Setting up control panel...finally! Issues...(MaLa, I-PAC)

[jasonbar]

Howdy-

I'm *finally* in the hardware configuration stage of my cabinet--woohoo!

I've got a modified SlikStik Quad & I'm running MaLa.

I've got the following dumb newbie questions on settings things up:

1 - I installed the SlikStik_Quad.cfg file into my mame/ctrlr directory, but I don't see where in MaLa (or in the MAME command line?) to point to this controller file to use it.

2 - I've got an I-PAC4 installed & am trying to set up admin buttons, etc. with its software.  When I click on the option to pull up the keyboard, I get the error that the keyboard file can't be found.

3 - I seem to have some weird latching or something behavior where, when I'm testing the control panel from within the I-PAC software, the button press isn't recognized until the moment I *release* the button, rather than when it's held.  Perhaps a wiring snafu?

Thanks--I'm sure I'll have more dumb questions soon... :]

-Jason

[TheShanMan]

I can answer #3. Sounds like you're pressing one of the buttons designated as a shift button (ipac4 has 2 of them). It won't register as a keypress until you release, because it's waiting to see if you are going to use it as a shift. I assume you're familiar with what the shifting feature is?

[jasonbar]

Thanks, Shan.  I'm familiar with the *concept* of a shift key on a control panel, but I don't wish to have any on mine.  I'll have to mess around with key assignments in the I-PAC software.


I think that, to get a full understanding of this I-PAC setup & get every button right, I'll probably have to get into the panel editor & update it to match my panel exactly, then I can go through in an orderly fashion & set each button or joystick to match MAME's defaults.  I guess that would obviate the need for using the .cfg file from SlikStik then...oh well.

Thanks--I've only *just* poked around w/ this portion of the cabinet build--I just need to sit down w/ it for a while & plow through it & figure it out as I go.


Thanks,
-Jason

Edit: Ah-ha!  Found the default key assignments in the manual.  Would help to RTFM...ther are indeed 3 shift keys set (see attached pic)

[TheShanMan]

I guess I should have mentioned also that you can disable shifting so NO input behaves as you described.

[jasonbar]

Ooh, keen.  Where is this shift disable located?  I didn't see it in my first sessions with I-PAC.

Thanks!
-Jason

[TheShanMan]

Go to Table View, then right click on the P1/2 or P3/4 Shift boxes. There is a "None" item on the right click menu. That will turn it off entirely.

[jasonbar]

Shan-

Thanks, I found that menu item, but it didn't change the behavior.

Keyboard "key" 1 (which is currently mapped to both the P1 start & the P1 button that's labeled as "0" in my graphic above) still shows the keypress in Test Mode upon release of that button instead of when pushing it.  That seems to be the only offender.

Obviously needs some more study...

Thanks,
-Jason

[TheShanMan]

And you uploaded your new keymap to the ipac after you made that change?

[jasonbar]

     <----that's me, needing to be spoonfed by The ShanMan.

Thanks, buddy!      <---that's me, embarrassed

Works great now.

-Jason