[Solved] Create XML dat file from current mame2003 core? (not mame2003-plus)

Clyde

Hi,

is there a way to export a XML dat file from the current mame2003 core like it is possible with "Create XML DAT" in the tab menu of mame2003-plus or via the original mame's -listxml or (older) -listinfo command line options? For example, (how) can the libretro core be started with a listxml/listinfo option?

If it isn't possible, would a feature request be feasible? Where should I make it for optimal prospects of success?

I really miss this feature since I started with Retropie over a year ago, but several sporadic searches here and on the web didn't produce any solutions. That said, I keep up the hope that I'm just too dumb to find it.

Of course I can generate the dat with the original mame078, but I suspect that it differs from the still updated mame2003. Does it?

Thanks for any information on this
Clyde

grant2258

https://github.com/libretro/mame2003-libretro/pull/348

this was added a while back if its not showing compile from source

Clyde

@grant2258 Now, that's funny. I thought I checked that before my post and didn't find such a tab menu entry in mame2003, but now it's there, and I didn't update since yesterday. 😒

I may have looked at the wrong emulator or I was just blind. 😳 So now, my needless question is obsolete. But maybe this thread will help others who don't know about the menu entry either or are as blind as me. 😊

Thanks!

dankcushions

@Clyde why do you need to generate the dat? mame2003's dat is available here: https://github.com/RetroPie/RetroPie-Setup/wiki/MAME#lr-mame2003-mame-2003

Clyde

@dankcushions Because I fear that the dat file from the Wiki isn't updated with every update of mame2003, or is it?

I compared the two:

-rw-r--r--  1 pi pi  8656877 Dez 10 13:21 MAME 0.78 XML.dat
-rw-r--r--  1 pi pi 19099060 Dez 10 13:20 mame2003.xml

The one mame2003 generated is more than double the size than the one from the wiki. Or are they in different formats for different purposes?

dankcushions

@Clyde i believe some fixes went in to the dat generation to include more info, but for the fundamental purpose of outputting the romset, they should be the same. the MAME 0.78 romset has not and will not change.

grant2258

https://github.com/libretro/mame2003-libretro/issues/352 you do need to run your set through this clyde. The is extra information in the dat other than rom information. It handy for tagging when using rom utilities

@dankcushions
https://github.com/libretro/mame2003-libretro/pull/357

you can get this reverted if you feel strongly about it

Clyde

@dankcushions I was not sure if backports like the ones described in this thread are part of Retropie's mame2003 by now, and if that would change the dat's content used for romset generation. Do I understand you correctly that that isn't the case?

Besides, I may have use for that other information you mentioned, e.g. for tagging or filtering like @grant2258 suggested.

@all: Is there any list or otherwise summarizing documentation of that extra information, and how to utilize it?

dankcushions

@Clyde said in [Solved] Create XML dat file from current mame2003 core? (not mame2003-plus):

@dankcushions I was not sure if backports like the ones described in this thread are part of Retropie's mame2003 by now, and if that would change the dat's content used for romset generation. Do I understand you correctly that that isn't the case?

none of those backports are in mame2003 anymore. they were branched out to mame2003-plus: https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/17766/mame2003-plus-250-new-games-new-input-system-new-features-a-few-new-bugs/

Clyde

@dankcushions Ah, okay! I didn't know that, thanks.