(SOLVED) Trouble executing exit game/emulator with multi_switch.sh

[cjc1972]

Hi friends, I am diagnosing why @cyperghost multi_switch.sh script will not execute for me. I am running a RPi3B with Retropie version 4.8.2 and a PowerBlock for shutdown. I am only using the multi_switch.sh for the --ES-CLOSEEMU functionality for exiting a game/emulator with a single button. I am using a basic micro switch as my button. The exitemulator.py script that I am using to call the --ES-CLOSEEMU function is one that I have copied from the forum that apparently worked (https://retropie.org.uk/forum/post/187358)and was written by @mitu. Although there is a bit of script within the exitemulator.py for calling the shutdown function within the multi_switch.sh, I don’t believe that it should be interring with the exit emulator function that I am interested in.

Script for exitemulator.py script written by @mitu

#!/usr/bin/python
import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
import time
import subprocess

GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BOARD)

shutdownPin=25
resetPin=26

GPIO.setup(shutdownPin, GPIO.IN)
GPIO.setup(resetPin, GPIO.IN)

oldButtonState1 = True

while True:
    #grab the current button state
    buttonState1 = GPIO.input(shutdownPin)
    buttonState2 = GPIO.input(resetPin)

    # check to see if button has been pushed
    if buttonState1 != oldButtonState1 and buttonState1 == False:
        # shutdown
        subprocess.call("shutdown -h now", shell=True,
          stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
        oldButtonState1 = buttonState1
    
    if not buttonState2:
        # Reset emulator
        print "Reset pressed"
        subprocess.call("/home/pi/scripts/multi_switch.sh --es-closeemu", shell=True,
          stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)

    time.sleep(.3)

I have both the scripts (exitemulator.py and multi_switch.sh) in the /home/pi/scripts folder as can been seen below.

I used the following to make it executable:

chmod +x /home/pi/scripts/multi_switch.sh 

I have both scripts included in the autostart.sh file as can be seen below.

I am using board pin 26 (blue wire) for input and pin 34 (green wire) for GND.

I tried running the script manually and got the following:

I have spent many hours/days trying to get this to work and any help in getting this up and running is greatly appreciated. Thx

[mitu]

@cjc1972 said in Trouble executing exit game/emulator with multi_switch.sh:

I tried running the script manually and got the following:
...

Have you tried the advice from the error printed - running the script as root (via sudo) ?

Btw, since you're using a PowerBlock, you can use the PowerBlock scripts to invoke @cyperghost's multi_switch script, instead of the .py script.

[cjc1972]

@mitu I ran with sudo and got the following error:

After seeing the error I realized that pin 25 for the shutdown pin was a ground so I changed to 24. I executed the script in ssh and it seemed to compile without error. However, this produced a loop of starting and rebooting prior to emulationstation launching. So I am guessing that the script is now being called at autostart.sh and getting either a false signal or the code is creating a loop.

i have the sd card backed prior to working on this script.

So, do you see anything in the code that would have caused this? Also, I was thinking of simplifying the code to focus solely on exiting an emulator to avert at least the shutdown loop so that I can determine if there is a larger issue with the Pi's pins? My deduction on the pin concern is I am assuming the existing code in the exit emulator.py is correct and should not be producing the death loop that I got by changing the input pin for the shutdownPin.

I put together the following, should this work to isolating just the exit feature?

#!/usr/bin/python
import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
import time
import subprocess

GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BOARD)

resetPin=26

GPIO.setup(resetPin, GPIO.IN)

oldButtonState1 = True

while True:
    #grab the current button state
    buttonState1 = GPIO.input(resetPin)

    # check to see if button has been pushed
    if buttonState1 == True:
        # Reset emulator
        print "Reset pressed"
        subprocess.call("/home/pi/scripts/multi_switch.sh --es-closeemu", shell=True,
          stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)

    time.sleep(.3)

Thanks for the heads up on shutdown but my shutdown process is working fine and I would be hesitant to adjust unless there was a strategic reason.

[mitu]

If the 26 pin is always 'on' when started, then you may need to change the 'direction' and trigger the action when it's Low (False).

Experiment with it and see what value is read when you press the button - just comment the subprocess part and just print the button state in the while loop.

[cjc1972]

Update - I adjusted the script and everything is working as it should! Thanks @mitu for your help.

#!/usr/bin/python
import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
import time
import subprocess

GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BOARD)

resetPin=26

GPIO.setup(resetPin, GPIO.IN, pull_up_down = GPIO.PUD_UP)

#oldButtonState1 = False
print GPIO.input(resetPin)

while True:
    #grab the current button state
    buttonState1 = GPIO.input(resetPin)

    # check to see if button has been pushed
    if buttonState1 == False:
        # Reset emulator
        print "Reset pressed"
        subprocess.call("/home/pi/scripts/multi_switch.sh --es-closeemu", shell$
          stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)

    time.sleep(.3)