MAME key bindings save file? MAME/ROM associations save file?

[DavidDraper]

General question, but FWIW,

RetroPie 4.7.2
Pi 4, 4 GB RAM
Vilros Kit power supply
8BitDo SNES style controller
Vilros Keyboard

Is there a file where MAME Rom associations are saved? IE, a file where it ROM X is saved to be launched with MAME 1 and ROM Y is saved to be launched with MAME 2?

Also, is there a file where key bindings are saved for ROMS within an emulator?

I'm just thinking about how complex it would be recreate a new RetroPi system if I ever wanted to start with a fresh install.

Thanks in advance.

David

[rkoster]

@daviddraper here is a guide to where all the config files live and what data they each have in them.

https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/22816/guide-retroarch-system-emulator-core-and-rom-config-files?_=1612589228922

[Folly]

@daviddraper

Seems @rkoster posted only a link which contains configs for retroarch.
I think you are looking for something else.

Is there a file where MAME Rom associations are saved? IE, a file where it ROM X is saved to be launched with MAME 1 and ROM Y is saved to be launched with MAME 2?

After the MAME install, the file associations are stored in /etc/emulationstation/es_systems.cfg and can be edited if you are super user.
(use => sudo)

If you want different load commands for MAME you can manually add them in :
/opt/retropie/configs/arcade/emulators.cfg

edit : I misinterpreted something and It seems I am wrong about the location of emulators.cfg, see the reply of @mitu

If you then boot a rom, press a key when you see the retropie boot screen.
Now you will be able to boot each game with a different "loader".
Your choice is then stored and next time it will boot with the desired command loader.

Also, is there a file where key bindings are saved for ROMS within an emulator?

You have to know that if you configure key-binding in MAME/lr-mame/lr-mess your configuration is stored in a MAME specific config file.
Depending on some configurations these files are not always in the same directory.
It looks like for standalone MAME this is stored in the same romdirectory as where the games are.
If so it creates a mame directory with configs that has the system as config name.
So if the standard system is arcade, then the config should be in :
/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/arcade/mame/cfg/arcade.cfg

I'm just thinking about how complex it would be recreate a new RetroPi system if I ever wanted to start with a fresh install.

Indeed it can be very complex.
So my advise, do your new install on a different sd card.
That way you can always look back on your old sd card if something doesn't work.

@DTEAM also knows quite alot about MAME, you can also ask him for advice.

[mitu]

@folly said in MAME key bindings save file? MAME/ROM associations save file?:

Is there a file where MAME Rom associations are saved? IE, a file where it ROM X is saved to be launched with MAME 1 and ROM Y is saved to be launched with MAME 2?

After the MAME install, the file associations are stored in /etc/emulationstation/es_systems.cfg and can be edited if you are super user.
(use => sudo)

No, the runcommand ROM launch settings (i.e. when you choose a specific emulator for a ROM) are stored in /opt/retropie/configs/all/emulators.cfg

[Folly]

@mitu said in MAME key bindings save file? MAME/ROM associations save file?:

@folly said in MAME key bindings save file? MAME/ROM associations save file?:

Is there a file where MAME Rom associations are saved? IE, a file where it ROM X is saved to be launched with MAME 1 and ROM Y is saved to be launched with MAME 2?

After the MAME install, the file associations are stored in /etc/emulationstation/es_systems.cfg and can be edited if you are super user.
(use => sudo)

No, the runcommand ROM launch settings (i.e. when you choose a specific emulator for a ROM) are stored in /opt/retropie/configs/all/emulators.cfg

I don't have an emulators.cfg file in the 'all' directory.
Are we both wrong ? Aren't we meaning :
/opt/retropie/configs/mame/emulators.cfg

[DTEAM]

@DavidDraper
See in /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame/cfg (for specific key bindings per games or systems, once you set It for a first time)

Go in your /opt/retropie/configs/mame/mame.ini

You will know what is where (like: state_directory ----------> /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame/sta)

rompath /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame;/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/arcade;/home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS/mame;/home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS;/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/tigerh;/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/gameandwatch;/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/tigerrz;/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/pong;/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/konamih;/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/classich;/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/atomiswave;/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/naomi;/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/all_in1;/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/jakks
hashpath /opt/retropie/emulators/mame/hash
samplepath /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame/samples;/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/arcade/samples
artpath /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame/artwork;/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/arcade/artwork;/home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS/mame/artwork
ctrlrpath /opt/retropie/emulators/mame/ctrlr
pluginspath /opt/retropie/emulators/mame/plugins
languagepath /opt/retropie/emulators/mame/language
cfg_directory /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame/cfg
nvram_directory /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame/nvram
input_directory /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame/inp
state_directory /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame/sta
snapshot_directory /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame/snap
diff_directory /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame/diff
comment_directory /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame/comments
skip_gameinfo 1
plugin hiscore
samplerate 44100
video accel
 
```**bolded text**

[mitu]

@folly said in MAME key bindings save file? MAME/ROM associations save file?:

I don't have an emulators.cfg file in the 'all' directory.
Are we both wrong ? Aren't we meaning :

I don't think so. The - global - emulators.cfg is not created if you haven't configured any ROM to run with a specific emulator. The file is present on my system.

[Folly]

@mitu

Ok, I will keep that in mind.

[DavidDraper]

Thanks very much everyone. This is all very helpful.

David

[Folly]

@daviddraper said in MAME key bindings save file? MAME/ROM associations save file?:

Thanks very much everyone. This is all very helpful.

David

Your welcome !

I replied your thread because we also have to learn a great deal about MAME.

I want to ask you : " Can you make a summarize in your first post for us on what you have learned so far about these MAME configs ? "

Then we can read this again, and create a much better picture on how this works.