EMULAB Forum

clrmamepro [English] => clrmame Discussion => Topic started by: Connie on 22 August 2016, 18:50

Title: fix_xxxxxx.dat in Deprecated format?
Post by: Connie on 22 August 2016, 18:50
Hi Roman.

I don't know if I've overwritten a config file feature, or if your new version of clrmamepro has changed a default setting.

From the scan window, I have the options 'Save' > 'Autosave Fix-DatFile...' / 'Autodelete Fix-DatFile...' enabled.
This always used to generate a deprecated style dat, but now I always get an xml format one.
I'm aware of "Adv_SetElementXML = machine/game" in the cmpro.ini file, but this has no effect on getting a deprecated style fix_dat.

Any suggestions on where I'm going wrong, or did you change the code?
I'd really appreciate 'a fix' because I find viewing fix_dats for file names and crc/hash data far easier in 'deprecated' rather than 'xml' format.

Many thanks,
Connie.
Title: Re: fix_xxxxxx.dat in Deprecated format?
Post by: Roman on 22 August 2016, 19:14
The settings is taken from Profiler->Dir2Dat->Format
Title: Re: fix_xxxxxx.dat in Deprecated format?
Post by: Connie on 25 August 2016, 22:36
Thank you for the reply. However,

I can't save that 'Radio' button setting unless I'm making a dir2dat.
No matter how many times I click it, or change any of those settings, cm will always reload the same default settings i.e. Format: XML

Just so we are clear, I am refering to auto saved fix_dats generated after the scan of a newly added dat file (assuming 'ROMs' are missing).
Regardless of whether or not the added/loaded dat is in xml format, I'm trying to get the generated 'miss' fix_dat to be in deprecated format.

I've worked through all the ini files, but can't find any config line relating to either the default exported dat format, or a default dir2dat settings 'ini' ?

Thanks for your time.
Title: Re: fix_xxxxxx.dat in Deprecated format?
Post by: Roman on 26 August 2016, 06:38
Well, you don't need to do a dir2dat operation, you can go to the screen, toggle the radio switch and go back to the profiler. The setting is active till you quit cmpro.
It's a general switch for all kind of datfile generation (dir2dat, setinfo export, fixdatfiles). It's currently only saved in a dir2dat save file (so simply clicking it is faster for your than loading a predefined dir2dat setting). Don't know yet if this will be changed in the future.

MAME is using XML sind 2003...that's 13 years....I don't see any point in using the deprecated format today anyway...for some tasks you can enable it as described...but generally you should use xml.
Title: Re: fix_xxxxxx.dat in Deprecated format?
Post by: f205v on 26 August 2016, 07:27
I don't see any point in using the deprecated format today anyway...

Sorry to step in, but I'm a user of the old dat_format.
The reason I still use the old format in my dats is that I mostly manage them using an old tool (ListTool.exe) which does a marvellous job, but is only working with old datfile format.
Title: Re: fix_xxxxxx.dat in Deprecated format?
Post by: Roman on 26 August 2016, 07:42
Well yes....there might be people out there which still use a tseng et 4000 graphics card in an vesa local bus slot....

kidding...but still..Me, myself and I don't see a reason to still use it (especially for fixdats which should be 'cmpro-only' anyway)....not to mention that the old format doesn't support all up2date fields which XML does support.

Title: Re: fix_xxxxxx.dat in Deprecated format?
Post by: Roman on 26 August 2016, 15:41
I've just changed the code so that the setting *IS* saved when you exit cmpro and loaded on startup....so....guess you can get a private build later this evening...
Title: Re: fix_xxxxxx.dat in Deprecated format?
Post by: Connie on 26 August 2016, 17:05
Wow!
That's really appreciated.

As mentioned though, I must have changed something because all my fix-dats were 'recently' always auto saved in deprecated format, regardless of the dir2dat window or CM being shut down.

To add to what f205v said, I've been using your tool since early 2000, so working with deprecated dats is what I have allsorts of macros and scripts setup for. I agree that loaded/created dats are better using xml, but have you every tried reading set names using for example an apostrophy? Copy/pasting from a deprecated format fix_dat is far, far easier.
You've got to remember that the majority of your program users are now people who make and edit dats for a multitude of collections, not just newbies managing their M.A.M.E. and derivatives arcade sets. :)

Anyway, I appreciate your help and all the years of effort you've put into making the tool.
Title: Re: fix_xxxxxx.dat in Deprecated format?
Post by: Roman on 26 August 2016, 18:59
http://mamedev.emulab.it/clrmamepro/binaries/cmpro20160826.rar (http://mamedev.emulab.it/clrmamepro/binaries/cmpro20160826.rar)