I'm really new to this...please help.

[dan57fina]

Ok...I'm only 14 so I'm kinda new to this. I have mame32 setup and running all games great, but im starting to build a cab and i have no idea how to add a frontend to mame.I am very slow when it comes to this so a step by step tutorial would be extremely helpful. I was hoping to get a frontend like mamewah or 3d-arcade up by time this project is done.

[youki]

Hi Dan,

Try my front End : www.atomicfe.com .  It is one of the most easy to configure.

You just have to say it , where is the emulator you use and where your roms are.

Give it a try. And if you have question ask me.

[dan57fina]

I'm so bad at this...I can't even figure that out...like i give it my info but then i'm stuck...i think im using this wrong-

Default Emulator-       Mame32.exe


is this right? Thanks for the reply, looks like a nice frontend.

[ahmer]

I'm so bad at this...I can't even figure that out...like i give it my info but then i'm stuck...i think im using this wrong-

Default Emulator- Mame32.exe


is this right? Thanks for the reply, looks like a nice frontend.

Dan, First you should know some basic things.
There are three types of  MAME.
1)Mame32: This is a most common type of mame,which has   
   a GUI mode and an integrated frontend.
2)Mame:This is a Windows command line version of Mame,
   and always run from a Dos prompt by using commands.For further 
   control this  type of mame needs a frontend .
3)dMame:This is a pure Dos version of mame which only
    works with DOS.(not a windows command line MS-DOS).This can
    aslo be control by using a DOS based frontend.     
         
    You are using here wrong type of mame.
   

[Tokey]

I use mame32 and it works just fine, he doesn't HAVE to use a command line version of mame.

[KHAN]

Do you mean mame32 is fully compatible to use with AutomaticFE ?

 I don't know if it is,but it must be not recommended.

[dan57fina]

i am using mame32...and its nice but i want to jazz the look of it up and possibly run multiple emulators on it.
         
         Thanks for all the replies,
                                              Dan

[Paul Olson]

MAME32 is command line MAME with a built in frontend.  If you want a different look, or different functionality (using other emulators), use command line MAME with a frontend that you like.  A lot of frontends support MAME32, but I wave no idea why anyone would want to use it.  If you are using a frontend, the setup should be the same using MAME or MAME32.  I don't see how MAME32 would make it easier to set up.

Paul

[mahuti]

There are some subtleties I'm not going to touch on, but overall, these are the issues in a nutshell;

1. Front-ends are intended to completely cover up the emulator (in this case MAME) where possible.

2. Mame32 is not intended to be covered up, and it doesn't require it. It is ugly, and there isn't a whole lot that you can do to make it look better.

3. MAME... regular mame can be completely covered by a Front-End. The front end displays your roms, and passes the info to MAME when you select a game.

You need;
1. A front end. (Mamewah, AtomicFE, etc)
2. Roms
3. An emulator (Mame)

Configuring the front end to work with MAME shouldn't be too difficult. Beyond that it gets a bit more complex.

[youki]

AtomicFE works with Mame32 , but i recommand to a use command line version of MAME emulators.

To answer to your question , yes, you have to point : Default Emulator field to MAME32 in your case.

You can use AtomicFE with other emulator. you have to do a configuration file for each emulator you want use.  In each configuration make sure to check the check box "Allow On Fly configuration.." on the Options tab of AtomicManager.

Name your configuration ex :
SNES.CFG
GENESIS.CFG
DREAMCAST.CFG
etc..
But let your master configuration file with the Name : Atomic.Cfg  (ex , the MAME one)


All files need to be saved in the folder where Atomic.Exe is.

Then on Atomic , if you press "Player 2 Button 1" key, you will be able to switch from one config to the other.

Look the html documentation provided with Atomic, i think there is little tutorial for other emulators.