[Feature Req] Option to match cmd line 'file mananger' behaviour to MAME GUI behaviour for softlist display.

[john-iv]

Probably best directed to Vas; would like to request the default in-game tab menu item [File Manager] act like it does when MAME is launched to its internal GUI and you select a console (or at least the option to do it?). This would cut down on a lot of extra key presses, and you could back out if you needed alternate menu choices.

For example: 1a. Double click MAME, launch the internal GUI, choose Intellivision from the list. 2b. Immediately shows the software list as the next screen.

Doing it the long way.

1. Launch via commandline 'mame intv'.
2. Select tab.
3. Select File Manager.
4. Arrow down, choose cartridge.
5. Arrow down, choose software list.
6. Choose Intellivision cartridges.
7. Arrive at software list from step 2b above.

Can we get the option for the software list to populate after step 3 above by default to match the behaviour of the internal GUI method from the top, using whatever logic the internal GUI uses to choose the appropriate softlist to display. Thanks -

[cuavas]

I don't think jumping straight to the software list when changing media is necessarily a great idea. Changing media while running is more common for systems like computers where you're swapping your own data disks and stuff around, or changing memory cards in a Neo Geo MVS, and other stuff like that. There's also the mess with software list items not necessarily corresponding to a single image device, and software list items that instruct MAME to set up slot devices in a particular way. Changing slot devices still requires a hard reset.

Perhaps you want something like the “Select New Machine” option on the main menu, but for loading a different software list entry?

[john-iv]

Understood, the use case is for front-ends or cmd line that launch 'just' the machine itself (a2600, coleco, intv). I'd like to get to the soft list as quickly as possible in the least amount of keystrokes. :-)

You have the behaviour I'd like already when you use the MAME GUI. Takes one 'enter' to get to the soft list on the above consoles. Going through the file manager menu after a cmd line launch or front end launch it's like 7 or 8 keystrokes. Figured the code path is already there for the MEWUI angle and could be extended. Thanks -

[cuavas]

So what are you asking for? It's not entirely clear:

• What you actually asked for was an option to make the file manager prompt for software list rather than files. This probably won’t actually achieve what you want.
• You may want a menu item to restart the current system with a different software list item, to complement the menu item to start a different machine.
• You may want an option to always show software list or file manager on starting a system even if it has no mandatory image devices. This would definitely annoy people if it was enabled by default, because it would take an extra confirmation step to start a system “empty”. Even putting that aside, it would be better if it could detect that you haven't specified any software, but that’s not as simple as considering whether any image devices are loaded, because of data-only things like memory cards. Even if you've specified a memory card on the command line, you still haven't loaded software.

[john-iv]

Admittedly I'm thinking about this in terms of simple consoles, a2600, intv, coleco, gameboy. Sounds like your second bullet point. How does the MEWUI choose its first software list to show when you choose the machine the atari 2600? Maybe something like:

1. mame.exe intv
2. Starts up the machine, potentially to black screen if there is no built in software.
3. Hit tab
4. Menu item here 'Software List' (?) for found supported software list. Select.
5. Main software list for the named machine displays. Secondary/compatible ones could be at the top of list to change to, like the compatible Color Gameboy for Nintendo Gameboys. But the main Gameboy option displays all the games beneath it.

That would allow File Manager to retain all its current utility without alteration.

[rfka01]

What would already help a lot in terms of usability (for the stuff I use MAME for) if File Manager was at the top of the TAB menu list.

[rb6502]

I'd suggest file manager on top of the tab menu, and if a device has a softlist item currently inserted, default to showing that same softlist (ideally scrolled to the existing item, but doesn't have to be).