[BugRaider84]

Hi there,

I'm just getting started to figure out the possibilities of the Advanced Launcher and just wanted to give it the first try implementing my rome into XBMC... which failed right at the beginning.
I don't know how you see it, but for a beginner the manual and everything else at the front page is more confusing than helping. So I'm now hoping for a little kickstart from you guys

First my setup: I'm running XBMC 13.0 Gotham with the Aeon Nox 4.1.9.9 Skin Mod on OSX (!)

Now I've installed the program "Advanced Launcher" and after that I tried to scrape my rome. I added the paths to the emulator *.app and a path to the roms. But as soon as I try to add the emulator it doesn't seem to get that it is an actual application. It goes deeper into the *.app as if it is a folder. I'm really confused because it does say, it's working on Win,OSX,Linux...
What am I doing wrong?

Thanks for any help

[Angelscry]

Hi there,

I'm just getting started to figure out the possibilities of the Advanced Launcher and just wanted to give it the first try implementing my rome into XBMC... which failed right at the beginning.
I don't know how you see it, but for a beginner the manual and everything else at the front page is more confusing than helping. So I'm now hoping for a little kickstart from you guys

First my setup: I'm running XBMC 13.0 Gotham with the Aeon Nox 4.1.9.9 Skin Mod on OSX (!)

Now I've installed the program "Advanced Launcher" and after that I tried to scrape my rome. I added the paths to the emulator *.app and a path to the roms. But as soon as I try to add the emulator it doesn't seem to get that it is an actual application. It goes deeper into the *.app as if it is a folder. I'm really confused because it does say, it's working on Win,OSX,Linux...
What am I doing wrong?

Thanks for any help

That's normal. *.app files are not executable files. They are just packages directory containing other files. You need to use a specific OSX command (open) if you want to start *.app files on your system using command line. Your standalone launcher configuration may be something like this :

Application : /usr/bin/open
Argument : -a "/path/to/your/application.app"

Advanced Launcher support of OSX mean that you can use command line of this system to start applications/games/scripts/whatever. It does not mean that it will automatically start anything that is present on your computer.

[BugRaider84]

Hi there,

I'm just getting started to figure out the possibilities of the Advanced Launcher and just wanted to give it the first try implementing my rome into XBMC... which failed right at the beginning.
I don't know how you see it, but for a beginner the manual and everything else at the front page is more confusing than helping. So I'm now hoping for a little kickstart from you guys

First my setup: I'm running XBMC 13.0 Gotham with the Aeon Nox 4.1.9.9 Skin Mod on OSX (!)

Now I've installed the program "Advanced Launcher" and after that I tried to scrape my rome. I added the paths to the emulator *.app and a path to the roms. But as soon as I try to add the emulator it doesn't seem to get that it is an actual application. It goes deeper into the *.app as if it is a folder. I'm really confused because it does say, it's working on Win,OSX,Linux...
What am I doing wrong?

Thanks for any help

That's normal. *.app files are not executable files. They are just packages directory containing other files. You need to use a specific OSX command (open) if you want to start *.app files on your system using command line. Your standalone launcher configuration may be something like this :

Application : /usr/bin/open
Argument : -a "/path/to/your/application.app"

Advanced Launcher support of OSX mean that you can use command line of this system to start applications/games/scripts/whatever. It does not mean that it will automatically start anything that is present on your computer.

Hi, well first of all thanks for the lightning fast response
I'm really sorry, but I only understand half of what you're saying...
I'm trying to get my snes9x to run, so in this case I'm choosing "file launcher" right?
After that you lost me... Am I going right that I have to type in command lines now instead of just "point and click" on the right *.app?
If so, what do your two command lines mean?
Sorry if I might annoy you with my I'm sure easy peasy questions but I never worked with anything like this before so I need a little bit of a beginners education I guess

[Angelscry]

Hi there,

I'm just getting started to figure out the possibilities of the Advanced Launcher and just wanted to give it the first try implementing my rome into XBMC... which failed right at the beginning.
I don't know how you see it, but for a beginner the manual and everything else at the front page is more confusing than helping. So I'm now hoping for a little kickstart from you guys

First my setup: I'm running XBMC 13.0 Gotham with the Aeon Nox 4.1.9.9 Skin Mod on OSX (!)

Now I've installed the program "Advanced Launcher" and after that I tried to scrape my rome. I added the paths to the emulator *.app and a path to the roms. But as soon as I try to add the emulator it doesn't seem to get that it is an actual application. It goes deeper into the *.app as if it is a folder. I'm really confused because it does say, it's working on Win,OSX,Linux...
What am I doing wrong?

Thanks for any help

That's normal. *.app files are not executable files. They are just packages directory containing other files. You need to use a specific OSX command (open) if you want to start *.app files on your system using command line. Your standalone launcher configuration may be something like this :

Application : /usr/bin/open
Argument : -a "/path/to/your/application.app"

Advanced Launcher support of OSX mean that you can use command line of this system to start applications/games/scripts/whatever. It does not mean that it will automatically start anything that is present on your computer.

Hi, well first of all thanks for the lightning fast response
I'm really sorry, but I only understand half of what you're saying...
I'm trying to get my snes9x to run, so in this case I'm choosing "file launcher" right?
After that you lost me... Am I going right that I have to type in command lines now instead of just "point and click" on the right *.app?
If so, what do your two command lines mean?
Sorry if I might annoy you with my I'm sure easy peasy questions but I never worked with anything like this before so I need a little bit of a beginners education I guess

When you create a launcher you need first to indicate an executable file. Here it will be /usr/bin/open (and not the .app file because it is not directly executable.). Next you will need to indicated an argument (means the parameters to use with the executable /usr/bin/open to start the application /path/to/your/application.app).

Is you want to launch roms using your snes application. Yes you will need to create a file launcher.

Application : /usr/bin/open
Argument : -a "/path/to/your/application.app argument_of_the_app %rom%"
file extension : extension_of_your_rom

As I'm not at all a OSX user, don't know how works the snes9x application and wich file extension you are using, you will have to found the argument_of_the_app and extension_of_your_rom values by yourself.

[BugRaider84]

That's normal. *.app files are not executable files. They are just packages directory containing other files. You need to use a specific OSX command (open) if you want to start *.app files on your system using command line. Your standalone launcher configuration may be something like this :

Application : /usr/bin/open
Argument : -a "/path/to/your/application.app"

Advanced Launcher support of OSX mean that you can use command line of this system to start applications/games/scripts/whatever. It does not mean that it will automatically start anything that is present on your computer.

Hi, well first of all thanks for the lightning fast response
I'm really sorry, but I only understand half of what you're saying...
I'm trying to get my snes9x to run, so in this case I'm choosing "file launcher" right?
After that you lost me... Am I going right that I have to type in command lines now instead of just "point and click" on the right *.app?
If so, what do your two command lines mean?
Sorry if I might annoy you with my I'm sure easy peasy questions but I never worked with anything like this before so I need a little bit of a beginners education I guess

When you create a launcher you need first to indicate an executable file. Here it will be /usr/bin/open (and not the .app file because it is not directly executable.). Next you will need to indicated an argument (means the parameters to use with the executable /usr/bin/open to start the application /path/to/your/application.app).

Is you want to launch roms using your snes application. Yes you will need to create a file launcher.

Application : /usr/bin/open
Argument : -a "/path/to/your/application.app argument_of_the_app %rom%"
file extension : extension_of_your_rom

As I'm not at all a OSX user, don't know how works the snes9x application and wich file extension you are using, you will have to found the argument_of_the_app and extension_of_your_rom values by yourself.

Ok, I did everything as you said but I'm not getting any closer. How am I supposed to know/find the so called "argument of the app" if I don't even know where to look or what it is? I do now at least understand that I have to take the way around the *.app to actually start it even if I can't get it to work cause I'm missing 10 steps in-between haha
Looks like this might be a bigger project for me to get into than I expected it to be... I thought it might be quite simple like most of XBMC. Add Emu, add scraper, scrape romz and go from there.
Thanks anyway for your help and I won't go on your nerves anymore. Maybe there is someone out there who did all of this on a Mac (OSX) and can talk me through it step by step?! That would be much appreciated as I appreciate your help

[Angelscry]

Ok, I did everything as you said but I'm not getting any closer. How am I supposed to know/find the so called "argument of the app" if I don't even know where to look or what it is? I do now at least understand that I have to take the way around the *.app to actually start it even if I can't get it to work cause I'm missing 10 steps in-between haha

Just tape "osx snes9x app command line" into google and the first result will be : http://www.snes9x.com/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5311

Code:

open -a /Applications/Snes9x.app /path/game.smc

• open is the executable and is located into /usr/bin directory
  
• -a /Applications/Snes9x.app /path/game.smc is the commande line argument
  
• into this argument, /path/game.smc is the rom path and need to be replaced by %rom% (http://www.gwenael.org/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=4#p4)
  
• and smc is the file extension.
  

So... to create a corresponding files launcher into Advanced Launcher :

Application : /usr/bin/open
Argument : -a /Applications/Snes9x.app %rom%
Roms directory : /path
Extension : smc

I cannot make this more simple. Starting applications from Advanced Launcher doesn't mean that you don't need to know how work these applications.

[BugRaider84]

Ok, I did everything as you said but I'm not getting any closer. How am I supposed to know/find the so called "argument of the app" if I don't even know where to look or what it is? I do now at least understand that I have to take the way around the *.app to actually start it even if I can't get it to work cause I'm missing 10 steps in-between haha

Just tape "osx snes9x app command line" into google and the first result will be : http://www.snes9x.com/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5311

Code:

open -a /Applications/Snes9x.app /path/game.smc

• open is the executable and is located into /usr/bin directory
  
• -a /Applications/Snes9x.app /path/game.smc is the commande line argument
  
• into this argument, /path/game.smc is the rom path and need to be replaced by %rom% (http://www.gwenael.org/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=4#p4)
  
• and smc is the file extension.
  

So... to create a corresponding files launcher into Advanced Launcher :

Application : /usr/bin/open
Argument : -a /Applications/Snes9x.app %rom%
Roms directory : /path
Extension : smc

I cannot make this more simple. Starting applications from Advanced Launcher doesn't mean that you don't need to know how work these applications.

Hi, thanks for helping me again!
I did exactly by your instructions and created the launcher and configured Advanced Launcher as well but when I go to the launcher and press C - add items, the automated scan does not find anything and by adding manually I can add the game but it doesn't scrape any fan art / artwork whatsoever (even if hinted manually again) and if I want to start the game it always says the file abc.smc not found

[Angelscry]

Hi, thanks for helping me again!
I did exactly by your instructions and created the launcher and configured Advanced Launcher as well but when I go to the launcher and press C - add items, the automated scan does not find anything and by adding manually I can add the game but it doesn't scrape any fan art / artwork whatsoever (even if hinted manually again) and if I want to start the game it always says the file abc.smc not found

If the launcher do not find anything during scan it could be due to 2 reasons : you have indicated a wrong directory or you have indicated a wrong file extension.

If Advanced Launcher doesn't scrap correctly as you explain me it could be due to different causes :

- you select a wrong platform for the launcher (ex. NES instead of SNES)
- you do not activate any scraper
- you do not select the right scrapper (you use a comics dedicated scraper instead of the game dedicated scrapers)
- the name of your file is not enough explicit for the scraper to found a corresponding game
- the corresponding game is not on the database of the scraper you are using.

Who said that it did not found the game? Advanced Launcher or the SNES emulator? If the game path contain spaces it could be a problem. If it's the case, change the launcher arguments like this :

Argument : -a /Applications/Snes9x.app "%rom%"

[BugRaider84]

Hi, thanks for helping me again!
I did exactly by your instructions and created the launcher and configured Advanced Launcher as well but when I go to the launcher and press C - add items, the automated scan does not find anything and by adding manually I can add the game but it doesn't scrape any fan art / artwork whatsoever (even if hinted manually again) and if I want to start the game it always says the file abc.smc not found

If the launcher do not find anything during scan it could be due to 2 reasons : you have indicated a wrong directory or you have indicated a wrong file extension.

If Advanced Launcher doesn't scrap correctly as you explain me it could be due to different causes :

- you select a wrong platform for the launcher (ex. NES instead of SNES)
- you do not activate any scraper
- you do not select the right scrapper (you use a comics dedicated scraper instead of the game dedicated scrapers)
- the name of your file is not enough explicit for the scraper to found a corresponding game
- the corresponding game is not on the database of the scraper you are using.

Who said that it did not found the game? Advanced Launcher or the SNES emulator? If the game path contain spaces it could be a problem. If it's the case, change the launcher arguments like this :

Argument : -a /Applications/Snes9x.app "%rom%"

I double checked everything.
- I chose the DIR by actually choosing the folder instead of typing the address
- I used the extension "smc" as my files are named and you told me to (or do I have to write it like "*.smc"?
- Using Super Nintendo Entertainment System
- I activated the same scraper for everything (TheGamesDB)
- The Files are all named exactly as the game with an additional indicator for the language at the end of the file name (but I'm using semi-automatic / choose from list scraping)
- checked the DB, all good
- XBMC was giving the notification. The emulator didn't even start... No spaces in the paths

If I want to scan automatically it says: Advanced Launcher - 0 files added. Re-enter this directory to see the c.... (can't read the rest, message is fading out at that point)
If I want to start a game it says: Advanced Launcher - Error. File examplegame.smc not found.
If I try to download fanart for it, it says: Advanced Launcher - Impossible to assign fanart for examplegame




What am I doing wrong?

[Angelscry]

Advanced launcher do not support network paths. Mount your network drive as a local drive.

[BugRaider84]

Advanced launcher do not support network paths. Mount your network drive as a local drive.

Alright, cheers mate for all your support. Will try that as soon as I find time for it and report back.

[boyofford]

Hi Angelscry,

firstly, great program plugin!
I've been testing it in a virtual machine setup I've been testing and works great.

Started from scratch tonight building new virtual machine and seems your repository is down perhaps though? as couldn't download the advanced launcher plugin.

downloaded version 2.5.6 from your archives(http://www.gwenael.org/Repository%20Archives/) though which works, is this the current version?

EDIT: just reread your first post, ignore the above

[Angelscry]

Hi Angelscry,

firstly, great program plugin!
I've been testing it in a virtual machine setup I've been testing and works great.

Started from scratch tonight building new virtual machine and seems your repository is down perhaps though? as couldn't download the advanced launcher plugin.

downloaded version 2.5.6 from your archives(http://www.gwenael.org/Repository%20Archives/) though which works, is this the current version?

EDIT: just reread your first post, ignore the above

It was my mistake. The addons.xml file on the repository add a wrong version numer of Advanced Launcher (2.5.3 instead of 2.5.6). It is now fixed.

[boyofford]

Hi Angelscry,

firstly, great program plugin!
I've been testing it in a virtual machine setup I've been testing and works great.

Started from scratch tonight building new virtual machine and seems your repository is down perhaps though? as couldn't download the advanced launcher plugin.

downloaded version 2.5.6 from your archives(http://www.gwenael.org/Repository%20Archives/) though which works, is this the current version?

EDIT: just reread your first post, ignore the above

It was my mistake. The addons.xml file on the repository add a wrong version numer of Advanced Launcher (2.5.3 instead of 2.5.6). It is now fixed.

ah, good stuff, thought it was maybe me.

When I finally iron out the bugs in my virtual machine minimal install and do the install for real I'll use the repro then so get updates.
cheers
rich

[peppe_sr]

hi Angelscry
i'm setting my xbmc game section using advanced launcher and my mame. all worked fine. roms start and pressing esc i can come back to xbmc closing the emulator.
today i had a problem. at first attempt roms are well played but to a certain point all roms don't start anymore from xbmc. i restarted xbmc and the launcher has disappeared with all roms.
under advanced launcher default i had just one launcher (mame) now "default " is empty.
i tried adding a again a mame launcher hoping that my roms appear again but nothing. have you idea of what happened? could i recover what i have already added (roms and thumbs added all in manual mode).
emulator folder is still there really don't know what happened.
just another question when i add the mame this emulator is not present in the "select platform" list. why?
thank for your help.
Peppe