Emulators not showing (rom path and extension validated)

Melvin.FoX

@SpudsMcToole do you have es_systems.cfg in /etc/emulationstation?

SpudsMcToole

@Melvin.FoX Aha! It seems that I do! (I think I'd just looked in "etc" before, not the "emulationstation" directory - I'm very new to this.)

One of them had the Coleco and G&W emulators in the script and one of them didn't - I cut and pasted it across and bingo! Both emulators appeared in the menu! (The Coleco one freezes whenever I start a game, but that's a separate problem...) Thanks very much for the tip!

Should I delete one of them, then?

BuZz

@SpudsMcToole the one in /opt/retropie/configs/all/emulationstation (which /home/pi/.emulationstationlinks to) will override the default retropie one which is stored in /etc/emulationstation. RetroPie only updates the es_systems.cfg in /etc/emulationstation

You must have copied it before - if maintaining your own copy you need to manually keep it up to date etc.

SpudsMcToole

@BuZz

Cheers. So I should delete the one in /home/pi/.emulationstation?

(As a noob I'm obviously wary of deleting stuff that seems like it might be important.)

Melvin.FoX

@SpudsMcToole I was also noob few days ago but had the same problem ;) delere the one in .emulationstation folder. Or just rename the file to es_system.cfg.bak until You fully configure whole system. Just do yourself a to do list not to forget about it.

herb_fargus

@SpudsMcToole I was right! Sorry I wasnt more explicit in my paths. Helps to know what files you mess with, easier to fix that way

SpudsMcToole

@Melvin.FoX Actually it turns out the one in home/pi is a better version, weirdly. The one in etc lists every single file in a PSX or Sega CD image, whereas the one in home/pi only lists the CUE files and so is much neater. And you can't edit the one in etc to match the home/pi one, because permissions won't let you.

So I'm going to keep them both, and just remember that if I add an optional core I have to update the systems file manually.

edmaul69

@SpudsMcToole @Melvin-FoX the reason why you would want to keep the home/pi version is you can sort the emulators in any order you want and when you update emulators it wont mess that up. If you only keep the /etc/emulationstation/ version and you arrange the systems in the order you want and you update an emulator it will "reset" the order back to alphabetical instead of in the order you want.

Melvin.FoX

@edmaul69 but the /home/pi needs to be edited manually everytine I'd rather like to have alphabetica order.

edmaul69

@Melvin.FoX im a little more ocd. I arrange them by first, the system that matches the system i modded with a pi in it. Example, i have a modded apple iie with a pi in it. The first system to boot is the apple iie. Because this one is a computer it is followed by my other computer systems arranged by age. Then my game systems are arranged by manufacturer going from oldest to newest. In each manufacteres group i go from oldest to newest. If they have handhelds for those manufacturers they go at the end of their manufacturers group. Then i have my arcades. Last is the retropie menu so it is always right there to the left of the first system when i boot.

edmaul69

You only need to add a system to the es_systems.cfg when you add a new system from retropie setup. Once you are set up how often do you need to add a new system? It doesnt need to be edited if you add an emulator for an existing system.

The info in this post is just me adding to the dicussion. Sorry if this sounds like an argument to your stance on the matter @Melvin-FoX. Not my intention my friend.

Melvin.FoX

@edmaul69 it was just Your opinion, not an argument mate ;) for me it's more important for configuring it from scratch to make as simple as it's possible. Right now I know RetroPie is quite complicated in matter of setting it up.
However I have 4-5 systems that I am going to use so platform order doesn't really matter for me.

megananthony

WElp,

Gave it a shot(moved es_sys.cfg from /etc/es to /opt/retropie/config/all/es) and whadda ya know. All 3 emulators load up (Daphe, coleco and C64) and all loaded up without a hitch.
Damn fine job Buzz..and Melvin..and Spuds..and Medi, of course, for stickin with me on this post.(and you too Fungus ; )

i would have never figured that **** out on my own. I silently bow out and go play H.E.R.O for colecovision

Melvin.FoX

Good to know that it just works and you can enjoy it ;)