myPrograms: what next?? (1 Viewer)

[waeberd]

Hello!

For the myPrograms plugin, I will soon start extending the database to
a new version. Current data will (hopefully) be migrated completely,
but to make sure I don't have to do this again two weeks later, I'd
like to post my own ToDo list and get some feedback in case you miss
something important!

So here's my ToDo list:

<needs DB extension - probably only possible after migration>

* Add a new mode where myGames writes directly into the myProgram database 
  (=> "Save To MediaPortal" menuitem! No intermediate file!)
* DIRECTORY CACHE mode: add support of subdirectories
* Add grouping of items => define applications in a treeview
* Add PINCODES for items (optional of course :-) )
* Add FAVOURITE / FILTER support 
  (example: "10 out of 4000 MAME games define a new view - 'METAL SLUG COLLECTION'")

<no need of DB extension - can be done anytime>

* REFRESH: supporting multiple input-files (example: "three *.my-Files in the same directory")
* FIX: if myPrograms launches a DirectX application, MP resets to the mainmenu most of the time.
* Fileinfo screen: add bigger screenshot support (probably toggle between OVERVIEW / SCREENSHOTS
                   where OVERVIEW displays the current view and SCREENSHOTS replaces the overview
                   box with a bigger screenshot)

<needs more thinking>

* improve *.my file importer and support more categories
  (Problem: the current version is still a bit too game/program oriented! 
   Example: For movies, the displayed fields are not the most interesting ones....)

Comments? Forgotten your biggest wish? Listed too much uninteresting stuff?
=> post it!

Once it's stable, I'd like to add this list to the official MP ToDo list!

Cheers,

Daniel

 

[Anonymous]

I would like to see an option to import the mame games from
the xml file generated by mame32.

My programms is really great now, tnx

Dst

 

[waeberd]

I would like to see an option to import the mame games from the xml file generated by mame32.

Thanks Dst,

what's this XML file you're talking about??
MameCat32.exe?? Never tried it, so just gimme a hint and I'll have a look.....

Cheers,

Daniel

 

[Anonymous]

Mame32 can generate a xml file:

mame32 -listxml > mame32.xml

The xml contains studd like this for each game:

	<game name="hangly" sourcefile="pacman.c" cloneof="puckman" romof="puckman">
		<description>Hangly-Man (set 1)</description>
		<year>1981</year>
		<manufacturer>hack</manufacturer>
		<rom name="hangly.6e" size="4096" crc="5fe8610a" sha1="d63eaebd85e10aa6c27bb7f47642dd403eeb6934" region="cpu1" offset="0"/>
		<rom name="hangly.6f" size="4096" crc="73726586" sha1="cedddc5194589039dd8b64f07ab6320d7d4f55f9" region="cpu1" offset="1000"/>
		<rom name="hangly.6h" size="4096" crc="4e7ef99f" sha1="bd42e68b29b4d654dc817782ba00db69b7d2dfe2" region="cpu1" offset="2000"/>
		<rom name="hangly.6j" size="4096" crc="7f4147e6" sha1="0a7ac0e59d4d26fe52a2f4196c9f19e5ab677c87" region="cpu1" offset="3000"/>
		<rom name="pacman.5e" merge="pacman.5e" size="4096" crc="0c944964" sha1="06ef227747a440831c9a3a613b76693d52a2f0a9" region="gfx1" dispose="yes" offset="0"/>
		<rom name="pacman.5f" merge="pacman.5f" size="4096" crc="958fedf9" sha1="4a937ac02216ea8c96477d4a15522070507fb599" region="gfx2" dispose="yes" offset="0"/>
		<rom name="82s123.7f" merge="82s123.7f" size="32" crc="2fc650bd" sha1="8d0268dee78e47c712202b0ec4f1f51109b1f2a5" region="proms" offset="0"/>
		<rom name="82s126.4a" merge="82s126.4a" size="256" crc="3eb3a8e4" sha1="19097b5f60d1030f8b82d9f1d3a241f93e5c75d6" region="proms" offset="20"/>
		<rom name="82s126.1m" merge="82s126.1m" size="256" crc="a9cc86bf" sha1="bbcec0570aeceb582ff8238a4bc8546a23430081" region="sound1" offset="0"/>
		<rom name="82s126.3m" merge="82s126.3m" size="256" crc="77245b66" sha1="0c4d0bee858b97632411c440bea6948a74759746" region="sound1" offset="100"/>
		<chip type="cpu" name="Z80" clock="3072000"/>
		<chip type="audio" name="Namco"/>
		<video screen="raster" orientation="vertical" width="224" height="288" aspectx="3" aspecty="4" refresh="60.606060"/>
		<sound channels="1"/>
		<input players="2" control="joy4way" buttons="1" coins="2"/>
		<dipswitch name="Rack Test (Cheat)">
			<dipvalue name="Off" default="yes"/>
			<dipvalue name="On"/>
		</dipswitch>
		<dipswitch name="Service Mode">
			<dipvalue name="Off" default="yes"/>
			<dipvalue name="On"/>
		</dipswitch>
		<dipswitch name="Cabinet">
			<dipvalue name="Upright" default="yes"/>
			<dipvalue name="Cocktail"/>
		</dipswitch>
		<dipswitch name="Coinage">
			<dipvalue name="2 Coins/1 Credit"/>
			<dipvalue name="1 Coin/1 Credit" default="yes"/>
			<dipvalue name="1 Coin/2 Credits"/>
			<dipvalue name="Free Play"/>
		</dipswitch>
		<dipswitch name="Lives">
			<dipvalue name="1"/>
			<dipvalue name="2"/>
			<dipvalue name="3" default="yes"/>
			<dipvalue name="5"/>
		</dipswitch>
		<dipswitch name="Bonus Life">
			<dipvalue name="10000" default="yes"/>
			<dipvalue name="15000"/>
			<dipvalue name="20000"/>
			<dipvalue name="None"/>
		</dipswitch>
		<dipswitch name="Difficulty">
			<dipvalue name="Normal" default="yes"/>
			<dipvalue name="Hard"/>
		</dipswitch>
		<dipswitch name="Ghost Names">
			<dipvalue name="Normal" default="yes"/>
			<dipvalue name="Alternate"/>
		</dipswitch>
		<dipswitch name="2x Speed Cheat">
			<dipvalue name="Disabled" default="yes"/>
			<dipvalue name="Enabled Always"/>
			<dipvalue name="Enabled with Button"/>
		</dipswitch>
		<driver status="good" emulation="good" color="good" sound="good" graphic="good" palettesize="16"/>
	</game>

Dst

 

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I have found your plugin to be excellent.

1. Internet lookup for picture / information. Most likely for only when in file launcher mode.

2. When in list mode use a .ico file if available instead of jpg

3. Zip support for images

4. When you browse for the exe, it populates the start directory for you. I check this more often than not.

I can't think of anything *really* useful.

 

[Mr.Mitchell]

One thing that would be nice (but I don't know if it is possible)

When starting a game the performance is quite bad since MP is also still taking CPU time. I think it would be nice if MP could be set to a lower priority or maybe let it stop rendering the GUI (or render at half speed) if a program is running.

I don't know if it is feasible, but its just an idea.

 

[waeberd]

When starting a game the performance is quite bad since MP is also still taking CPU time. I think it would be nice if MP could be set to a lower priority or maybe let it stop rendering the GUI (or render at half speed) if a program is running.

Good point, Mitchell! For "new generation" console emus you need a lot of horsepower....

Lowering the priority for MP should be possible, but another problem is how to detect when an emulator was exited to be able to rise priority again in a reliable way!?!

I'll have to check process launching options in C#....
or maybe call the application in a separate thread....

Thanks,

Daniel

 

[Anonymous]

I think that should be handled by mediaportal itself not a plugin.

If mediaportal isn't active/foreground window it shouldn't
do anything.

Lower the priority will still suck up a lot of cpu.

Dst

 

[waeberd]

I think that should be handled by mediaportal itself not a plugin.

If mediaportal isn't active/foreground window it shouldn't
do anything.

Lower the priority will still suck up a lot of cpu.

Looks like we have a new feature request!
I agree that the priority fiddling is much less effective than a clean "sleep" / "wakeup" feature.....

Cheers,

Daniel

 

[moremetall]

is it possible to implement some sort of program scanner....

Hi!

I have a suggestion

Can it be possible to add a wisard that scans all program shortcuts that are located on the widows desktop?

Alos, is it possible to make wisard for each type of application, so the setup will be more user friendly and eseary for non PC engineer to add applications to MP?

Kind Regards
Micael