Author Topic: Admin Buttons for CP (Read 5250 times)

jholman76 · « **on:** June 15, 2009, 02:05:00 pm »

Just a generic question about the Administrative buttons everyone is using on MAME CP's/Cabinets.

What admin keys do you normally include? I am building a couple desktop CP's. they will be Gamepad hacks and I have a couple keyboard hacks that I already have done so that will be easiest for the admin buttons.

Below are the keys I have with the keyboard hack: (i think this is all of them)

1
5
ESC
HOME
P
ENTER
TAB

Anything anyone would add to this list?

I have hacked a few dell USB keyboards with this setup, so if anyone is interested, its quite easy and only requires 9 or 10 wires.

I have pictures of where to solder and what each one does. I'll post it later this week including what model encoder it is, etc. This model of keyboard is coming to end of life at work so I am getting more of them to play with.

joe

garnerb350 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 15, 2009, 02:14:01 pm »

I just used 3 keys for my admin buttons...

P (Pause)
F2 (Service button)
Tab (Mame Options)

I am in the process of placing a lock on my keyboard tray (keeps kids out)
I hacked a dell keyboard, and i do agree, it is easy to hack....

jholman76 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 15, 2009, 02:31:18 pm »

Not sure if I've ever used the F2 key in all of my MAMEing....

I'll have to find out tonight if I need it.

severdhed · « **Reply #3 on:** June 15, 2009, 02:33:39 pm »

pause and exit are the only two admin buttons i have on my panel. everything else is a shifted function

leapinlew · « **Reply #4 on:** June 15, 2009, 02:36:47 pm »

No admin buttons. All shifted functions.

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #5 on:** June 15, 2009, 03:08:42 pm »

Quote from: severdhed on June 15, 2009, 02:33:39 pm

pause and exit are the only two admin buttons i have on my panel. everything else is a shifted function

This is how mine is set up, with pause next to the player start button for each player, which doubles as a select for consoles. The exit button is out of reach with an overly stretched spring.

javeryh · « **Reply #6 on:** June 15, 2009, 03:41:25 pm »

Quote from: severdhed on June 15, 2009, 02:33:39 pm

pause and exit are the only two admin buttons i have on my panel. everything else is a shifted function

Same... unless you count the Player Start buttons as admin then I have those too.

garnerb350 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 15, 2009, 04:05:14 pm »

Quote from: jholman76 on June 15, 2009, 02:31:18 pm

Not sure if I've ever used the F2 key in all of my MAMEing....

I'll have to find out tonight if I need it.

I use it just in case say like I want to access the service confg for like SF2- MK3....
You really dont need it...I have it just so i dont have to access the keyboard...
which in the end...it just redundant

javeryh · « **Reply #8 on:** June 15, 2009, 04:15:36 pm »

yeah, if I need to actually change settings or something (which almost never happens) on a game I just break out the keyboard. It's just as easy.

getnate · « **Reply #9 on:** June 15, 2009, 06:49:20 pm »

I've been comtemplating this too. I am building my cabinet and am at the point where I'm drawing my CP overlay in CorelDraw. I plan to have just 3 Admin buttons:
1. Exit (exits a game or menu)
2. Play/Pause (selects a game or menu item when in the frontend, pauses/unpauses a game while playing)
3. Power (Tied to the soft power switch on the motherboard and not mounted on the CP itself but hidden on top of the cabinet).

All other functions will be taken care of by my keyboard hidden in a pullout tray beneath the CP. Functions like:
1. Volume
2. Mame menu/config
3. Mouse

DaveMMR · « **Reply #10 on:** June 15, 2009, 08:04:30 pm »

Admin Buttons have been discussed a lot on these forums . I'm not dismissing your question but you may owe it to yourself to do a search for "admin buttons" and see what others say.

Jack Burton · « **Reply #11 on:** June 15, 2009, 08:09:18 pm »

it really depends on how often you change setttings while playing an emulator or what emulators you use.

I use 6 admin buttons cause I like to tinker, and I hate shifted functions.

2x coin
pause
escape
menu
service

ivwshane · « **Reply #12 on:** June 15, 2009, 11:13:06 pm »

For my cp I have two physical admin buttons.

One is for pause while in mame and the other is for tab in mame so I can configure games in mame if I need to.
When not in mame those same two buttons act as my left/right mouse button.

To exit out of games I have it so that the user has to press P1 and Pause at the same time.

The only time I need the keyboard is when something crashes and I can't exit out of it with a mouse and I must use ctrl+alt+del.

Aabra · « **Reply #13 on:** June 16, 2009, 02:26:07 am »

How has everybody managed to forget the fast forward button? (insert by default I think)

Some games take a long time to load up before you can actually play. (startup checks, displaying various messages, etc) I can't possibly be the only person who likes to skip through all that.

ivwshane · « **Reply #14 on:** June 16, 2009, 02:48:42 am »

Quote from: Aabra on June 16, 2009, 02:26:07 am

How has everybody managed to forget the fast forward button? (insert by default I think)

Some games take a long time to load up before you can actually play. (startup checks, displaying various messages, etc) I can't possibly be the only person who likes to skip through all that.

Hmm...I've never even heard of that. Is it really a fast forward feature or something similar to overclocking the emulation?

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #15 on:** June 16, 2009, 08:25:19 am »

Quote from: Aabra on June 16, 2009, 02:26:07 am

How has everybody managed to forget the fast forward button? (insert by default I think)

Some games take a long time to load up before you can actually play. (startup checks, displaying various messages, etc) I can't possibly be the only person who likes to skip through all that.

Mine is hidden. I reach for it when needed.

There are several hidden admin buttons on my cab, but the question was "on the CP" so I only listed those.

javeryh · « **Reply #16 on:** June 16, 2009, 09:28:25 am »

I'd rather wait the 10-20 seconds while a game loads instead of trying to design a layout for an additional button that will just cause confusion. Whenever I design a panel I always make it as simple as possible. The amount of questions people ask is staggering. The average person isn't going to care to press a FF button (IMO).

jholman76 · « **Reply #17 on:** June 16, 2009, 10:49:20 am »

Quote from: Ginsu Victim on June 16, 2009, 08:25:19 am

Mine is hidden. I reach for it when needed.

There are several hidden admin buttons on my cab, but the question was "on the CP" so I only listed those.

Sorry, I should have specified. I am just trying to make sure I have all of the admin buttons defined, so I was getting a current opinion from other users.

On the CP or not. Doesnt matter.

Sorry.

CrazyKongFan · « **Reply #18 on:** June 16, 2009, 10:56:40 am »

I always find it funny when people consider 1 and 2 admin buttons...how do you expect to start the game without them

I consider admin buttons something you wouldn't find on a real arcade game, like Pause or TAB. That being said, on mine, I have ESC and TAB out of the way in the top left corner (TAB is nice to have to configure games). I have a pause button in the center between both players, so it's accessible to either. All 3 buttons are smaller push buttons that aren't easy to hit by accident. I also have F2 and F3 inside the coin door, just for authenticity

Many games have the reset and menu buttons inside the door like that, and mine is mounted on the little bracket made for that. I also have the coin switches wired up, with 25 cent coin acceptors, but I also wired them to 2 push buttons that I are mounted next to the coin door, utilizing some existing security bolt holes, and they fit perfectly in them. That's what works for me anyway, your mileage may vary, professional driver on a closed course, offer valid in 49 states (sorry Tennessee!)

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #19 on:** June 16, 2009, 11:35:12 am »

Yeah, I definitely don't see START as an admin button.

1UP · « **Reply #20 on:** June 16, 2009, 04:33:15 pm »

All the admin buttons you need are already defined on the keyboard, and on the IPAC they are already mapped to shifted keys (push P1 Start+Button 1, etc). You can do the same in the Mame config menu by defining your own key combos. I would have one for escape (labeled "Change Game") for guests just to make things easier. Maybe one for pause, the rest all shifted. Never been a fan of having a row of admin buttons. Looks bad and gives guests too much access to things they shouldn't be touching.

But the essentials that should be accessible somewhere or other:
-Esc
-Pause
-F2
-Tab
-Enter

That will allow you to do 99% of what you need in-game.

Bender · « **Reply #21 on:** June 16, 2009, 07:15:55 pm »

Yes Let's put P1, P2 and Coin buttons to rest as admin buttons they are not

you need the 5 that 1up listed

I'd say these 3 should be unshifted (and well labeled) buttons guests need these to easily select and exit games

ESC (exit game and config menus)
ENTER (select a game and enter in config menus)
P (Pause)

And these 2 shifted so guests can't mess things up

TAB (mame config menu)
F2 (service mode)

I have mine set up that way and everything works great and just 3 visible admin buttons

DaveMMR · « **Reply #22 on:** June 16, 2009, 09:28:18 pm »

Escape (Exit Game) on the panel. Maybe Pause. Everything else handled by keyboard stuffed inside the cabinet (or shifted buttons). IMO nothing that changes settings on the game should be on the panel for anyone to mess with.

ivwshane · « **Reply #23 on:** June 16, 2009, 10:17:40 pm »

I would agree only if my cab had a few games on it but since mame covers over 3000 games, pre configuring is not an option for me. That's why I like having a "tab" key mapped, having to bust out a keyboard to change a button layout lowers the cabs coolness factor.

Bender · « **Reply #24 on:** June 17, 2009, 12:02:00 am »

Quote from: ivwshane on June 16, 2009, 10:17:40 pm

I would agree only if my cab had a few games on it but since mame covers over 3000 games, pre configuring is not an option for me. That's why I like having a "tab" key mapped, having to bust out a keyboard to change a button layout lowers the cabs coolness factor.

That's why a shifted button is so cool, you know how to access it but guests don't, so they can't muck things up

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #25 on:** June 17, 2009, 10:58:51 am »

My TAB button is on top of my cab. I don't want guests pressing it, but it's easy for me to reach for configuration. If I hold Player 1 Start, that button is shifted to F2.

IG-88 · « **Reply #26 on:** August 04, 2009, 06:48:54 pm »

Quote from: jholman76 on June 15, 2009, 02:05:00 pm

I have hacked a few dell USB keyboards with this setup, so if anyone is interested, its quite easy and only requires 9 or 10 wires.

I have pictures of where to solder and what each one does. I'll post it later this week including what model encoder it is, etc. This model of keyboard is coming to end of life at work so I am getting more of them to play with.

joe

Hey Joe, I would be interested in this info if you have time.

Kman-Sweden · « **Reply #27 on:** August 05, 2009, 02:08:54 am »

Quote from: IG-88 on August 04, 2009, 06:48:54 pm

Hey Joe, I would be interested in this info if you have time.

IG-88 ---> If you're interested you can follow the URL in my signature to see how I did it.

brandon · « **Reply #28 on:** August 05, 2009, 05:01:05 pm »

I would say that having a hidden shift "toggle switch" would be neat. or maybe having a shift button that's wired in series with a keyed switch would be neat. Like those old keyboard keys that computers used to have. That way nobody can could muck with the admin stuff unless you were present.

severdhed · « **Reply #29 on:** August 05, 2009, 07:06:01 pm »

i have mine set up so that p1 start + pause brings up the config menu (tab)

enter is not really needed. i set uiselect as either enter, or p1button1. then you dont need an additional button.

i only need the kb for f2, which is so rare that i never bothered setting up a shifted command for it

jtslade · « **Reply #30 on:** August 07, 2009, 10:09:10 am »

All shifted using Ultimarc's MiniPAC

Left PLayer start + Right Player Start = ESC

Left Player Start + Select Game = Pause

Left PLayer Start + LeftPLr "A" Button= COIN1

Left PLayer Start + LeftPLr "C" Button= TAB

Left PLayer Start + LeftPLr "D" Button= ~ (sound slider in MAME I think)

RyoriNoTetsujin · « **Reply #31 on:** August 07, 2009, 10:25:35 am »

As far as "Exit Game" (Esc in MAME defaults) is concerned, am I the only one who has that set up as a shifted key? I feel like putting it on the CP as a single button, however inconspicuously placed, will lead to an accidental exit.

(Yeah, man, I hate "accidental exits." LOL.)

MAME TIME · « **Reply #32 on:** August 07, 2009, 10:28:02 am »

They way i have my setup is one admin button for exit, if people want to pause i tell them to hold player one and down on the joystick, if it comes to modding options i pull out the keyboard from the coin box, nothing else because you dont need it.
http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq128/mrshplooga/100_0198.jpg

kronic24601 · « **Reply #33 on:** August 07, 2009, 09:52:09 pm »

I haven't tried this myself, but watchin the Knevil forums, it seems he uses at least 4.

1) Pause
2) Exit
3) List
4) EMU

I'm assuming list "exits" you out to the game list ... but then Exit must take you ...

Anyone have any thoughts about those four?

ivwshane · « **Reply #34 on:** August 08, 2009, 12:48:23 am »

Quote from: jtslade on August 07, 2009, 10:09:10 am

All shifted using Ultimarc's MiniPAC

Left PLayer start + Right Player Start = ESC

Left Player Start + Select Game = Pause

Left PLayer Start + LeftPLr "A" Button= COIN1

Left PLayer Start + LeftPLr "C" Button= TAB

Left PLayer Start + LeftPLr "D" Button= ~ (sound slider in MAME I think)

The only problem I have with this setup is the exit. I originally setup my cab to have p1+p2=exit but then I realized that sometimes p1 and p2 are pressed at the same time by the players and would kick you out.

DaveMMR · « **Reply #35 on:** August 08, 2009, 11:52:21 am »

Quote from: ivwshane on August 08, 2009, 12:48:23 am

The only problem I have with this setup is the exit. I originally setup my cab to have p1+p2=exit but then I realized that sometimes p1 and p2 are pressed at the same time by the players and would kick you out.

I agree. I had it that way and then my girlfriend and I accidentally "quit" out of Bubble Bobble once too often.

Endaar · « **Reply #36 on:** August 09, 2009, 06:03:59 pm »

PAUSE, TAB, RESET, EXIT

RESET will probably change to something else - honestly, the button itself is there to make the CP symmetrical.

Also, I think you could argue that "COIN" buttons are actually admin button as they're not strictly necessary.

DaveMMR · « **Reply #37 on:** August 09, 2009, 06:39:05 pm »

Quote from: Endaar on August 09, 2009, 06:03:59 pm

Also, I think you could argue that "COIN" buttons are actually admin button as they're not strictly necessary.

How do you add credits to MAME games?

Unless you mean they're unnecessary if you have a working coin door, in which case I agree.

Otherwise, you need coin buttons.

Endaar · « **Reply #38 on:** August 09, 2009, 11:29:43 pm »

Quote

you have a working coin door

Bingo.


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