[solved] : Collections : ES cannot find some rom files (which exists)

carlhungus74

I've created several collections. During testing, I was surprised several collections display 0 games.
When looking in the ES_log, there is some lines like :

lvl2: Loading custom collection config file at /home/pi/.emulationstation/collections/custom-0 to 10 (Worst) Games.cfg
lvl2: Couldn't find game referenced at '/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/arcade/azurian.zip

Very strange, because I'm sure this rom (and others) are in the correct folder.
This is a terminal command result :
pi@retropie:~$ ls /home/pi/Retropie/roms/arcade/azu*
/home/pi/Retropie/roms/arcade/azurian.zip

I've no idea why this happen ?

carlhungus74

Ok found it...

It is the file encoding.

All the files were in UTF8, but they were in Windows (CR LF) format.
I convert them in Unix (LF) format, and voilà! the roms are found by ES !

pjft

@cacrlhungus74 thanks for reporting! How did you create the collections and what OS are you on?

cyperghost

@pjft That's a good question indeed. But I think I take this case to the Thread: Share your custom collections. Seems like he is using NotePad++ in Windows and used the text newline endings \n\r.
@cacrlhungus74 I take your screens also to this thread. Think that makes sense for a lot of users. Do you want to share your custom collections, too? I once wrote a small script that just creates new custom collections out of a text file. The text file itself is robust against any newline format ;)

carlhungus74

hello,
Yes I'm using NotePad++ under windows 10. By default, Notepad++ creates Windows CR LR encoded files.
This is the fresh installation default settings. It could be change of course (but perhaps could create other problems under
windows environment).

Beside this, I also create/edit XML gamelists for ES, and they are also in windows encoding, without noticeable problems.
But I will double check my encoding next time EmulationStation behaves weird :)

Of course I will be please to share my custom collections, but they are the same as the one available through ArcadeManager (based on Antopisa ratings), so I don't think it is necessary for these, but of course I keep this is mind...

cyperghost

@cacrlhungus74 There is nothing wrong with ES or it's custom collections. It was never the intention to edit this files manual. The collections were designed to be added all out of ES. You can create files out of ES menu, you usually add/remove entries to these collections also by ES.
But I agree it's very handy to edit these files and just add entries ... or use collections other user stick together ;)