[Angelscry]

Was looking around for a NeoGeo emulator for Linux, and ran into GnGeo:
http://code.google.com/p/gngeo/

XGnGeo is a front end for it:
http://xgngeo.choplair.org/

Haven't yet figured out the command line arguments for it though. Know of a good scrapper for it? Thanks!

According to Gngeo man, Gngeo command line is under this form :

Code:

gngeo -i /home/flurbly/neogeo/roms mslug2

where /home/flurbly/neogeo/roms is the roms/bios path and mslug2 the rom name. So Advanced Launcher configuration will be something like this :

Application : gngeo
Arguments : -i "%romspath%" %romname%
File Extenstion : zip

Concerning a good scraper, I thikn the NeoGeo AES system is sufficiently old to be catalogued by all the game scrapers included into Advanced Launcher.

[dugan26]

Many Thanks -

[atsumori]

Hey Angelscry,

Would it be possible to add a %romtitle% variable for our command line options that would give the rom title as listed under the <name> tag in launchers.xml? Those of us that use scripts/batch files to launch our roms could use this information to post "Now playing <romtitle>" to our twitter, facebook, or messaging accounts.

I know there's already a romname option, but that refers to the actual file name (ex: sf2.zip) not the rom title itself ("Street Fighter 2"). I also noticed that %rombasename% is no longer functional.

Thanks for considering!

[Angelscry]

Would it be possible to add a %romtitle% variable for our command line options that would give the rom title as listed under the <name> tag in launchers.xml? Those of us that use scripts/batch files to launch our roms could use this information to post "Now playing <romtitle>" to our twitter, facebook, or messaging accounts.

I know there's already a romname option, but that refers to the actual file name (ex: sf2.zip) not the rom title itself ("Street Fighter 2").

I think it will not be really diffcult to add this new variable.

I also noticed that %rombasename% is no longer functional.

I will check what is going wrong. Thank you for the feedback.

[DigitalAnvil]

I'm been searching and searching without success to know if Advanced Launcher works with MySQL? I am currently using Frodo (an older version prior to Beta 1) that I have setup with MySQL for all my movies. All of them are stored on a Synology NAS with their thumbs, nfo, fanart and everything in their own respective folders. This content is being shared amongst 2 laptops, 2 desktops and 3 HTPCs scattered around the house. I use only 1 of my desktops to scrape upon boot up (and run it right away after adding new content). It works great because the content is updated through MySQL and available right away on the other boxes

Is it possible to use Advanced Launcher in the same manner where I only setup and scape emulators/files once using one box and have it all stored (in folders and MySQL) to make it easily shareable amongst the other boxes (without having to setup each one individually?)?

[Angelscry]

I'm been searching and searching without success to know if Advanced Launcher works with MySQL? I am currently using Frodo (an older version prior to Beta 1) that I have setup with MySQL for all my movies. All of them are stored on a Synology NAS with their thumbs, nfo, fanart and everything in their own respective folders. This content is being shared amongst 2 laptops, 2 desktops and 3 HTPCs scattered around the house. I use only 1 of my desktops to scrape upon boot up (and run it right away after adding new content). It works great because the content is updated through MySQL and available right away on the other boxes

Is it possible to use Advanced Launcher in the same manner where I only setup and scape emulators/files once using one box and have it all stored (in folders and MySQL) to make it easily shareable amongst the other boxes (without having to setup each one individually?)?

No, Advanced Launcher do not use MySQL databse, and I do not think it will be possible to do it for several reasons :

• First, Advanced Launcher do not only manage media files but also script or executable files. These script or executable files are closely linked to the system on which they are installed. For example emulators or .bat scripts installed on a Windows XBMC system would not be used by a Linux XBMC system. So each XBMC system needs it proper launchers setup. Even if you have all your systems under the same OS, you may still have different emulator settings (due for example for different gamepad, or different display resolution). So storing Advanced Launcher's executable setup on a common MySQL database is not possible.
  
• Concerning the item/roms paths it is also a problem. A large number of emulators do not support samba paths into their command line. So the only ultimate solution to start items/roms located on a NAS share is to locally mount your NAS share folder into your OS an access to it like as a virtual local drive. Now, because each OS locally mount network shares differently, virtual local paths will be different for each of your XBMC system and so, storing these item/roms paths into a common database is not conceivable.
  
• Finally, concerning thumbs, nfo and fanart paths it will be effectively possible to store them into a common MySQL database. But because they are closely linked to the items/roms, you will still need to scan/update your items/roms list on each system to display them. So it will solve nothing.
  

[atsumori]

Would it be possible to add a %romtitle% variable for our command line options that would give the rom title as listed under the <name> tag in launchers.xml? *snip*

I think it will not be really diffcult to add this new variable.

Thanks a lot!

[DigitalAnvil]

I'm been searching and searching without success to know if Advanced Launcher works with MySQL? I am currently using Frodo (an older version prior to Beta 1) that I have setup with MySQL for all my movies. All of them are stored on a Synology NAS with their thumbs, nfo, fanart and everything in their own respective folders. This content is being shared amongst 2 laptops, 2 desktops and 3 HTPCs scattered around the house. I use only 1 of my desktops to scrape upon boot up (and run it right away after adding new content). It works great because the content is updated through MySQL and available right away on the other boxes

Is it possible to use Advanced Launcher in the same manner where I only setup and scape emulators/files once using one box and have it all stored (in folders and MySQL) to make it easily shareable amongst the other boxes (without having to setup each one individually?)?

No, Advanced Launcher do not use MySQL databse, and I do not think it will be possible to do it for several reasons :

• First, Advanced Launcher do not only manage media files but also script or executable files. These script or executable files are closely linked to the system on which they are installed. For example emulators or .bat scripts installed on a Windows XBMC system would not be used by a Linux XBMC system. So each XBMC system needs it proper launchers setup. Even if you have all your systems under the same OS, you may still have different emulator settings (due for example for different gamepad, or different display resolution). So storing Advanced Launcher's executable setup on a common MySQL database is not possible.
  
• Concerning the item/roms paths it is also a problem. A large number of emulators do not support samba paths into their command line. So the only ultimate solution to start items/roms located on a NAS share is to locally mount your NAS share folder into your OS an access to it like as a virtual local drive. Now, because each OS locally mount network shares differently, virtual local paths will be different for each of your XBMC system and so, storing these item/roms paths into a common database is not conceivable.
  
• Finally, concerning thumbs, nfo and fanart paths it will be effectively possible to store them into a common MySQL database. But because they are closely linked to the items/roms, you will still need to scan/update your items/roms list on each system to display them. So it will solve nothing.
  

I saw that SMB paths don't work correctly (a possible fix in the future maybe?) in several posts and mouting drives would be the best bet (especially since windows allows you to mount them automatically at bootup) So to effectively execute this, the best option would be to set it up on 1 system. Let it scrape and create it own db locally. Manually fix any file that were named incorrectly and/or adjust whatever needs to be fixed up in terms of thumbs, art and nfo. Once done, I can just copy that locally stored db to the 2nd machine (of course after having installed the addon and setting it up for the 2nd box). The only reason I don't want to scrape it again and again on each machine is mainly so the db is consistent on each box.

[Angelscry]

I saw that SMB paths don't work correctly (a possible fix in the future maybe?)

SMB paths do not works correctly because they are not supported by Advanced Launcher. Having a SMB support is useless if the started applications/emulators cannot support them.

So to effectively execute this, the best option would be to set it up on 1 system. Let it scrape and create it own db locally. Manually fix any file that were named incorrectly and/or adjust whatever needs to be fixed up in terms of thumbs, art and nfo.

I'm agree with you until this point...

Once done, I can just copy that locally stored db to the 2nd machine (of course after having installed the addon and setting it up for the 2nd box). The only reason I don't want to scrape it again and again on each machine is mainly so the db is consistent on each box.

If you do that : emulators/launchers paths and setups, items/roms paths, and thumb nfo and fanart paths will not be correct.

What you can do for example :

• Store/share all your items/roms on a NAS.
  
• On your first XBMC sytem (for example under windows):
  • Be sure that your NAS is locally mounted
    
  • Create your launcher : select local application/emulator (argument, files extension), items, thumbs ans fanarts NAS folders.
    
  • Scan and scrap your items (from WWW ressources). Fix any file info or images that are not correct.
    
  • Once it's done, export all the items/roms information as NFO files (will be automatically saved on your items folders).
    
• On your second XBMC sytem (for example under linux):
  • Be sure that your NAS is locally mounted
    
  • Create your launcher : select local application/emulator (argument, files extension), items, thumbs ans fanarts NAS folders.
    
  • Scan and scrap your items (using NFO files and local images as collecting method)
    
• On your third XBMC sytem (for example under OSX):
  • Be sure that your NAS is locally mounted
    
  • Create your launcher : select local application/emulator (argument, files extension), items, thumbs ans fanarts NAS folders.
    
  • Scan and scrap your items (using NFO files and local images as collecting method)
    
• etc...
  

Like this all your systems will use the same items/roms, NFO, thumbs and fanart files, and so the same data.

[Angelscry]

Would it be possible to add a %romtitle% variable for our command line options that would give the rom title as listed under the <name> tag in launchers.xml? *snip*

I think it will not be really diffcult to add this new variable.

Thanks a lot!

Added to version 1.10.7.

---

Version 1.10.7 : This new version of Advanced Launcher add the new variable : %romtitle%. This varible will pass through the command line arguments the title (scraped or manually edited) of an item. This version also fix the %rombasename% non-working variable (code line commented by mistake).

Changelog :

• Add %romtitle% variable.
  
• Fix %rombasename% variable.
  

[Angelscry]

Start Windows 8 Metro Apps.

First you need to create Internet shortcuts (.url files) that will point to the right application url. For the credits, the description how to proceed come from this website : http://www.itsjustwhatever.com/2012/10/2...mand-line/

1. Found a Windows 8 Metro application URL :

• Press the windows key and x to pull up the new admin menu.
  
• Choose run.
  
• Type in regedit and press enter.
  
• Open the HKEY_CURRENT_USER folder, then > Software > Classes > Extensions > Contractld > Windows.Protocol > Packageld.
  
• You should find a list of many of the installed apps here. To get the app URL, open the folder structure you want until you get to CustomProperties folder.
  
• In that folder you should see a registry entry on the right side of the screen that says Name and then to the right of that is the particular application URL you will need to use.
  

Here is an example for the Pinball FX2 game. The application URL is : xboxliveapp-1297290209.


2. Create the internet shortcut files :

• Go back to the Windows desktop and right click on it.
  
• Select New > Shortcut.
  
• Enter the application URL where it asks for the location and press next.
  
• Enter the Application name you want displayed in your shortcut and press finish. A .url file will be created (the file extension may be not visible).
  

Here is an example with the previous Pinball FX2 game application URL.

Do the same for all the Windows 8 applications you want to start from XBMC and put all the created shortcut files into the same directory.


3. Setup Advanced Launcher :

• Create a File launcher.
  
• Select C:\Windows\explorer.exe as application.
  
• Define "%rom%" as arguments.
  
• Set url as file extension.
  
• Then point the folder (containing all the created shortcut files) as item folder.
  

Once the launcher is created, perform a "scan new items" to add the Metro Applications into Advanced Launcher.

Actually this method works great on my system to start Metro Application (but not for all the applications). To close and application an return to XBMC you just have to use the ALT+ESC keys combination.

[mjeyre]

is there a way to make an exe from advanced launcher appear in the main xbmc screen menu under programs please?

M

[fr500]

Generally speaking, it depends on the skin, most implement this by using favorites

[atsumori]

I think it will not be really diffcult to add this new variable.

Thanks a lot!

Added to version 1.10.7.

---

Version 1.10.7 : This new version of Advanced Launcher add the new variable : %romtitle%. This varible will pass through the command line arguments the title (scraped or manually edited) of an item. This version also fix the %rombasename% non-working variable (code line commented by mistake).

Changelog :

• Add %romtitle% variable.
  
• Fix %rombasename% variable.
  

Thanks Angelscry for all your hard work!

I did notice one bug with %romtitle%. It looks like "/" characters are converted to odd, non-ascii characters when they are passed through %romtitle% (it looks sort of like "a,,,"). There might be other characters that have conversion issues, though so far the characters below seem ok:

-double quotes ["]
-single quotes [']
-spaces [ ]
-dashes [-]
-underbars [_]
-colons [:]
-semicolons [;]
-period [.]
-comma [,]

[mjeyre]

Hi Ive created an exe that runs fine through advanced launcher thankyou ! and working towards a big launch for Sky GO on xbmc but running into a few problems, Is there a way to create a quit script to emulate alt+f4 keypress. My exe will not quit back to xbmc.

heres my posts

http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=145312

any help most appreciated

M