New project about finished * Update *

[DaOld Man]

I am working on a way to shutdown your arcade cab via software.
It is very similar to my "The Launcher", except this program does not launch the front end.
It will be called by the front end, when the front end exits.
It will display a screen that you can build yourself, using any simple graphics program. (I use windows Paint).
You set the "cancel time" (1-30 seconds) whereas you can press an assigned key to cancel the shutdown and go into windows.
It should work with any front end that can call another program when it exits.
Mala can do this, and Mala is what got me on this, so this is my contribution to the Mala community.
I am currently finishing it up, and I plan to post screenshots and more info soon.
Of course it will be free for all.
I will need beta testers, if anyone's interested.
Also, I need a name.
Currently I'm calling it "The Shutdowner." But I dont like that much.
Any suggestions?

[youki]

Sorry about my question , but most of FrontEnd are able to do in that in standard.  Including Mala, i think?

I didn't get the point of your tool , here.

[loadman]

I must admit I am a bit confused to.

Mala can be set to shutdown on exit (if you want).

If you have MaLa loaded as the shell and need to use windows for maintenance then you you can assign a key to launch windows explorer.

Possibly I'm missing something here?   

Is another option or does it do something different?

[csa3d]

I think he's using Game Launcher though.. so maybe needs an .exe solution

[csa3d]

Currently I'm calling it "The Shutdowner." But I dont like that much.
Any suggestions?

the Terminator

-csa

[DaOld Man]

I like the terminator. (Maybe "DaOld Man Chronicles".. hee hee)

This program will splash a screen which you can build yourself.
It will give you X amount of time to cancel the shutdown and go into windows, or after the shutdown reaches 0 the computer will turn off.
It allows you to make a shutdown screen that is your work of art.
I currently us The launcher, which does the same thing, it just launches the program first.
It is pretty neat to have a goodbye screen made by you to match your arcade.
Ok, here is some eye candy:

first 3 are screen shots from the project builder. First one is the default skin.
2nd and 3rd are created skin, 4th one is the program in action.
Last 2 are current skins that were donated by others and are included in "The launcher" download.
You build a skin with your paint program. Leave a space for the countdown box or progress bar, or both.
Run the project manager. Open your skin. Size and color the countdown box and progress bar to match your skin.
Choose shutdown cancel time and cancel key.
Build it.
Next time the program runs, you get your skin with the fancy smancy countdown box and progress bar, and X seconds to cancel the shutdown.

[youki]

Ok , i see better.

Atomic allows also to put your own artwork when exiting.

But i like very much your count down idea  and the possibility to cancel the shutdown. 

[loadman]

 

[DaOld Man]

Thanks!

I have seen a slight nagging thing during my alpha testing/developing of this app.
When I quit Mala, the desktop flashes for a second or two before the shutdown skin appears.
Anybody got any suggestions for this? (I was thinking just clearing the desktop, making it black or whatever, and hiding the taskbar?)

No one else have any name suggestions?

[roelieboelie]

Looks like a very nice program.....where can I download it??    I really like it for my arcade cab!! 

Only one question: If I cancel the shutdown proces in x seconds, is the program returning to windows desktop or returning to the front-end (like mamewah, mala, ...) ?

[youki]

Ideas for the name:

ByeBye

GoodBye

AstaLaVistaBaby   (or AstaLaXPBaby  )

Tchao

[DaOld Man]

Looks like a very nice program.....where can I download it??    I really like it for my arcade cab!! 

Only one question: If I cancel the shutdown proces in x seconds, is the program returning to windows desktop or returning to the front-end (like mamewah, mala, ...) ?

Thanks.. it's not ready for download yet, Im still working out a few bugs.
I do have The Launcher available. It will launch any frontend that you assign to it, then when that frontend quits, it runs the same shutdown method.
You would run The launcher instead of your front end on arcade startup.
You can download it and use it, then switch to this one when I finish it, if you want.
You can get The launcher here.

Yes, canceling the shutdown enters windows, but on The launcher, you can choose a "restart" key, separate from the cancel shutdown key, that will cancel shutdown and re-start your frontend.
Do you think I should include this function on this (shutdowner) program?

[DaOld Man]

Ideas for the name:

ByeBye

GoodBye

AstaLaVistaBaby   (or AstaLaXPBaby  )

Tchao

I like these.. Thanks!

[DaOld Man]

I just made a Discs of tron shutdown screen, using paint and the snap from DOT.
This is 800x600, and this is an actual screen shot of the shutdown skin.
Took me about 2 mins to make. (including the time to pick the snap I wanted to use.)

[Cakemeister]

That's an interesting, useful mini-app for people who don't always want their cabs to shut down the operating system when the frontend terminates.

I would just call it "timed_shutdown.exe", but I am not particularly creative.

[youki]

"The Killer"     

[fatfingers]

007

[gonzo90017]

Time Killer

[loadman]

FinalCurtain

[csa3d]

The Final Countdown.... and *DO* make it play the themesong of the same name!

-csa

[loadman]

The Final Countdown.... and *DO* make it play the themesong of the same name!

-csa

  

[DaOld Man]

Thanks for the name suggestions, I may have a very hard time deciding..
Maybe I will pick 4 or so and let everyone vote.
Keep the ideas coming!

Project status:
Added "test countdown box" function to project builder.
Added option to allow the countdown box to count up or down.
Fine tuning recent files list in project builder. Cut # of recent files down to 5. (10 seemed a little much).

I am thinking about the idea of using sound. (Thanks csa3d!)
I can make an option that will allow you to play a sound file. I know I can do mp3's, wav files might be good too.
You can have your child, or your better half, or somebody, record a message such as "Quitting so soon?" and have the recording play while the skin is displayed.
Or even play music, of course it cant be longer than 30 seconds.
What do you think?
(Im thinking of the discs of tron bad guy saying "ready to give up?")

This may get too complicated, but hey, if you want it, I will see what I can do!

[gonzo90017]

Seems like a great idea to me. 

[DaOld Man]

Ok, Ive been thinking (explains this nagging headache).
I think I am going to make an option on this program to where you can either use it like The launcher (launch any program, useful for Glaunch), or just use the shutdowner part (for frontends that can call another program on shutdown).
This may replace my current "The Launcher".

Also since Im working on a rotating monitor, I may incorporate the ability to use up to 4 different shutdown screens.
You can have a shutdown screen orientated to match the position of the monitor.
I can either make it where it gets the current monitor position from mala.ini, or from limit switches wired to the printer port. The limit switches would be the best way to go, since different frontends would have different ini files.
For folks who rotate their monitor manually, it would be very simple to wire switches into the printer port to tell this program which shutdown screen to use. If you only have 0 and 90 degrees, you could just use one switch.
For all the motor driven rotating projects going on, the switches are already there.
Just tell the shutdowner which inputs to use.
What do you think?

[DaOld Man]

Ok, im ready to beta test this project.
If you are interested, pm me with your email address.

I still havent picked a name for this.
How about Cab Killer?

If anyone would like to design and donate an icon for it, it would be greatly appreciated..
Plus all beta testers and any contributors will be listed in the final version, unless requested not to be.

Im sure there are still bugs to be found (thats your job).

Also, I have not incorporated the advanced functions, such as loading the shutdown skin based on the way the screen is turned on shutdown.
Also, Im thinking of turning on an printer port output when the countdown reaches 0.
This output can turn on a relay, which will turn off the monitor, thus skipping all the windows "saving your settings" etc messages.

[headkaze]

This output can turn on a relay, which will turn off the monitor, thus skipping all the windows "saving your settings" etc messages.

Take a look at Instant Sheller as it can remove those screens.

[TheShanMan]

I have seen a slight nagging thing during my alpha testing/developing of this app.
When I quit Mala, the desktop flashes for a second or two before the shutdown skin appears.
Anybody got any suggestions for this? (I was thinking just clearing the desktop, making it black or whatever, and hiding the taskbar?)

If you make your FE the windows shell, rather than explorer.exe, then you won't see the desktop (you'd see wallpaper, but you can make that look however you want of course). So I would suggest having an option to actually launch explorer.exe if the user chooses to exit to explorer, because anyone who has their FE as the shell (like me) wouldn't be able to use this feature otherwise.

Alternatively, you could just check to see if explorer.exe is currently running, or check the registry to see what the shell is, and either launch explorer.exe or not as appropriate.

[DaOld Man]

Sounds like a good idea..
I will look into that as an option.
Thanks!

[loadman]

Nice Dude.

This is going to be sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet 

Just minor Bug, If you don't make a project and try and exit it will crash (see attched pic)

[DaOld Man]

Thanks Loadman!!!

Bug fixed.
Also working on Advanced options (not complete yet).

Latest version has been emailed to you.

[DaOld Man]

Update:
Added option to shell explorer on shutdown cancel instead of going to windows. (needs to be tested by someone who  shells their frontend).

Fine tuning printer port options.

On the drawing board:
Use frontends cfg or ini file to get position of screen. (To load properly turned project to match monitor position.)

Question: Do all frontends use a cfg or ini file that can be opened with notepad?
I know Mala and Glaunch do.

Come on guys, need your opinions on name "cab killer"??

[DaOld Man]

Vote added to see which is most popular name suggestion.
Exercise your right to decide..

(Also vote for DaOld Man for president of the USofA "No cab left behind!")

[DaOld Man]

Take a look at Instant Sheller as it can remove those screens.

That program looks pretty neat. I have downloaded but I dont want to try it on this machine. I will see how it works on my mame setup soon.
Thanks for the link!

[DaOld Man]

Ok guys, looks like out of 8 votes The Terminator is leading.

Edited to remove remark (by me) that may get this topic moved to P&R

[DaOld Man]

Ok, Terminator it is..
Thanks for voting..
Im ready for beta testers.
Still in the works:
different shutdown screens, based on monitor position (for rotating monitors).
Play sound file while shutting down.

[massive88]

Ok, Terminator it is..
Play sound file while shutting down.

So we can still have it play "The Final Countdown" when using it if we are stubborn and like that option better for the name?   

[FrizzleFried]

...can you make it load an AVI on shutdown?

[DaOld Man]

Ok, Terminator it is..
Play sound file while shutting down.

So we can still have it play "The Final Countdown" when using it if we are stubborn and like that option better for the name?   

Im working on that..

[DaOld Man]

...can you make it load an AVI on shutdown?

Hmmm, Im not sure... that will require more work..
maybe show a video instead of a shutdown skin?

[DaOld Man]

Have added option to play a wav file during shutdown.

Working on multiple projects option, to be used with rotating monitors.
(Assign a project based on screen rotation on quit).

A quick screen shot of project manager: