B2s backglass loads and then vanishes

[Nordfinn]

I see that this has cropped up repeatedly in the last couple years.  I've tried everything suggested in previous threads, including editing the dmddevice.ini file.  Tried every different setting in B2s interface.

I stumped especially because the same setup, with the same setting is working fine with another table (Blue Note (Gottlieb 1979) 1.1.1), but I cannot get to work with Slick Chick (Gottlieb 1963) 1.3.1.  I'm still new to this, was trying to adjust my desktop mode according to the below helpful video.  I'm using all the latest versions of the programs.  In response to the below I moved B2s into my Tables folder (it had been in its own), so as to not get error messages when trying to follow the video.  

 

Giving up, concerning the Slick Chick table.  Perhaps it's an table-by-table matter, as someone else encountering this concluded.

 

N.

 

[deadmanworking]

Are you using 10.8 stable or 10.8.1 beta? 

Also is the B2S file named exactly like the table file (copy-paste)? 

 

[Nordfinn]

Hi, and thanks.  Running 10.8.0.  And yes, everything is named exactly the same.

[Cliffy]

If you alt-tab and see the backglass running in the background then most likely you have exclusive fullscreen checked in your vpx vid/graphics prefs. OR you're running the GL version of vpx, which will not allow more than one window on screen. OR.... your tablename.res has the backglass positioned off screen. 

Only use the DX version of vpx for desktop and only use windowed fullscreen mode in prefs.

[Nordfinn]

Thanks.  But everything is correct, as per the above, but I'm still stumped.  The confounding thing is that if I copy those same three files for the table (the VPX, the B2s, and the screen resolution) from the Tables folder and move them to my desktop, then everything runs fine, as it should be.  I've tried then saving that instance (Save as) back into Tables, but then, starting from there, the problem reappears: The B2s backglass disappears (but not the dmd, strangely) a second or two after it loads.  And another strange thing happens: my mouse disappears in the B2S server, if I manage to bring it up.  All this happens on just the one table (Slick Chicks).  I've tried downloading a new VPX file for it, but same thing happens.

N.

[Cliffy]

1 hour ago, Nordfinn said:

Thanks.  But everything is correct, as per the above, but I'm still stumped.  The confounding thing is that if I copy those same three files for the table (the VPX, the B2s, and the screen resolution) from the Tables folder and move them to my desktop, then everything runs fine, as it should be.  I've tried then saving that instance (Save as) back into Tables, but then, starting from there, the problem reappears: The B2s backglass disappears (but not the dmd, strangely) a second or two after it loads.  And another strange thing happens: my mouse disappears in the B2S server, if I manage to bring it up.  All this happens on just the one table (Slick Chicks).  I've tried downloading a new VPX file for it, but same thing happens.

N.

Bizarre. Sounds like you have a .vbs file or stray xml, maybe a stray .res in the tables folder thats conflicting.   You should have only ONE b2stablesettings.xml file and it should reside wherever the b2s server files reside. In my case my b2s files are in their own folder completely separate from tables or visual pinball, simply E:\B2S.  Wherever it's registered it will ONLY register properly if a good b2stablesettings.xml is in alongside the register app.  The vpx tables, b2s and associated tablename.res need to be together, either in their own folders or in the tables folder itself. 

Here is the slick chick section from my b2stablesettings.xml;

<SlickChick_1963>
    <HideGrill>1</HideGrill>
    <HideB2SDMD>0</HideB2SDMD>
    <HideB2SBackglass>0</HideB2SBackglass>
    <HideDMD>1</HideDMD>
    <LampsSkipFrames>1</LampsSkipFrames>
    <SolenoidsSkipFrames>3</SolenoidsSkipFrames>
    <GIStringsSkipFrames>3</GIStringsSkipFrames>
    <StartAsEXE>1</StartAsEXE>
    <FormToFront>1</FormToFront>
    <FormToBack>0</FormToBack>
    <FormNoFocus>0</FormNoFocus>
  </SlickChick_1963>

 

and my slick chick res file attached if you like

Slick Chick (Gottlieb 1963) 1.3.1.res

Edited December 8, 2025 by Cliffy

[deadmanworking]

3 hours ago, Nordfinn said:

Thanks.  But everything is correct, as per the above, but I'm still stumped.  The confounding thing is that if I copy those same three files for the table (the VPX, the B2s, and the screen resolution) from the Tables folder and move them to my desktop, then everything runs fine, as it should be.  I've tried then saving that instance (Save as) back into Tables, but then, starting from there, the problem reappears: The B2s backglass disappears (but not the dmd, strangely) a second or two after it loads.  And another strange thing happens: my mouse disappears in the B2S server, if I manage to bring it up.  All this happens on just the one table (Slick Chicks).  I've tried downloading a new VPX file for it, but same thing happens.

N.

 

Seeing it works from desktop I would try the following: Run the files from desktop again, right click backglass and make a random change and back, then save. You should get a new B2stablesettings.xml file on the desktop including only one entry for Slick Chick. Then go back to your tables folder, open the B2stablesettings file there and compare the settings. 

However having it briefly appear and then disappear is puzzling. When it disappears, do you see a black screen or the desktop background?
And you're not starting from a frontend like PinballX are you? If you have set Form to back then your backglass might get covered by the frontend background. 

[Nordfinn]

Ok thanks. Fixed.  Not exactly the way you suggested, but very close.  But I went into the B2sTablesettings.xml file in the tables folder and compared.  The  <StartAsEXE>1</StartAsEXE> was set to 0, rather than 1.  I think the B2s server was not saving my settings or something, because I reset this repeatedly.  Also, there was an anomaly: the entry for the table ended with  <Animations />, which is something I did not see elsewhere, so I deleted that line.  

 

So I changed 0 to 1 in the one line, and deleted the other, and resaved the .xml file.  

 

And I know now how to access that configuration file, if need be.

 

Thanks again for your help.