New GB version coming... feature requests, anyone?

[Jimbo]

No worries. You'll get the sourcecode of v1.3 anyway. The main changes will be the extra fields and the way the extra columns work (basically I 'loopified' the second column code).

[Jimbo]

Quick update:

I'm pretty sure the bug is in "clsD64.cls" - look in function GetName() for the comment "Trim trailing 0xA0 values".

Fixed!

Remove CRC field. As far as I can tell, it's always blank, and the "check games/CRC" option is disabled on the "Verify files..." screen.

Removed from Verify files screen. For now, I've kept the CRC field in the database as it may be used in future.

Any chance of a refresh button on the adding screeshots window, like the one on adding games.

Done!

I've also added a CloneOf field, that works in a similar way to the precursor/sequel/related game links. You can link multiple games (clones) to another game (the original). I've also added a new default view called <All Games - no clones> that shows all games that are not clones (i.e where the CloneOf field is empty). This was requested by Michael Plate so should be used to good effect in the next version of GB64.

Multiple columns working great, just gotta tidy up a few things. New beta not far off now.


James

[Jimbo]

Here's a new beta for you to try. Please back up your existing databases before running the new beta. Any feedback/bugreports welcome! See below, or the included History.txt file for what's new so far. If anyone wants the sourcecode, PM me and I'll arrange to send. There's more to come folks, I still have a bunch of stuff on the list (suggestions by all of you) which I'm working through as time permits.

http://www.leesti.com/gbv13b20091208.zip

===================================
GameBase v1.3 BETA (8 December 2009)
===================================
== NEW FEATURES ==
- RomLister Export - Now you can export GB databases and run them in a variety of popular arcade cabinet frontends
- New App: GBLauncher.exe - runs games using GEMUS silently via command line
- Now saves/retrieves last-browsed picture path in the Picture Selector (when adding games, or when current game has no picture file assigned)
- You can now stick wav files in your database's /Splash folder. GB will play a random one as it displays the splash screen
- Can now set the default Picture sizes per database in the [UI] section of Settings.ini, using the following: FullSizePictureWidthPixels=320, FullSizePictureHeightPixels=256, SmallPictureWidthPixels=320, SmallPictureHeightPixels=256, ZoomedWidthPixels=640, ZoomedPictureHeightPixels=512
- Added new fields: Artist, Developer, License, Rarity, Original, Playable, TitleScreen, Info WebLink, Version WebLink, CloneOf
- Views can finally show more than 2 columns!
- Added new Default View: <All Games Excluding Clones> to complement the new CloneOf field

== CHANGES ==
- Removed the "File Not Found or not PSID" message on the Music details tab
- Changed tab 3 in About screen to the loaded database's name, instead of "GameBase"
- Increased field sizes to 255 chars for: Cracker, Difficulty, Language, Musician (+Nick, +Grp), Programmer, Publisher, Genre, ParentGenre, Comment, Version Comment
- Yes/No fields are now Yes/No/Unknown for the following fields: Loading Screen, High Score Saver, Included Docs, True Drive Emu
- Reorganised layout of fields on details tabs to accommodate new fields
- Increased min-size of main GameBase window to accommodate new size of details tabs
- Various UI tweaks to account for new fields (and field sizes)
- Removed CRC checkbox on "Verify Available Files" as it is currently unused
- Picture Selector is now resizable, plus added refresh buttons
- New default "no picture" images
- Can now edit the FirstLoadGemusAsk and FirstLoadMessage from the GBToolbox (right-click the mdb file and select "First Load Message...")

== FIXES ==
- Fixed crash when adding 20th filter for a custom view
- Fixed issue with custom gfx GameTab4_16x16.gif, now tab 4 is working (use GameTab4_16x16.gif [no text] and optionally GameTab4a_16x16.gif [some text])
- Fixed crash when checking if a file exists, when the full filepath is over 128 chars long (limitation of winapi function OpenFile())
- Fixed "Could not open file. File already open" error when a D64 file had an empty Dir Entry or Disk Name

[hardmanm]

Using it now with my Speccymania gamebase amd looks really good, many thanks.

[davo]

@Jimbo

Excellent work. I am enjoying watching the changes come through.

The romcentre exporter and silent launcher mode are excellent new features. Together with everything else added/changed/fixed, you have just about created the next major version, not the next minor version. Good work.

[hardmanm]

This new version is great but lacks a bit of colour and sparkle, any chance of being able to change colours of fonts and background etc?

[K.C.]

Hi James,

The latest beta looks great. First load message works like a charm and the multiple columns option is a nice new feature.
One small bug: when clicking Paths in the Tools menu, the last tab (Photos) is selected by default instead of the first tab (Games).
Just tested it quickly, if I discover more issues, I will post them here.

[Jimbo]

Thanks. Any bug reports please post them here and I'll try to fix asap. Be nice to get this out of beta by Christmas!

[.mad.]

The related game screen could do with a tidy up!

[K.C.]

Any chance to get the show/hide fields option implemented in the next release?
Maybe this can be done with an .ini file in the database folder?
It would be nice that the showed fields are moved up and take the place of hidden fields. This way no blank lines appear in the Game details section.

[Vicman]

maybe, you can change the column "Year Published" into "Year" ?
'cause it looks better, when adding 5 or 6 xtra-columns in the view...

[.mad.]

when you add a screen shoot in Gamebase it always takes you to the root of the screenshots folder instead of remebering the last sub folder used, unlike adding gamefiles which does remember.

maybe the same could be done for MUSIC and other EXTRAS.

[Retroplay]

Is it possible to add 7zip support in the frontend ?

If this has already been asked then I apologize.

[Belgarath]

Love the new version, great work James.

However I have just found a bug with the title screen field.
It seems to have problems being changed, no matter what I select it doesn't change.

Almost all entries are set to unknown atm and I can't change them from that. But theres a few that somehow set to yes, and if i try to change them they stay stuck on yes..

[Jimbo]

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

This new version is great but lacks a bit of colour and sparkle, any chance of being able to change colours of fonts and background etc?

It's not high on the list of priorities. If I get time I might look into it.

One small bug: when clicking Paths in the Tools menu, the last tab (Photos) is selected by default instead of the first tab (Games).

Fixed

The related game screen could do with a tidy up!

Fixed - should be enough space now!

Any chance to get the show/hide fields option implemented in the next release?

Worked on that tonight. Should be ready for the next beta.

maybe, you can change the column "Year Published" into "Year"?

I think I did put that as default in the Text.ini file, I'll have to check. It might be showing as "Year Published" due to your existing ini file.

maybe the same could be done for MUSIC and other EXTRAS

OK I'll look at storing the last browsed paths for these too.

Is it possible to add 7zip support in the frontend ?

Quite a lot of work, that. Maybe not for v1.3, but I might continue to push out a few more versions before I retire (again)

However I have just found a bug with the title screen field.
It seems to have problems being changed, no matter what I select it doesn't change

Good spot. That was a copy/paste typo - it saves whatever the "Playable" field is. Fixed.

New beta shouldn't be too much longer.

James

EDIT: For those that asked for the sourcecode, I'll email it over after the next beta if that's ok. Should have most of the major v1.3 changes in there by then.