
         <!ATTLIST sample name CDATA #REQUIRED>
      <!ELEMENT chip EMPTY>
         <!ATTLIST chip name CDATA #REQUIRED>
         <!ATTLIST chip type (cpu|audio) #REQUIRED>
         <!ATTLIST chip soundonly (yes|no) "no">
         <!ATTLIST chip clock CDATA #IMPLIED>
      <!ELEMENT video EMPTY>
         <!ATTLIST video screen (raster|vector) #REQUIRED>
         <!ATTLIST video orientation (vertical|horizontal) #REQUIRED>
         <!ATTLIST video width CDATA #IMPLIED>
         <!ATTLIST video height CDATA #IMPLIED>
         <!ATTLIST video aspectx CDATA #IMPLIED>
         <!ATTLIST video aspecty CDATA #IMPLIED>
         <!ATTLIST video refresh CDATA #REQUIRED>
      <!ELEMENT sound EMPTY>
         <!ATTLIST sound channels CDATA #REQUIRED>
      <!ELEMENT input EMPTY>
         <!ATTLIST input service (yes|no) "no">
         <!ATTLIST input tilt (yes|no) "no">
         <!ATTLIST input players CDATA #REQUIRED>
         <!ATTLIST input control CDATA #IMPLIED>
         <!ATTLIST input buttons CDATA #IMPLIED>
         <!ATTLIST input coins CDATA #IMPLIED>
      <!ELEMENT dipswitch (dipvalue*)>
         <!ATTLIST dipswitch name CDATA #REQUIRED>
         <!ELEMENT dipvalue EMPTY>
            <!ATTLIST dipvalue name CDATA #REQUIRED>
            <!ATTLIST dipvalue default (yes|no) "no">
      <!ELEMENT driver EMPTY>
         <!ATTLIST driver status (good|imperfect|preliminary) #REQUIRED>
         <!ATTLIST driver emulation (good|imperfect|preliminary) #REQUIRED>
         <!ATTLIST driver color (good|imperfect|preliminary) #REQUIRED>
         <!ATTLIST driver sound (good|imperfect|preliminary) #REQUIRED>
         <!ATTLIST driver graphic (good|imperfect|preliminary) #REQUIRED>
         <!ATTLIST driver cocktail (good|imperfect|preliminary) #IMPLIED>
         <!ATTLIST driver protection (good|imperfect|preliminary) #IMPLIED>
         <!ATTLIST driver palettesize CDATA #REQUIRED>
]>

<mame>
   <game name="puckman" sourcefile="pacman.c">
      <description>PuckMan (Japan set 1)</description>
      <year>1980</year>
      <manufacturer>Namco</manufacturer>

[BuZz880]

I am currently producing videos using xvid.  I do ocassionally get errors which hang up the process; most common are compression errors (-100) in visualdub.  I think I can get around this by re-running with moviemode 1 or 2 which I will try later but ideally it would be nice if there were a way to simply log which rom bombed and skip to the next one rather than creating an error which hangs until attended - it isn't a huge deal for those of us with cabs or dedicated machines it doesn't matter if it takes a little more effort but for some it would be nice just to come home and then re-run different parameters against the failed list (example: shufshot). 

On another note the exidy games I had problems with before *appear* to be working better now... ie. moviemaker waits until they get past the startup stuff and then records only the good parts.

[Silver]

The (-100) errors are almost definately games that change resolution during the boot sequence. It often seems to be just the first 50 frames or so.

A workaround should be possible - either by detecting image sizes (can this be done in the png-saving part of mame?) or similar - the worst would be making of a list of games that do this and bodging. The tricky bit is making sure the sound stays in sync - but if we know the number of frames, again it can be done.

Could you post the games you have found that error out?

And is anyone familiar with mame source know about resolution changes? (In game info mame reports the current resolution, which changes dynamically as the game changes resolution. I'm figuring if you know the variable with resolution we can detect a change?

[BuZz880]

Could you post the games you have found that error out?

Just these so far but i'm still running my batch (works good, good speed too) and will let you know if any unexpected ones show up so far it just looks like a couple manufacturers to me as I have successfully made about 60 movies now out of the 200 or so in my batch (which is stiull running). 

term2, possibly revx as well but I need to fix the zip.
shufshot
capbowl
wcbowl
simpbowl
slither

cryptklr and carnevil too; I think ther error was not the -100 but it was related to different resoultions being used.

[Buddabing]

Well I'm at work on a windows xp service pack 2 machine, and get the same error, but the file created here is 37,219,827 bytes.

[sWampy]

That fixed it, had to move all the .dat files.   Now I just have to figure out your control panel program. ;-)

[Buddabing]

That fixed it, had to move all the .dat files.

[Buddabing]

The (-100) errors are almost definately games that change resolution during the boot sequence. It often seems to be just the first 50 frames or so.

A workaround should be possible - either by detecting image sizes (can this be done in the png-saving part of mame?) or similar - the worst would be making of a list of games that do this and bodging. The tricky bit is making sure the sound stays in sync - but if we know the number of frames, again it can be done.

Could you post the games you have found that error out?

And is anyone familiar with mame source know about resolution changes? (In game info mame reports the current resolution, which changes dynamically as the game changes resolution. I'm figuring if you know the variable with resolution we can detect a change?

It is trivial (and cheap, time-wise) to detect a change in the dimensions of the png snapshots. What do you want to happen if the resolution changes during png generation?

[sWampy]

Here is what I moved, I'll put them back one at a time if you need me to, I moved history.dat and it still errored, so I just moved the rest and it worked.   I already have a layout for cpviewer, yours just sounded cooler being in game.   


09/22/2004  07:29 PM            23,102 event.dat
09/22/2004  07:29 PM           156,291 hiscore.dat
09/22/2004  07:29 PM         2,637,139 history.dat
12/15/2004  03:07 PM        36,699,174 listinfo.dat
11/18/2004  10:59 AM        24,051,818 mame.dat
12/08/2004  01:40 AM         4,348,650 mameinfo.dat
12/15/2004  03:08 PM             8,350 verify.dat

[Buddabing]

Here is what I moved, I'll put them back one at a time if you need me to, I moved history.dat and it still errored, so I just moved the rest and it worked.

[sWampy]

history.dat and mameinfo.dat cause it, the others don't.

[Silver]

term2, possibly revx as well but I need to fix the zip.
shufshot
capbowl
wcbowl
simpbowl
slither

cryptklr and carnevil too; I think ther error was not the -100 but it was related to different resoultions being used.

Sorry - my post earlier I meant to say that the (-100) error is probably the weird resolution error - not changing resolution!

There is already a fix for this for another resolution. Exactly the same code should work here - so Buddabing just needs to add the resolution of these games to the list to be checked for...

We already know and check for

[Silver]

It is trivial (and cheap, time-wise) to detect a change in the dimensions of the png snapshots. What do you want to happen if the resolution changes during png generation?

Well I'm 99% sure that these changes will only occur during boot, so we could simply only load the pngs after the resolution change in Vdub. (I think its eg. Addrange 50, lastframe - but I will check) But then we will have to add a fudge factor for the audio, trying to look at the easiest way of doing this.....

[Buddabing]

It is trivial (and cheap, time-wise) to detect a change in the dimensions of the png snapshots. What do you want to happen if the resolution changes during png generation?

Well I'm 99% sure that these changes will only occur during boot, so we could simply only load the pngs after the resolution change in Vdub. (I think its eg. Addrange 50, lastframe - but I will check) But then we will have to add a fudge factor for the audio, trying to look at the easiest way of doing this.....

I was thinking that if a change is detected, the program could copy the current png and overwrite all the previous pngs. That way, no audio fudge factor would be required.

[Silver]

I was thinking that if a change is detected, the program could copy the current png and overwrite all the previous pngs. That way, no audio fudge factor would be required.

That would be perfect.