Tikimaster Posted February 9 Posted February 9 Hello friends Yesterday, I downloaded and tested the new bgfx variant. It took a while to get a playfield on my desktop, but the playfield and DMDext were visible. I then tried all my old tricks to see a backglass. It didn't work. Is there a trick? I did some reading and understood that bgfx uses a different architecture and “it is not intended to load a backglass similar to DX” (in simple terms). I understand the move to bgfx well. Multiplatform. It seems to me that as a desktop user, I might have some problems at first. Is there any news on this, a current status of discussions, or anything else I should know? Thanks
deadmanworking Posted February 9 Posted February 9 It's a known issue in the beta release, you can use a front end like PinballX that will start the B2S for you but don't expect consistent results, the beta is still just supposed to be used for testing.
Cliffy Posted February 9 Posted February 9 4 hours ago, Tikimaster said: Hello friends Yesterday, I downloaded and tested the new bgfx variant. It took a while to get a playfield on my desktop, but the playfield and DMDext were visible. I then tried all my old tricks to see a backglass. It didn't work. Is there a trick? I did some reading and understood that bgfx uses a different architecture and “it is not intended to load a backglass similar to DX” (in simple terms). I understand the move to bgfx well. Multiplatform. It seems to me that as a desktop user, I might have some problems at first. Is there any news on this, a current status of discussions, or anything else I should know? Thanks Yeah thats what I was talking about in @jarr3 thread yesterday where he warned us that the DX version of vpx will be deprecated SOON. Like you I cannot get bgfx to start the b2s server in desktop mode. I have the plugin(s) enabled but no dice. I hope the vpx build team is prepared for an onslaught of "hey my DMD and b2s don't show!" posts
jarr3 Posted February 9 Posted February 9 I have been working with Niwak/vbousquet this weekend. Do not know if you remember he was trying to change something in B2S Server to solve it for 10.8.1, but it failed completely. Currently it works like this: B2S.Server goes through all processes on the PC to find out the window with "Visual Pinball - Tablename", then it cuts and slices to get the tablename out. Instead the controller.vbs should tell B2S.Server which table is open, and we have a less hacky solution. This change is now applied to VPX 10.8.1 #4605, so if you take any newer build, you will get this change. At the same time, if you get one of my test builds, which can consume this change https://github.com/JockeJarre/b2s-backglass/actions/runs/21832542187 we should be good to go... In this build, there is also a new B2SBackglassServer.dll called B2S.ComServer.dll available. It is a complete rewrite in C# and should hopefully be much more efficient. This new one will not work with 10.8.0 yet though... The B2SBackglassServerRegisterApp.exe will ask which of the two to install and cleanup each others registration. This is early day, happy for you to test, but please remember we are still in testmode... When you download 10.8.1, do NOT mix it with 10.8.0!!! It does not work like this anymore!!! Put it in a separate folder and let VPinballX.starter start it
Tikimaster Posted February 9 Author Posted February 9 Thanks. I use a seperate folder. I started a backglass with double click and then I started the table with bgfx - it works. 🙂 (Click-arround) (Just tested two tables, Deadpool shows his Puppack) Whould be nice to have a "legacy" mode für desktoppers. Sounds good, what you wrote. I don´t want to mess up my sys, so I will not test that new server right now. 🙂 (but I am curious) .. and happy you care about that.. Please keep us informed about things moving on...
Cliffy Posted February 9 Posted February 9 @jarr3 I also have bgfx in a separate folder so no worries there. I tested vpx 10.8.1 bgfx x64 4626 and by golly the b2s loads perfectly! I went into the F12 menu to turn off b2s legacy plugin, restarted and the b2s still loaded fine with the non-legacy plugin enabled. Whew! That's a relief sir And no workaround needed @Tikimaster
Tikimaster Posted February 9 Author Posted February 9 8 minutes ago, Cliffy said: 10.8.1 bgfx x64 4626 can´t find it. maybe to fresh. sounds good. thankyou for this.
Cliffy Posted February 9 Posted February 9 Just now, Tikimaster said: can´t find it. maybe to fresh. sounds good. thankyou for this. https://github.com/vpinball/vpinball/actions/runs/21809638485
jarr3 Posted February 9 Posted February 9 2 minutes ago, Cliffy said: @jarr3 I also have bgfx in a separate folder so no worries there. I tested vpx 10.8.1 bgfx x64 4626 and by golly the b2s loads perfectly! I went into the F12 menu to turn off b2s legacy plugin, restarted and the b2s still loaded fine with the non-legacy plugin enabled. Whew! That's a relief sir And no workaround needed @Tikimaster The old B2SBackglassServer.dll (in my latest build) skips the (B2S.Server goes through all processes on the PC to find out the window with "Visual Pinball - Tablename") table name finding part, IF it gets a value from controller.vbs. It will be added to 10.8.0 as well soon, which means my new B2S.ComServer.dll will work also in 10.8.0.
Tengri Posted February 9 Posted February 9 (edited) I'm a bit lost in the different explanations. I'm running 10.8.1 BGFX 64bit on Windows for quite some time now. So far, using the b2s plugin or b2slegacy plugin did not work (but that didn't bothered me, since the regular 'B2S Server' installation in a separate subfolder continues to work. The position of the backglass is defined through screenres.txt, etc. pp.) Are the plugins (or at least one of them working for you?) What is the role of @jarr3 's build of b2sserver.dll / B2S.ComServer.dll for 10.8.1? Is this for the case of the plugins not working? I was under the impression that the plugins (b2s + b2slegacy) completely replace the separate B2S Server installation? Edited February 9 by Tengri
Cliffy Posted February 9 Posted February 9 1 hour ago, Tengri said: I'm a bit lost in the different explanations. I'm running 10.8.1 BGFX 64bit on Windows for quite some time now. So far, using the b2s plugin or b2slegacy plugin did not work (but that didn't bothered me, since the regular 'B2S Server' installation in a separate subfolder continues to work. The position of the backglass is defined through screenres.txt, etc. pp.) Are the plugins (or at least one of them working for you?) What is the role of @jarr3 's build of b2sserver.dll / B2S.ComServer.dll for 10.8.1? Is this for the case of the plugins not working? I was under the impression that the plugins (b2s + b2slegacy) completely replace the separate B2S Server installation? for me, at least, bgfx is still using the b2s server sans plugin. When I right click on the backglass it shows the usual server info and settings window. I've always had my b2s server stuff in it's own folder apart for vpinball but, of course, the tablename.res exists next to each directb2s. I also have every game (and it's b2s) in their own folder under Tables\
Tengri Posted February 10 Posted February 10 (edited) @jarr3 I tested your B2S Server build that you linked above yesterday evening. First the new B2S.ComServer.dll then the classical B2SBackglassServer.dll. Unfortunately, both were not working (with the newest action run build of VPX (10.8.1)). I also let it clean the Registry from old B2S Server COM entries. Since then, no Backglass is shown anymore. Also not when going back to B2S Server v2.1.5.1 and any of the recent 10.8.1 action run builds (from yesterday or last week). I don't know by what magic it (B2S Server) worked so far, but it did. Cleaning the Registry seemed to remove something that made it to work. Any idea? I can also file this as a Github issue if you prefer. Edited February 10 by Tengri
jarr3 Posted February 11 Posted February 11 (edited) Now VPX 10.8.0 (last build ever maybe?) has a new build (VPinballX-10.8.0-2079) which fills the TableName before the backglass is started. This will make the new B2S COM Server work also with 10.8.0 @Tengri, please use https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/registered_dll_view.html and export what is found after you search for B2S and post here. We will make it work again! Would REALLY appriciate us finding what the problem is, so that I can solve it for the the release... If you run the registerapp and selecting the old server, it should work fine again. Edited February 11 by jarr3
Tikimaster Posted February 12 Author Posted February 12 Just tested 10.8.1-4639-38c7f0c-windows-x64 - I managed to get Playfield, Backglass, DMDext and PupPack running. I am still struggling to get my gamepad connected with the brand new stunning settings-menu, but this is another matter..
Cliffy Posted February 12 Posted February 12 6 hours ago, Tikimaster said: Just tested 10.8.1-4639-38c7f0c-windows-x64 - I managed to get Playfield, Backglass, DMDext and PupPack running. I am still struggling to get my gamepad connected with the brand new stunning settings-menu, but this is another matter.. I tried 4641 this morning and now the b2s is running in the background and just will not come forward. It's as if bgfx is behaving like exclusive full screen or GL
jarr3 Posted February 12 Posted February 12 (edited) 1 hour ago, Cliffy said: I tried 4641 this morning and now the b2s is running in the background and just will not come forward. It's as if bgfx is behaving like exclusive full screen or GL I guess we could start tweaking the settings for B2SWindowPunch? This should make the Backglass shine through wherever which layer it comes. We have a new release candidate for the B2S Server The new B2S Comserver isn't included just jet... - B2SWindowPunch punched to big, now fixed. - B2SWindowPunch can punch rounded edges. Third parameter control radius (cutterradius). - B2SInit timeout can be controlled through res file (cuttertimeout) - B2SScreenResIdentifier crash when changing checkboxes #132 - B2SBackglassServerRegisterApp unblock files while registering #64 - Corrected Fuzzy matching #157, Thanks bthlonewolf - Add back right click context menu on VPX #127 - ScreenRes files should searched first for the backglass and then VPX file name #163 - Stop searching window title for tablename when VPX feeds this through COM. This is a error prone way of getting the name of the table. #167 From VPX 10.8.0-2079 (vpinball #5057) and VPX 10.8.1-4620 this is now solved in VPX script Controller.vbs The B2S Server is now compatible with VPX 10.8.1 BGFX! Edited February 12 by jarr3
Tengri Posted February 12 Posted February 12 Hi @jarr3 here are the files you proposed to create with DLLRegview. I am using your version of B2S Server that you linked above. Also I am using 10.8.1 BGFX Win 64bit release. It's from an action run from at least a week ago. I had B2S.ComServer.dll registered when I exported the .txt + .reg files. Then I removed all entries from the Registry and registered the classical B2SBackglassServer.dll. I then exported the corresponding .txt + .reg files for it. In both cases, bo backglass is coming up. Also, there are no windows in the background (when I run VPX, it's really only the VPX window being present when cycling through the app windows with ALT+TAB). Btw. after registering B2SBackglassServer.dll the whole multitude of CLSID entries are present again in the Registry. I thought, this is not happening again. Also, what I was wondering is thet I deleted all the entries shown in the screenshot from DLLRegview from the Registry and still, when Registering B2S.ComServer.dll, the messagedialog said it is already registered. How can that be if I deleted all entries from the Registry? Are there other related entries in the Registry that are not found when searching for 'b2s'? B2SBackglassServer DLL.reg B2SBackglassServer DLL.txt B2SComServer DLL.reg B2SComServer DLL.txt
Cliffy Posted February 12 Posted February 12 (edited) I think i see why I was having a problem. Ooops. I have a dummy hdmi dongle for future pinball and sometimes if my pc falls asleep certain programs think my second dummy monitor is now screen 1. The only way to "know" is by taking a screencap and then I can see whats running on the dummy dongle- and yep, there was the b2s. Will reboot and try again Update- yep. reboot to get everything running on screen 1, all good with new b2s server 2.1.6-387 and vpx 10.8.1 bgfx 64- 4641 Edited February 12 by Cliffy update
Tengri Posted February 12 Posted February 12 I can confirm, that B2SServer-2.1.6.387-3f3f231-win is working with todays' VPX BGFX build. Backglasses are shown. However - in most of the cases, the backglass is not terminated when exiting a table. This has worked before flawlessly.
Tikimaster Posted February 12 Author Posted February 12 2 hours ago, Cliffy said: all good with new b2s server 2.1.6-387 and vpx 10.8.1 bgfx 64- 4641 B2sserver 2.1.5 shows the backglass with 10.8.1.4639.. 🙂 Seems the "old" one is also compatible.. I run the beta vpx in another folder and my "normal" server version is working. all good with 2.1.5 and 4639.. I´ll check 4641 tomorrow.. I'm a little hesitant to change my Backglass installation. Surprisingly, 2.5.1 works with bgfx...
Cliffy Posted February 12 Posted February 12 26 minutes ago, Tikimaster said: B2sserver 2.1.5 shows the backglass with 10.8.1.4639.. 🙂 Seems the "old" one is also compatible.. I run the beta vpx in another folder and my "normal" server version is working. all good with 2.1.5 and 4639.. I´ll check 4641 tomorrow.. I'm a little hesitant to change my Backglass installation. Surprisingly, 2.5.1 works with bgfx... yeah I was using 2.1.5 till today. I just overwrote everything in my E:\B2S folder with 2.1.6 and yes 10.8.1 is also in it's own folder. So far b2s works well. I havent tried pups yet.
Cliffy Posted February 12 Posted February 12 addams pup works mostly, family guy loads but no triggering at all, same with F-14 pup.
jarr3 Posted February 13 Posted February 13 7 hours ago, Tikimaster said: B2sserver 2.1.5 shows the backglass with 10.8.1.4639.. 🙂 Seems the "old" one is also compatible.. I run the beta vpx in another folder and my "normal" server version is working. all good with 2.1.5 and 4639.. I´ll check 4641 tomorrow.. I'm a little hesitant to change my Backglass installation. Surprisingly, 2.5.1 works with bgfx... Ok, yes it can be that since we have updated VPX Controller.vbs to set the TableName before running the backglass, B2S Server will try to find the Player Window, and when it is coming back it's already set?!??! I have no clue, but in the new version it will not try to find the window, when it is already set.
jarr3 Posted February 13 Posted February 13 @Tengri Sorry, but removed the "bug" flag from your issue 'Backglass not closing when using VPX 10.8.1 & 'B2S Server v2.1.6 compatible with 10.8.1' on Github. It doesn't help me to create a ticket, when it's not clear what the problem is... Let us discuss here what the problem can be. There more collleagues here to can chip in and help you with your issue. My 5 cents: I can not confirm that what you explain, though I am pressing "Q" and not "esc" to quit. And the tests I did with 10.8.1 was running through VPinballX.starter, which means I was double clicking the tables which means VPX normally get additional parameters set.
Tengri Posted February 13 Posted February 13 @jarr3 Sure. I just wanted to help by having it documented on GitHub, but we can discuss this wherever you prefer - regardless of whether it turns out to be a bug or not. Let me explain why I believe this is a straightforward bug in B2S Server (though I could be wrong): I regularly update my VPX 10.8.1 installation with the latest action builds. Using B2S Server v2.1.5.1, everything had been working perfectly for weeks (and months); backglasses were displayed correctly and closed properly when exiting a table. Yesterday, I updated to B2S Server v2.1.6 (and also to the latest VPX action build) without changing any configuration settings. My keyboard mapping for the exit button remains the same, and I haven’t altered any launch parameters in PinballY. However, the backglass/B2S Server now fails to close when I exit a table. Because of this, I suspect a code change in B2S Server is responsible. I haven't seen any recent commits to VPX that appear to affect backglass termination. How can I help narrowing down the issue?
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