ctrlr File Naming Convention?

[djsting]

I want to set up some ctrlr files for different types of games and have figured out how they are structured but have no idea about naming the files.  I have heard that SirPoonga is a wiz with these files as I'm sure that others of you out there are.  Can anyone tell me how to properly name the files?  I would need different files for different types of games like the NeoGeo standard button layout, the SF and like games, classic games, etc, etc.

[Minwah]

I believe it is something like this:

default.ini : obviously the default key mappings
drivername.ini : applies only to games with this driver (eg neogeo.ini)
romname.ini : applies to 1 rom (& clones?)

You can also add this to default.ini:

dial_ini                "dial.ini"
trackball_ini           "trackball.ini"
lightgun_ini      "lightgun.ini"
paddle_ini              "paddle.ini"
ad_stick_ini            "ad_stick.ini"      
pedal_ini               "pedal.ini"

(substitute the parts in "" 's for your prefered).  These filenames refer to .ini's which are specific for the given input type.

Put all of those files in your \mame\ctrlr\ctrlrname folder and refer to the ctrlr name in your mame.ini.

I think that is right anyway  

[SirPoonga]

the ctrlr file system is a heirarchal system.
First, it will load from the default.ini (including the control ini files that are in the default ini like mouse.ini)  Then I think it will do windows.ini or dos.ini.  Then the special ini files like vector.ini (this level is where my hacks reside too).
Then it will look for the ini file for the driver, like neogeo.ini or cps1.ini.  Then it will look for hte parent rom ini file, then the rom's ini file.

The hacks I have added:
button#.ini.  Define a button6.ini and only 6 button games will be affected.
player#.ini.  Define player4.ini and only 4 player games are affected.
horitont.ini and vertical.ini.  Affect horizontal and vertical games.

All the documentation is in your mame/docs/ctrlr.txt

[Minwah]

The hacks I have added:
button#.ini.  Define a button6.ini and only 6 button games will be affected.
player#.ini.  Define player4.ini and only 4 player games are affected.
horitont.ini and vertical.ini.  Affect horizontal and vertical games.

I don't know why horizont & vertical ini's aren't supported in the main build...

[Frostillicus]

I think they should add SirP's hacks, they are more useful than most, like <driver>.ini, for example.

[SirPoonga]

<driver>.ini is in mame.  I don't have such a hack
I have cabinet/BYOAC friendly hacks, hence probably why they'd never get into mame.  I haven;t submitted them, I need to document them well before I do that.  Plus I want to get around to diffing all of them.

I don't use the hacks, I just noticed many people having issues with mapping controls for their cocktail cabinet or their 4 player control panel.
With my hacks you could:
Cocktail: horizont.ini and vertical.ini, switch the horizontal side of a cocktail cabinet form player 3/4 to players 1/2.
4 player control panel, for 1 ans 2 player game map the center two contorl position of the control panel to players 1 and 2.  For 4 player map the players in order like the actual cabinet would have done.

[u_rebelscum]

I think they should add SirP's hacks, they are more useful than most, like <driver>.ini, for example.

If you're saying SirP's are better than <driver>.ini's... what about neogeo.ini for any CP with the hotrod/X-arcade 7 button layout?

Not dissin SirP's stuff (they're great for cabs), but neogeo.ini is probably the second most "used" ctrlr ini file, behind default.ini.

[Frostillicus]

SirP, yes I know it's not yours - I just meant yours are more useful than the other possible ctrlr files, at least for me.

neogeo.ini is useful I guess, I have mine wired that way so I don't use it.

[SirPoonga]

Ok, misread.

I have my neogeo.ini to setup my controls like

XX4
123

I don't play fighters so I rarely use the 6th button.