2011-10-01, 20:39
Most of your questions (except the last one) are related to the direct integration of post and pre command line entries into Advanced Launcher instead of using bash or script launcher files. I'm not sure it is a good idea. One example. If before starting an application you need to start 20 command lines, does this mean that Advanced Launcher will implement 20 command line entries into its launcher or item settings? That's make not sense. Bash and script files will always be more powerful and polyvalent than a direct command line entries integration into Advanced Launcher. Now to reply to you specific points :
1. Handling multi-CD games
Here I do not understand why Advanced Launcher have to do the job of emulators. If some emulators need to use several ISO images why they do not already have an option or a defined key to automatically switch between these ISO images. Why they do not support this option yet? I think it is better to ask to the emulator developers to add this feature instead of ask it to the front-end developers. BTW, it is totally possible to do this using an Autoit script : mount the 1st ISO image; start the emulator; when keys "1", "2", or "3" are pressed; unmount the actually loaded ISO image and mount the 1st, 2nd or 3rd ISO image. Actually I do not have the time nor the interest to work on such king of script. And if I would work on it, it will not be implemented into Advanced Launcher.
2. Game specific configuration in file launchers
You can already select specific configuration in files using the Advanced Launcher arguments : %rom%; %romfile%; %romname%; %appath% and %rompath% (http://www.gwenael.org/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=4#p4). For example that actually how Advanced Launcher do with WinUAE, Arnold or Model 2 emulators. You have the possibility to start a specific configuration file or a specific savestate while launching a specific game. In this case you do not have to modify the command line for each game but only need to edit the dedicated configuration file. Now, in my opinion, if some games do not properly work with one emulator or do not have command line support to start with a specific configuration, try another one, or ask the emulator developer to fix the problem. Here I do not understand why Advanced Launcher will have to manage defective emulators.
3. Image mounting
It is already possible to do this using a 3 lines bash file (http://www.gwenael.org/forum/viewtopic.php?id=7). And only one bash file is necessary for each launcher. That the most fast an easy way to do it.
4. Splash screens
I understand that you do not like bash files, but in this case I do not see how I can do it without using an external script of bash file. Advanced Launcher is an XBMC add-on, that's mean that Advanced Launcher is totally dependent of XBMC. So if XBMC is closed or the started application take the control over XBMC, Advanced Launcher will not be able control anything. The only thing Advanced Launcher do is to start ONE application using command line. If you want to display a loading screen, mount an ISO image, etc... all this will be done by THE started application. And the only easily modifiable kind of applications that can do this are bash or AutoIt scripts.
5. Exporting metadata
I'm actually working on the integration of nfo files support into Advanced Launcher as for other XBMC media. BTW, actually all the meta-data are into the launchers.xml file that could be modified using any kind of text editors.
1. Handling multi-CD games
Here I do not understand why Advanced Launcher have to do the job of emulators. If some emulators need to use several ISO images why they do not already have an option or a defined key to automatically switch between these ISO images. Why they do not support this option yet? I think it is better to ask to the emulator developers to add this feature instead of ask it to the front-end developers. BTW, it is totally possible to do this using an Autoit script : mount the 1st ISO image; start the emulator; when keys "1", "2", or "3" are pressed; unmount the actually loaded ISO image and mount the 1st, 2nd or 3rd ISO image. Actually I do not have the time nor the interest to work on such king of script. And if I would work on it, it will not be implemented into Advanced Launcher.
2. Game specific configuration in file launchers
You can already select specific configuration in files using the Advanced Launcher arguments : %rom%; %romfile%; %romname%; %appath% and %rompath% (http://www.gwenael.org/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=4#p4). For example that actually how Advanced Launcher do with WinUAE, Arnold or Model 2 emulators. You have the possibility to start a specific configuration file or a specific savestate while launching a specific game. In this case you do not have to modify the command line for each game but only need to edit the dedicated configuration file. Now, in my opinion, if some games do not properly work with one emulator or do not have command line support to start with a specific configuration, try another one, or ask the emulator developer to fix the problem. Here I do not understand why Advanced Launcher will have to manage defective emulators.
3. Image mounting
It is already possible to do this using a 3 lines bash file (http://www.gwenael.org/forum/viewtopic.php?id=7). And only one bash file is necessary for each launcher. That the most fast an easy way to do it.
4. Splash screens
I understand that you do not like bash files, but in this case I do not see how I can do it without using an external script of bash file. Advanced Launcher is an XBMC add-on, that's mean that Advanced Launcher is totally dependent of XBMC. So if XBMC is closed or the started application take the control over XBMC, Advanced Launcher will not be able control anything. The only thing Advanced Launcher do is to start ONE application using command line. If you want to display a loading screen, mount an ISO image, etc... all this will be done by THE started application. And the only easily modifiable kind of applications that can do this are bash or AutoIt scripts.
5. Exporting metadata
I'm actually working on the integration of nfo files support into Advanced Launcher as for other XBMC media. BTW, actually all the meta-data are into the launchers.xml file that could be modified using any kind of text editors.