.whd support (hear me out!)

killergorilla · 21 July 2009, 12:20

Hi Toni,

I've been working on a small bit of software to convert my whdload zip files into hdf files for use in WinUAEX (the Xbox port of WinUAE) as WinUAEX doesn't support zip files as hd.

I found that the best way to do it was to keep the game as a seperate hdf and create a base hdf (called _whdload.hdf) with all of the necessary whdload files, kickstart files etc.

So, to load "Ruff N Tumble.hdf" I'd need to put _whdload.hdf in DH0: and "Ruff N Tumble.hdf" in DH1:

This is fine, but it takes ages to setup all the games correctly.

So, I had a word with the guy who is currently fiddling with the WinUAEX source code and updating the GUI.

He's now added support for a filetype ".whd". When you choose to load a file such as "Ruff N Tumble.whd" it automounts "_whdload.hdf" (which is stored in the WinUAEX root dir) in DH0: and puts the newly selected .whd file in DH1.

I know (think?) WinUAE has support for loading ADF files when double clicking on them, but was wondering if you would consider adding support for the new .whd extension?

Toni Wilen · 21 July 2009, 18:48

Not generic/flexible enough.

Associating normal hdfs + load some configuration that sets up other harddrive(s) is one possibly acceptable idea (when/if other issues can be solved)

killergorilla · 22 July 2009, 01:37

Ok.

Well it was only an idea.

If you don't want to support it then fine.

It's more than possible to support it via an external piece of software, which I'll no doubt end up making.

Swanky.

StrategyGamer · 22 July 2009, 04:16

Why not just preinstall every whdload game ever created into one tiny small little 8 GB partition?

No need to write special software or make strange configs.

killergorilla · 22 July 2009, 10:44

Because I don't want to have to load Workbench inside WinUAEX to play a game.

I've already done the work for WinUAEX to get them to load nicely, I just thought it would be easy enough to encorporate into WinUAE as well.

All of the .whd files I've made will go on my website soon, which makes it a very easy way for people unfimiliar with winuae/workbench/amigas to get whdload games up and running.

seuden · 22 July 2009, 10:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by killergorilla

Because I don't want to have to load Workbench inside WinUAEX to play a game.

I've already done the work for WinUAEX to get them to load nicely, I just thought it would be easy enough to encorporate into WinUAE as well.

All of the .whd files I've made will go on my website soon, which makes it a very easy way for people unfimiliar with winuae/workbench/amigas to get whdload games up and running.

Retro1234 · 22 July 2009, 12:12

.whd implies that other other HDF games wont work JST...................

killergorilla · 22 July 2009, 12:14

well jst games don't use whdload now do they...

so they aren't exactly going to work with my _whdload.hdf are they

edit: not exactly difficult to create .jst files with a _jst.hdf though is it

Retro1234 · 22 July 2009, 12:16

Why not support any game installed on a HDF?
Anyway I know what you mean

killergorilla · 22 July 2009, 12:21

Any game installed on an HDF?

What are you talking about?

WinUAE already supports HDF games, just put your own startup-sequence on one and boot from it.

The difference with WHDload is that they need to be run from an external program (WHDLoad). This is why I have separated the game itself from the whdload executable. If whdload gets updated, you can simply replace the one copy on the _whdload.hdf. Normal HDF games will not have this problem.

Retro1234 · 22 July 2009, 12:25

I'm just saying if your going to quick launch WHD games from HDF why not games that use JST or ADOS or other installed games from HDF? -Did I explain correct?

killergorilla · 22 July 2009, 12:40

Toni: Revised plan...

Boo Boo just got me thinking....

My _whdload.hdf doesn't actually specify anything about whdload.

It simply looks at the default icon on the games hdf (specified by a single text file in root:kg/default") and attempts to run it using the icons default tool and its tooltypes.

This would work for jst games, and any ados games or any other application. If a game has an icon which has no default tool, just create a new icon with iconx as the default tool and use that.

If you could add support for a filetype... maybe .hdg (hard disk game) or whatever, which simply puts the selected .hdg file in DH1: and the boot.hdf in DH0: that would be superb.

Retro1234 · 22 July 2009, 12:46

Yipeeeeeeeeeeeee this sounds good

Rabbit80 · 22 July 2009, 13:08

what happens when the whdload games require a kickstart?

TCD · 22 July 2009, 13:12

That's why there is a _whdload.hdf (or boot.hdf). On it you have WHDLoad, the kickstarts, your key, other programs and a bit of garnish maybe

killergorilla · 22 July 2009, 13:12

put the kickstart files in the _whdload.hdf (which will now probably be called boot.hdf)

the boot.hdf contains very few files, currently only those needed to run whdload games, which in my own boot.hdf include the kickstart roms. You'll have to add them to it manually as I won't be sharing them

Rabbit80 · 22 July 2009, 13:16

I'm just wondering how easy that will be to do for a novice user? Will the boot.hdf have some kind of script to assist?

killergorilla · 22 July 2009, 13:18

I'll make a little tool to add them in

I'll be making it as easy as possible.

Toni Wilen · 22 July 2009, 14:39

.hdf has never been officially associated in WinUAE which means we can freely define how .hdf doubleclicking works

For example: hdf clicked and if boot.hdf in same directory = do the above thing. or something like that..

Retro1234 · 22 July 2009, 14:59

You could have a .bat/exe file for each game - Ruff N Tumble.bat that associates Winuae and the hdf

21 July 2009, 12:20	#1
killergorilla Lesser Talent Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: UK Age: 42 Posts: 7,957	.whd support (hear me out!) Hi Toni, I've been working on a small bit of software to convert my whdload zip files into hdf files for use in WinUAEX (the Xbox port of WinUAE) as WinUAEX doesn't support zip files as hd. I found that the best way to do it was to keep the game as a seperate hdf and create a base hdf (called _whdload.hdf) with all of the necessary whdload files, kickstart files etc. So, to load "Ruff N Tumble.hdf" I'd need to put _whdload.hdf in DH0: and "Ruff N Tumble.hdf" in DH1: This is fine, but it takes ages to setup all the games correctly. So, I had a word with the guy who is currently fiddling with the WinUAEX source code and updating the GUI. He's now added support for a filetype ".whd". When you choose to load a file such as "Ruff N Tumble.whd" it automounts "_whdload.hdf" (which is stored in the WinUAEX root dir) in DH0: and puts the newly selected .whd file in DH1. I know (think?) WinUAE has support for loading ADF files when double clicking on them, but was wondering if you would consider adding support for the new .whd extension?

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21 July 2009, 18:48	#2
Toni Wilen WinUAE developer Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Hämeenlinna/Finland Age: 49 Posts: 26,502	Not generic/flexible enough. Associating normal hdfs + load some configuration that sets up other harddrive(s) is one possibly acceptable idea (when/if other issues can be solved)

22 July 2009, 01:37	#3
killergorilla Lesser Talent Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: UK Age: 42 Posts: 7,957	Ok. Well it was only an idea. If you don't want to support it then fine. It's more than possible to support it via an external piece of software, which I'll no doubt end up making. Swanky.

22 July 2009, 04:16	#4
StrategyGamer Total Chaos AGA is fun! Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: USA Posts: 873	Why not just preinstall every whdload game ever created into one tiny small little 8 GB partition? No need to write special software or make strange configs.

22 July 2009, 10:44	#5
killergorilla Lesser Talent Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: UK Age: 42 Posts: 7,957	Because I don't want to have to load Workbench inside WinUAEX to play a game. I've already done the work for WinUAEX to get them to load nicely, I just thought it would be easy enough to encorporate into WinUAE as well. All of the .whd files I've made will go on my website soon, which makes it a very easy way for people unfimiliar with winuae/workbench/amigas to get whdload games up and running.

22 July 2009, 12:12	#7
Retro1234 Phone Homer Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: 5150 Posts: 5,773	.whd implies that other other HDF games wont work JST...................

22 July 2009, 12:14	#8
killergorilla Lesser Talent Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: UK Age: 42 Posts: 7,957	well jst games don't use whdload now do they... so they aren't exactly going to work with my _whdload.hdf are they edit: not exactly difficult to create .jst files with a _jst.hdf though is it

22 July 2009, 12:16	#9
Retro1234 Phone Homer Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: 5150 Posts: 5,773	Why not support any game installed on a HDF? Anyway I know what you mean

22 July 2009, 12:21	#10
killergorilla Lesser Talent Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: UK Age: 42 Posts: 7,957	Any game installed on an HDF? What are you talking about? WinUAE already supports HDF games, just put your own startup-sequence on one and boot from it. The difference with WHDload is that they need to be run from an external program (WHDLoad). This is why I have separated the game itself from the whdload executable. If whdload gets updated, you can simply replace the one copy on the _whdload.hdf. Normal HDF games will not have this problem.

22 July 2009, 12:25	#11
Retro1234 Phone Homer Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: 5150 Posts: 5,773	I'm just saying if your going to quick launch WHD games from HDF why not games that use JST or ADOS or other installed games from HDF? -Did I explain correct?

22 July 2009, 12:40	#12
killergorilla Lesser Talent Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: UK Age: 42 Posts: 7,957	Toni: Revised plan... Boo Boo just got me thinking.... My _whdload.hdf doesn't actually specify anything about whdload. It simply looks at the default icon on the games hdf (specified by a single text file in root:kg/default") and attempts to run it using the icons default tool and its tooltypes. This would work for jst games, and any ados games or any other application. If a game has an icon which has no default tool, just create a new icon with iconx as the default tool and use that. If you could add support for a filetype... maybe .hdg (hard disk game) or whatever, which simply puts the selected .hdg file in DH1: and the boot.hdf in DH0: that would be superb.

22 July 2009, 12:46	#13
Retro1234 Phone Homer Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: 5150 Posts: 5,773	Yipeeeeeeeeeeeee this sounds good

22 July 2009, 13:08	#14
Rabbit80 Its hard being famous! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Gateway to the dales, UK Age: 43 Posts: 633	what happens when the whdload games require a kickstart?

22 July 2009, 13:12	#15
TCD HOL/FTP busy bee Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Germany Age: 46 Posts: 31,518	That's why there is a _whdload.hdf (or boot.hdf). On it you have WHDLoad, the kickstarts, your key, other programs and a bit of garnish maybe

22 July 2009, 13:16	#17
Rabbit80 Its hard being famous! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Gateway to the dales, UK Age: 43 Posts: 633	I'm just wondering how easy that will be to do for a novice user? Will the boot.hdf have some kind of script to assist?

22 July 2009, 13:18	#18
killergorilla Lesser Talent Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: UK Age: 42 Posts: 7,957	I'll make a little tool to add them in I'll be making it as easy as possible.

22 July 2009, 14:39	#19
Toni Wilen WinUAE developer Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Hämeenlinna/Finland Age: 49 Posts: 26,502	.hdf has never been officially associated in WinUAE which means we can freely define how .hdf doubleclicking works For example: hdf clicked and if boot.hdf in same directory = do the above thing. or something like that..

22 July 2009, 14:59	#20
Retro1234 Phone Homer Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: 5150 Posts: 5,773	You could have a .bat/exe file for each game - Ruff N Tumble.bat that associates Winuae and the hdf

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