MAME vs MAME32: Xarcade button config

[MPTech]

I had been using MAME32 when I first setup my arcade, with an Xarcade CP.  I remember going into the options and specifying the Xarcade as the primary input device, AND this worked great!
I recently began setting up Mamewah and utilizing MAME command-line (v161 if I remember correctly).

2 questions:
Is there a simple way to setup my MAME (v161) to have the same button config as MAME32?  (I've noticed that the coin/credit/flipper button is not the same as MAME32 and I can't get the Esc to work (2-player and flipper(??)).

also, is there any advantage to upgrading my MAME to the most current version?  Can I just overlay my current version? (or is there a better way??)

Thanks!

[ChicagoDave]

In MAMEWAH under Emulator Execution Options/Default Options you need to use:

 -ctrlr xarcade

[MPTech]

MAMEWAH / Emulator Execution?

where do I find that?

I thought my issue was with MAME.

[MPTech]

I'm still looking for how to map Esc.  I've noticed that I can't get it to work for MAME and Visual Pinball, so I didn't know if this was an emulator issue or Front-End (MAMEWAH).

I could really use some help with this. 

[u_rebelscum]

2 questions:
Is there a simple way to setup my MAME (v161) to have the same button config as MAME32?  (I've noticed that the coin/credit/flipper button is not the same as MAME32 and I can't get the Esc to work (2-player and flipper(??)).

The mame32 option is the same as sending the ctrlr option as mentioned above ("-ctrlr xarcade" in your case).  You need to set up MameWAH to send mame this, so ChicagoDave said to look in the mame settings in mamewah for "Emulator Execution Options/Default Options".  (I don't use mamewah, so can't help much more.)

also, is there any advantage to upgrading my MAME to the most current version?  Can I just overlay my current version? (or is there a better way??)

First, there is no 1.x mame; the latest is 0.106.  Are you talking about mame 0.61 (very old), or mamewah version 1.61, or something else?

Anyway, in general (aka "not always"):

Newer mame:
More games
Better emulation (not the same as better play, though)
Slower
More "current" roms
If a "u" update, as in "0.106u2", more bugs. 

Older mame
Faster
Smaller
Harder to find changed roms (if changed)

As for updating, many people just copy the new version over the old.  I make a new folder in case of rare incompatibilities and to test any changes while keeping the old "just in case".  I store the roms in a single shared folder so I don't need to have multiple copies.

I'm still looking for how to map Esc.  I've noticed that I can't get it to work for MAME and Visual Pinball, so I didn't know if this was an emulator issue or Front-End (MAMEWAH).

For mapping inputs the easiest is to: start a game, press tab, select "Inputs (general)" and select "UI cancel".  (MameFAQ #h03 has more details.)

However, I suggest hand editing the xarcade ctrlr file since you're using it.  It's a little harder, and not as well documented (mostly cause it changed a few times fairly recently).  Look at mame\ctrlr\xarcade.cfg file and see what it looks like.  Also try looking at easyemu for some (partially out of date) info on ctrlr files.