Why Retrobat cannot read MAME system ini files but delete them automatically?

Hello Retrobat Team!

I have added a mame system called "vg5k" (Philips VG-5000 Computer) for mame-libretro and wanted to add an vg5k.ini file with autocommands in this directory:
bios\mame\ini

Why?
I need autocommands, so that cassettes can get auto-loaded when starting up. Here's the command:
#
# SCRIPTING OPTIONS

autoboot_command          "cload\n"
autoboot_delay            3
autoboot_script      

When I load a game in Retrobat my vg5k.ini file gets always deleted.
Why?

Is there a way that Retrobat can read ini files for MAME systems?

Please let me know, thanks!

Hello ?

Hello,
What version of retrobat are you using ?

Hi,
I use v6.31 stable.

This is the reason that is in the code:
// Cleanup previous ini file
// This is required, else there might be multiple image devices listed and MAME might autoload the wrong one

It's there for a very long time, so i guess it's to avoid loading some inifile with wrong values that would override options sent by retrobat.

I've just removed my ini files and started from scratch.
Two ini (mame & plugin) files are getting auto-written.

My ini files are set for each system differently, which makes sense in my opinion.

Is there no way around to override this cleaning feature?

I can set under Emulation "READ INI FILE: YES" but the ini file still gets ignored and deleted!

This option does not change the behaviour for .ini files, it's just used for the -noreadconfig command line

teller wrote:Hi,
I use v6.31 stable.

please,

I added option to use own ini in next version

Thanks, I'm looking forward to it!

Lorenzolamas wrote:

teller wrote:Hi,
I use v6.31 stable.

please,

Well I was up-to-date as there was no update available on Retrobat directly. I then updated manually to the latest version as quoted by you.

But this is not at all a blocking issue, you know you can manage autoboot by adding a .autorun file in the same folder and with the same name as your rom.

Moreover, it's necessary to delete the .ini most of the time when using a frontend, as it can mess with the command line arguments being sent.
Ultimately, letting users manage the .ini files bring far more issue then deleting them.

tartifless wrote:But this is not at all a blocking issue, you know you can manage autoboot by adding a .autorun file in the same folder and with the same name as your rom.

Moreover, it's necessary to delete the .ini most of the time when using a frontend, as it can mess with the command line arguments being sent.
Ultimately, letting users manage the .ini files bring far more issue then deleting them.

Hello,
thanks for letting me know about the .autorun file! I tested it and the typing command "CLOAD" works fine on MAME64, but not on mame-libretro.
Unfortunately with .autorun I cannot use MAME specific commands such as for example:

Code:

mame videopac -cart1 voice -cart2 crazyc

I also tried with a .cmd file in the same folder and with the same name as the rom.file but that didn't work either.

Is there another way I can use mame-specific commands in Retrobat?

The videopac is already managed by retrobat, but multicart is not possible in RetroBat

tartifless wrote:The videopac is already managed by retrobat, but multicart is not possible in RetroBat

The o2em-libretro is a very poor VIDEOPAC emulation in comparison to what MAME is capable of (thanks to HAP who worked very hard for improving the videopac on MAME). o2em-libretro still doesn't have perfect sound, it lacks of playing many modules, such as the 16k games (Helicopter Rescue, Trans-American Rally etc.), the Chess and the Homecomputer Module with Cassette support. I'm a collector of the real hardware and I know what I'm talking about.
I don't know what you mean with Multicart, as -cart1 and -cart2 is a general function in MAME. For the sake of VIDEOPAC you select the voice module first in -cart1 and with -cart2 the game module, so the voice module gets enabled.
If Retrobat will manage supporting all the functions for MAME, then it even gains more attraction as it already has, and I really love your work with Retrobat!

What is would suggest is that you join the discord of retrobat to give us info on how to make MESS (non-arcade mame) better, as the old computers emulation with mame needs much knowledge and we are only 2 developers and none of us really knowledgeable (or willing to spend time) on these.

So we could really need help if we do it slowly, system by system.

With pleasure. I already joined your discord channel.

I cannot find you, any user name i should look for ?

g7200

You have to validate your membership by pushing the green tick. But only one time (until your nickname become red)