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VisualBoyAdvance-M Portable Development Test 2

Zach Thibeau's picture
Submitted by Zach Thibeau on February 25, 2008 - 10:43pm

Application:VisualBoyAdvance-M
Category:Games & Emulation
Description:Combine the best features of the VBA forks in one build.
Multi-platform support so that your GBA emulation experience is more complete.
Release Notes:

  • Development Test 2 fixes the efficiency Drive letter handling pointed out by ZachHudock
  • Updated VisualBoyAdvance to include vba-m svn 470
  • Development Test 1 Initial Release

I am pulling support for now until I get something worked out

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I'll look at this tonight,

ZachHudock's picture
ZachHudock - March 11, 2008 - 12:49pm

I'll look at this tonight, report back on any issues, then add you to the Development Test list.

The developer formerly known as ZGitRDun8705

thanks

Zach Thibeau's picture
Zach Thibeau (Homepage) - March 11, 2008 - 1:47pm

thanks Zach and any constructive criticism would be nice, in Fact I am working on Dev Test 2 but with the Original VisualBoy Advance as vba-m will not work on some computers such as my desktop (due to SSE) so it will roll back to original build until that issue is fixed with the Author

The day Microsoft produces something that doesn't suck is
probably the day they start producing vaccuum cleaners. (author unknown)

Ok I noticed a few issues

ZachHudock's picture
ZachHudock - March 11, 2008 - 8:41pm

Ok I noticed a few issues with this one. It's fine that you use your own scripting style, but keeping things in the same setup as John's does make it easier to compare/follow along. that's not a big deal though.

Issues:
you are using an outdated newadvsplash command to hide the splash screen. It should now be "newadvsplash::stop /WAIT" (no quotes)

your code for updating the ini file is very inefficient. it can easily be replaced with something like

UpdateLocations:
		;=== Update files for new location
		${GetRoot} $EXEDIR $0
		ReadINIStr $1 "$SETTINGSDIRECTORY\VBAMPortableSettings.ini" "VBAMPortableSettings" "LastDriveLetter"
		StrCmp $1 "" StoreCurrentDriveLetter
		StrCmp $1 $0 StoreCurrentDriveLetter
		IfFileExists "$PROGRAMDIRECTORY\vba.ini" "" DisplaySplash
		${ReplaceInFile} "$PROGRAMDIRECTORY\vba.ini" "$1\" "$0\"
		Delete "$PROGRAMDIRECTORY\vba.ini.old"

I recommend looking at my Synkron Portable launcher for an example of how to fully implement this.

The developer formerly known as ZGitRDun8705

Glad

Zach Thibeau's picture
Zach Thibeau (Homepage) - March 11, 2008 - 9:04pm

Glad you brought that up, I've been reworking the launcher since my last post instead of my using my script I've been using a combination of SumatraPDFPortables script plus already updated NewAdvSplash already so I'll be updating asap but thanks for the tip though Zach Eye-wink

The day Microsoft produces something that doesn't suck is
probably the day they start producing vaccuum cleaners. (author unknown)

VisualBoyAdvance-M Portable Update

Zach Thibeau's picture
Zach Thibeau (Homepage) - April 4, 2008 - 9:12am

Updated to Development Test 2 See Original Post

The day Microsoft produces something that doesn't suck is
probably the day they start producing vaccuum cleaners. (author unknown)

Hmm

The MAZZTer's picture
The MAZZTer (Homepage) - April 4, 2008 - 4:07pm

I never knew about this fork, I am now enlightened. Smiling Thanks for sharing!

I made the PortableApps.com front page! HIRE ME.

Why thanks

Zach Thibeau's picture
Zach Thibeau (Homepage) - April 4, 2008 - 5:11pm

Thanks, I'm actually working with the dev team my self (not coding though Sad) but Working with them via IRC and their forums as a moderator I am getting more valuable information on whats coming up and also bug fixes for the new release, eventually they are going to a more universal Gui for VBA using QT, actually it seems that most emulators are going there, for the ZSNES forums they are already discussing of using QT for an interface

The day Microsoft produces something that doesn't suck is
probably the day they start producing vaccuum cleaners. (author unknown)

Feedback

Patrick Patience (Homepage) - April 4, 2008 - 5:34pm

Zach, this looks good. Here's the small stuff I caught.

  • In the root directory:

    • In the help.html file, fix that MPlayer typo (you knew that. Smiling) and remove the indent on Acknowledgements.
  • In App:

    • Add Readme.txt from another app.
  • In App\AppInfo:

    • The appicon.ico should only contain 48, 32, and 16 pixel sizes in both 256 (XP) and (32 bit) 8 color formats.
    • Update your appinfo.ini to the latest version (0.9.Cool from a recently release app. Also change the website to PortableApps.com\DevelopmentTest or /NamePortable.
  • In App\VisualBoyAdvance:

    • Put vba.ini in App\DefaultData and have it copied to Data\settings if nothing exists in Data\settings.
    • Possibly rename that folder to include -M.
  • In Other\Source:

    • Add AppSource.txt from another application.
    • Add your copyright below Johns in Readme.txt.
    • Change the 3 times Readme.txt mentions SumatraPDF to VisualBoyAdvance-M
    • In the source, the VER is for the launcher, which is about 1.5.7.0.
    • Change the 200 on line 210 to 0 as we're dropping splash fades.
    • Change the LegalCopyright in the source to PortableApps.com & Contributers.

And don't ever tell me PAF doesn't matter until it's official. Pshh. Sticking out tongue

P.S. I have this minor bug where the program doesn't launch for me and the process of the exe or the portable exe aren't running.

Just downloaded the test 2

Warhawk - April 5, 2008 - 3:17am

Just downloaded the test 2 version, but when I double click it to start, it comes up with alpha or beta screen then doesn't load...
I even checked the task manager and didn't find it loading anywhere.

Hmmm

Zach Thibeau's picture
Zach Thibeau (Homepage) - April 5, 2008 - 9:39am

It could be an issue with either the app or i fudged up. Anyways i got the next few days off and will try to fix it asap Eye-wink

The day Microsoft produces something that doesn't suck is
probably the day they start producing vaccuum cleaners. (author unknown)

Same here

Stevoisiak - April 11, 2008 - 12:16pm

Same thing here, except it may be because I'm using a school PC. I could not check task manager.

Stupid Question

enderandrew - April 5, 2008 - 11:41am

But where are you getting the builds?

I thought they didn't have a public build yet.

Nihilism makes me smile.

he's on the development team

ZachHudock's picture
ZachHudock - April 5, 2008 - 11:50am

he's on the development team Eye-wink

The developer formerly known as ZGitRDun8705

Well

Zach Thibeau's picture
Zach Thibeau (Homepage) - April 5, 2008 - 9:02pm

There are no 1.0 version there are svn builds but it's not the final product and they are precompiled and available for people to download

The day Microsoft produces something that doesn't suck is
probably the day they start producing vaccuum cleaners. (author unknown)

Why it doesn't run.

Strife89 - April 11, 2008 - 3:34pm

I think VBA-M will simply not run if the PC lacks DirectX 9 -- I attempted to launch it directly (without using the Portable Apps launcher app) and got an error message saying that a .dll (I forget which one) was missing. Using the launcher gets me the "development" splash screen, then nothing more.

Yeah

Zach Thibeau's picture
Zach Thibeau (Homepage) - April 11, 2008 - 10:15pm

Yeah I know the launcher bug, Fixing that and yes it does require Dx9 but I can't include it so you need to update to the latest Directx Release for XP but thats all

The day Microsoft produces something that doesn't suck is
probably the day they start producing vaccuum cleaners. (author unknown)

...

Bruce's picture
Bruce - April 17, 2008 - 6:21pm

Vista includes DX10 (therefore also DX9) and it still crashes at startup. Running VisualBoyAdvance.exe directly reveals that d3dx9_37.dll is missing. This is why I hate D3DX--there's about a hundred different versions of it and there's no forward NOR backward compatibility--you have to have the EXACT version the developer used installed, otherwise you're screwed.

The only problem is, there are several problems.

Well

Zach Thibeau's picture
Zach Thibeau (Homepage) - April 17, 2008 - 8:34pm

What I can do is maybe possibly include that DLL file in the next release and go from there but really no guarantee, I'll speak with the devs about this and see if we can fix this

The day Microsoft produces something that doesn't suck is
probably the day they start producing vaccuum cleaners. (author unknown)

Works 110% for me Have 13

horusofoz's picture
horusofoz - April 30, 2008 - 12:55am

Works 110% for me Eye-wink

Have 13 roms and all work

Live to learn. Learn to live. - JWSII

Great

Zach Thibeau's picture
Zach Thibeau (Homepage) - May 4, 2008 - 9:15pm

Great, Be expecting an update for a Development Test 3 release with fixes in the launcher Smiling
EDIT: It should be ready by May 16th or 17th

The day Microsoft produces something that doesn't suck is
probably the day they start producing vaccuum cleaners. (author unknown)

DL link not found

Emrys - June 23, 2008 - 7:56am

is this project still active?

Yes and no, currently due to

Zach Thibeau's picture
Zach Thibeau (Homepage) - June 23, 2008 - 8:42am

Yes and no, currently due to some people who have claimed vba-m as their own project, the crew at vba-m.ngemu.com has come up with some protection that does not allow modification through upx and reshack, Currently I am working with mudlord to possibly come up with a way to downsize the executable size so that I can continue the work until then I am not working on it

The day Microsoft produces something that doesn't suck is
probably the day they start producing vaccuum cleaners. (author unknown)

Any progress??

horusofoz's picture
horusofoz - September 16, 2008 - 10:57pm

Ive used this in the past and had no trouble. Also can you reupload elsewhere please?

Cheers:)

Live to learn. Learn to live. - JWSII

It's not my Project anymore,

Zach Thibeau's picture
Zach Thibeau (Homepage) - September 17, 2008 - 5:54am

It's not my Project anymore, I believe espreon wanted the Job. I gave up on doing this, also I can't re-upload as it was on my old server when the old server died

The day Microsoft produces something that doesn't suck is
probably the day they start producing vaccuum cleaners. (author unknown)

it doesn't matter

bluebell_rose - September 17, 2008 - 2:10pm

it doesn't matter if it's made portable or not. VBA itself can run on a usb stick and on a floppy disk. I know because we used to make it run on a floppy disk at the library.Haven't tried CD yet though. But I don't think it'll work on CD as most games need to be saveable to keep proces
although, i'm just runnng the really old versions

http://www.simplexitynetwork.

OliverK's picture
OliverK (Homepage) - September 17, 2008 - 2:37pm

http://www.simplexitynetwork.com/mr.soup12/downloads/VisualBoyAdvancePor...

No support though- I don't use it. I don't know if the is VBA-M or what, but it is portable one.

Too many lonely hearts in the real world
Too many bridges you can burn
Too many tables you can't turn
Don't wanna live my life in the real world

thanks for your ingenuity to

garu2708 - November 2, 2008 - 6:09pm

thanks for your ingenuity to create the emulator,
but I can not download an error in your page,
I would like to revise it to be able to download your page,

thanks ...

and please Tell Me When and can be discharged

thanks

I will be release a new

Zach Thibeau's picture
Zach Thibeau (Homepage) - November 2, 2008 - 6:12pm

I will be release a new version of VBA-M soon please be patient Smiling

The day Microsoft produces something that doesn't suck is
probably the day they start producing vaccuum cleaners. (author unknown)

SWEET :)

horusofoz's picture
horusofoz - November 2, 2008 - 11:05pm

SWEET Smiling

Live to learn. Learn to live. - JWSII

SVN 470?

duhowpi (Homepage) - November 9, 2008 - 1:24pm

SVN 470? That is so old. Update to SVN 781. It's the current version for now. And this website is the original.

@duhowpi I know which release

Zach Thibeau's picture
Zach Thibeau (Homepage) - November 9, 2008 - 4:07pm

@duhowpi
I know which release is ready for vba-m. I am part of the development team of vba-m and I am working on another solution as the mfc version needs too many dependencies, I respectfully ask that you do not do that anymore until I have completeda new release

On the up scale though SVN 781 is not the current version 800 which I just compiled the sdl version of and I am developing a gui for it in autohotkey

The day Microsoft produces something that doesn't suck is
probably the day they start producing vaccuum cleaners. (author unknown)

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