X-bEnCH - The Amiga Game Launcher (Whdload, exe, ..) and more official topic.

[JimNeray]

X-bEnCh is an Amiga game launcher & More …

With 128 colors on screen (even on a simple A500), this Frontend can autoscan your hard-drive to find your whdload games or your .exe and organize them in launching listings.
X-bEnCh also have an integrated CLI fully compatible with the Workbench CLI feature.

Actual features list:
- 128 colors on screen for all Amiga
- Autoscan and organize your whdload .slave and yours .exe from your HD
- Unlimited subdir scan
- Internal script system
- Up to 6 launching lists in parallel
- Unlimited number of entry in each list
- Autoscan and use Whdload Tooltypes
- If no Tooltypes availables you can set up default Tooltypes.
- MegaRam mode to gain extra chipram without rebooting
- FastJump mode to jump where you want in a list with the keyboard
- Integrated cLi 100% Amiga cli compatible
- System friendly setup panel
- Many more will come in the nexts releases.

Here is a presentation video of the 0.8 release : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqsgWgdmVFc

The actual release available is the 0.87 Beta. You can download it here: http://www.jimneray.com

You can stay in touch with me via twitter: @jimneray

All yours returns are welcomed

[killergorilla]

I honestly mean no offence by this but is there any chance I could see what it looks like and what it does?

Your video is mostly text and music...

[synchro]

Originally Posted by killergorilla

I honestly mean no offence by this but is there any chance I could see what it looks like and what it does?

Your video is mostly text and music...

Agreed.....Perhaps thats all it does ...spin around and make pretty patterns
Seriously i would like to see more of the app and how it functions thers nothing to see in the vid

[JimNeray]

Originally Posted by synchro

Agreed.....Perhaps thats all it does ...spin around and make pretty patterns
Seriously i would like to see more of the app and how it functions thers nothing to see in the vid

You can see a video of the setup and basic usage of the old release here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3Fc_Fj_dNk

[JimNeray]

X-bEnCh 0.6 Beta is out now !

You can download it here: http://www.jimneray.com

What's New ?

- A New Amigaguide full doc.
- Fixed some files check on startup that were wrongs.
- Now pressing the "Del" Key when startup will cancel the X-bEnCh loading.
- Now display the release number under the X-bEnCh startup logo.
- Now working with a temp dir to leave the Ram free.
- New scroll text "Credits screen".
- Launcher Reactivity optimisations and lighter code.
- FastJump added. Now simply use your keyboard's key to jump where you want.
- MegaRam option Added. Can save from 34kb up to 136 kb of ram.
- Now return where you was before, after leaving a game.
- Now before loading a .slave/.exe, check if exist a .xbs script and use it if exist.
- Now autoscan the tool types of WhdLoad. If none found, use the default tooltypes you've set in the setup screen.
- Now display the number of files in the listing, right to the listing name in the launcher.
- Now in the launcher, a short push on the 2nd joy button will switch between your listings and a long push will escape to the main menu.
- Now the game name in the loading screen is truncated and centered.
- Big fail fixed in the cLi.
- Added the "help" command to the cLi to list all the extra X-bEnCh cLi commands availables.
- Added the "resetxset" command to the cLi. Really useful to clean up a buggy install of X-bEnCh.
- Now the subdirectorys level scan is unlimited.
- Now the listings are 3 time lighters than with the previous release.
- Now listings are of real unlimited size.
- Now ending a path with a "/" in the setup will work as same as without.
- Now display the number of files added to a listing when updating in the setup.
- No more create a bugged list when there's nothing to add to the list in the choosed path.
- Xsetup executable is 25% lighter.
- Fixed a small palette bug when leaving the setup.
- Sometime the setup exit on a black screen.. Fixed.
- Preload switch added as a whdload global option.
- Display switch added as a whdload global option (Switch PAL/NTSC).
- Cache switch added as a whdload global option.
- MMU switch added as a whdload global option.
- AutoVec switch added as a whdload global option.
- Music switch added as a Launchers global option (Switch On/Off).
- MegaRam switch added as a Launcher global option.

[vjkaos]

Originally Posted by JimNeray

X-bEnCh 0.6 Beta is out now !

You can download it here: http://www.jimneray.com

What's New ?

- A New Amigaguide full doc.
- Fixed some files check on startup that were wrongs.
- Now pressing the "Del" Key when startup will cancel the X-bEnCh loading.
- Now display the release number under the X-bEnCh startup logo.
- Now working with a temp dir to leave the Ram free.
- New scroll text "Credits screen".
- Launcher Reactivity optimisations and lighter code.
- FastJump added. Now simply use your keyboard's key to jump where you want.
- MegaRam option Added. Can save from 34kb up to 136 kb of ram.
- Now return where you was before, after leaving a game.
- Now before loading a .slave/.exe, check if exist a .xbs script and use it if exist.
- Now autoscan the tool types of WhdLoad. If none found, use the default tooltypes you've set in the setup screen.
- Now display the number of files in the listing, right to the listing name in the launcher.
- Now in the launcher, a short push on the 2nd joy button will switch between your listings and a long push will escape to the main menu.
- Now the game name in the loading screen is truncated and centered.
- Big fail fixed in the cLi.
- Added the "help" command to the cLi to list all the extra X-bEnCh cLi commands availables.
- Added the "resetxset" command to the cLi. Really useful to clean up a buggy install of X-bEnCh.
- Now the subdirectorys level scan is unlimited.
- Now the listings are 3 time lighters than with the previous release.
- Now listings are of real unlimited size.
- Now ending a path with a "/" in the setup will work as same as without.
- Now display the number of files added to a listing when updating in the setup.
- No more create a bugged list when there's nothing to add to the list in the choosed path.
- Xsetup executable is 25% lighter.
- Fixed a small palette bug when leaving the setup.
- Sometime the setup exit on a black screen.. Fixed.
- Preload switch added as a whdload global option.
- Display switch added as a whdload global option (Switch PAL/NTSC).
- Cache switch added as a whdload global option.
- MMU switch added as a whdload global option.
- AutoVec switch added as a whdload global option.
- Music switch added as a Launchers global option (Switch On/Off).
- MegaRam switch added as a Launcher global option.

Thanks, very nice release.

The fastjump navigation is cool, but the keyboard layout is azerty in xbench which switches keys ( q-a and z-w) if you're using a qwerty keyboard.

CLI still crashes on my Amiga's.

[JimNeray]

Originally Posted by vjkaos

Thanks, very nice release.

The fastjump navigation is cool, but the keyboard layout is azerty in xbench which switches keys ( q-a and z-w) if you're using a qwerty keyboard.

CLI still crashes on my Amiga's.

Hi vjkaos !

The QWerty issue .. Damned i knew i had forgotten something.
I'll work on this and the CLI crashes for the next release. Thanx for this return vjkaos.

[JimNeray]

Here is a new video presentation/tutorial of the actual 0.6 release : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPUlt9wDQmM

[synchro]

Much better video than the last it shows exactly what it says on the tin.....As they say

[subone]

Hi JimNeray,
Thank you for your release.

It's the first time i use a launcher for WHDLoad Stuff with my A1200 before i used Othermenu under ClassicWB but the loading-time was quite long.

Scanned more than 2200 Games and 350 Demos with yours and it works like a charm.

Some suggestions :
- I made only 3 lists ... why the TAB key move between the empty lists too ? (u could had a key to move back no ?)
- I try to to include X-Bench in my startup-sequence with xlaunch.exe (instead of xinit.exe) to have the Games menu directly but it freeze the WB when i leave ... it would be nice to have the lists at startup without the first menu (Games, Cli, Setup ...)
- CLI crashes for me too

[JimNeray]

@subone: Thanks for this return.

- I made only 3 lists ... why the TAB key move between the empty lists too ? (u could had a key to move back no ?)

Or simply don't display empty listings (Jump to the first one after the third one in your case). You're right i add this to the todo list

- I try to to include X-Bench in my startup-sequence with xlaunch.exe (instead of xinit.exe) to have the Games menu directly but it freeze the WB when i leave ... it would be nice to have the lists at startup without the first menu (Games, Cli, Setup ...)

That's already in the todo list with the evolution of the setup panel you will be able to choose what to display firstly.

@subone & @vjkaos: Can you tell me more about the cli crash? What is your hardware/software configuration ? If xbench is started from the workbench, what is your workbench resolution (in points and depth)? Does it crash systematically or can you launch it sometime ? Many thanks in advance.

[subone]

Originally Posted by JimNeray

@subone & @vjkaos: Can you tell me more about the cli crash? What is your hardware/software configuration ? If xbench is started from the workbench, what is your workbench resolution (in points and depth)? Does it crash systematically or can you launch it sometime ? Many thanks in advance.

Your were right ... the wb resolution causes the crash.
Mine is 640 x 256 (1084S monitor) ... if i use 640 x 512, it works.
(one more thing in your todo list )

[attila06]

The CLI makes the reboot of the amiga everytime i use the CLI.
My config is rom 3.1 blizzard 1260 and classic wb with idivision in 1024*768 mode.
Good job man, go on
We all wait your next relesease.

[vjkaos]

Originally Posted by JimNeray

@subone & @vjkaos: Can you tell me more about the cli crash? What is your hardware/software configuration ? If xbench is started from the workbench, what is your workbench resolution (in points and depth)? Does it crash systematically or can you launch it sometime ? Many thanks in advance.

I've installed xbench on two Amiga's (a2000/030 and a1200/030), they both use a custom Workbench 3.1 setup.

I usually start xbench from a boot menu (bootgrio) with this startup-script:

; X-Bench Startup

C:SetPatch QUIET
C:Env-Handler

Cd Work:XB
Execute >NIL: XbEnCH.exe

On my a2000 the CLI works if I use this script but if I start xbench from Workbench it crashes.
On my a1200 if I start xbench from this script the CLI crashes but started from Workbench it almost works, typing endcli makes it crash, though.

On both setups the Workbench setup is almost the same, resolution is 640x512x8c. started from my script it's 640x256x4c.

[kixs]

I don't use any launcher yet... but I will try this one and others in the near future - also I must buy the WHDload couse that reg.nag is really nagging me

[JimNeray]

I'm still working on the next release but i haven't yet fixed the cli issue.

@kixs: Feel free to try it

[JimNeray]

X-bEnCh 0.7 is out !

You can download it here: www.jimneray.com

What's New ?

- Start faster than with the previous release.
- Added a Roto-starfield effect in the background of the main menu.
- Now autoscan your keymap type (QWERTY, QWERTZ or AZERTY) and correctly assign the keys to the FastJump feature.
- You can now disable the unused listing with the setup.
- Added a rainbow effect to the title name of the displayed list in the launcher.
- Launcher reactivity optimisation.
- Cli fixed in many cases but maybe still buggy in some cases ...
- Now the name of a listing can be up to 8 character long (5 previously)
- Now in the setup save the name of the listings if you change it either if you don't have updated any list.
- Fixed many ugly visual bugs when opening/closing the display.
- Fixed a redisplay bug in the Menuscreen and the launcher screen.

[Neil79]

Great work however i'd prefer a nicer looking frontend, perhaps with a graphic of the game that's being chosen or what game type you are listing.

Or maybe i'm used to Gamebase lol

[subone]

Hi JimNeray,
Thanks a lot for your last release ... Good job u made

The "Chip.mod" file was missing from the datas directory so i copied the one from your previous release and it worked

The Cli is now working with my low res (640x256) and "Disabled lists" arent diplayed ... that's cool .

Is it possible to launch X-bench at startup without loading Workbench ?
How : startup-sequence or thanks to a boot selector ?

[vjkaos]

Originally Posted by Neil79

Great work however i'd prefer a nicer looking frontend, perhaps with a graphic of the game that's being chosen or what game type you are listing.

Please no, it's fine as it is. I prefer to play a game instead of looking at screenshots of games .

@JimNeray

Thanks for the update! I noticed a little bug, when you quit a game/demo started from the second list it returns to the first list instead of going back to de game/demo started from the second list.

Originally Posted by subone

Hi JimNeray,
Is it possible to launch X-bench at startup without loading Workbench ?
How : startup-sequence or thanks to a boot selector ?

This is my Xbench startup-script:

; X-Bench Startup

C:SetPatch QUIET
C:Env-Handler

C:AntiClick
Cd Work:Xb
Execute >NIL: XbEnCH.exe

I start this script (with GetMouseInput) by holding the right mouse button at bootup or selecting it from a bootmenu (BootGrio) when I hold my leftmouse at bootup.

BootGrio and GetMouseInput are both available from Aminet.

[Boo Boo]

Originally Posted by Neil79

Great work however i'd prefer a nicer looking frontend, perhaps with a graphic of the game that's being chosen or what game type you are listing.

AGS

[subone]

Originally Posted by vjkaos

@JimNeray

Thanks for the update! I noticed a little bug, when you quit a game/demo started from the second list it returns to the first list instead of going back to de game/demo started from the second list.

Got the same bug

Originally Posted by vjkaos

This is my Xbench startup-script:

; X-Bench Startup

C:SetPatch QUIET
C:Env-Handler

C:AntiClick
Cd Work:Xb
Execute >NIL: XbEnCH.exe

I start this script (with GetMouseInput) by holding the right mouse button at bootup or selecting it from a bootmenu (BootGrio) when I hold my leftmouse at bootup.

BootGrio and GetMouseInput are both available from Aminet.

Thanks for your answer vjkaos
In fact i'm using ClassicWB on my 1200 and i saw that they were bootmenus using left or right mousebutton at startup ... is it possible to customize them with an X-Bench startup ?

[emuola]

Originally Posted by subone

Got the same bug



Thanks for your answer vjkaos
In fact i'm using ClassicWB on my 1200 and i saw that they were bootmenus using left or right mousebutton at startup ... is it possible to customize them with an X-Bench startup ?

Yep, easy to do. Just start Bmenu, open the startup menu bmenu-file (dont remember the exact name, but it's very easy to find) and add/change an entry for xbench.

[subone]

Originally Posted by emuola

Yep, easy to do. Just start Bmenu, open the startup menu bmenu-file (dont remember the exact name, but it's very easy to find) and add/change an entry for xbench.

That works great ... thank you emuola
The file is named BootMenu and i used vjkaos's script.

[JimNeray]

Release 0.71 is available on www.jimneray.com

It fixed the wrong file check on startup. Thanks to subone for the fast return

[JimNeray]

Originally Posted by Neil79

Great work however i'd prefer a nicer looking frontend, perhaps with a graphic of the game that's being chosen or what game type you are listing.

Or maybe i'm used to Gamebase lol

This feature is in mind but not for today nor for tomorrow. To many things to do before.
I don't know what is Gamebase sorry

Originally Posted by subone

The Cli is now working with my low res (640x256) and "Disabled lists" arent diplayed ... that's cool .

That's a good news ! Hope it will work for every body

Originally Posted by vjkaos

Please no, it's fine as it is. I prefer to play a game instead of looking at screenshots of games .

This will probably be added as an option don't be afraid

Originally Posted by vjkaos

I noticed a little bug, when you quit a game/demo started from the second list it returns to the first list instead of going back to de game/demo started from the second list.

Damn ... You're right. I will fix that as soon as possible

Thanks you all for your returns. I will do my best to update and fix all i can for the nexts releases

[attila06]

Hello Jim,

The CLI doesn't makes my Amiga rebooting any more.
I have the CLI screen but the size isn't good, i have a little window in my 1024*768 screen. (I'm using highgfx mode with my indivision).

[Neil79]

Originally Posted by Boo Boo

AGS

heh?

I'm using...

1) Classic WB with hd games installed http://classicwb.abime.net/
2) Winuae Loader http://headsoft.com.au/index.php?category=winuaeloader
3) Gamebase Amiga http://gbamiga.elowar.com/


Will keep an eye on this xbench though

[JimNeray]

The release 0.72 Beta is out !

Available to download at www.jimneray.com

What's new ?

-Fixed the "Return where you was before" function that was always going back to the first listing when exiting a game. (Thanks to vjkaos for the bug report )
-Now when pressing "DEL" during the init don't launch Xbench but start the Workbench. Really useful if you want to put X-bEnCh in your startup-sequence. To do so replace the line:

c:loadwb

in your startup-sequence by this two ones:

cd yourharddrive:xbpath/
execute >nil: xbench.exe

After that your Amiga will always start on X-bEnCh but if you press the "DEL" key during the startup, it will start your Workbench instead of X-bEnCh.

@Attila06: Thanks man for your return

[subone]

Hi JimNeray,
just try your last release ... everything's working well.
Nothing more to say ... respect
u're a very active guy ... thank u for your job.

[attila06]

Humm,

I have a little problem
I'm using classicWb and i changed the end of my startup-sequence like this:

Resident Execute Remove
Resident Assign Remove

;C:loadWB

cd DH0:xbench/
execute >nil: xbench.exe

EndCLI >nil

The Xbench starts everytime even when i press the DEL key

An idea?

[attila06]

The contrary wouldn't be better ?
Starting on WB normally and pressing a key to the start for Xbench ?

[vjkaos]

Originally Posted by attila06

Humm,

I have a little problem
I'm using classicWb and i changed the end of my startup-sequence like this:

Resident Execute Remove
Resident Assign Remove

;C:loadWB

cd DH0:xbench/
execute >nil: xbench.exe

EndCLI >nil

The Xbench starts everytime even when i press the DEL key

An idea?

I don't like starting Xbench this way but I tried it anyways (using the startup-script I posted earlier) just to see if it works. Holding DEL at bootup does indeed start Workbench, it works here.

The contrary wouldn't be better ?
Starting on WB normally and pressing a key to the start for Xbench ?

This would be a silly idea IMHO. Not everybody likes to launch Xbench that way, I prefer a seperate startup-script so I have the maximum amount of memory free and I like to keep my startup-sequence nice and tidy.

[JimNeray]

@subone: Thanks for your comments

Originally Posted by attila06

Humm,

I have a little problem

...

The Xbench starts everytime even when i press the DEL key

An idea?

Yes ... Your DEL key is probably out of order More seriously you must keep the DEL key pushed until you see the workbench screen (with the icons) i think you have released the key too fastly or pushed it too late.

Originally Posted by vjkaos

This would be a silly idea IMHO. Not everybody likes to launch Xbench that way, I prefer a seperate startup-script so I have the maximum amount of memory free and I like to keep my startup-sequence nice and tidy.

I agree with vjkaos on this point but the same feature was asked to me on another Amiga board so i think i'll add an option to switch the DEL key feature to workbench/Xbench first so everybody will be able to do like he prefer.

[JimNeray]

X-bEnCh 0.73 Beta is out and available on www.jimneray.com

What's new ?

-Fixed the display speed problem on little cpu (68000/68010) in the menu.
-Fixed the display speed problems on high end cpu (68040/68060) in the menu and the launcher.
-Fixed a bad multitasking management when launching an .exe file.

All your returns are welcomed !

[attila06]

Tomorrow, i'll try it on my A600.

[JimNeray]

Really interested by your return. I have nothing under 68ec020 to try here.

[attila06]

Works very well on my A600 2Mb chip ram and also with 2Mb fast ram added.
Didn't tried only with 1Mb chip but 1Mb is not enough for most Whdload games.

[JimNeray]

Thanks a lot for your test Attila

The download server is back online after a day of dysfuntion, you can now download X-bEnCh again.

[attila06]

Jim any news ?