PocketNES Menu Maker GBA

From GameBrew
PocketNES Menu Maker
Pnesmmw2.png
General
AuthorTitney/MrUnown
TypeBuild Tools and Hacks
Version1.2a
LicenseMixed
Last Updated2003/03/10
Links
Download
Website

PocketNES Menu Maker is a builder tool for the NES emulator PocketNES.

Features

  • GUI (Graphical User Interface).
  • Creates a complete PocketNES menu file for flashing.
  • Works with zipped roms.
  • Alphabetizes and numbers the menu.
  • Manual sorting of the menu.
  • Finds the correct names of the games from a database.
  • Check for bad and incompatible roms.
  • Marks small games for link play.
  • Assigns sprite follow variables from database using checksums (filenames don't matter).
  • Manually edit names and vars for each rom.
  • Cleans up the menu list, removes the "junk", (U) [a1] etc, from the names.
  • Pads the file to the nearest power of 2 size for multibooting on the 128mbit flash card.
  • Adds splash screen.

User guide

Basic usage

  • Unzip program and included files to a directory.
  • Put pocketnes.gba and a bunch of nes roms/zips in that same directory.
  • Open pnesmmw.exe.
  • Press "Make Rom" button to create menu rom.
  • Flash PocketNESMenu.gba.

GUI

Rom List:

  • Info - original file names and any additional info):
    • [inc] means incompatible, uses a mapper that PocketNES doesn't support.
    • [ovr] means overdump, overdumped rom, might work ok but takes up unecessary space.
    • [bad] means bad dump, a bad corrupt rom, might not work correctly, remove/replace if possible.
    • [ex] means excluded, a rom that's been selected for exclusion in rom info.
    • [unk] is unknown, a rom thats not known to the database.
  • Menu - Lists the menu exactly as it would look on the GBA, excluded roms will be displayed as a white space.
  • Up/Down arrows - Changes in rom order are not saved when the program is closed or the list refreshed.
  • Rom Info - Any changes made in the rom info will be saved even after you close the program, check expert mode to disable the ok alert.
  • Rom Name - By default taken from the vars list, the name under the editable name is from the database (if enabled).
  • Enable PPP Hack (1) - Turn on speed hack, makes some roms run faster/better.
  • Disable CPU Hack (2) - This hack is turned on by default but some roms run better with it off.
  • Enable PAL Timing (4) - This enables a hack for PAL, European (E) roms, not working 100%.
  • Follow Memory (32) - By default sprite following uses sprite number value, so to use those (16 in the old vars format) just enter the number in the Sprite Value box.
    • To follow a memory value (32 in the old format) check the Follow Memory (32) checkbox and enter the value in the box which is now named Memory Value.

Output File Info:

  • Total Roms - The total number of Roms included in the menu.
  • Total Size - The total size of the menu rom including splash screen and padding if enabled (check "Show sizes in megabytes" in Options if you want mbyte instead).

Buttons:

  • Make Rom - Compiles the actual menu rom for flashing, default filename is PocketNESMenu.gba.
  • Refresh - Refreshes the rom list from the directory in options. Re-alphabetizes if you changed rom names or moved roms.
  • .. (Browse) - Change the rom directory.
  • Options - Opens to Options window to change paths and options.
  • Help - Opens window with quick help and info about the program. Click view Read Me to see this file.
  • Exit - Shuts the program down.

Options menu

Options:

  • Number Roms - Turn on for numbered menu: 1. Arkanoid 2. Balloon Fight etc.
  • Mark Small Roms - Games under 192k will be marked by a * in the menu. (for single cart link play)
  • Look Up Database Name - Use names from the database in the menu.
  • Clean Rom Names - Clean up the list and filenames (ie: "Legend of Zelda, The (PRG 0) (U)" becomes "Legend of Zelda" in the menu).
  • Use Variables List - Assign variables for sprite following. Extracts variables from the vars list and adds them to the menu. Uses checksums to find vars so filenames doesn't matter.
  • Pad Rom Size - The size of the file is padded to the nearest power of 2 size for multibooting on the turbo flash cards (not needed for the pro cards or newer).
  • Use Splash Screen - Adds the splash screen image defined in paths to the menu.
  • Show Sizes in Mbyte - Will show the Output File Info size in Mbytes instead of Mbits.

Custom Names/Variables:

  • Clear - This deletes ALL the changes you have done to rom names and variables. Note that the main database will not be affected by this.

Paths:

  • Rom Path - This is the path to a directory with the .nes roms (or zipped nes roms) you want to include.
  • PocketNES Rom - The path and filename of the original pocketnes.gba emulator rom.
  • Output Rom File - Path and filename to the final pocketnes menu rom
  • Variables List - Path and filename of the main database of names and vars. By default in the same directory with the program.
  • Splash File - Path and filename of splash screen file.

Advanced

Change mappers by editing the pnesmmw.ini:

  • At the bottom of the pnesmmw.ini file is the list of mappers that PocketNES supports.
  • You can remove the # in front of the longer flubba list if you use that hack (make sure only ONE list of mappers is in use though).
  • For newer (or older) versions you can add or remove mapper numbers as you wish, just make sure the line ends in |.
  • The list is only used for compatibility checking, so it's not really crucial to update it.

Rename ini and db to keep several sets of roms:

  • If you want to keep several sets of roms with their own custom db you can rename the ini and custom db.
  • Just edit one set you want to keep, then exit the program and change pnesmmw.ini to pnesmmw_set1.ini or similar and pnesmmw.cdb to pnesmmw_set1.cdb.
  • Then you can open the program again, and change anything that you want and those earlier files will be untouched.
  • When you want to use them again simply name them back to the earlier names.

Screenshots

pnesmmw3.png

pnesmmw4.png

Changelog

1.2

  • Variable comments are displayed.
  • Database updated with more variables.
  • Mapper list updated to PocketNES v9.

1.1

  • Completely reworked GUI.
  • Visible rom list/menu list.
  • See filename/size/bad dumps/incompatible mappers in rom list.
  • Edit individual roms names and variables.
  • Exclude roms from the menu.
  • Save rom name/variable changes from the GUI.
  • Move roms up and down the list.
  • Change options from GUI.
  • Tooltips in GUI.
  • Database updated to GoodNES 1.1.

1.0

  • Windows GUI (Graphical User Interface).
  • Source is no longer open.
  • List menu without creating rom.

0.9b (unreleased)

  • Optional paths.
  • Added a few minor bug fixes.
  • Added total rom size report.
  • Added report for "possible unsupported mappers" (mapper list based on those listed in pnes .
  • Source - other games/mappers may work though).

0.8b

  • Added new vars list format and new option to look up rom name from a database (based on goodnes) (it now finds vars regardless of filenames).
  • Updated vars to match new pnes v8 version (no more sram vars).
  • Added reports for bad roms and stuff.

0.7b

  • Support for zipped roms (you need to have only one file in each zip for it to work).

0.6b

  • Added optional marking of roms smaller than 190k.
  • Variables list is now a separate file from the compatibility list.

0.51b

  • Fixed bug with SRAM variables and games listed without variables.

0.5b

  • Complete rewrite in C, partly based on prototype maker by loopy.
  • Updated menu building for v7A.
  • Only includes .nes files if they have actual nes header.
  • Outputs info about roms and variables added at the prompt since a menu.txt isn't created.
  • The ini file is now optional as the default filenames and options are hardcoded.

0.4b (unreleased)

  • Added optional numbering of the menu.

0.3b

  • Fixed stupid bug not identifying .nes extention if it wasn't lowercase.

0.2b

  • Now pads file to correct power of 2 size for multibooting.
  • Added check for pocketnes.gba source file.
  • Cleaned up check for ini file.

Credits

SkyBaby, able, Cowering's GoodNES database.

External links

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