Emu Loader - Powerful M.A.M.E. Frontend
Documentation
Developed by Ciro Alfredo Consentino

- What's New -

 

version 4.4 MAMu_ Special Edition

Fixed:

1. Some games with .chd files were not working (chd filename not the same as game name)
Running those games might take 1 to 3 seconds extra time due to filename searching ("resources\ROMs.dat")

2. Bug when trying to select .zip files for image types (Preferences screen)

3. "Index out of bounds" error when trying to extract controllers description from "ctrlr\default.ini" files

4. Favorite games loading error after adding games to this list

5. Direct3D "Prescale" option was not being set correctly ("MAME Options" screen)

6. "Pause Brightness" (and possible others) bug fixed. This was a bug in the GaugeBar2 component (float values), that was not setting value "1.00" correctly ("round" function doesn't work very well)

7. Bug were all games had a line thru them, as if all games were tagged as preliminary games
This was being caused because the frontend's language string was empty (no .lng to load from!) and because the "Preliminary" column was entirely empty (no data)

8. "File not found" error when trying to read the ROMs folder string (and other info) from "mame.ini", if the proper file was not found

9. Games with chd files was not working with MAME 0.78u5

10. A bunch of visual bugs

11. EL was not asking to save changes if you close the Parental Lock screen after changing the locked games list

12. A few preview picture features were not working due recent "Folders / Zip Files" changes

13. "Check for Unneeded Icons" now searches for unzipped and zipped icons

14. When "Use New Picture Name Format" enabled, extra pictures of clone games was not showing

15. Status window displayed when create the virtual pictures list

16. "Stream Error" bug when trying to audit a zero bytes .chd file (dummy file)

17. Games files were not being found when using a folder without full path (.zip and .chd files), and MAME is in a different folder than the frontend
This was affecting refresh, audit and run games features

18. Preview picture not being updated after changing game filter

Changed:

1. INP Filename ("Play Recorded Game" and "Record Game" features) is now a menu item ("Games" main menu and popup men)
To change the inp filename, just click in the "INP Filename" menu/popup menu. An input box will appear

2. Language file updated

3. Toolbar icons completely updated (general)

4. Toolbar icons filenames now have a leading zero (general)

5. Play time column now display days separated from time

6. All "In Game Snapshots" texts renamed to "Game Snapshots"

7. Renamed a few entries in "EmuLoader.ini" and user profile .ini files

8. Select Buttons "folder", "file", "zip file" and "update" replaced by speed buttons that can have a .bmp image
Only for Windows XP, since it locks-up Win9x systems!

9. Frontend minimum resolution required is now 800x600 pixels, but it's best viewed in 1024x768 resolution
* Note: If you want a frontend to use in a cabinet, there are other frontends out there specially for them *

10. "Game Snapshots" ("Preferences" screen) can now can a full path (it works just like the other types).
But only the zip filename is saved in "EmuLoader.ini" (without path), and the path is saved in "mame.ini"
EL read both info and merge them in "Game Snapshots" edit box
Remember to click the "update" button if you change the text in edit box manually (without using the zip file and folder buttons)

11. "Create Game Icons", "Check for Missing Icons" and "Check for Unneeded Icons" now search unzipped icons and in "icons.zip" if you only set a folder in "Game Icons" ("Preferences" screen)

14. HTML output of "Check for Missing Icons" and "Check for Unneeded Icons" is slightly changed for better viewing... and the games are sorted in alphabetic order :)

15. Replaced the memory stream from a file stream when reading/saving game icons from/to .dat files (MAMu_ icons)

16. New design for arcade controllers images ("Preferences" screen) :)

Removed:

1. Buttons "Play Recorded Game", "Record Game" and "INP Filename" edit box from buttons toolbar (see changes #1)

2. Old and unused lines of code

3. Folder "resources\images\toolbars\Main\icons24" not needed anymore

4. Old and unused big icons files from toolbar folder ("resources\images\toolbars\main\big")

5. Button "Close" in "Favorite Users Manager" screen

6. Separator bars in main toolbar button (it's prettier without them)

7. "Hide Bios" and "Hide Preliminary Games" option from "Preferences" screen

8. A bunch of memory variables that are not necessary due to the new filters system

9. Button "Cancel" from messages screen (it was never used anyway)

10. Option "Show Preliminary Games Disabled" ("Preferences" screen)

Optimized:

1. "Create Icons List" function

2. "Check for Missing Icons" and "Check for Unneeded Icons" functions... for MAMu_ :)

3. Frontend icons are more organized for future expanding ("resources\images\toolbars")

4. Lots and lots of internal procedures and functions

5. Game filter loading function

6. Load/Save game icons from/to .dat files, now using a file stream (read/save directly from/to a file). This reduce the time EL takes to load/save MAMu_ icons in 80% and saves memory! No more "cannot save to stream" error messages :D

Added:

1. Folder buttton for "Games Icons" ("Preferences" screen, "Folders / Zip Files" tab)

2. Support for unzipped icons in "Check for Unneeded Icons" :)
This might take a while to complete because EL needs to get a list of all files in the icons directory

3. Support for .chd files in any folder (for MAME 0.78u4 and newer)
The old method is still supported though

4. Main toolbar icons changed to 32x32 pixels

5. New and awesome toolbar icons, made by the almighty MAMu_ <:D

6. Support for zipped ctrlr files (main screen "input" drop-down button)

7. Main menu "View" item: "Show Grouped"
This is for the upcoming grouped games (it does nothing yet!!!)

8. Games view mode drop-down button in buttons toolbar (requested by MAMu_)

9. Option "Show Grouped" in "User Profile Editor"

10. Buttons to select folders, files, zip files and update have an image and are now flatted, like main toolbar buttons (Windows XP only!!!)

11. Four image files used by flatted buttons, in "resources\images\toolbars" folder: "folder.bmp", "zip.bmp", "file.bmp" and "update.bmp"

12. Support for high quality Windows XP icons (true color and 8-bit alpha channel... a.k.a. transparency). This is enabled by default! (disabled in Win9x systems, of course) :)
WARNING:
  - This is a Windows XP feature
  - Do not try to use XP icons in a Win9x system or your entire system "WILL" crash... you have been warned!

13. New command line parameter (frontend):  -noxpicons
Use this to force EL not to use WinXP high quality icons (see new addition #12), if you're having problem showing icons (not required for Win9x systems)

14. New feature: "Frontend Icons Folder"
This is what I call "sinkable icons" :)
You can use custom sets of icons in the frontend, by just selecting the folder where they are. The default set used is the one that is distributed with the frontend, in "resources\images\toolbars". High quality XP icons are supported only in Windows XP!

15. New section in "EmuLoader.ini": [ListFilter]
It contain settings of all game filters

16. Support for "mame.ini" file (it was about time!)
If this file is found, it will be used instead of the file with the same name as the MAME binary
This way you can put 5 different MAME binaries in the same folder with any naming, and all of them will read/write from "mame.ini" :D
eg.: binary: "mamepp.ini" -> EL will search for "mame.ini" first and if found, will use it, if not, will search for "mamepp.ini"

17. Updates for MAME 0.78u5 and 0.78u6

18. Lots of new game filters! :)
CPS-1, CPS-2, Nintendo VS, PGM, PlayChoice-10, ST-V, ZN1, ZN2, Taito FX1, Sega System 16/18/24/32, Konami GX / GV / GQ
More filters may be added in future versions

19. Big sized status bar, with big icons :)
Default size is 32x32 but you can switch to the small size (see new addition #20)

20. New menu item: "Small Status Bar" (main menu "View")
Use this to view a small 16x16 icons status bar

21. New folder and update buttons for "Game Snapshots" ("Preferences" screen). See more info in changes #12

22. New option: "Big Icons in Grouped Mode"
With this you will be able to see big icons in the upcoming grouped games mode (requested my MAMu_) :)

23. Added status window when "Check for Missing Icons" and "Check for Unneeded Icons" are in progress

24. New options: "Master Game Font", "Clone Game Font" and "Preliminary Game Font" ("Preferences" screen)
Wanna view master, clone and preliminary games all with different colors ? Now you can! :)