help with Mala

    I apologize that I do not read or write in German.


    I am having 2 problems with setting up MALA. The first is that I've set up mame with default settings for screen rotation, direct draw, etc. and these work pefectly in mame32. But when I load the games in Mala none of these configurations work -- everything shows up with the default options (in a window, not rotated, etc).


    How can I get Mala to see these configuration settings so that I do not have to set each game individually?


    My second problem is I have a vertical arcade monitor and I run mame games at 352x288 and 640x480 in "windows" and can not seem to figure out how to make configure the Mala options so the game list clear and easy to read.


    I would greatly appreciate any help!

    I'm also using mame32 in my cabinet (I assume that you're talking of the gui version of mame, which you can download here: http://mame32qa.classicgaming.gamespy.com). The executable is called "mame32.exe" and the ini "mame32.ini". Make sure that your MaLa config points to the correct exe and all the pathes are correct.

    Zitat

    everything shows up with the default options (in a window, not rotated, etc)


    Do you mean the games load with default options, or does MaLa show the default options when configuring mame ? If latter is the case:
    AFAIK you can't configure (all) the options of mame32 through MaLa, because they're called differently, compared to the standart commandline version. So either configure everything through the gui of mame32, or edit the inis for the games by hand (that's what I did for tweaking).


    I'm not sure if I understand your second question. Do you mean, that you can't read MaLas gamelist in the mentioned resolutions ? If that's your problem: do you use a skin for vertical monitors ? did you change the orientation of MaLa to vertical (there's a key for it in the settings) ?

    Mame32 allows you to set properties for each game, for instance, "rotate anti-clockwise" and uncheck "run in a window." You could edit this file by clicking on every game and making changes (which then works in Mala) or you can change the "default options" in Mame32. When you change the "default options" you can load any game in Mame32 and they load with those options. However, if you load the game in Mala it runs as if you did not have those options set.


    Regarding the game list, I do have Mala rotated and I am using a background (which I made) that is vertical. However, the games are hard to read except for the the game selected. Windows is clear, but when I load Mala the text is thin and faded. I'd like the list of games to appear more clearly.

    Zitat

    if you load the game in Mala it runs as if you did not have those options set.


    This shouldn't happen. MaLa doesn't do anything else than just starting the mame executable. It's up to the mame exe to look up the config files. That's why I said that you should check the pathes in the MaLa options dialog. Perhaps you point to a wrong directory or exe ? Again, what's the name of your mame exe and ini ? are those correctly specified in MaLa ?


    As for the gamelist: did you try increasing the fontsize in your MaLa layout ?

    I played around some more and I realize that Mala is getting the configuration settings for all of the games from the option settings in Mala at the mame config/basics tab found after pressing the config button. Whatever is set there is how the games load, regardless of the settings in Mame.


    This is not so good, because there are some things that can't be selected there like "save game state" which I would like to turn off. And also some games need different settings. And the Mame video settings seem to be better than what I am able configure in Mala. Is there a way to turn off the Mala settings so that the Mame settings come through?


    What did you mean by enlarging the font in the game list? I have not been able to find a way to do this.

    Zitat

    Whatever is set there is how the games load, regardless of the settings in Mame.


    I configured mame32 through its gui, not through MaLa, and it works as it should.


    Zitat

    And also some games need different settings.


    Almost each game on my cab has its own ini, which are used when I start a game through MaLa.


    I dont' understand why you don't do what we're telling you to do.


    1. What's the name of your mame exe
    2. What's the name of your mame ini
    (3. additional: what's the exact path of the exe and the ini folder)
    4. Post your MaLa.ini


    I don't see any way helping you when you don't do what we tell you to.


    Zitat

    What did you mean by enlarging the font in the game list? I have not been able to find a way to do this.


    start MaLaLayout.exe
    open your Layout
    double-click on the gamelist
    When you click on "List font" and "Selected game font" you can change the font size.

    Thank you so much for the interest in helping me!


    The mame executable is found at: c:/arcade classics/mame 32 2006/mame32.exe


    The mame ini is found at: c:/arcade classics/mame 32 2006/ini/mame32.ini


    The mala ini is found at: c:/arcade classics/mala v1.0 rc8/mali.ini


    I noticed in the mali.ini that it thinks it is installed in a different directory?


    BaseDir=C:\installs\MaLa v1.0 RC8\


    Do I need to change that?


    Here is the whole Mala.ini:


    [Hardware1]
    Enabled=0
    ID=
    [Hardware2]
    Enabled=0
    ID=
    [Hardware]
    UseLCD=0
    UseLED=0
    [LCD]
    Rows=2
    Cols=16
    [GUI]
    ShowTaskbar=1
    DisableSplash=1
    SplashTime=0
    Vertical=1
    Flip=0
    RunApplicationOnExit=0
    UseStartingPicture=0
    UseStartingPictureFromLayout=0
    ChangeResolution=1
    ChangeResolutionToFixedSize=0
    ChangeResolutionOnOptions=1
    ChangeResolutionFixedSize=352x288x32
    OrientationFilter=0
    ShowSnap=1
    ShowVideo=1
    DisableVideoSound=0
    KeyRepeat=200
    SmallMenu=0
    KeepAspectRatio=1
    RotateGameLists=0
    RotateEmulators=0
    UseScrollDelay=1
    ScrollDelay=50
    UseScrollExceptionText=1
    UseScrollExceptionHardware=0
    UseScrollExceptionSound=0
    UseScrollExceptionAnimation=0
    UseScrollExceptionSnap=1
    UseScrollExceptionMarquee=0
    UseScrollExceptionCPanel=0
    UseScrollExceptionGameSelectEvent=0
    UseScrollExceptionDefinable1=0
    UseScrollExceptionDefinable2=0
    UseScrollExceptionDefinable3=0
    UseScrollExceptionDefinable4=0
    PictureQuality=1
    InfoWindowSize=10
    TrackSelection=1
    RandomStartsGame=0
    ShowHints=1
    RotateClockwiseOnVertical=0
    LockExit=0
    AutoGamelistSwitch=0
    Browse=0
    SelectedGame=31
    RunApplicationOnExitPath=
    StartingPictureH=
    StartingPictureV=
    AutoGamelistSwitchH=All Games
    AutoGamelistSwitchV=All Games
    [Debug]
    Log=0
    [MaLa]
    FirstTimeRun=0
    [Screensaver]
    Active=0
    Interval=300000
    DisplayInterval=10000
    RandomDisplay=0
    UsePictures=1
    DisableVideoSound=0
    Snaps=
    Videos=
    [Exit]
    Action=0
    AlternativeShutdownMethod=0
    [Starting]
    UseStarting=1
    Emulator=0
    Game=31
    RandomGame=0
    LastPlayedGame=1
    PlayVideoOnStart=0
    StartingList=SELECT.mlg
    StartVideoFilename=
    [Encoder]
    UseEncoderProgramming=0
    EncoderWindowState=1
    EncoderCommandLine=%config%
    EncoderSendFullPath=1
    EncoderQuoteConfigPath=0
    EncoderSmartProgramming=0
    DisplayMessageBox=0
    PathEncoderSoftware=
    EncoderDefaultConfig=
    [JukeBox]
    UseJukebox=0
    Title=Jukebox
    BaseDir=C:\installs\MaLa v1.0 RC8\
    Mode=1
    DisableGUISounds=0
    CoverFilename=
    [Joystick]
    UseJoystick=0
    UseJoystick2=0
    Repeat=200
    DeadZone=50
    [JoySet0]
    1Up=0
    1Down=0
    XUp=0
    XDown=0
    LetterUp=0
    LetterDown=0
    StartGame=13
    StartRandomGame=0
    SwitchOrientation=0
    FlipOrientation=0
    Exit=16
    MenuOpenClose=0
    MenuSelect=0
    AddGameToList=0
    RemoveGameFromList=0
    PreviousList=0
    NextList=0
    PreviousEmulator=0
    NextEmulator=0
    InfoOpenClose=0
    InfoSelect=0
    VolumeUp=0
    VolumeDown=0
    NextSong=0
    PreviousSong=0
    [JoySet1]
    1Up=0
    1Down=0
    XUp=0
    XDown=0
    LetterUp=0
    LetterDown=0
    StartGame=0
    StartRandomGame=0
    SwitchOrientation=0
    FlipOrientation=0
    Exit=0
    MenuOpenClose=0
    MenuSelect=0
    AddGameToList=0
    RemoveGameFromList=0
    PreviousList=0
    NextList=0
    PreviousEmulator=0
    NextEmulator=0
    InfoOpenClose=0
    InfoSelect=0
    VolumeUp=0
    VolumeDown=0
    NextSong=0
    PreviousSong=0
    [Mouse]
    UseMouse=0
    UseSteadyKey=0
    ReverseAxis=0
    ExchangeAxis=0
    Repeat=200
    [Emulator]
    Typ=0
    Selected=0
    [Mame]
    Title=ARCADE CLASSICS
    NamingDefinable1=0
    NamingDefinable2=0
    NamingDefinable3=0
    NamingDefinable4=0
    SearchInSubDirs=0
    UseMasterPicturesForClones=1
    Commandline=%rom%
    EncoderGameBased=0
    WindowState=1
    AutoRotate=0
    AutoRotateMaLa=1
    ShowControlsOnStart=0
    UseCPViewer=0
    ReplaceInfoWindowWithCPViewer=0
    HideAllGamesList=0
    Exe=C:\arcade classics\Mame32 2006\Mame32.exe
    Snaps=C:\Mame32 2006\snap
    Marquee=
    CPanel=
    Definable1=
    Definable2=
    Definable3=
    Definable4=
    Video=C:\movies & music
    InfoFile=C:\arcade classics\Mame32 2006\mame.xml
    Roms1=C:\Mame32 2006\roms
    Roms2=
    Roms3=
    CatverFile=C:\arcade classics\Mame32 2006\ini\Mame32.ini
    ControlsFile=
    HistoryFile=
    MameInfoFile=
    EncoderFile=
    EncoderConfigFilesPath=
    EncoderConfigFileExtension=
    CPViewerExecutable=
    CPViewerCommandLine=
    [GameList]
    SelectedGameList=SELECT
    Filter1Typ=0
    Filter1=Off
    Filter2Typ=1
    Filter2=Off
    Filter3Typ=2
    Filter3=Off
    Filter4Typ=3
    Filter4=Off
    Having=0
    Working=1
    Master=0
    Excludes=
    [Layout]
    SelectedLayout=standard
    SwitchWithEmulator=0
    SwitchWithGamelist=0
    UseLayoutNameAsDir=1
    DisableAnimation=0
    SearchDefinablesInLayoutPath=0
    LayoutDirectory=
    [Tree]
    UseTree=0
    MenuSnaps=
    [Ctrl]
    MappingScreenRotation=0
    SelectedControllerSet=0
    MappingAutoDetectController=0
    MappingSwitchGamelist=0
    UpInterval=10
    DownInterval=10
    OnePage=1
    UseLetters=0
    UseCocktailMapping=0
    UseScrollingAcceleration=1
    ScrollingAccelerationSpeed=5
    [CtrlSet0]
    1Up=38
    1Down=40
    XUp=294
    XDown=296
    LetterUp=0
    LetterDown=0
    StartGame=49
    StartRandomGame=305
    SwitchOrientation=0
    FlipOrientation=0
    Exit=27
    MenuOpenClose=27
    MenuSelect=52
    AddGameToList=0
    RemoveGameFromList=0
    PreviousList=37
    NextList=39
    PreviousEmulator=293
    NextEmulator=295
    VolumeUp=0
    VolumeDown=0
    PreviousSong=0
    NextSong=0
    InfoOpenClose=18
    InfoSelect=32
    LaunchApp1=0
    LaunchApp2=0
    LaunchApp3=0
    SteadyKey=17
    [CtrlSet1]
    1Up=38
    1Down=40
    XUp=294
    XDown=296
    LetterUp=0
    LetterDown=0
    StartGame=49
    StartRandomGame=305
    SwitchOrientation=0
    FlipOrientation=0
    Exit=27
    MenuOpenClose=50
    MenuSelect=49
    AddGameToList=0
    RemoveGameFromList=0
    PreviousList=37
    NextList=39
    PreviousEmulator=293
    NextEmulator=295
    VolumeUp=0
    VolumeDown=0
    PreviousSong=0
    NextSong=0
    InfoOpenClose=18
    InfoSelect=32
    LaunchApp1=0
    LaunchApp2=0
    LaunchApp3=0
    SteadyKey=17
    [CtrlSet2]
    1Up=38
    1Down=40
    XUp=294
    XDown=296
    LetterUp=0
    LetterDown=0
    StartGame=49
    StartRandomGame=305
    SwitchOrientation=0
    FlipOrientation=0
    Exit=27
    MenuOpenClose=50
    MenuSelect=49
    AddGameToList=0
    RemoveGameFromList=0
    PreviousList=37
    NextList=39
    PreviousEmulator=293
    NextEmulator=295
    VolumeUp=0
    VolumeDown=0
    PreviousSong=0
    NextSong=0
    InfoOpenClose=18
    InfoSelect=32
    LaunchApp1=0
    LaunchApp2=0
    LaunchApp3=0
    SteadyKey=17
    [CtrlSet3]
    1Up=38
    1Down=40
    XUp=294
    XDown=296
    LetterUp=0
    LetterDown=0
    StartGame=49
    StartRandomGame=305
    SwitchOrientation=0
    FlipOrientation=0
    Exit=27
    MenuOpenClose=50
    MenuSelect=49
    AddGameToList=0
    RemoveGameFromList=0
    PreviousList=37
    NextList=39
    PreviousEmulator=293
    NextEmulator=295
    VolumeUp=0
    VolumeDown=0
    PreviousSong=0
    NextSong=0
    InfoOpenClose=18
    InfoSelect=32
    LaunchApp1=0
    LaunchApp2=0
    LaunchApp3=0
    SteadyKey=17
    [CtrlMap0]
    Set=6
    Gamelist=All Games
    [CtrlMap1]
    Set=6
    Gamelist=All Games
    [CtrlMap2]
    Set=6
    Gamelist=All Games
    [CtrlMap3]
    Set=6
    Gamelist=All Games
    [Sounds]
    Enabled=1
    DisplayVolumeMessage=1
    UseSoundsFromLayout=0
    UseBGMusicFromLayout=0
    Movement=
    StartGame=
    QuitGame=
    EndReached=
    ListSwitch=
    EmuSwitch=
    OrientationSwitch=
    AttractMode=
    MenuSelect=
    Exit=
    [BGMusic]
    Status=1002
    Volume=20
    LastSong=0
    LastSongPos=2952737
    PauseOnGameStart=1
    UseFades=0
    FadeInterval=30
    Shuffle=0
    Repeat=1
    StartFromLastPosition=1
    [AutoGameList]
    Enabled=0
    Max=10
    [LED]
    OffWhileGaming=0
    FlashOnGameStart=1
    FlashOnGameStartCount=5
    FlashOnGameStartInterval=50
    DirGameFiles=
    [AttractMode]
    UseAttractMode=0
    Interval=30000
    Selected=mala
    Random=0
    RandomRefresh=0
    Randomizer=0
    RandomizerLength=5000
    RandomizerMinDuration=50
    RandomizerMaxDuration=500
    [LEDEvent]
    MalaStart=0
    MalaStartSequence=LED_CONFIGS
    MalaExit=0
    MalaExitSequence=LED_CONFIGS
    GameStart=0
    GameStartSequence=LED_CONFIGS
    GameExit=0
    GameExitSequence=LED_CONFIGS
    EmuSwitch=0
    EmuSwitchSequence=LED_CONFIGS
    GamelistSwitch=0
    GamelistSwitchSequence=LED_CONFIGS
    [ExternalApps]
    1=
    2=
    3=



    And here is the mame32.ini:


    ### Mame32.ini ###


    ### global-only options ###


    rompath roms
    samplepath samples
    inipath ini
    cfg_directory cfg
    nvram_directory nvram
    memcard_directory memcard
    input_directory inp
    state_directory sta
    artwork_directory artwork
    snapshot_directory snap
    diff_directory diff
    cheat_file cheat.dat
    ctrlr_directory ctrlr
    comment_directory comment


    ### default game options ###


    video ddraw
    prescale 1
    numscreens 1
    autoframeskip 0
    frameskip 0
    waitvsync 0
    effect none
    triplebuffer 0
    window 0
    hwstretch 1
    switchres 1
    maximize 1
    keepaspect 1
    syncrefresh 0
    throttle 1
    full_screen_gamma 1.
    full_screen_brightness 1.
    full_screen_contrast 1.
    frames_to_run 0
    screen0 \\.\DISPLAY1
    aspect0 auto
    resolution0 352x288@0
    view0 auto
    screen1 auto
    aspect1 auto
    resolution1 auto
    view1 auto
    screen2 auto
    aspect2 auto
    resolution2 auto
    view2 auto
    screen3 auto
    aspect3 auto
    resolution3 auto
    view3 auto
    d3dfilter 1
    d3dversion 9
    mouse 0
    joystick 0
    a2d 0.3
    steadykey 0
    lightgun 0
    dual_lightgun 0
    offscreen_reload 0
    contrast 1.
    brightness 1.
    pause_brightness 0.65
    rotate 1
    ror 0
    rol 1
    autoror 0
    autorol 0
    flipx 0
    flipy 0
    gamma 1.
    antialias 1
    beam 1.
    flicker 0.
    samplerate 48000
    samples 1
    sound 1
    volume 0
    audio_latency 1
    backdrop 1
    overlay 1
    bezel 1
    artwork_crop 0
    cheat 0
    debug 0
    log 0
    sleep 1
    rdtsc 0
    priority 0
    skip_gameinfo 1
    bios none
    autosave 0

    1. Try placing the ini in the same path as the exe (c:/arcade classics/mame 32 2006/). That's where it normally looks for the ini.


    2. Of course I'd correct the basedir in the MaLa.ini. You say yourself that's it wrong !


    3.

    Zitat

    CatverFile=C:\arcade classics\Mame32 2006\ini\Mame32.ini


    This shouldn't point to the mame32.ini, but to catver.ini.


    Seems you messed up some things ;).

    Thank you for all of the suggestions and help!


    I was able to use the layout program to make a game list that is more readable for me.


    My problem with the ini files seems to be a quirk of the way that Mala works with Mame32.


    Mame32 allows you to setup a "default" ini file that all of the games will use unless there is a specific ini for that game. If there is an ini for that game, it will take priority if you load it in Mame32.


    However, Mala works differently. It looks for an ini file for a specific game, and if there is one, it uses it. If not, it ignores the mame.ini file and uses the configuration setup entered with the options found after pressing the config button.


    Most of the games I use rely on the mame.ini file, and did not have individual ini files, so they ran fine when launched from mame32. But when launched from mala they were using the options from the config button (in Mala) which weren't working so well for me.


    By creating individual ini files by pasting copies of the mame.ini into them, I was able to get good results. A future version of mala might want to work with the mame.ini file for these default options.


    Thank you Konrad and Loadman for your consideration and time!

    Zitat

    Mame32 allows you to setup a "default" ini file that all of the games will use unless there is a specific ini for that game.


    ...which MaLa also uses.

    Zitat

    A future version of mala might want to work with the mame.ini file for these default options


    Are we talking about the mame.ini or mame32.ini ? That's a difference in your setup...


    I really don't know what went wrong with your setup (because everything works as expected on my arcade cab). My next suggestion would've been to delete the mala.ini and configure MaLa from scratch.


    However I'm glad that everything worked out for you.


    BTW: There are tools to automatically generate inis for each game ;).

    Konrad: It is mame32.


    Something "unusual" which I did, that others may not have done, was create a new version of mame32 with games that had never been configured -- because I was relying on that default ini file. If I look at my "pc" version of mame, I have ini files for all games. But on the setup for the arcade, I did not have these files, because I was using the default ini.


    Tell me more about what tools you suggest for help with the ini files. The biggest problem I'm having is figuring out what resolution to use with my arcade monitor. Many games work well with 352 x 288, but there are some which wind up too long like Spy Hunter -- or completely off like Satan's Hollow.


    What ini tools would you suggest for picking screen resolutions?