The Mame32 toolbar extends the width of the application at the top and can be toggled on by using the View Toolbar menu item, or the Alt-T keyboard shortcut. The buttons on the toolbar from left to right are : toggle folder list, toggle screenshot, large icons view, small icons view, list view, details view, help about, and help file. Click the items to toggle them on or off.
The Mame32 status bar extends the width of the application at the bottom and can be toggled on by using the View Status Bar menu item, or the Alt-S keyboard shortcut. The status bar indicates the full name of the game highlighted, and gives its internal status flag as to whether its working or if there are some issues with the emulation. The status bar also indicates the game count for the particular view used.
Mame32 can be divided into three windowed sections:
The first section on the far left is the folder view, toggled on by using the View Folder List menu item, or the Alt-D keyboard shortcut. This contains a tree style list that expands for certain items like year, manufacturer, and custom. By selecting one of these items, Mame32 will display the games that meet that criterion. For example: selecting year / 1978, Mame32 will display all the games manufactured in 1978.
Mame32 will display user created folders based on *.ini files located in the \mame32\folders directory. See files in that location for examples. This location also houses the favorites.ini, where favorite games can be added to the text file and easily moved to other computers.
Mame32 supports dragging and dropping games from the middle section game list into a custom folder in the left pane. Mame32 supports the same procedure by secondary clicking on the game in the game list and choosing the 'add to custom folder' option.
Mame32 also supports secondary clicking on a custom folder and renaming it, editing the custom folder name can also be accomplished by clicking the name of the folder three times quickly.
The second, middle section of Mame32 is the game list, always toggled on. This is where Mame32 lists all of the games you have chosen in the left folder view. Mame32 has the option to display the games as large icons, small icons, a list icons view, or details. Choosing details allows Mame32 to display, in columnar mode, the game name as well as additional informational fields, chosen in the View Customize Fields menu item.
The third section, on the far right, is the screenshot/art area, toggled on by using the View Screenshot menu item, or the Alt-N keyboard shortcut. This area of the GUI will display the optional artwork for each game selected, the artwork modes are toggled through by clicking on the picture. The modes are: screenshot, flyer, cabinet, marquees, and title shots. Alt-B will toggle the screenshot tabs which give a visual selection method besides clicking the artwork area. Secondary clicking on the screenshot area will also bring up a shortcut dialogue with the file types available. The area under the screenshots will also display the history.dat information if that file is present. Further information about these files is in Art and Support Files.
2003-02-09 06:08 PM -0800