mala newbie is very frustrated

[polaris]

ive been following unclet's mala step by step guide.
when i try to download mala, windows says its an unkown file type, and at that point im stuck.
i can download it but windows fails to find a program online to open it etc.
have i got the right thing, im downloading the top thing on the downloads page under where it says 1.04

[SGT]

Many files today are compressed in the 7-zip format hence the file ends with a .7z extension.  The program to "unzip" it can be downloaded for free here:

http://www.7-zip.org/

[polaris]

thanks for that, windows wasnt getting me anywhere

im in to mala with mame running but now im just faced with a blank mala screen, roms in the folder but nothing being found?hmmm

[polaris]

ive got mala running, a picture of a planet with mame ( version)at the top of the screen and games 0 of 0 at the bottom and nothing else, it asks to refresh games list but none are found. any clues?

[SGT]

In the Mala config, you have to tell Mala where your mame.xml file is (edit: or use Mala to create the mame.xml file) and where your mame roms are.

[polaris]

In the Mala config, you have to tell Mala where your mame.xml file is (edit: or use Mala to create the mame.xml file) and where your mame roms are.

done that,i think anyway
 its an old version of mame(55) previously used mame32 and just transferred roms, is that the problem maybe.

im literally getting a blank screen (with background pic) no boxes for lists of roms etc.
should it show a load of blank boxes as default or do i have to create those.

[SGT]

From the home page of Mala:

MaLa is a multi emulator frontend designed for all 32bit Windows operating systems. It supports the Windows command line version of MAME with XML ROM info (> 0.84), PC Games and all command line based emulators.

You can still get it to work with your old version of Mame by creating a mame.xml file  from a much newer version of Mame.  You use the following command to create mame.xml:

Code: [Select]

mame -cc
The mame.xml file is a file that contains the rom names and descriptions among other things.  That's why you've been unable to generate a game list.

[loadman]

G'day,

Newbie MaLa users should be able to find most answers by doing a search on this forum and looking in the Wiki.

Look Here

But if not start a new post and ask us 

[polaris]

loadman ,yep done all that, and im still confused.


  i create a file using a newer mame version, you say an xml file using the following code mame -cc,

where/how do i do that,this is my problem i dont really know anything about programming so using the wiki etc is just going over my head

do i just open up command line and just type in mame.xml

sorry if these are really basic and/ or stupid questions.

[loadman]

Just Set up MaLa using a newer version like .89. This will create a xml file.

Then switch back to the earlier version of your choice. The xml will remain

[polaris]

cheers mate ill try that now

[polaris]

thanks sgt and loadman, im sure ill be back soon with tweaking problems.
ive learnt a lot through this little exercise with your tips. cheers

[SGT]

Oops.  I can't edit my last post for some reason.  For the record, it wasn't "mame -cc" to create a mame.xml file but "mame -listxml > mame.xml".  Senility is setting in.  Loadman is correct of course.  Much better to use Mala to create the mame.xml file when one is unfamiliar with how to use the command line (C prompt).

[polaris]

Oops.  I can't edit my last post for some reason.  For the record, it wasn't "mame -cc" to create a mame.xml file but "mame -listxml > mame.xml".  Senility is setting in.  Loadman is correct of course.  Much better to use Mala to create the mame.xml file when one is unfamiliar with how to use the command line (C prompt).

yep im gonna have to look into the command line stuff.
mala has set it up for me, so im cool so far, got games playing.
theres some files i seem to be missing so im gonna search those out, unclet's explanation mentions artwork files which i cant seem to find from the link.
again cheers , i'll be back soon im sure.

regarding the post edit , theres a 12 hour window now ,after which you cant edit , its being discussed in the forum discussion forum

[loadman]

regarding the post edit , theres a 12 hour window now ,after which you cant edit , its being discussed in the forum discussion forum

Sounds fair.

Lets you fix up typos etc (I read mine back all the time and edit them as they don't make sense) yet makes you reponsible for your staements.. I like the idea in principal.

Anyway off topic

Have fun!