Complete RetroArch Guide For Noobs.

[potts43]

I have a feeling, if your doing that manually you need to change them in stella_libretro.dll.cfg. Of course backup before changing things.

Why have 2 config files? Surely only one is being read by hyperlaunch?

[gigapig]

Why have 2 config files? Surely only one is being read by hyperlaunch?

I have no idea why or why Hyperlaunch needs to read it, or perhaps it passes it to RA?

The only time I've had issues with controls, is if I had forgotten to setup a blank xpadder profile.

[potts43]

I have no idea why or why Hyperlaunch needs to read it, or perhaps it passes it to RA?

The only time I've had issues with controls, is if I had forgotten to setup a blank xpadder profile.

Think you're right...need both cheers mate

[potts43]

Is there are list of "names" to use for keyboard binds ie what do you type for the left alt key?

[noshgar]

Is there are list of "names" to use for keyboard binds ie what do you type for the left alt key?

Here is a post on the Libretro forums that will answer your question. http://www.libretro.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2198&p=16369#p16369. They use their own naming convention for keyboard keys.

[potts43]

Here is a post on the Libretro forums that will answer your question. http://www.libretro.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2198&p=16369#p16369. They use their own naming convention for keyboard keys.

Many thanks!

[potts43]

In stella it was possible to select the difficulty level - anyone know which keys do this in RA stella core?

[Fromlostdays]

Why have 2 config files? Surely only one is being read by hyperlaunch?

Just an FYI, its not that RetroArch or Hyperlaunch uses two config files. You have multiple configs because RetroArch allows for different configs per core, but also needs a standard retroarch.cfg in the event the aforementioned doesn't exist. However, RetroArch/Hyperlaunch only uses one config. What's tricky is understanding how both will prioritize.

RetroArch, when launching a core, will launch the config named after the core first, if it exists.

If it doesn't exist, it will launch the retroarch.cfg.

If you've saved multiple configs on one core (I think they'll be saved with just a (1) at the end) RetroArch will launch the last loaded config even if it has the (1) or (2) extension.

Hyperlaunch prioritizes the same way with one exception: if there is a config named after the system, IE "Atari 2600.cfg" Hyperlaunch will automatically launch that first. (Use this to control which config you want to force it to launch). So after you save your initial core config, rename it to the system name using the Hyperlaunch conventions. The problem is if you launch through Hyperlaunch, do some edits IE control edits, and then manually save the config, RetroArch won't name it "Atari 2600". It'll name it after the core. So every time you make edits you'll have to save the config manually in retroarch and then rename that config again to the system name.

[potts43]

Just an FYI, its not that RetroArch or Hyperlaunch uses two config files. You have multiple configs because RetroArch allows for different configs per core, but also needs a standard retroarch.cfg in the event the aforementioned doesn't exist. However, RetroArch/Hyperlaunch only uses one config. What's tricky is understanding how both will prioritize.

RetroArch, when launching a core, will launch the config named after the core first, if it exists.

If it doesn't exist, it will launch the retroarch.cfg.

If you've saved multiple configs on one core (I think they'll be saved with just a (1) at the end) RetroArch will launch the last loaded config even if it has the (1) or (2) extension.

Hyperlaunch prioritizes the same way with one exception: if there is a config named after the system, IE "Atari 2600.cfg" Hyperlaunch will automatically launch that first. (Use this to control which config you want to force it to launch). So after you save your initial core config, rename it to the system name using the Hyperlaunch conventions. The problem is if you launch through Hyperlaunch, do some edits IE control edits, and then manually save the config, RetroArch won't name it "Atari 2600". It'll name it after the core. So every time you make edits you'll have to save the config manually in retroarch and then rename that config again to the system name.

I wonder if there is a reason HL doesn't just use RA configs. If there was a stipulation that you must set them up first in RA then HL could look for core named config files.

I'm sure the reason must be as you can use the same core for two different systems perhaps?

Thanks for the input?

[Fromlostdays]

Hyperlaunch will use RA configs in the absence of a system named config. In other words, if you don't have an Atari 2600.cfg, Hyperlaunch will launch whichever config RetroArch prioritizes. They wrote the module to search for a system named config to make things easier on people, I think. Turn off "save config on exit", do all of your edits to shaders/controls/options, manually save stella_libretro.cfg then change the name of it to Atari 2600.cfg and you're done. HL will launch that one every time.

[potts43]

Hyperlaunch will use RA configs in the absence of a system named config. In other words, if you don't have an Atari 2600.cfg, Hyperlaunch will launch whichever config RetroArch prioritizes. They wrote the module to search for a system named config to make things easier on people, I think. Turn off "save config on exit", do all of your edits to shaders/controls/options, manually save stella_libretro.cfg then change the name of it to Atari 2600.cfg and you're done. HL will launch that one every time.

Thanks for the info. I'm wondering if there is any info out there for people with cabinets with ipacs or similar. Ie use keys not gamepads and what controls are available in the Retroarch libretto cores.

Anyone who uses the Original stella can config the keys to their liking in the program but using stella libretto is confusing as it's difficult to know what controls are available.eg

There is a feature to select game difficulty a or b on an Atari 2600. It is clearly definable in Stella's options. However, in Retroarch only "difficulty a" is defined for the q key but it took me quite some time to work out the difficulty b was set to "nul". The player 2 controls are all nul. I've searched but can't find any reference documentation for controls defined/available per core.

Many thanks

[klizine]

What I do is.

Start RA, go to "Core" and choose the the required core.

Back out and then save the new config and then close RA.

Go into the config folder and find the config that was just created and rename it to the system name.

I then fire up HLHQ and double or change the path to the core. Sometimes 2 or more are available, (like for Atari Lynx you can use the Mednafen core or he Handy Core; the Mednafen core crashes for me) so point to the core in the core folder.

Also check you have downloaded or the cores, as some could be missing from your install.

Once a game loads you can press F1 or the Xbox button and mess with shaders etc.

Change which path?

[potts43]

Change which path?

Think gig means in global module in HLHQ

[gigapig]

Change which path?

Potts is correct I meant these, at least double check them.

[potts43]

Gig do you know if there is documentation that tells you what controls are available per core as I request above?

[klizine]

Potts is correct I meant these, at least double check them.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]46083[/ATTACH]

Word. To be honest haven't been too concerned about this yet...but I'm going to eventually run out of things to be ocd over...

[gigapig]

Gig do you know if there is documentation that tells you what controls are available per core as I request above?

This seems crazy to me, taken from here.

Try and use Phoenix to map controls or do it manually in the cfg. I think you need to imagine your using a controller even though you have a cab, that's how I'm trying to get my head round it

Configuring keyboard input

Configuring keyboard input is currently not supported. To configure keyboard binds, it must be done outside RGUI.

Configuring input outside of RGUI

There are a couple of options available to configure input outside RGUI.

RetroArch-Phoenix: This is probably the most convenient option at the moment if you like point-and-click GUIs. Note that Phoenix frontend is deprecated and won’t receive support anymore.

retroarch-joyconfig: A command-line tool (part of RetroArch package) which lets you get input from a joypad and update or create a config file. To update a config with new binds for player 1 using joypad #0, you would for example doretroarch-joyconfig --player 1 --joypad 0 --input ~/.config/retroarch/retroarch.cfg --output ~/.config/retroarch/retroarch.cfg(see --help or man page for more help). By default, only RetroPad binds are bound. You can use --misc to bind other hotkeys as well. If you want to use retroarch-joyconfig, you should build latest from Git (after 0.9.9-wip1) as a couple of needed changes were made to improve usability.

[gigapig]

There is a feature to select game difficulty a or b on an Atari 2600. It is clearly definable in Stella's options. However, in Retroarch only "difficulty a" is defined for the q key but it took me quite some time to work out the difficulty b was set to "nul". The player 2 controls are all nul. I've searched but can't find any reference documentation for controls defined/available per core.

Many thanks

By default for me at least the level or difficulty select button is defined to the Back button on the 360 controller and Start is the Start button.

The keyboard controls for these are Start=Enter and R Shift is Game select.

input_player1_select = "rshift"
input_player1_select_btn = "nul"
input_player1_select_axis = "nul"
input_player1_start = "enter"
input_player1_start_btn = "nul"
input_player1_start_axis = "nul"

[potts43]

By default for me at least the level or difficulty select button is defined to the Back button on the 360 controller and Start is the Start button.

The keyboard controls for these are Start=Enter and R Shift is Game select.

input_player1_select = "rshift"
input_player1_select_btn = "nul"
input_player1_select_axis = "nul"
input_player1_start = "enter"
input_player1_start_btn = "nul"
input_player1_start_axis = "nul"

Thanks for that. You would think that there would be documentation for each core to show what features/key bindings are available. Seems very scarce.

[gigapig]

Thanks for that. You would think that there would be documentation for each core to show what features/key bindings are available. Seems very scarce.

As I may have already mentioned the key bindings only change when I edit the dll.cfg (stella_libretro.dll.cfg) I have just changed rshift for select to "q".

[potts43]

As I may have already mentioned the key bindings only change when I edit the dll.cfg (stella_libretro.dll.cfg) I have just changed rshift for select to "q".

I'm not sure I'm being understood...if you go to the stella home page and look at the user manual it clearly shows all of the features and key bindings. Without knowing what features are supported by Retroarch stella core how do you know if you can bind a key to do the same thing in RA as in stella.

Here are 2 demo pics

Eg without having ever played a real 2600 or using stella I wouldn't even know there were two difficulty levels in RA stella core never mind the other options.

Does this make sense now?

[potts43]

I have spent hours trying to use the left control key as my fire button. I've tried lctrl, ctrl , lcontrol and it doesn't fire for p1 b button. However if I use z for example it works....any idea as to what RA is looking for in the naming?

[Gerurver]

Hai Potts, in the beginning i was also using the lcontrol(default mame) but when i got futher programming more emulators, i ran into troubles with the lcontrol. so i had made a remake with remap buttons, i dont use the lcontrol button anymore, because there are a lot of emulators that dont want the l control. i think retroarch is also a anti control emulator;)

[Fromlostdays]

I know what you're saying Potts, the problem is I can't find a good answer. I caught hell trying to sort out the N64. I did it via trial and error. This is definitely the most troubling aspect of RetroArch.

[potts43]

That's really weird but makes sense. I did a lot of searching the internet and according to what I've read those types of keys do work...but as you guys have said - not very well. I guess I will have to reprogram the ipac as expected.

Thanks for replying!!?