Romcenter

MAME v0.84 has just been released and listinfo support has now been removed. You will therefore need the new version of DatUtil to handle the XML output of MAME.

1) Download DatUtil v2.0 from my website and copy datutil.exe into your RomCenter folder.

2) You also need to copy xml2info.exe into your RomCenter directory. The xml2info utility comes with MAME if you hadn't already noticed.

Alternatively, wait for me to release data files but I can't do them for a while (I am at work right now).

Logiqx

I have copied the datutil to teh RC dir and the new xml2info.exe but it wont work.

Currently using rc 2.70 beta 1.

Any ideas why it doesnt work or maybe a CFG file needs deleting or something silly?

Thanks

Ah, I know why... I did not think my idea through fully!

You need a new version of RomCenter because it currently runs 'mame -listinfo' and uses DatUtil to interpret the output. RomCenter now needs to run 'mame -listxml' and use DatUtil to interpret it ('mame -listinfo' does absolutely nothing now).

I'll be uploading my datafiles very soon.

Logiqx

I know it's not nice to mod other peoples' programs, but I got 2.70 Beta 1 to work properly with MAME 0.84.

Keep in mind this will screw it up for RAINE, MESS, older MAMES, etc., s omake sure you use a copy of your original romcenter.exe.


Use a hex editor, and you will see the commands you need to modify starting at byte 1,268,783.

Change "-listinfo >" to "-listxml > " (just the word, not the quotes, and note moving carat one position to the left and replacing its previous position with a space).

Just slightly further down, at byte 1,268,941, you will see "-m." Change that to "-s." Note that the "-s" parameter really isn't necessary, but you need to replace the -m with something, since it's no longer supported in the new DatUtil.

Lastly, I only got it to work when I put xml2info.exe in a folder in my system path, so for example, C:\Windows\System32.

Works fine, but takes a bit longer than it used to, due to the involvement of xml2info.exe.


Apologies to Eric Bole-Feysot for modding the program, but I wanted to share this info to make it easier for people to stick with RomCenter without him feeling like he needs to rush a Beta 2 just to satisfy the complainers.

Well done. Just a couple of clarifiers for everyone:

1) Moving the space by the redirection character isn't really necessary. I'd just replace 'info' with 'xml<space>'.

2) You can still pass -m to DatUtil (it just won't do anything with it).

So, in theory you just need a 4 character change to the exe.

Logiqx

Eric,

We now need a new BETA to coincide with MAME 0.84 and Logiqx's new DATUTIL 2.0/2.1.

Even if it simply replaces the old BETA with new code to utilise the new EXE will suffice at this time if your new BETA isnt quite ready for public release.

Many thanks

Logiqx wrote:So, in theory you just need a 4 character change to the exe.

That would be much easier. I initially tried just that, but it didn't work. I think it's probably because I didn't have xml2info.exe in my system path at the time. After some experimentation, the method I posted was what finally worked. I had already spent too much time on it, so I didn't feel like using a scientific method to find the smallest necessary changes. Glad you did, though!

Yes, replacing the listinfo by a listxml will work. No problems for modifying the code to bypass a problem.
I've got a working beta, it is just the beta 1 with the new code to use the new datutil.
I'm compiling it and will release it.

Is this beta safe to use? I thought I read somewhere here that beta 1 had some seroius issues crashing machines, etc. I might be wrong, but thought I'd ask.

Anonymous wrote:Is this beta safe to use? I thought I read somewhere here that beta 1 had some seroius issues crashing machines, etc. I might be wrong, but thought I'd ask.

I've tested beta 2 a little. I cannot guarantee it's totally safe but apart from some French messages, I haven't found anything serious (with MAME) so far...

No, no serious problems with mame. you can use it, but, as always, don't forget to backup your roms.

I thought I read somewhere on this forum that beta 1 was crashing machines. Thats what I was worried about. Would there be anyway to get just an updated exe for 2.62 if 2.70 is gonna be beta for along tiime?

I never had a problem with 2.70. Give it a try.
2.62 does not correctly handle resources from mame.
About a final 2.70 version, not until late august, since I'm in holidays soon.