Atomic Front End v0.20 WinXP BUG.

[ahmer]

I am a long time MameWah User and I love it, I never think to switch to another frontend.
Now a days Frontends are going to be fancy looking so i m thinking to give a try to Atomic FE,Atomic FE is looking a perfect choice.

1) Animated Layouts
2) Customizable
3) Multi-Emulator support
4) Can be installed on low hardware resources.
5) Frontend creator is active, listen to users.  
6) What is sexy?  


Yesterday I installed Atomic FE with Patch applied. There are two thing which are annoying.

1) Header Line Text when Launching the AtomicFE. like Frontend name with version info etc.
2) The End Credits Screen.
3) Atomic FE does not completely hide the Windows Environment like Mamewah or even mala/malu whatever it is  , Until you never click or press any button Atomic I have seen XP Tooltips, desktop Icons, taskbar just behind the Gamelist inside Atomic FE. I don't know if this is a bug or something else but this is really annoying.

Apart from this I am appreciating youki's work what a cool frontend he made. Thanks youki.

[youki]

Hi,

Thanks for trying Atomic.

So concerning your problem.

1) Header Line Text when Launching the AtomicFE. like Frontend name with version info etc.

Sorry for that, but no options to remove it (but it appears only 1 second).

2) The End Credits Screen.

You can  hide it or change it but what you want.  It is just not documented.

To remove  it :
open the file  <atomicfe>/projects/<your project>/AtomicGlobal.cfg  with the notepad and add the line :

Code: [Select]

GREETINGS=NO
If you want just change the image , just put your own image named Greetings.jpg in the <atomicfe>/SystemLayout folder.
(of course in that case don't put the line GREETINGS=NO in the CFG file).

3) Atomic FE does not completely hide the Windows Environment like Mamewah or even mala/malu whatever it is  , Until you never click or press any button Atomic I have seen XP Tooltips, desktop Icons, taskbar just behind the Gamelist inside Atomic FE. I don't know if this is a bug or something else but this is really annoying.

How do you start Atomic exactly?   I don't have this kind of issue.

[ahmer]

1) Header Line Text when Launching the AtomicFE. like Frontend name with version info etc.

Sorry for that, but no options to remove it (but it appears only 1 second).

No, It does not appears for 1 second, It takes few seconds on slow computer like 800 mhz with 256 mb ram.

Please try to hide it. I remember I dropped Mala because it shows Splash Screen   I don't know if there is a way to hide it or not but MameWah is a true example without any splash or Nag screens etc.

How do you start Atomic exactly?   I don't have this kind of issue.

Just double click Atomic Front End v0.20 Icon on my desktop, I have Pentium D 3 GHZ with 2 GB DDR2 RAM. Actually when I run AtomicFE for the first time it shows some background Stuff from my desktop. for example (Local Area Connection Icon from Task Bar, Start Menu button, Tooltips if the mouse cursor place on a desktop Icon, Windows Media Player Visualization) etc.  All this happened only for the first time. After pressing a button or click inside AtomicFE, Atomic then completely hide all the stuff.

For the second time after exiting the Atomic when i run AtomicFE again from my desktop then It works Ok without any problem. I have tried with different Layouts and Monitor Resolutions but the problem remains.

anyway I like the frontend too much, It was easy to configure after reading the Instructions given in the tutorial. I must say it was much easier then MameWah and better fancy looking frontend. You did great job...!  

Is there a way to change the GameLoading Screen ? can we use animated loading screen ?

Btw, I noticed that the Gamelist Font Size inside AtomicFE Layouts is bigger, which hides some Longer Game Names.

[youki]

No, It does not appears for 1 second, It takes few seconds on slow computer like 800 mhz with 256 mb ram.

Please try to hide it. I remember I dropped Mala because it shows Splash Screen   I don't know if there is a way to hide it or not but MameWah is a true example without any splash or Nag screens etc.

That is not a nag or splash screens at all.  It is just a small line in small font in the top up of the screen that display AtomicFe Version and copyright.  I will see to put a setting to hide it, you are the first one who ask me that.     (but it won't accelerate the loading, it will take exactly the same time except the screen will be full black).

Just double click Atomic Front End v0.20 Icon on my desktop, I have Pentium D 3 GHZ with 2 GB DDR2 RAM. Actually when I run AtomicFE for the first time it shows some background Stuff from my desktop. for example (Local Area Connection Icon from Task Bar, Start Menu button, Tooltips if the mouse cursor place on a desktop Icon, Windows Media Player Visualization) etc.  All this happened only for the first time. After pressing a button or click inside AtomicFE, Atomic then completely hide all the stuff.

For the second time after exiting the Atomic when i run AtomicFE again from my desktop then It works Ok without any problem. I have tried with different Layouts and Monitor Resolutions but the problem remains.

It is a side effect of one application that run on your PC before Atomic is launched. There is nothing i can really do , i would need your PC under my hand to investigate this kind of issue.

If the machine will be dedicated to AtomicFE you can try to enable the option in AtomicStudio to "start AtomicFe at Computer Startup". (see point 25 of the tutorial)

Btw, I noticed that the Gamelist Font Size inside AtomicFE Layouts is bigger, which hides some Longer Game Names.

Bigger than what?

You can change font size of lists by editing your layout with the layout editor.

Is there a way to change the GameLoading Screen ? can we use animated loading screen ?

Yes, select  "options" menu from a screen, then tab "Display option" , check "custom loading screen" and select an image or an AVI.
For the AVI , there is a sample in the folder "<atomicfe>/video for loading screen"  .  But this AVI support is very limited. You can play a video at full speed and not all codec are support in that case.

You can also put a file called "Loading.png" in the folder of the layout you use , and that image will be display as loading screen without you need to check the options.

[ahmer]

That is not a nag or splash screens at all.  It is just a small line in small font in the top up of the screen that display AtomicFe Version and copyright.  I will see to put a setting to hide it, you are the first one who ask me that.     (but it won't accelerate the loading, it will take exactly the same time except the screen will be full black).

There should be a setting to hide that line, It does not look good. After all we are hiding Windows BootLOGO, Windows Shell, Mouse Cursors etc just because we don't want any thing to show before gamelist/Intro Movie in our cab, So hiding that line will be +1. 

It is a side effect of one application that run on your PC before Atomic is launched. There is nothing i can really do , i would need your PC under my hand to investigate this kind of issue.
If the machine will be dedicated to AtomicFE you can try to enable the option in AtomicStudio to "start AtomicFe at Computer Startup". (see point 25 of the tutorial)

You may be right because currently I am Testing AtomicFE on my PC, a lot of applications are installed. I think this issue will gone after a fresh windows XP install. I will provide feedback to you.

Bigger than what?
You can change font size of lists by editing your layout with the layout editor.

Ok.
Where do i find more Atomic Layouts?
The only one source which I know is "http://www.atomicfe.com/EN2/download.php"

Yes, select  "options" menu from a screen, then tab "Display option" , check "custom loading screen" and select an image or an AVI.
For the AVI , there is a sample in the folder "<atomicfe>/video for loading screen"  .  But this AVI support is very limited. You can play a video at full speed and not all codec are support in that case.

I am a Non Linear Video Editor so I would be happy to create my own Loading Screen, Which AVI Encoder is recommended?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1) Does AtomicFE Support 64-Bit Windows which utilize more than 3+GB ram?

2) As AtomicFE comes in a form of Installation Package,
If we transfer our Atomic Install folder to another Computer with the same setting Paths, does it work ?
Suppose we installed AtomicFE to D:\Atomic with patch then we install Different Emulators Modules for it. Later if we just transfer Atomic Installed folder to another computer toD:\ 

[youki]

There should be a setting to hide that line, It does not look good. After all we are hiding Windows BootLOGO, Windows Shell, Mouse Cursors etc just because we don't want any thing to show before gamelist/Intro Movie in our cab, So hiding that line will be +1. 

i will try to do that in the next patch. it is not a big deal.

Ok.
Where do i find more Atomic Layouts?
The only one source which I know is "http://www.atomicfe.com/EN2/download.php"

The layout editor, is the file : AtomicLayoutEditor.exe  which is the atomicfe folder (in case you want do your own or modify existing one).  you can also try the tutorial about "how to convert Hyperspin layout to Atomic" which is on my web site to get familiar with the editor. (i have other tutorials but in french...)

Sources for layouts are :

http://www.mamedata.com/atomic/

http://www.atomicfe.com/FR2/download.php

http://mame.arcade.free.fr/mame.arcade.layouts.htm

I am a Non Linear Video Editor so I would be happy to create my own Loading Screen, Which AVI Encoder is recommended?

For loading screen, i know it works with Cinepak by Supermac  cvid  (of cource the codec need to be installed) .  But as i said in case of the loading screen, don't expect to have smooth video. some frame can be skipped. (try the video i gave in example inthe "AtomicFE\Video for loading screen\animatomic.avi" to see ,  try it alone and as loading screen, you will see what i mean).

1) Does AtomicFE Support 64-Bit Windows which utilize more than 3+GB ram?

AtomicFe is a 32bit application,  I know it runs on 64bit windows  but it stays 32bits. There is no advantage for Atomic. But you can lauch 64bit mame from AtomicFE 32bits , in that case of course you have the advantage in mame but not in Atomic.
But honestly if you have a modern machine like a 64bit plateform, may be another front end like  CabrioFe, Khameleon or HyperSpin-fe could be better for you.

2) As AtomicFE comes in a form of Installation Package,
If we transfer our Atomic Install folder to another Computer with the same setting Paths, does it work ?
Suppose we installed AtomicFE to D:\Atomic with patch then we install Different Emulators Modules for it. Later if we just transfer Atomic Installed folder to another computer

Yes, no problem , if you keep the same path and drive letter you should have no issue at all.
If you change the drive letter , in that case it will work only if you defined all your path as "relative" , but it is more complex.

Just a side note,  avoid to use "space" in folder name with AtomicFe. Otherwise you could have some trouble, if you don't quote some parameters correctly.

[ahmer]

You are a real genius youki, doing efforts for free of cost.  

It is interesting to play with AtmoicFe, relatively Simple to setup. I don't really need 64bit support, Frontend does not Emulates ROMS   One of the best feature of atomicFE is to make a single gamelist out of multi-emulators.

I am stick with Atomic  


When do AtomicFE will get 0.20 Stable It says Beta in Header Text Line. 

[youki]

All version of AtomicFE are always "Beta" since the begining. If one day there is "AtomicFe 1.0" it won't be beta for that one only.

While the front end is in Dev , it stays "beta!" .

[loadman]

Please try to hide it. I remember I dropped Mala because it shows Splash Screen   I don't know if there is a way to hide it or not but MameWah is a true example without any splash or Nag screens etc.

Just FYI for readers of this thread.

You can disable splash screen in MaLa. 

options - Gui - Display - Misc

[ahmer]

Just FYI for readers of this thread.

You can disable splash screen in MaLa. 

options - Gui - Display - Misc

Thanks for this information. I will also try Mala, I heard that it is the easiest frontend to configure. 

[ahmer]

All version of AtomicFE are always "Beta" since the begining. If one day there is "AtomicFe 1.0" it won't be beta for that one only.

While the front end is in Dev , it stays "beta!" .

Does it means that AtomicFE will take 8 more years to reach 1.0 Stable  

[youki]

Beta does not mean not stable.

It is "beta" because not all features i would like to put are included or not easily accessible.

It could take 8 years of course , even more. I don't have dead line or time limit. It is just an hobby project!.

[Havok]

Atomic is very stable - I haven't touched my Atomic setup for 2 1/2 years; the only change I have made is to just add games to my kids gamelist.

One of these days I'll upgrade to the 2.0 version...

You might want to get a newer computer; one that is faster than what you have is usually free if you look around. That startup issue you have I don't even notice; it loads within a half second. I also have everything hidden, it takes 25 second from powered off to be in the Atomic menu; no-one even suspects I am running a Windows XP computer until I tell them!