Support File Create Shortcuts to Play Tables / Setting Up Right Click Context Menu

[GeorgeH]

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If you have a desktop PC install of Future Pinball (FP), you might like to have a simpler alternative to front-end launcher programs like PinballX or HyperPin. This method of launching tables bypasses the FP editor without opening it. There is also a way to add a right-click context menu to your file manager (or Windows Explorer) that allows you to edit a table from your file manager. Even if you have a front-end launcher program, you still may find the right-click context menu is handy. One requirement is that you have BAM installed.

There is an alternate method that AnonTet developed that is described here:

https://pinballnirvana.com/forums/threads/open-a-table-bypassing-fp-editor.21132/#post-133059

There is a simple registry edit that allows you to do these things. I tend to be a little apprehensive about changing the registry but this registry edit is simple to implement and does no harm. You should know that right-clicking on an *.fpt file and using the "Open with" option in Windows won't work. It will just open the FP editor without opening the table.

When finished, you should be able to double-click on a "(table name).fpt" file with your file explorer (or another file manager) and it should directly launch the table loading screen with BAM enabled and bypass the FP editor. You can also create a shortcut to a "(table name).fpt" file and play a table bypassing the editor. When finished playing the table, just press Escape as you normally would and FP closes. When you right-click on a "(table name).fpt" file with your file manager, it will have the following options:

Edit BAM – Opens FP table with BAM using the FPloader
Open OrigFP – Opens table with original FP without BAM
Play Table – Plays table with original FP bypassing the FP editor without BAM

Note you do not need a right-click option to play a table with BAM. You just double-click to play.

This is a screenshot of the right-click options:

You can create shortcuts for many tables at one time. Just open your file explorer and sort your tables folder by extension. Then highlight multiple "(table name).fpt" files and then right-click on the selection and select "Create Shortcut". After you create the shortcuts, you can right-click on a shortcut and have the same right-click options that appear in the screenshot above.

This is a screenshot of a folder on my desktop where I have saved shortcuts to my favorite tables. You can right-click on any of the icons in this folder and display the same right-click context menu options that are shown in the previous screenshot.

You can copy one of the codes below (or edit one of the codes) and paste it into a file using Notepad and save it as a text file (file with the *.txt extension). Then rename the text file with the extension *.reg. Then you double-click on the file with the *.reg extension so it will run. If all is well, you will get a warning and then afterward you are done.

This is the code for FP that is installed here:

C:\Games\Future Pinball\

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.fpt]
@="Future Pinball Table"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Future Pinball Table\Shell]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Future Pinball Table\Shell\Edit Bam]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Future Pinball Table\Shell\Edit Bam\Command]
@="\"C:\\Games\\Future Pinball\\BAM\\FPLoader.exe\\" /open \"%1\""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Future Pinball Table\Shell\Open]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Future Pinball Table\Shell\Open\Command]
@="\"C:\\Games\\Future Pinball\\BAM\\FPLoader.exe\" /open \"%1\" /play /exit"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Future Pinball Table\Shell\Open OrgFP]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Future Pinball Table\Shell\Open OrgFP\Command]
@="\"C:\\Games\\Future Pinball\\Future Pinball.exe\" /open \"%1\""

This is the code for FP that is installed here:

C:\Future Pinball\

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.fpt]
@="Future Pinball Table"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Future Pinball Table\Shell]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Future Pinball Table\Shell\Edit Bam]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Future Pinball Table\Shell\Edit Bam\Command]
@="\"C:\\Future Pinball\\BAM\\FPLoader.exe\" /open \"%1\""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Future Pinball Table\Shell\Open]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Future Pinball Table\Shell\Open\Command]
@="\"C:\\Future Pinball\\BAM\\FPLoader.exe\" /open \"%1\" /play /exit"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Future Pinball Table\Shell\Open OrgFP]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Future Pinball Table\Shell\Open OrgFP\Command]
@="\"C:\\Future Pinball\\Future Pinball.exe\" /open \"%1\""

NOTE: The code above will only work if you have Future Pinball installed in either of the following two locations:

C:\Future Pinball\

C:\Games\Future Pinball\

You will need to edit the code if you have Future Pinball installed in a different location. You will need to edit the 3 places in the code that has what looks like a path. You just add double back slashes where you would normally use a single backslash.

For example, if you have Future Pinball installed here:

F:\My Stuff\Future Pinball\

Then you will need to edit the first 2 occurrences of the path locations in the code (with the blue text above) to look like this:

F:\\My Stuff\\Future Pinball\\BAM\\FPLoader.exe\

Then edit the third occurrence of the path location in the code (with the red text above) to look like this:

F:\\My Stuff\\Future Pinball\\Future Pinball.exe\

Be careful not to change anything other than the path location in the code and leave everything else unchanged.

I almost never launch FP from my desktop anymore. I usually use the right-click "Edit BAM" context menu option to edit tables. When I work on tables, I normally use my file manager to move files for my tables so it is convenient to use the "Edit BAM" to edit the table while I am there.

If you have success or failure with this, please post a reply.

George

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[Isaac Sauvage]

Nice work!

I look forward to trying this out. Stickied!

 

[GeorgeH]

I have been using this for years. It is especially handy if you work with FP a lot but also useful to create a folder of shortcuts.

I made the first screenshot when I was using the "Double Commander" file manager, but I have switched to "Free Commander" now. I like it better.

By the way, this forum is a pleasure to use. I like being able to edit the post and have it look like the end result.

 

[20degree]

Some time ago i have created a free pdf guide to create a Futurepinball menu interface with the software MameWah. You can find and have it at: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ewY7stZtLzJBMn_iJ-Z3ngVhvDOZMGfu . On page 10, i indicate fiew command lines. Also on the page 28 of the same free pdf guide, you will notice some commands line as writen here as: ( /open, /play, /exit). There is some similaritys as what is writen here.

What i like about MameWah it's that it is compatible with WinXP (tested) and later as Windows 7 (tested); and think also should work with Win10. You create your own background image, then with the software position the elements; as the Gamelist, Image of what is selected, Video of what is selected in the list and others. You can also make many background images as multiple menu. Like a theme menu for Futurepinball, a theme for Mame, for Nes, for Snes, and other emulators.

Here is a youtube video of a real size arcade cabinet i have build that i dont have anymore:

. It's a person that i know that played it. You should notice the menu i have made with MameWah. It have taken me quite some time also to build the control board, that have original arcade buttons and 8 way joystick arcade buttons. I also had a old WinXP trackball mouse in those times for some Mame games. Put 4 speakers (dolby surround). Two stereo speakers at the top-corner of the screen and two stereo speakers on the control board that changed colors depending of the game sounds and musics; there where plug into a dolby surround outputs from the PC.

I have tried PinballX or Hyperpin theme menu for FP, in the past and have difficulties to understand them. That's why ive done some search about other free theme menu maker, and i found MameWah quite nice. Of course it's basic, but it's nice.

 

[GeorgeH]

I remember you posted this on GoPinball once. It appears that it works well. It just seems like it would take longer to set up than the way I do it. It does look better than my way.

 

[20degree]

Long time ago i even had made a desk that have some hdmi screen, to an old Windows XP Pro 32bits and an other screen; for Mame games and used as dual screen for FP games. The motherboard also had many stereo sound output, so i could put it as dolby surround. With my own design MameWah layout.

Here are the link to the two youtube videos of it:

A+