Author Topic: Layout Config Questions Help Request  (Read 2122 times)

Doosh

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Layout Config Questions Help Request
« on: January 01, 2022, 08:57:18 AM »
Hi There
I am new to using RetroFE and have need playing around with the "Carousel 16x9" layout, by changing / hashing out items in the config files to develop a layout that I am happy with. With that in mind, there are a few items that I cannot resolve which I hope that someone  can help me with. These are:

1. Removing the "Main" collection completely

I have figured out how to launch RetroFE directly to the "MAME" collection, but if I press the "ESC" key it goes back to the "Main" collection.

Question - How can I remove "Main" collection completely? eg. If I press the "ESC" key on the "MAME" collection, nothing will happen?

2. How to Filter the games list in the "MAME" collection

As I understand (Please correct me if I am wrong), the game list in my "MAME" collection is based on what I have in the MAME rom directory.

Question - Is there way to filter in the RetroFE config options somehow to remove unwanted game list items from MAME such as casino, clones and mahjong?

3. RetroFE remembering last selected game in the MAME list

I have noticed that when re launching RetroFE, that it always goes to the "1942" selection in the game list.

Question - Is these a way to configure RetroFE when launched, to start on the last selected games list? eg. if "Outrun" was last scrolled to when quitting RetroFE, when re-launching RetroFE, the selection will start at "Outrun" and not "1942"

4. Video stretching

I have attached two video screen captures of the current MAME layout. These are:

"Outrun" - showing the horizontal video layout
"1942" - Showing the vertical video layout

I have also attached the layout config section where I have made changes to the stretching section of the config (highlighted changes in yellow) for reference.

My current PC screen resolution is: 1920 x 1080

Question - How can I stretch both the horizontal and vertical games selected on the "MAME" collection games list so that the video occupies the complete area of the screen nicely? Currently in the "Outrun" and "1942" screen capture examples provide show there unwanted black areas on the left and right of the video capture.

Thank you in advance for your replies.

Regards

D


Pieter Hulshoff

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Re: Layout Config Questions Help Request
« Reply #1 on: January 01, 2022, 09:19:52 AM »
1.
If you only need a single collection, just remove Esc from the back controls. The alternative is to change the firstCollection parameter, but then you'll probably have to change your theme's layout.xml file.

2.
Use include.txt files. You can find them as part of the MAME XML files in the download section of this website.

3.
No, that option does not exist at the moment.

4.
Those are MAME settings, not RetroFE settings. You could use uneven stretching in MAME, but I'm not sure you'd be too happy with how a vertical game looks stretched on a 16x9 screen. I suggest you consider using bezels instead.

Doosh

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Re: Layout Config Questions Help Request
« Reply #2 on: January 02, 2022, 06:19:08 AM »
1.
If you only need a single collection, just remove Esc from the back controls. The alternative is to change the firstCollection parameter, but then you'll probably have to change your theme's layout.xml file.

2.
Use include.txt files. You can find them as part of the MAME XML files in the download section of this website.

3.
No, that option does not exist at the moment.

4.
Those are MAME settings, not RetroFE settings. You could use uneven stretching in MAME, but I'm not sure you'd be too happy with how a vertical game looks stretched on a 16x9 screen. I suggest you consider using bezels instead.

Hi Pieter

Thank you for you reply. If you or others can please be patient with me, as I am no programmer, and have just played around with an existing layout ""Carousel 16x9" to suit my requirements.

In regard to the earlier items:

1. Yes, I can remove the 'ESC" option from the controls, but I rather remove it from the layout.xml file. I have looked at the layout file and could not work-out what to do. I have attached the layout file below for reference. Could you please help me locate what needs to be edited-out please. BTW - In the settings.conf file located in the root directory of RetroFE, I have already set the following:
"firstcollection          = MAME"

2. I have located the include.txt file example on the RetroFE website, and wish to apply the following:
"mame_no_casino_clones_mahjong_mature_quiz_electro_utilities_playchoice_bootleg.txt"
a) Where do I place the file for it to work?
b) I am curious how the include file works. I presume it works like (Please correct me if I am wrong):
Currently I have no include.txt file, and I assume the RetroFE shows the games on the games list based on the available roms in the directory.
If the include.txt file is added, I presume the game list will show all of the games in the include.txt file, even if the roms are not in the directory (missing)? For example. The include file includes the game 1942 and will be shown on the RetroFE game list, but the game file is not in the rom directory. I assume if you launch the 1942 game from the games list, it will fail, as the rom does not exist?
Is the above assumption correct?

3. Thanks.

4. Sorry, I may have confuse you with my earlier question. I am only wanting to somehow stretch the game video example (media file) that is shown on the RetroFE game selection screen so that it occupies the complete area of the screen, and not the MAME game once launched.

I note that my screen is probably 16x9, and by stretching the video to remove the "black left and right fields" of the video, the video example (media file) may look wrong. But I just want to see if it is possible to do the above in RetroFE, and how (what changes do I have to make to the extracted config file below?

If I am correct (please correct me if I am wrong), I am assuming the layout config extract reference which I have re-attached (changes I have made are highlighted in yellow) is only applicable to the video media files shown in the RetroFE only and not the MAME game itself.

Other Question:

5. In RetroFE, is it possible to somehow to select a favorite game from the MAME game list? How does this work if the feature is available? Does RetroFE create a separate favorite games list games menu?

Thank you in advance.

Regards
D

Agent47

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Re: Layout Config Questions Help Request
« Reply #3 on: January 02, 2022, 06:38:23 AM »
1. Remove the keybind for Esc from the controls ini. Otherwise you'll have to completely revamp the layout to only handle a single collection. That's why Pieter said removing the keybind was the easy option.

2. Read the documentation here: http://www.retrofe.nl/wiki/doku.php?id=collections

4. You have to alter the layout xml code.

5. http://www.retrofe.nl/wiki/doku.php?id=collections#playlists