Hacking Rominator v2008

[NormanCod]

I'd tried Rominator 2008 when it first came out but didn't really understand the new system for organisation, so after a couple of attempts at running it I gave up and left it until v2008.5.
This evening I thought I'd follow the instructions, get it running, donate $20 and get the extra features.

I followed the readme
To begin: Place the Rominator Application in place of the old version, the 'Rominator Data' folder should also be in the same location.

For Mac OS X Users: Place the 'Rominator Data' folder inside ~User/Library/Preferences/

So I wasn't sure whether the 'Rominator Data' folder should be in the first place or the second, but I placed my 'Rominator Data' folder in my preferences anyway.

I should mention that my Games folder in 'Rominator Data' is actually an alias (Finder alias not unix symlink) to a folder full of ROMs on a secondary disk.

Migration seemed to fail and the Games folder and all its contents disappeared (leaving orphaned symlinks)

I'm extra annoyed with myself because I don't backup the secondary disk, don't have Time Machine, and I was actually cautious with v2008.0 and actually experimented using a test version of my games folder, but mistakingly trusted v2008.5.

 

[TechnoCat]

Can you make it so that if you trim a rom that has o database info it won't overtrim? Please?

I have a translated version of Jump Ultimate Stars. And when it gets trimmed it gets over trimmed. I was wondering if instead there could be a flag to set a rom to not be trimmed.

 

[Mr.Seiko]

I must say, I started using this Program yesterday and I love it.


I'm excited to see such an Amazing program on Mac, (most programs seem to be in the windows world only)

I'm a father with 3 kids, so I sent in what I could as a Donation, and I'm anxiously awaiting my Reg Code so I can unlock the new features. And in any given day, I use up to 3 different computers, so when able, I will send in more donations to unlock features on those computers as well.


The only feature that I am holding out for is 7Zip support, but the program seems rock solid and pretty fast on my old 1.25Ghz G4 eMac.

 

[BrianTokyo]

Which are the locked features?

 

[Mr.Seiko]

Which are the locked features?

From the Tools Menu

DS Game Catalog
Rom Statistics
Save Defender

 

[BrianTokyo]

What do they exactly do?

 

[hankchill]

DS Game Catalog is exactly as it says, a DS game catalog

Rom Statistics show what games you have and are missing, as well as the breakdown as to how many are compress, uncompressed, what ratings you gave them, and what regions they're from.
Save Defender is a feature that will automatically back up the save files from your flash card, and will perform an incremental backup, so every time a save is modified and inserted, it will back up and you can restore a save from any point you backed up.

 

[BrianTokyo]

I see, thanks!

 

[hankchill]

Edit: Thanks, got a couple of testers

 

[Necromancyr]

Any plans for 7zip support? Just curious, as most of my files are in that format.

 

[hankchill]

Any plans for 7zip support? Just curious, as most of my files are in that format.

No, there will be no 7zip support. Even though the compression may be better, it's an obscure format that is only seconded to the more popular Zip. Sorry.

 

[BrianTokyo]

It's actually pretty easy to use

My trimmer supports it. Let me know if you want the DLL and some info.

 

[hankchill]

It's actually pretty easy to use

My trimmer supports it. Let me know if you want the DLL and some info.

Thanks Brian, unfortunately I wouldn't even be able to call the DLL since I've written Rominator in RealBasic. I took a look at the 7zip code, technically I can convert it (since I have no problem converting C to RB) but it would take a long time and I know very few people would actually use it, so unless someone else decides they'd write a plugin for it that I can purchase, we won't see 7zip in it

However if I ever do stumble across a 7zip plugin, I'd be more than happy to purchase it and integrate support

 

[Mr.Seiko]

I love 7Zip.....


Oh well, Conversion time!!!!

Gotta make those Roms Zips.

 

[TechnoCat]

I use 7zip too. Reason being some viruses can actually infect zips since it is so common. So i like to keep my files safe in 7zip.

 

[hankchill]

I've just updated Rominator to v2008.6

Changes in v2008.6:

Spoiler

[+] Remember what was viewed in Rom Statistics
[+/-] Columns can now be resized as well as arranged in any order by dragging them in the View Options
[+] WiFi Information has been added
[FIX] Fixed the update bar showing continuously for some people
[FIX] Fix error when flashing an rZipped game
[FIX] Fix trimming of games not in database
[FIX] Fix when refreshing games in list it doesn't update with info
[+] Added preference for default list view
[FIX] Speed up importing and displaying Zip games
[+] Added Filter button in statistics so it doesn't update every small change
[+] Find function now filters game list to match only the field contents
[+/-] Having Rominator Data folder is now optional inside the same location as Rominator or the Preferences/Application Data folder
[FIX] In the 'Get Info' window, games with a '&' in the name didn't show properly
[FIX] Fixed valid games counter in Rom Statistics
[+] Added ability to export statistics to Text or CSV
[FIX] Misc. Bug Fixes

I made quite a few core changes to the way things work, and it's all for the better.
• Rominator Data folder can be in the same location as the application again. This is good for those who like to keep it on a memory stick. If it doesn't find a data folder in the same location, it will use the one in Preferences. It's a Win-Win situation!
• The columns in the rom list can be organized in ANY order you want, as well as resized to however large you want. Because I completely nailed this code, this also allows Rominator to go Maximized as well!
• I am still aware of the sorting bug when trying to sort sizes. I was going to fix it for this release, but I figured there was enough updated here to warrant a release to everyone as I've made quite a few pretty big changes (such as the above information, as well as the inclusion of which games can connect to Nintendo WiFi connection).
• You'll probably also notice the game lists load a little bit faster too. This is because it first loads all of the data invisibly and then displays it once it's in memory, instead of displaying as it goes, which is a little slower.

As usual, if any bugs are found, please report them using the Feedback system.

For those who tested for me, I thank you (even though I never even heard back from some of them

). You will need to download the latest version as your test version won't report an update available.

And thanks to all who have supported with your donations, it's because of all the support I get that the Rominator project keeps on living!

--Henry

 

[pnice]

Just wanted to post that I updated my version of rominator today and it seemed to be working great at first, loved the new layout and everything. Now though, it tells me there is an update every time I try to start the newest version I have (tells me 8.6 is out) and It'll download in a zip. I unzip it start it and it repeats over and over. It was working good too. I like the way it handles things now. I just couldn't figure out an easier way to see which roms I was missing. I was trying to devide them up by the 100 ala gbatemp and it was working before it started the update loop. I also plan to donate some paypal change I've got sitting around. I actually tried doing it a few times but my account was acting up. I'll submit this in the bug report section.


Sorry my typing is foulI split something on this keyboard and it is sucking wang.

 

[hankchill]

Just wanted to post that I updated my version of rominator today and it seemed to be working great at first, loved the new layout and everything. Now though, it tells me there is an update every time I try to start the newest version I have (tells me 8.6 is out) and It'll download in a zip. I unzip it start it and it repeats over and over. It was working good too. I like the way it handles things now. I just couldn't figure out an easier way to see which roms I was missing. I was trying to devide them up by the 100 ala gbatemp and it was working before it started the update loop. I also plan to donate some paypal change I've got sitting around. I actually tried doing it a few times but my account was acting up. I'll submit this in the bug report section.


Sorry my typing is foulI split something on this keyboard and it is sucking wang.

One thing that I cannot stand is when someone messages me and posts here as well -- Please do one or the other, I don't like responding to both. You've already sent me a private message so I don't think it's necessary to be posting in the thread as well regarding the same problem you're having.

As mentioned in the private message, when you download the update you need to quit Rominator, take the downloaded file, decompress it (windows), or mount the disk image (mac) and overwrite your old version. It will stop letting you know there's an update then. If you just reopen the old version (2008.5) it will of course let you know 2008.6 is out unless you disable checking for updates.

 

[BrianTokyo]

You could send a message to Rominator from the installer using FindWindow and SendMessage, just send WM_CLOSE so the installer will work fine

 

[pnice]

One thing that I cannot stand is when someone messages me and posts here as well -- Please do one or the other, I don't like responding to both. You've already sent me a private message so I don't think it's necessary to be posting in the thread as well regarding the same problem you're having.

As mentioned in the private message, when you download the update you need to quit Rominator, take the downloaded file, decompress it (windows), or mount the disk image (mac) and overwrite your old version. It will stop letting you know there's an update then. If you just reopen the old version (2008.5) it will of course let you know 2008.6 is out unless you disable checking for updates.
[/quote]


I didn't mean to piss you off of anything. Sory if I ruined your evening or anything. I felt like I was helping but I guess I was pissing you off instead.