ROMLister 025 released!

[NOP]

wow, it's been almost 2 years since the last update.
http://waste.org/~winkles/ROMLister/

Here's the list of updates+changes:
build 25
-dropped support for automatically creating .LST files for maximus arcade.  
 Instead the user is prompted to use the game List Converter tool available from maximus arcade's website.  
 The Game List Converter Tool is easier to use and less problematic than the one previously bundled with romlister.
 The convert.exe that used to be bundled with romlister has now been dropped, saving a couple meg of download too.
+checked output xml file when -listxml is requested from mame.  have been getting reports that sometimes it doesn't exist.??!
+converted MAME 145's "<control type="joy" ways="4"/>" (2,4,8+doubleJoy) back to "<control type="joy4way"/>" for backwards compatibility when creating a merged file.
 Note: If you are already running with an xml file built off 145, you have to re-merge your XML files to get this "feature"
+added nplayers checkboxes
+attempted to fix xml &amp tags again (see build 21)
+change the default output for "analog stick" to just "analog" since that now covers "analog flightstick"
+added electromechanical checkbox and fruit machines for the category groups.
+huge overhaul to the ROM search function, which was long overdue.  
 It now locates exact and fuzzy string matches to ROM descriptions and displays all the findings in a mini-list.  
 For example, simply typing "jungle" into the search box will bring up a list of Jungle King, Jungle Hunt and a dozen other titles with "Jungle" or something similar in the title.
 Like any list, you 2x click on a title to examine the underlying XML, or right click on the title to throw that ROM into your working list.

bug reports, suggestions, etc are always welcome.

[darthpaul]

So far this looks like the answer I have been looking for, for my automated multiple control panels. In the old release, no matter how I tried to create a 2 player simultaneous list, those same games ended up in the alternating player list.

[OverRide]

This is a great tool! Thanks for the update.

[ataruzzolo]

Thanks!

[NOP]

So far this looks like the answer I have been looking for, for my automated multiple control panels. In the old release, no matter how I tried to create a 2 player simultaneous list, those same games ended up in the alternating player list.

very interesting, considering I didn't change a bit of the core of the search tool itself-this was pretty much all cosmetic!

I suspect it's because I'm using a longer search string than simply "2p sim" which could lead to some false positives, as explained here:
http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/RL_tutorial_Advanced_SearchingEx

Whatever the answer is, I am glad this one is doing what you need it to do.  That makes me happy.

The main thing we need is a single repository for all the various .ini and xml files.  It's getting tough to track down all the bits from different sites, OR a dedicated individual (that would not be me) to post their merged file somewhere for others to just download and use.

[mike boss]

love this tool, looking forward to trying the new build.
Thanks

[Toonces]

Is www.waste.org down? I am trying to download ROMLister 025 and cannot get to the site though it does ping. A directly link from the google cache also fails. I just finished an older mame .106 cab with 2 player and 3 buttons each and need to weed out a lot

Thanks!

Toonces

*** EDIT *** Must have been a short term thing. It's back up now.

[mike boss]

I cant believe I forgot to use ROMlister to create my MaLa lists before I put the PC in my Mario project ! Now I gotta pull it out and get this done.

None the less I love ROMlister, amazing program that just gives so much more depth to my projects. Looking forward to using the new build tonight. Perhaps one of the things I like the most is the fact that I can just tailor a list to my machine, removing Adult,  Driving, and Trackball games. It's so great that every game on the list can be played on the machine !
Love that I can save my lists in a Mala MLG (or is it MGL) format !

I wanna do my custom favorites (Mike's Favorites) , gun games, fighters, FUNtendo...which is all games made by Nintendo as the cabinet will be in a Nintendo cabinet.

Off memory I don't recall, can you make a list by maker ? IE Nintendo ?

[NOP]

thanks for the love!

you can absolutely make a nintendo only list.  it'll take a wee bit of editing by hand.

click your boxes and dropdowns and get your controls all set up, then at the very end of the -find: text, add this:

Code: [Select]

& <manufacturer>Nintendo
or if you just want a list of all the nintendo games, regardless of controls and monitor orientation, etc, delete everything in the -find: box and add only the above line.

[mike boss]

Thanks NOP.

Lastnight I did some messing around with ROMlister.
I did a list of FIGHTERS and SHOOTERS for my cabinet.
I made a list of all Vs. games as they were all titled Vs and close together, so that was easy.
I didn't mess around for long, so I didn't even notice the option to add the maker.
I'll get on that tonight.

I think I have a good grasp of what is what control wise and genre wise, but can you direct me to any site that might give me more info ?

I'd like to perhaps refine my list even more.

Thanks

[mike boss]

Sorry I should add,

Driving genre for example may have games in it that are not steering wheel and pedals correct ?
So I don't want to eliminate games like that. I guess more so the importance is getting the control options refined.

[NOP]

yes, at the end of the day, the controls are really what matters the most.  If you don't have the controls, you can't play the game (unless you're really creative at re-mapping- ie, you CAN actually play asteroids with a joystick and 1 button.

So make a list for your controls that you have on your machine, then export that list as an XML file.
Then go into the settings+tools section and change your input XML file to the XML file that you've just created.
That way every single game that is now in your XML file is a game you can actually play.  Set all the checkboxes to "don't care" and then output lists based on genre alone.

that's one way to do things.

[headkaze]

Hey NOP does this app support generating GameEx Map files?

[mike boss]

My cabinet has a 21" Horizontal monitor, two 8 way joysticks, a pair of Aim Trak guns, and 6 buttons per side.
So for my set up my criteria is HORZ/VERT games, 2,4,8, dual 2,4,8, buttons only, and Light Gun.
I think that covers me. I know I don't want any adult games, mahjong, and Bios games ? ( I don't know what Bios games are)
Some of the others I need to put some thought into the genre I guess.
Either way I love that I can refine the lists, so even having my master tailored to my controls, big deal if games I'll never play are on the list.
The fact that I can get so specific in genre really helps.

BTW thanks for letting me know how to find the Nintendo games.
I did indeed compile my FUNtendo list, my Vs. Nintendo list, my shooters, wrestling, and fighting lists.
Now all that is really left is for me to hand pick my favorites and put some thought into my master.

Again...........loving this tool !

[NOP]

Hey NOP does this app support generating GameEx Map files?

no, but that probably wouldn't be too difficult to add.  I've never worked with gameex before, so i am speaking out ---my bottom--- when I say it's probably not hard.  is this a feature request?

I don't know what Bios games are

they are not games.  they are used BY games to be able to help the game writer not have to re-write the same routines to control things like joystick and button inputs.  So they should not be in your list as a playable game, but games will need to have those files available in your roms folder for proper operation.

[mike boss]

Thanks NOP

I think I have a good grasp now on all the attributes that I should check/uncheck.
I think my lists will be awesome refined gaming blissness !

[Yenome]

I have bee been a fan of NOPs work for a while. tho i never thought bout the making an xml file based on your controls and using that as the base for the search file. good tip doing that now makes it so much faster.once again awesome work NOP.