PocketNES Menu Maker GBA

PocketNES Menu Maker
General
Author	Titney/MrUnown
Type	Builder Tools
Version	1.2a
License	Mixed
Last Updated	2003/03/10
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

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

• Official website - http://nes.pocketheaven.com/ (archived)