Loading a ctrl.cfg file in mame

[dkubarek]

I'm using a command line version of mame .105 and see an x-arcade.cfg file in the ctlr folder. I want mame to default to that configuration at startup and also make a few changes to it. Basically, I want all of the game play options and want to alter a few of the admin functions. 1) How do I tell mame to reference that file instead of the default. and 2) Do I just hit tab and make changes after that? Thanks.

[mr_doles]

Read the Wiki for great Ctrlr instructions:
http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Ctrlr_file

[dkubarek]

thanks. I tried the wiki and must have missed it. I ended up just pasting x-arcade's config from their file right to my default and only had to change a few things. It tested OK and didn't work in the game, but I think I set up game configs that are overriding my settings. I hope so, because I have no idea what to try if that's not it.

[dkubarek]

after reading a bit I'm thinking a ctrl file isn't what I want because I need to make a few changes to it. I'd be better off with just remapping in the program, right?

[mr_doles]

If your few changes are going to be used in every game then use the ctrlr file.  Make a back up of x-arcade.cfg just in case you need to go back to it.  Then make all the changes you need to make. 

It tested OK and didn't work in the game, but I think I set up game configs that are overriding my settings.

Did you move your default.cfg that you copied from x-arcade from the cfg folder into the crtrlr folder and did you point to the default.cfg file in mame.ini?

[dkubarek]

I took the x-arcade.cfg file and cut and pasted it in the default.cfg file. I guess I got the two confused. However, I have other .cfg files I configured to work on PC, so I'm assuming I need to delete those to get the default.cfg to work on those games. I'm at work, so i can't try it now. If the controls work, should I make a ctrl file for x-arcade? I'm not very good at writing the code, so I'm afraid I'll screw it up if I do.

[mr_doles]

There are two places you will find cfg files.  1 in the cfg folder, you should see 1 for each game plus default.  Then in the ctrlr folder, in this folder there are only a few.  Now this comes from the Wiki so I could be wrong but the ones in the cfg folder are over written every time mame runs while the ones in ctrlr are not.  I was a little confused on the cfg files in both places as well.

You can have a default.cfg (or anything-you-want.cfg in the ctrlr folder just make sure mame.ini points to that cfg file under # CORE INPUT OPTIONS.  Also verify that you point to the ctrlr folder in the mame.ini under # CORE SEARCH PATH OPTIONS.

You don't have to write any code.  Make the changes in mame (run mame and hit Tab) in the Input (general) section.  This writes your changes to the default.cfg in the cfg folder.  Take these changes and put them in your anything-you-want.cfg in the ctrlr folder.  Make sure you put in the right section, the instructions in the wiki really go into good detail for this.

Hope that helps some.

[dkubarek]

That helps greatly. I'm a dummy and I know exactly what you mean now. I had a hunch the two were similar looking at the html but now I'll make a file in the ctrl folder that I can back up. It's going to my nephews, so who knows how long until they screw with something. I'm backing up all I can just in case. Thanks a bunch!