Visual Pinball Wrapper 5.1!

[Howard_Casto]

This one is a maintenance release mostly, but it includes a few new features many of you will enjoy.  Go to the homepage for more info. 


*edit*

Wrapper has been updated to 5.1 to fix issues mentioned below.

http://dragonking.arcadecontrols.com/index.php

[shock_]

First off - thanks !!  Much appreciate the fact that its splash screen can now be customised - makes a world of difference to the ambience.

I'm having one problem with it - the table window consistently receives focus instead of the DMD window.  Went back and checked though - I am getting this with v4 wrapper as well.

I know you've said often, Howard, that it's not the wrapper that causes this ...  I am wondering though if anyone else has (perhaps recently) discovered any tricks for forcing it to work when the same problem occurred? It comes back by resetting/loading PinMAME via F3 key but I don't want to spend a button mapping on that key!

Again - thanks muchly for the wrappy goodness. 

[Howard_Casto]

Well if it's the first time the table is being ran, it might just be that the dmd window is being reset. The wrapper does this for you the first time, waits a couple of secs, and then re-positions. 

Generally what cause the focus issues is the front end you are using, unfortunately.  Some try to force focus on the launched app and it throws everything out of whack.  I haven't seen it happen when just lauching the wrapper though, so you might want to test that.

[shock_]

Well if it's the first time the table is being ran, it might just be that the dmd window is being reset. The wrapper does this for you the first time, waits a couple of secs, and then re-positions. 

Generally what cause the focus issues is the front end you are using, unfortunately.  Some try to force focus on the launched app and it throws everything out of whack.  I haven't seen it happen when just lauching the wrapper though, so you might want to test that.

Right now I can reproduce it on every table I've tried with a visible DMD, launching directly from the wrapper's test function (GUI) - and certainly not the first time the tables have run.  As I said - this doesn't seem to be anything new with v5 so I'll keep pulling complexity out of my system (video drivers etc, clean install of vp/vpm) and see if I can pinpoint what triggers the behaviour for me. 

Launching tables directly (sans wrapper, via the editor or double-clicking the .vpt) or via JCrouse's doesn't have this issue. ( JCrouses has different issues, like catastrophic hangs on some tables, hence me persisting with yours!)

Another thing of note - the "rendering stuff" dialog with vpinball v8 beta 6 exe is no longer masked by the wrapper.  I haven't tried any of the previous v8 betas.

Thanks again

[Howard_Casto]

I did a little more testing myself this evening and it seems that some previously stable tables are no longer working properly with the wrapper.  Unfortunately this happens every time they update pinmame or visual pinball. 

I will look into it, but no promises.

[Howard_Casto]

I think I've found the problem.  Seems to stem from a changed priority in visual pinball. 

I *think* I have it fixed, but further testing is required.  Hold tight!

[Howard_Casto]

Update...

The wrapper has been updated to 5.1, this fixes most of the focus issues as well as adding auto-skip on rom selection screens.

[shock_]

  

Will give this a try when I get home.  Thanks again Howard!

Seems to work nicely.  Am having to exit and restart each vpm table to get the focus right, but it sticks after that.  I'm happy!

[jelwell]

I can't wait to try the new wrapper version. My poor Arcade Cabinet is in pieces while I prepare to move.
Joseph Elwell.